Tradition, modernisation must meet reality

The United States has been making rapid changes to its horse-racing landscape, primarily to woo new participants at every level, from bettors to owners, rocking the core of an industry, which, worldwide, takes pride in being steeped in tradition.

Understanding the commercial value of television and online activities, especially for sporting events, the United States has literally dissected horse racing, identifying inhibitors to the sport such as a Triple Crown Series, which, in recent times, lost its appeal because owners and trainers of horses simply stopped chasing the feat of putting their bound-for-stud classic through 31-and-a-half-furlongs in five weeks.

Starting with Churchill Down’s 10-furlong Kentucky Derby, run the first Saturday in May, the United States Triple Crown is completed by Maryland’s Preakness Stakes at nine-and-a-half furlongs, two weeks after the derby, and the Belmont Stakes in New York competed at 12 furlongs 21 days after the Preakness.

Come next year, a new six-race Thoroughbred Championship Series (TCS) will be, so far, run without the Preakness. Rather coincidentally, it was reported at the weekend that the distance of the Belmont Stakes could likely remain at 10 furlongs, the trip it was forced to run at for the last three years, 2024-26, at Saratoga while Belmont Park underwent significant renovation.

Therefore, in addition to implementing the six-race TCS, which carries big purse money, plus a jackpot for the horse that tops the standings, the United States wants to keep the Belmont at 10 furlongs to attract full participation from connections of horses while capturing the attention of the public and all commercial activities relating to television and online, especially social media, for the duration of the series.

During an interview with Daily Racing Form, New York Racing Association President and CEO Dave O’Rourke questioned the relevance of a 12-furlong race to the breeding Industry.

“I think that will be contemplated, whether it’s next year or in the future,” O’Rourke said.

“If you’re looking at modernising the whole thing, do you contemplate the mile and a half as well for the Belmont at some point here?” O’Rourke queried.

“I think the mile and a half, while its traditional and it is the historic test of champions, it’s not what folks are breeding for and it seems to be a headwind on the race to a certain degree. And how relevant is that distance now for breeding?”

Locally, Jamaica, with its roots in horse racing embedded in the British system of distance races, chopped four furlongs from what was a 14-furlong Jamaica St Leger in 1991. For three years, 1967-1970, the distance was 10 furlongs but was reverted to pre-1967 until being fixed at 10 furlongs since 1991.

Similar to what has plagued the United States Triple Crown, owners and trainers bypassing the Preakness Stakes after the Kentucky Derby, many local connections forewent the Jamaica St Leger, which, in some years, could barely muster six runners.

Whereas Jamaica got the jump on the United States as it relates to reducing the distance of the St Leger, which has since attracted decent field sizes, producing thrilling finishes, the time has come to seriously look at the Jamaica Derby distance of 12 furlongs.

Jamaica’s racing stock has long bid the days of British-bred horses goodbye, runners suited to distance races in which riders saunter for a mile, or longer, before being asked for a flat all-out gallop over the last two furlongs.

A 10-furlong Jamaica Derby is certainly a provocative thought, which should not be overlooked. Considering the Jamaica Derby now closes the local Triple Crown in August, what if a Superstakes, restricted to local-breds, is slotted into November’s schedule?

For three year-olds to recover sufficiently in time for a potential match-up with older horses after a schedule which includes the Kingston/Portmore, 1000/2000 Guineas, St Leger, Jamaica Derby/Jamaica Oaks and Winston ‘Fanna’ Griffiths Classic, cutting the derby from 12 to 10 furlongs would certainly win the support of horsemen.

Whereas Jamaica got the jump on the United States in trimming the St Leger as they now are pondering the Belmont Stakes, someone needs to take the Jamaica Racing Commission (JRC) aside and explain that whereas the United States, Canada and Great Britain both have elements of the metric system, nationally, horse racing remains off-limits.

No new fan to horse racing will ever relate to 54.0 kilogrammes, as opposed to 119lb, or 1600 metres, as opposed to eight furlongs make a mile, units of measurement every Jamaican understands.

Race programmes should be allowed to display both metric and imperial values in weights and distances for historical and cultural reasons. Nobody goes to the Coronation Market to buy three kilos of yam.