2008 Breeders' Cup Classic

[ZenyattaLuver]

My Boy Henry , Ran Huge =D

[Barbaro2012]

Curlin rarely won against great horses like Raven's Pass, Rags To Riches, and Red Rocks. He just didnt have the power to outrun them

[Elljay2001]

Does he hate the Huns?

[loms332]

he is.................NOT

[mattliavaa]

i'm a big curlin fan, but it wasn't just the track, curlin went too early, 5-6 wide, dragged raven's pass into it, who sling-shotted past him. Americans also heavily under-estimated the 2 european 3 year-old colts. If zarkava was there she could have won mile, classic, or turf.

[orangecountydrums44]

that is exactly what i thought. There ARE other horses in the world, i would have never guessed he would win though, i was thinking ravens pass would be like 2nd or 3rd, and then curlin or BB. i hope curlin is bred with zenyatta.

[randykawasaki]

We have to find a way of letting horses compete internationally. That means agreeing on a surface and a drugs policy. This Cup was a move in the right direction - for the racehorse.

[randykawasaki]

OK - the reason there is a move towards synthetics is because they are kinder to a horse's action than dirt. They resemble a good cover of grass in some ways, and surely thats a good thing? Above all though, American racing has to deal with the drugs issue. Why is that so hard?

[realeasygoer]

the use of synthetics on the race track is still an experiment to be debated. the bottomline is that to win races the american horsemen have to make the nessasary changes if the want things to be different next year. the ban on drugs was very good move i was very happy to hear about that. i think the the horses that won had enough talent coupled with better preperation. also they were ridden like it was a turf race. no matter how good a horse is, it has a trainer and a jockey for a reason.

[jediknightjohnny123]

curlin is still the best horse, but i mean check this out. curlin has been in alot of races this year and ever since he came back from dubai he has been sort of burned out. he needs a layoff if they decide to continue to race him. also. i agree curlin does not like synthetic surfaces, and neither does pyro. ps. had big brown been in this race he would have romped, because big brown loves the grass and synthetics. i am not a fan of sytnhetic surfaces. synthetic tracks should be painted green.

[swailesluke]

Raven's Pass has been in A LOT MORE race's this year than Curlin, and Big Brown would not have beaten Raven's Pass or The Navigator!!

[Elljay2001]

The first time Frankie has rode him and he hits the jackpot.

[ciaranspiddal]

i think its unfortunate jimmy fortune didnt get the ride, he rode him very nicely in the QEII Stakes and I think the horse has improved in itself and grown over the summer which has made him a better horse. Frankie gave him a good ride but I think that earlier on in the season Ravens just wasnt as good as Henry and thats why he only beat him once in Ascot for the QEII, John Gosden got him to peak at the right time for the big international race! I think its a real pity that Fortune missed out.

[Barbaro2012]

Raven's Pass is obviously a way better horse then Curlin considering that he has never raced on synthetic tracks, and was only supposed to be a turf miler

[Ruffian4Ever]

That is an extremely ignorant comment. These horses have only raced each other in this race, which was on a synthetic track and acts very similar to turf. Ravens Pass is a proven turf horse, while everybody knows Curlin doesnt take to turf well. Coming into this race all the Euro horses had better chances because of the synthetic track. Dont discard Curlin because of this one race-give him credit for trying. TRUE horse racing fans wouldnt diss Curlin like you and many others have.

[realeasygoer]

for curlin i still think that a better ride would have overcome the pro ride factor. also i remember that this horse was not initially sheduled for this race maybe if that was not the case the trainer might have did more to prepare for the surface change. tiago has already adjusted hence he beat go between & curlin who have always been better than tiago the euro ran well all weekend and frankie was very good. congrats to the winners and this years bc showed me alot about the pro ride surface.

[barsch63]

This is the most sensible comment I've seen. Early 2007 Keeneland jockeys quickly sensed that synth surfaces rode like turf and adjusted their riding tactics accordingly. Asmussen seems not to have figured this out. Remember Pyro's disaster in the Bluegrass? Curlin needs a new trainer.

[Pliochippus]

lets send Curlin to Gosden =D Just kidding lol, I dont wanna get my head bitten off XD

[Briano696969]

Ill back you up of course, the talk from Curlin fans is ridiculous, would he really have been able to make a move like that to the front if he didnt handle the surface? He just was beaten by better horses, European horses haha :)

[Barbaro2012]

i am a true racing fan f.y.i and just because i don't like curlin i'm not? Raven's Pass was clearly a better calibur horse on BC Day and simply outran the former Horse of the Year. I love Stardom Bound, Go Between, Henrythenavigator, Barbaro, Man O' War, Affirmed, Ruffian, Forego, Point Given, Mariah's Storm, Afleet Alex, Whirlaway, A.P. Arrow, Storm Cat, A.P. Indy and love watching them run. They are beautiful when they simply stand in front of you, I don't see Curlin that way.

[Ruffian4Ever]

But saying that Raven's Pass is "way better than Curlin" is completely ignorant. If you knew horse racing then you would know that this race only proves that Curlin does not like turf/synthetic surfaces, and Raven's Pass does. They cannot be compared to each other until they run against each other on dirt and see how Ravens Pass fairs. If Raven didnt run like this, then we would know he wasnt a dirt horse and neither could claim to be better because they run on different surfaces

[Barbaro2012]

i'll give you that but give me the fact that Raven is way better on synthetic and turf, and we don't know that he isn't a dirt horse, he's only three

[melc1949]

BTW, for everyone complaining about the track, at least no horses died, like George Washington did in the damned MUD last year.

