"Win and You're In" expanded for Dirt Marathon · 18.06.08

The Breeders’ Cup announced today that it was expanding its “Win and You’re In” programme by including three prep races for the new Dirt “Marathon”.

A horse winning either the 1 1/2-mile Greenwood Cup at Philadelphia Park (July 19), the 1 1/2-mile Cougar II Handicap at Del Mar (July 30), or the 1 1/2-mile Turfway Fall Championship at Turfway Park (Sept. 6) will automatically qualify for the “Marathon” — provided, of course, the owner pays the entry fees.

Incidentally, the same announcement noted that the “Marathon” has been lengthened — slightly — from 1 1/2 miles to 1 5/8 miles. I’ve always felt the 12-furlong distance was the minimum for a stayers’ race — hence the quotation marks. Lengthening it to 13 furlongs is an improvement, but I would still rather see it as 1 3/4 or 2 miles, so I haven’t decided yet whether or not to remove the quotes.

Correction: The Breeders’ Cup official site still lists the “Marathon” as 1 1/2 miles. The quotes stay until this is clarified.

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What do you think?

  1. The Euopean contingent will laugh at the designation MARATHON as many of their “long” races are 20 furlongs. The DRF quoted one source as saying that any grade 2 or 3 stayer from Europe would overwhelm the locals. STILL is a step in the right direction.

    — Dr. T. Yatcak · Jun 19, 09:50 AM · #

  2. The Ascot Gold Cup 2.48 miles: now that is a marathon, and it isn’t even a steeplechase event!!

    — Dr. T. Yatcak · Jun 19, 10:50 AM · #

  3. Terminology used in North America is very different from that in Europe. For instance, middle distance there means 10f to 12f, whereas for races longer than 1 1/16m here is already considered as “middle distance”, or more commonly known as route race here. The culture is just so different.

    — vivapataca · Jun 21, 09:02 PM · #

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