When Push Comes To Shove

Money still talks and in the case of the Breeders' Cup versus the breeders over purse supplement money it looks as if sanity still has a chance of prevailing thanks to the financial clout of the breeders.

The Breeders' Cup has always been funded by the breeders but it's clear that the current executive believes that it's all about one day of championship racing. They simply have to realize that the only reason that championship day exists is because of the other purse supplements they provide year round.

Breeders must pay stallion and foal nominations to be Breeders' Cup eligible but make no mistake the Cup needs the breeders more than the breeders need the Cup. Very few horses ever strike it big and win a Breeders' Cup championship race anyway. The only way breeders feel like the program is of any value is if there are purse supplements.

Many people came down very hard on the Breeders' Cup executive when it was announced that they were discontinuing the purse supplement program in order to save $5 million. Fan pressure is one thing but we know, from the past changes the Breeders' Cup board has made, that they don't listen to the fans. Money is the only thing that motivates and it looks like many breeders have threatened to cease participation in the program. No breeders, no Breeders' Cup.

I'm still of the opinion that the current management still needs to tender their resignation because first of all they have not officially reinstated the pure supplement program but second of all it should never have come to this. The Breeders' Cup executive is completely detached from the desires of the fans and the breeders and they simply committed to doing their own thing. They don't get it and it should never take the threat of a boycott to see the right thing done. This executive should be doing the right thing all by themselves but evidently they're incapable which is why they should reinstate the purse supplement program then immediately end their association with the Breeders' Cup.

Racing doesn't need Greg Avioli, in fact it may not be able to survive with him. It's a good thing that he only has the power to ruin our championship day but the Breeders' Cup has become so important for the sport it's a shame to see the threat of ruin at all.