Comments on: That Would Be Nice

By: tvnewsbadge

tvnewsbadge — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 16:37:07 +0000

Pretty scary this. Enough money to tempt even a rich owner to run his horse before she’s ready.
Given the downside potential this early in the season, this may well generate public interest of the wrong kind as far as the survival of the sport is concerned if things break bad.

By: admin

admin — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 15:26:36 +0000

Ah, thanks for the correction, Sue – of course you’re right about the bonus! And it absolutely did work – well done to Cella there. If I recall correctly, he also placed a large bet on Smarty for the Derby.

By: suebroux

suebroux — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 15:02:08 +0000

Imagine beyond a $5M race and RA/Zen develops into a true rivalry featured over a series of races? Wow! And Mr. Cella certainly knows how to lure the attraction to his little corner of the world. BTW, the $5M bonus back in 2004 was for a horse that swept the Rebel, Arkansas Derby and the Kentucky Derby; I speculate it was an effort to make Oaklawn a serious locale for the Derby trail (not that the Centennial schtick wasn’t a good ploy either). And it worked!

By: Brian Appleton

Brian Appleton — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 05:57:22 +0000

Oaklawn was brilliant to stick their neck out with such a huge purse in this econemy. If it goes through and both run in the Apple Blossom it will more than pay off. I’m hearing tons of people left and right saying they have already bought their tickets, booked their rooms and flights to Arkansas.
If this race does happen and doesn’t make it onto ESPN then racing trully has become a “has-been”.