Europeans love New York, and races' many upsets cloud several divisional titles

First running of the rebranded Breeders' Cup-the World Thoroughbred Championships added to its pedigree line-lived up to its name. The World Thoroughbred Championships at Belmont Park on October 27 was all world. In fact, there were so many good horses from overseas beating the bejabbers out of America's best that a lot of Americans wished they had never made such a big deal out of this world thing.

In a tour de force for the international gang, European-based horses won three of the eight events and came within a nose of pulling off the biggest win of them all, in the Breeders' Cup Classic (G1). Throw in a second and a pair of thirds in the seven races in which they fielded a starter, and you can see why the Europeans love New York.

Actually, a lot of people love New York these days, or at least feel a lot more kindly toward the city. Heck, there are now people living outside New York who are rooting for the Yankees to win the World Series. Well, maybe not a lot, but some. Okay, a few misguided souls, but more than there were a couple of months ago.

Less than two months ago, New York was attacked by terrorists, and perceptions changed. In the world of racing, expectations for attendance at the Breeders' Cup, held seven weeks after the attacks, also changed. While a couple of months earlier there had been tremendous pressure on officials of the New York Racing Association to finally deliver a big crowd for a championship day held in New York, expectations changed after September 11. Just holding it in New York became a goal.

Low expectations are easy to meet, but NYRA did more than fulfill its part of the bargain. It delivered a good crowd. A crowd of 52,987 attended on a cold, windy day, a great improvement over the 37,246 who attended in 1995, which remains the lowest ever in Breeders' Cup history. This year's crowd ranks as the tenth largest, but within hailing distance of the average attendance, 57,542, for the first 17 runnings.

Total handle on the Breeders' Cup card was $98,757,580, second-highest ever, and total from all sources will top $100-million when results for all outlets are obtained. On-track handle was a record $13,087,813, 24% higher than the previous record, set this year on Belmont Stakes (G1) day.

Also importantly, donations from owners, breeders, trainers, jockeys, and others on the day totaled more than $2.7-million to go toward the National Thoroughbred Racing Association-New York Heroes fund.

All in all, it was a good day to be in New York.

Looking for champions

Breeders' Cup day is theoretically set up to decide divisional championships. Problem with that concept is that the winners do not become champions by virtue of winning their respective races. Rather, it is just one of many races voters consider when making their selections.

This year's races clouded the picture in a number of divisions.

Two-year-old male had been conceded to Officer, but Johannesburg, in his only start in this country, thumped him. You had her juvenile filly title wrapped up until Tempera took over. The three-year-old filly division really became muddied when Flute finished off the board in the Distaff (G1) and Exogenous had to be scratched. A third three-year-old filly, previously unheralded Unbridled Elaine, won. And don't forget another three-year-old filly, Xtra Heat, who ran so courageously in the Breeders' Cup Sprint (G1). Older female division still needs definition; Spain finished second in the Distaff but has only one win this year.

Champion turf male and champion turf female most likely will be taken by two horses who raced just once in this country this year, Fantastic Light and Banks Hill (GB), whose victories gave meaning to the Breeders' Cup races in those divisions. Determining the best sprinter is difficult, although Sprint (G1) winner Squirtle Squirt will have an edge in the Eclipse Award voting.

Defending Horse of the Year Tiznow provided some order to the day when he gamely pulled out a victory in the Classic.

That a stubborn, willful horse who does not always give his best in races is the one to bring some sanity to the proceedings gives a hint of what kind of a day it was.