Tuesday, September 30, 2003
Don't deprive fans of Mineshaft in Classic
By Bill Finley
Special to ESPN.com
Bill Finley
Belmont Park
P.O. Box 90
Jamaica, NY 11417
September 29, 2003
Ambassador William S. Farish
United States Embassy
24 Grosvenor Square
London, W1A 1AE
United Kingdom
Dear Ambassador Farish:
Congratulations on another great victory from your spectacular colt, Mineshaft, in Saturday's Jockey Club Gold Cup. He is a legitimate star and obviously the racing public has embraced him. It was heartwarming to see the normally jaded and cynical New York racing fans give him such a warm reception both before and after the race. That just doesn't happen around here.
But I must admit that the good feelings I experienced started to evaporate once you made it clear that Mineshaft is no certainty to run in the Breeders' Cup Classic. It's your horse and you have the right to do whatever you want with him, but I believe you have an obligation to support a sport you care about and one that has been very good to you and your family. For the good of racing, passing the Breeders' Cup Classic is not the right thing to do.
This sport has plenty of problems, but perhaps none are more crucial than its inability to cultivate stars. Never has that been more evident than this year when the public was agog over Funny Cide and Empire Maker during the Triple Crown campaign. Racing seemed to have something special, something that it could build upon. Instead, both horses have run just once since the Belmont, Empire Maker is doubtful for the Breeders' Cup and there doesn't appear to be any scenario whereby the two will meet again. How can racing keep the public's interest when the star horses are here one day and gone the next?
As interest in Empire Maker and Funny Cide started to wane, along came Mineshaft to grab our attentions. No one had seen an older horse like him in some time. It was not just that he was immensely talented, but he was a rarity in this day an age, a horse that ran in most major races and could be counted on for consistent excellence. By the time he crossed the wire comfortably in front in the Gold Cup, it was clear that he was the biggest name in the sport.
The Breeders' Cup is where stars become legends. It is all about the best of the best coming together and one horse emerging as the dominant member of his class, doing so on one of those few days when racing is once again front and center in the public's mind. A Breeders' Cup Classic run without Mineshaft becomes an instant dud, a hollow event. The race can't be a true championship event when the best horse in the game doesn't bother to show up. Do you really want to be responsible for making that happen? Mineshaft belongs in the Breeders' Cup.
Perhaps you are thinking you have nothing to gain by running in the Breeders' Cup Classic. Mineshaft really doesn't have anything to prove and the details of his stud career have already been worked out. A Classic win won't make him any more valuable as a sire. You have established a horse that is sure to be one of the outstanding sires of his generation and, since you are first and foremost a breeder, I am guessing that has been your main focus with this colt all along.
But you are also a sportsman and a businessman and passing the Breeders' Cup makes no sense in either area.
I am sure you covet a Horse of the Year title and you should not be fooled into thinking that Mineshaft has wrapped up the award. Should you pass the Classic, there is going to be a tremendous backlash among voters. They will be looking for any excuse to give Horse of the Year to someone else. Perhaps Medaglia D'oro or Congaree will do something special in the Classic. Maybe voters will remember how good Funny Cide and Empire Maker were back in the spring. You never know what is going to happen.
Granted, you are already a rich man, but how can you turn down the opportunity to run in a $4 million race? The winner of the Classic receives a shade more than $2 million and Mineshaft would be 4-5. Tell the world you are running and they might as well write out the check for $2 million to you right now. No one can be so wealthy that they aren't interested in making $2 million.
This shouldn't even be a tough decision, but I am aware that you want to consider all he factors before committing to the race. That's fine. No one has ever accused you of being a poor sportsman or ducking a challenge or not caring about the good of the game. You have been a great credit to this sport, which is why I am confident you will do the right thing, not just for yourself, but for your horse and for the sport.
Sincerely,
Bill Finley
