2012 Breeder's Cup Marathon: The Black Sheep of the Breeder's Cup
Despite being one of the newest and most unique Breeder’s Cup races, the Marathon carries a memory of what thoroughbred horse racing has seemingly forgotten in the United States. The 1 ¾ distance on dirt makes the Marathon one of the rarest race types in the sport today. To many racing fans, the Belmont Stakes is known to be one of the few tests of stamina remaining in dirt racing. The “Test of a Champion” has become modern US horse racing’s definition of endurance, and as we know, many horses that race the Belmont will never race that far again.
1975. The last year that the Jockey Club Gold Cup was ever run at the distance of 2 miles. The 2-mile JCGC was arguably the premier end-of-year-race of its time that saw many of the all time greats. It established the legacy of a few we now consider to be the greatest horses to ever set foot on the track. Completing 2 miles on dirt was the pinnacle of breeding, training, and durability that personified the thoroughbred. And now, in the finest form of irony, the current 1 ¼ mile Jockey Club Gold Cup is used as a prep race for some participants of the Breeder’s Cup Marathon. That thought probably has Kelso rolling in his grave.
2008. The inaugural running of the Breeder’s Cup Marathon. In true justification of the modern definition of dirt horses’ stamina, the race was created at the staying distance of 1 ½ miles. Santa Anita hosted the Breeder’s Cup that year, and with it came the synthetic racing surface, and many European turf horses that would not have been quite as suited to the 1 ½ mile turf race. Muhannak was the first horse to be crowned winner of the Marathon, stopping the clock in a respectable 2:28.24.
2009. The Marathon extended to the current distance of 1 ¾ miles and was bumped up to Grade 3 status, however was still run on the synthetic surface of the hosting Santa Anita racetrack. Synthetic dirt, typically plays forgiving to turf horses, which enticed the participation of many European stayers that wanted a piece of the $500,000 purse. This was also the year that the stakes record of 2:54.11 was set in an extremely exciting finish with Man of Iron edging the long shot Cloudy’s Knight through a stretch long battle to the wire.
2010. The race was given an upgrade to a Grade 2 status, and was the first time it was run on a natural dirt surface. With the change in racing surface came the races first non-euro based winner. Eldaafer, who probably learned quite a bit from competing the previous year, edged out Gabriel’s Union in another exciting finish of the 1 ¾ mile contest. It took over 5 seconds longer than the previous year, with Eldaafer stopping the clock in 2:59.62. Perhaps it can be argued that the 5-second slowdown from the previous year was due to the lack of distance specializing European horses, or the cuppy Churchill Downs dirt.
2011. A second consecutive year at Churchill Downs resulted in the second consecutive year of minimal entries of European horses. In this rendition, the 44-1 Afleet Again mimicked his sire’s late race rally and kicked 3 lengths clear to win in a pedestrian 3:00.39. Is this time a sign of things to come, or was the unique texture of Churchill’s surface really taxing on the competitors?
2012. The race is coming back to Santa Anita, but the synthetic track surface of old has been replaced with speed favoring dirt. The Marathon retains its Grade 2 status and continues to carry a purse of $500,000. This year’s race could see the likes of up-and-coming distance specialists like Redeemed, and maybe even the 4th consecutive appearance of the 2010 winner, Eldaafer.
The Breeder’s Cup Marathon may not be the marquee event of the racing card, but it certainly has its place amongst the world championship races. It represents a tradition that made the breed what it is today. It serves as reminder that even amongst a sea of 6-8 furlong specialists, there are still a few that know how to stretch out. In the coming weeks, I will highlight the hopefuls and try to handicap a race that may help someone find this year’s 44-1 Afleet Again. But more than anything, I hope to bring a new sense of respect and excitement for having to wait 2 minutes for the most exciting minute to start.
Photo credit to The Breeder's Cup (breederscup.com)