[melc1949]

I suspect the headline for the British would be: Curlin Doesn't Upset Raven's Pass!!

Raven's Pass was undeniably the best horse on this day.

[Pliochippus]

well we actually thought that Duke of Marmalade was our best chance originally, but it did sorta end up favouring Henry more. Loads of people, incliding plenty of our experts didnt think Raven would stay the trip, & didnt think he would beat Henry again. They bla,ed the soft ground on QEII day for Henry's defeat. They genuinely didnt think Raven was that good. Shame on them lol!!

[melc1949]

One thing I like about horse racing is that horses don't tell the "experts" much of anything, and keep lots of secrets to themselves. Obviously, Raven's Pass was far more "horse" than the smart guys suspected. I attribute some of his "heart" to that Northern Dancer, and Secretariat blood back there. It came out well.

[royalcountystar]

The ground was rattling on the day of the QEII. Don't know why you think it was soft. Sure, dosen't Raven's Pass only act on a fast surface too.

[burkhillcomedy]

no becuase our big hope for this years breeders cup was conduit in the turf

[NativeHorse55]

Whoo!!!! I HATE Curlin!!!

[tattynsmokey]

what a race bi henry and raven both fantastic horses they come 1 2 both milers too but it shows they are better than all of those horsaes

[havannah00]

mr gosden,if you have anything to do with it,please keep him in training,you might just have a monster on your hands

[havannah00]

god,what jim bolger must be thinking now,what would new approach done to that field,new secretariat? keep him in training sheikh,always looked a beter four year old?

[randykawasaki]

I wouldn't be so sure. On a proper, quick turf surface I don't think he'd beat the first two over a mile now, and I'm far from certain he'd beat RP over a mile on synthetic. Would he have had the speed in the BCC? I doubt it.

[havannah00]

maybe i,m biased but that was the first surface that americans and europeans have had a level playing field and we kicked their ass.

[havannah00]

what ahorse,champion as a two year old just touched off in dewherst?proper champion as 3 year old was always going to improve more than henry(ran a superb race)one of the best we,ve seen. are wee going to be treated to ravens again next year?

[DerangedAlibi]

What a fantastic race. I was there, rooting for Curlin like a nut. He ran his heart out on a surface foreign to him. The Europeans just had it today, and Raven's Pass is one of the best in the world. If he had to lose, I'm glad it's to that champion.

He's still loved, though. As he walked back to the barn, we all gave him a standing ovation. He's still America's modern-day superhorse.

[Pliochippus]

RAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAVEN!­!! I told EVERYONE!! I always knew he was gonna be one of the best one day. I've loved him since before he ever raced, and its justified! What a champion! He has more heart than all of those horses put together in the field today, he just does NOT want to lose! I cried happy tears when he won <3 I am sad for Curlin, back to backs would have been awesome & I genuinely thought he had a great chance, but Raven was simply too classy!!

[Rock8mywork789]

Curlin is still number one on dirt. This takes nothing away from what he's done. Obviously Raven's Pass talent is unlimited...

[horseyaddicted]

Whoa! What a horse! I overlooked him today,I will never do that again! Nice job!! I still love Curlin though. =] But..Hahha!!! Casino Drive...last-what a joke. A very nice race! One for the ages.

[atimtg]

folks, curlin is still one of the best ever on dirt. This synthetic racing is sure exciting though!

[LauraLovesMocha]

i cant beleive casino drive was LAST (or atleast thats what i think he placed). and i really wanted curlin to win but it was too bad he placed 4th :(

[bigbrownfan12345]

Noooo.... I was rooting for Curlin all the way...

[marban14]

good for ravens pass!!!

his grandfather by mother ,Lord At War, was champion miler in Argentina

[Barbaro2012]

who got owned? Curlin AND Casino Drive! Go Raven's Pass! Both Curlin and Casino Drive couldn't live up to the pressure! Whoop!

[burkhillcomedy]

curlin curlin curlin that all we have heard from the yanks he just wasnt good enough for the most improved horse worldwide ravens pass

[Pliochippus]

spot on!!

[randykawasaki]

Oh yes, take away the dirt and the drugs and the Europeans rule. What a dickhead commentator though - yelling for Curlin even though others were looking sweeter.

[JuDoGGG]

Why is running on dirt any less legitimate than running on any other surface? Curlin's favorite surface is obviously dirt. The Europeans gave a good effort and deserve the win. Oh, that "dickhead" commentator is widely regarded as one of the best in America. If you listened to the call, he called out Curlin after he swept the field on the turn and then asked "Can he go on?" Obviously, he couldn't. He wasn't leading the audience into thinking he thought he would win. Get it right jackass!

[Pliochippus]

I thought Tom Durkin was regarded as the best? Isnt this Trevor Denman commentating? It was a great call though =D

[randykawasaki]

The world outside America does not utilise the dirt surface for a variety of reasons - American race fans are very much aware of the drawbacks. Horses were born to run on grass - makes sense to have something that most closely resembles it. I notice you choose to ignore the comment about drugs. This is a problem that must be dealt with. If you listen to the commentary he screams 'can you believe it' as Curlin moves up. Plenty of other horses looked sweet at the time. Listen and look.

[lisaky72]

For once, European horses can compete against the Americans on a level playing field now that steroids are banned - and look what we can do - Go Frankie!

[bowmak316]

awooga what a race