Monday, October 19, 2009

No 2010 Breeders Crown-Breeders Cup Conflict

The 2010 Breeders Crown, originally scheduled for November 6th in direct conflict with the Breeders Cup, has been moved to October 9th, 2010. This move is not entirely unexpected I guess, as negative flack from the industry (some making good points) was front and center.

I am pretty ambivalent. On one hand it is probably better for handle. Pocono is a new venue and you do not want to change too much in one event. On the other hand, some cross-promotional ideas could have been tried and measured with it running the same day as the Cup.

Full press release below, courtesy the Hambletonian Society/Breeders Crown.

Date Change for 2010 Breeders Crown at Pocono Downs

Cranbury, NJ …The Breeders Crown, harness racing’s $7 million year-end series, will take place on Saturday, Oct. 9, 2010 instead of the previously announced date of Nov. 6 at Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs in Wilkes-Barre , Pa.

When the 2010 World Equestrian Games displaced the Grand Circuit meet at Lexington ’s Red Mile, a window opened to move the Breeders Crown back to its traditional October date. Eliminations would take place the prior week.

“Mohegan Sun at Pocono made the commitment to be the first track to host all 12 divisional championships on the same night, and we wanted to make sure we chose the best possible date, taking many factors into consideration.” said Tom Charters, president and CEO of the Hambletonian Society, which owns and services the events. “We worked with the existing stakes schedule and the Red Mile to try to optimize the situation for all involved.”

Pocono Downs will be the 30th host track and the first new venue since Colonial Downs in 1998 to host the series. The five-eighths-mile oval is the first to stage all 12 events on a single night.

-30-

2 comments:

That Blog Guy said...

I would be curious to know if the Kentucky Futurity is being moved to the regular Lexington meet or if it will be raced after the Crown?

The_Knight_Sky said...

Well that's a good move for The Sulky side. I had never understood why everything was scattered without much rhyme or reason with The Breeders Crown.

Clearly a step in the right direction. Even I may have to plan around this.

Most Trafficked, Last 12 Months

Similar

Carryovers Provide Big Reach and an Immediate Return

Sinking marketing money directly into the horseplayer by seeding pools is effective, in both theory and practice In Ontario and elsewher...