My favorite SC Can of Worms

[The Steward]

Should there be 2yo Dirt Miles?

I ask for this reason - while yes, numerous milers have won the SC Juvenile, it is of course becoming quite tough to do so. The Dirt Miler division has really been blossoming, especially with me pushing for better colts and bloodlines to breed to, and we give 2yo milers G1's week 13 and 14, and then.... nothing after that. Nothing Week 15 or 16.

But, if we're going to add 2yo Dirt Miles, do we add Turf Routes? Turf routers have shown that they can also win going a mile, but like the SC Juvenile, it is becoming tougher to do so.

People will pull the "Races get too diluted" argument, which I'm not sure is true, given that it is becoming tougher and tougher to win outside your division (while at the same time I continue to push for at least trying it, since so many dual distanced horses get overlooked). The other argument tends to be "Too hard for the Steward" well because we are talking Thursday races not Friday it's really not any more work - adding anything to Friday would be nixed though.

So instead of hashing out all the reasons for (Another race to aim for, a championship for those who don't have one, likely more people happy at the end of the year) and against (diluted races, more purse money into the game, because you hate the way the BC expanded in real life), just vote and I'll let the voice of the people be the voice!

ETA - I expect the amount of $$ taken out by new nominations would cancel out half of the purses.

[Karl Smythe]

Awesome idea!!

[Josh Lamp I]

Not everyone needs a ribbon, no SC expansion.

[Bradley Davis]

I'm of the opinion that there are more than enough year-end options for juvenile turf routers. The Magellan Stakes, the top year-end stakes in North America, always draws a terrific field, and I think having a Steward's Cup race in addition would really diminish the quality of that race. In Europe there are several W15 and W16 graded stakes with great purses, and even they don't always draw full fields. Seems to me like a SC for juvenile turf routers would reduce a number of those races to 4 and 5-horse fields of questionable quality.

ETA: A year end option for TR juvenile fillies in the States, perhaps with a purse approaching that of the Magellan, would be a nice addition.

[Ara Davies]

Europe has some super nice 2yo turf routes week 16. Promote those, that's where the best turf racing is anyway.

[Brianna McKenzie]

If you do add them, will the Juvi's get changed to 1 1/8th?

[Abe Froman]

Since the can is open, chaser fillies don't have their own race, they gotta try against the boys, putting them at a disadvantage.

[The Steward]

Since the can is open, chaser fillies don't have their own race, they gotta try against the boys, putting them at a disadvantage.

I'm willing to listen to this!

[Danny Derby]

Juvenile Turf Route SC races would serve as excellent preps for the Bunbury and Bunburette. I approve!

[John Slotmon]

I voted.

[Laura Ferguson]

I agree with Bradley Davis. I'd like to see a filly version of the Magellan, but I don't really see a need to have a Steward's Cup diluting the Magellan, especially with the other graded stakes options in Australia and Europe that week. I did vote for dirt mile races.

[Danny Derby]

I'd rather see the Magellan killed and and new SC Turf races added than not adding the race. Turf routing is a major division and deserves to be represented on SC Thursday.

[Laura Ferguson]

The Magellan's been around forever, and part of the Turf Triple (that Sydney actually managed to win). Based on the voting, you're getting the Stewards' Cup races for turf routers by a wide margin, but I do believe this will effectively gut the Magellan, which is a real shame.

At least the Sprint Championship series has a richer purse than the Steward's Cup, which is why it continues to do well against the juvenile sprints. The Magellan doesn't have that going for it.

[Chani Ruzzo]

As chasers fields are getting stronger and tougher.. no more clear winners, I'd also love a filly/mare SC race.. would force me to breed and work harder on both sexes equally lol

[Bradley Davis]

The Magellan's been around forever, and part of the Turf Triple (that Sydney actually managed to win). Based on the voting, you're getting the Stewards' Cup races for turf routers by a wide margin, but I do believe this will effectively gut the Magellan, which is a real shame.

At least the Sprint Championship series has a richer purse than the Steward's Cup, which is why it continues to do well against the juvenile sprints. The Magellan doesn't have that going for it.

I'm with Laura on this. If these turf races make the calendar, I'd be in favour of them not having full million dollar purses. The Magellan is one of a handful of races I've long wanted to win, and while adding SC races for juvy turf routers would certainly make that goal easier for me, that isn't really the point. I just don't see why a Steward's Cup race has to be the be-all and end-all for every single division and age group.