Dein erstes Forum » a change. Thats the way its gonna be.B

Those under a certain age might not realize that once upon a time, many of the big fall stakes in New York were the sports championship-defining events. And then the Breeders Cup was born, and everything changed.This is not a knock on the Breeders Cup. Its a great event, even with its few flaws. But it is to say no racing circuit in America sacrificed more for the benefit of the Breeders Cup than the New York Racing Association, and no circuit has seen so many of its major races so devalued as a result.Its not even remotely close. On either count.Well before the Breeders Cup existed, New Yorks Jockey Club Gold Cup was for decades the de facto Breeders Cup Classic. The same was true of the Beldame, which was the forerunner to the Breeders Cup Distaff; the Champagne, which was as comparably title-defining as the Breeders Cup Juvenile, more so than any other fall 2-year-old stakes of the time; and the Frizette was the same before the advent of the Breeders Cup Juvenile Fillies.That is why it is painful for people who well remember what these big fall stakes events at Belmont Park once were to see what has become of them. Saturdays Jockey Club Gold Cup, Champagne, and Frizette each drew fields of only six. And last Saturdays Beldame lured a field of only seven. That in itself wouldnt be bad if they were the right six or seven horses in each race. But with other tracks running their big Breeders Cup preps in the same time frame, getting the right six or seven in one stakes this time of year just cant happen.The Champagne did attract an interesting field, and it is possible a couple of its entrants might go on to be title contenders, but the Frizette drew a less inspiring field. More troubling were the fields the Beldame and Gold Cup lured. Not a single entrant in either one of those once mighty events can be considered a prime contender for a divisional Eclipse Award, let alone Horse of the Year honors.So what can be done about the alarming decline of major fall racing in New York? It seems to me there are three courses of action:** One thing is to do nothing. Just recognize that things never stay the same, and accept that New York racing in the fall will never again be what it once was. Personally, I think this would be tragic, allowing stakes of this magnitude to wither without event attempting to restore them.** Another path would be to be pro-active, and stop allowing New Yorks best fall stakes races to be subservient to a Breeders Cup that doesnt appear to care much about New York racing.The last time the Breeders Cup was held in New York was in 2005, when it was run at Belmont Park. And the earliest the Breeders Cup could return to New York is 2019, because after it is run this year at Santa Anita, it is promised to Del Mar in 2017, and to Churchill Downs in 2018. This will be the sixth Breeders Cup at Santa Anita alone since there was a Breeders Cup in New York. The 2018 Cup will be the fourth at Churchill Downs alone since a New York Breeders Cup.This is just plain wrong, and there is plenty of blame to go around. Unpredictable and untenable management situations at the NYRA had a lot to do with it, as did heavy-handed state government oversight, and simple inertia. The desire on the part of a past Breeders Cup administration to make Santa Anita the permanent host site was a major factor, too.Whatever, two unmistakable, and not coincidental, outcomes of this freeze out have been the marginalization of New Yorks fall stakes program, and how Belmont Park itself seems an unpopular prep locale for bigger events run elsewhere because of the unique configuration of the track.Belmonts main track is 1-1/2 miles in circumference, the largest in the nation. And that means the Beldame, Champagne, and Frizette are run around one turn, and the Gold Cup is run around 1-1/2 turns with an awkward starting gate placement. Horsemen have demonstrated that despite the history and prestige of the big New York fall stakes, when it comes to two turn Breeders Cup races, true two turn preps at tracks other than Belmont are simply more appealing.This has eroded participation in these New York events, and will continue to do so the longer Belmont Park goes without a Breeders Cup.A way to be pro-active in protecting Belmonts big fall stakes would, in the absence of the hope the Breeders Cup will ever return to New York, require the bold decision of no longer casting these races in as Breeders Cup preps, and finding a way to make them stand alone events they once were.Whether that means putting them in direct competition with the Breeders Cup (which, admittedly, would make them consolation prizes in the initial years), or, say, moving them to Thanksgiving weekend at Aqueduct along with the Cigar Mile and afford horses who competed in the Breeders Cup another opportunity to make or enhance their championship credentials, taking races like the Gold Cup out of subservient roles might revitalize them.