GOLDEN GLIMPSES #40 GOLDEN GLIMPSES #40 OAK TREE UNTIES YELLOW RIBBON TO LURE EUROPEAN HORSES
Ch-ch-ch-changes.
There will be at least one significant difference at Oak Tree this meet. The traditional Southern California season-opener at Santa Anita will present its marquee race under nomination conditions and not as an invitational event.
"The Yellow Ribbon, which anchors our meet, is now a nomination race," said Santa Anita's racing secretary and handicapper, Tom Knust. "There are two reasons we did that. A major factor was to give our representatives from the International Racing Bureau, who work on bringing horses from Europe, a better opportunity to get some of those top fillies and mares over here.
"As an invitational, European trainers would not point their horses to the Yellow Ribbon, because they weren't sure they'd be asked to compete. In the past, they wouldn't even consider the Yellow Ribbon. But under nomination conditions, they have an idea who is likely to run and can plan their agendas better."
Like every knowledgeable horseman, Knust knows there is too much racing, which is a detriment to quality programs and the well-being of the thoroughbred population in general.
"I think there are too many racing days for the amount of horses that we have, in order to put out the product that the public wants," the 49-year-old Knust said. "We're considering some options at Santa Anita (for the long winter/spring session that begins after Christmas). One is not running any six-day weeks. When we ran a six-day week, we'd come back and run a four-day week the following week, which I think is important.
"Also, we're looking at running eight races during the week and then 10 on the weekend. We would use more races when we had the bigger crowds and try to balance it out that way. We could run nine races on the weekend and eight during the week, when we encounter rainy weather in January, February and March. This is being discussed right now. We need to try and do something to better our product."
A more equitable disbursement of purse money also will be in effect during the 27-day Oak Tree meet which runs from Oct. 2 through Nov. 4.
"We've tried to redistribute our money on our stakes schedule and put a little more money in the overnight races," Knust said. "So with the addition of nomination and starting fees to the Yellow Ribbon, it helps towards that goal."
The Santa Anita Handicap, an early March fixture during the winter meet, will remain in that time frame.
"I think it's well-positioned where it is," Knust said of the $1 million race, which was star-crossed the last two years with the defection of Horses of the Year Holy Bull and Cigar.
"Again, I think the Breeders' Cup hurt the Santa Anita Handicap because a lot of horses point to the Breeders' Cup in the fall and then take a break after that.
"But now with the Dubai World Cup (some three weeks after the Santa Anita Handicap), I think it's going to change the balance a bit. We need to have our race a minimum three weeks, preferably a month, from the Dubai race. If we move it any later in our meet, we conflict with Dubai and also the Oaklawn Handicap (in early April).
"The Oak Tree stakes schedule is pretty much the same as last year. Our more important races will take place at the beginning of the meet, to be used as stepping stones for the Breeders' Cup (Oct. 26).
"Ever since the Breeders' Cup came around (1984), it changed Oak Tree completely. We've had to load up on the front end, and it doesn't leave us a lot to balance out the meet."
One other change, and please don't stop the presses: the Col. Koester Handicap is now the Oak Tree Mile.
GOLDEN PICKS
GYPSY GREY -- Broke her maiden leaving from No. 10 post in 1 1/16-mile race and won convincingly despite extremely wide trip. Routine journey should land her in winners' circle again.
NOSTALGIAONMYMIND -- Closed with good energy in debut despite breaking from extreme outside post in 5 1/2-furlong dash. Shouldn't be a maiden very long against $32,000 types.
THE HOMESTRETCH: Knust on Cigar: "It's hard to compare horses of different eras, but I think he probably showed his greatness more in the (Pacific Classic) loss than in his victories. The incredible thing about his effort in defeat was that Siphon and Dramatic Gold, two legitimate horses, showed what happens when a really good horse goes a mile in 1:33 and change at a mile-and-a-quarter. Cigar dug in and fought, and I still think he's a great horse. Siphon and Dramatic Gold were well-beaten by Cigar after pressing him." . . . Craig Lewis, owner/trainer of Larry The Legend, says it's difficult for the Cinderella colt to live up to his hype. The 1995 Santa Anita Derby winner finished fourth as the 7-5 favorite in his most recent effort. "Sometimes, the expectations are too high," Lewis said. "On the other hand, I just nominated him to the (1997) Santa Anita Handicap." . . . Brice Blanc, one of the leading riders at Fairplex Park last year, will not be a regular at Pomona during the 19-day meet from Sept. 12-30. "I've been working hard for two straight years," the likable Frenchman said, "and I just need a break."
The Running Horse (http://www.isd1.com/alauck)
