My Place or Your Place

Unless you're dealing with violent aggressive types, it's always fun to put your two-cents into a hotly contested debate, and right now there are few debates as hotly contested as who should host the Breeder's Cup on a year to year basis. So after I act as representative for each of my 5 nominated tracks, pointing out why they deserve to host the cup, I will talk about how exactly I think the Breeder's Cup hosting duties should be divvied up.

Santa Anita Park: Santa Anita has hosted the event 5 times and is located in sunny Arcadia, California; need I say more.

Churchill Downs: After Saturday, the twin spires will have witnessed a record 7 Breeders Cups. Clearly being at the center of the racing industry has its perks.

Arlington Park: Yes there was a betting scandal the last time they hosted, but that is not the fault of its ownership or anyone related to the track. The 2002 Breeders Cup was still a major success, sort of.

Belmont Park: My local track. Belmont has an amazing mile and one half dirt course that is intimidating for the modern racehorse, but intriguing to the old-school fan.

Gulfstream Park: A beautiful track with an amazing climate. Just don't draw post 14 in a route-trust me.

So here is how I think it should work:

Santa Anita, being that it's a stones throw from the media capital of the world should host the Breeders Cup every year in my opinion; however the thoroughbred industry, which is based in Kentucky, would probably feel slighted by that. So I propose that Santa Anita gets to host the cup every other year, and then a lottery takes place during even years between the other four tracks I mentioned.

During even years Belmont Park and Gulfstream would have a 30 percent chance of winning the lottery due to the fact that they have shown they can properly host a Breeders Cup. Churchill Downs and Arlington would each have a 20 percent chance because Louisville and Chicago are more appropriate destinations for industry folk.

My model is simplistic, but not perfect by any means. The main purpose that it serves is to keep the most prestigious event in racing in the media capital of our country so that media coverage will be as plentiful as it can possibly be. The only reason I propose the rotation of the event is to keep those at the heart of the industry happy as well.

Please give me your thoughts. Should Santa Anita host the cup every other year? Should Churchill and Arlington- arguably the two worst Breeders Cup hosts- ever get to host the cup again? I'd love to hear from you.