Did Rain Spoil BC Championships?

While a rain soaked event was had by all on Breeders' Cup day, the contestants of four hooves and equal hearts gave everything. The BC is about the horses.

The Nov. 5th issue of Sports Illustrated suggested that the recent thoroughbred Breeders' Cup championships were lacking in anything pleasant because the two-day event was rain-soaked. Fans, trainers, and owners were huddled under umbrellas when possible, crowded inside, and dripping outside when their presence was required, with really nothing to enjoy, the article contends.

SI had no real coverage of thoroughbred racing's richest and most important days of racing. Too wet for camera work? Too damp for pen and paper? Too unpleasant?

Hmmm...But, it's about the horses, you see. It's about trained professionals, and youngsters in training, all of whom have four hooves and a heart, and any one of which might become the day's show stopper.

The two days of fog and wet and drizzle produced outstanding performances from the horses who battled out their division races with no less spirit than if they had romped through sunshine and brisk autumnal breezes. It's about a world of horses, courageously contesting the season's championships.

It was about a Juvenile blockbuster named War Pass. And it was about Corinthian and English Channel finishing solid careers in heroic winning efforts. And the mighty Curlin, thundering around the last turn as though he moved across plush, dry track instead of through splashes of mud and slop that stuck to and glistened on his chestnut coat. The wire would be his no matter what.

There was Ginger Punch and Hystericalady and Octave rushing in tandem through a heart-stopping finish, gliding to the end of their muddy endeavor as though carried by desert wind beneath sweeping wings. There was Lahudood holding off Honey Ryder on the soggy turf, charging to the end and never minding the mist.

It's about the horses, SI; so if your cameras weren't ready and your writers weren't willing, your loss. You see?