Lamentations

"How deserted lies the city,
once so full of people!
How like a widow is she,
who once was great among the nations!

......How the gold has lost its luster,
the fine gold become dull!
The sacred gems are scattered
at the head of every street."

Lamentations 1:1, 4:1

Over dramatic? Perhaps, but one can't help but see the parallel's. The first paragraph or verse is rather more a prediction of what may become of the Breeders' Cup if they choose to stick with the new modus operandi. Adding new races and putting all the Filly and Mare races on a single, less important, day does little to enhance the Breeders' Cups image as racing's championship event. Instead it seemingly relegates the female races to a lesser status. Hopefully it does not come to this but it is quite possible that Breeders' Cup Friday will become the forgotten day. It in the eyes of the media it certainly will be. I hate to see that happen to the Distaff (yes, the DISTAFF) but it would serve them right if Friday was comparatively deserted.

The renaming of the Distaff is simply ridiculous. I could see a case being made to change the name but why on God's green earth did they choose the name "Ladies Classic". How about Filly and Mare Classic? You know, like an accurate description of what the race actually is or even just for the sake of continuity. Choosing "Ladies Classic" as the new moniker is just the newest in a long line of terrible decisions made by the Breeders' Cup. I don't like to call particular people out but the ship started taking on water when Avioli was named CEO and I don't think they've made a smart decision since.

The second passage quoted I think is a decent analogy of what the Breeders' Cup has already done. They've taken something that was valuable and precious and made it cheap and common. By creating a Breeders' Cup race for every single niche they've tarnished the glory of being a Breeders' Cup winner. It is no longer truly racings championship event. It is simply just another individualistic facet within racing that is seeking to earn as much money for itself as it can.

There is nothing wrong with wanting to make money but it has meant leaving the original vision of the Breeders' Cup far behind. That is worth lamenting.