** The third, and far more preferable option would be to get the Breeders Cup back to Belmont as soon as possible. I understand that you can get crappy weather in the Northeast in late October and early November. I understand that you never have to roll the weather dice when Santa Anita is the host. I also understand that Santa Anita is a tremendous site for the Breeders Cup, and they do a tremendous job with it every time they host it. I love that track.But the Breeders Cup was intended at its origin to be a moveable event, so fans in various corners of the country would have the opportunity to enjoy the spectacle, and so that, over time, there would be no home court advantage for horsemen based in a specific geographical area. A Breeders Cup at Belmont Park would instantly make the Gold Cup, Beldame and other stakes THE most desirable preps that year. And I suspect it would have a positive carryover effect as well, re-emphasizing to new eyes how great these fall stakes races in New York were, and still might be. Cheap Air Jordan 3 Free Shipping . 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Jon Montgomery of Eckville, Alta. Air Jordan 3 Uk . Vokoun departed practice on Saturday morning after discovering swelling in his thigh. He was taken to a local hospital where the clot was revealed. The club announced the surgery following a 5-3 exhibition loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets. FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- Tom Brady is ready to play after cutting his right thumb with scissors in a silly accident before the Patriots preseason game against the Bears last week.Brady said Tuesday he missed the first two practices this week for personal reasons, but that hes available and ready to play when New England visits Carolina on Friday.The 39-year-old quarterback has yet to appear in a game this preseason. Hes got two more games before the start of an NFL-issued four-game regular-season suspension for his role in Deflategate.He hasnt missed a regular-season start since 2008, when he suffered a torn ACL in his left knee during the season opener.Brady said the accident with the scissors occurred when he was trying to get something out of his cleat. The scissors slipped and cut his thumb, causing him to let out probably a pretty loud word I wouldnt repeat in front of my kids.Im glad it wasnt the regular season and I learned from it, so hopefully wont be operating any more scissors for a while, Brady said.Brady said he wanted to play against Chicago, but coach Bill Belichick made the decision hed sit out. It was a decision the former MVP agreed with.It took a few days (to heal), Brady said. I wanted to go and coach said its probably best if you -- for what I was going to go out and do -- just take it easy. So thats what I ended up doing. I wish I could have played. Ive been missing playing. I want to get out there with my teammates.Belichick has said previously that Jimmy Garoppolo will start while Bradys out, with Brady returning to the starting role once his suspension ends prior to New Englands game at Cleveland on Oct. 9.Asked if he expecteed to play Brady this week after being out the first two preseason games, Belichick said the priority remains getting Garoppolo ready.ddddddddddddAll three quarterbacks are extremely important. Jimmys preparation for the Arizona opener is the most important, Belichick said. Nothings changed, and nothings gonna change. Thats the way its gonna be.Brady is eligible to participate in all preseason games and practices, but cant have contact with the team during his suspension.Though hes been a spectator so far this preseason, he said there has been a good dialogue with Garoppolo.Were in every meeting together and theres always a good back and forth in our room, Brady said. I think thats really encouraged by (offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels) to speak up and say what you think. If you see someone maybe doing something a little bit different, were always trying to be on the same page.He said how he will handle staying in football shape during the suspension is still to be determined.I try to treat it no different, Brady said. Ive always tried to do the best I can do to prepare and be ready to go. Thats the kind of mode that Ive got to get into.Game notes The Patriots released cornerback E.J. Biggers, running back Donald Brown and defensive lineman Frank Kearse. The roster currently stands at 83. Teams must reduce their active rosters to 75 players on Aug. 30.---Online: AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and AP NFL Twitter feed: www.twitter.com/AP-NFL---Follow Kyle Hightower on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/khightower ' ' '