It was nice to see the Wall Street Journal publish an insightful piece today about the Breeders’ Cup and horse racing in general.

After a rain-soaked affair last year at Monmouth that saw a big decline in handle, the Breeders’ Cup returns to sunny California for 2008 and again in 2009.

I’ll be at Santa Anita on Saturday, and here is what I will be looking for:

Big Crowds

Weather won’t be a problem.  Hype isn’t a problem with articles all week in USA Today and the LA Times.   Competition is not a problem as the Dodgers and Angels are out of the playoffs.

Churchill Downs in 2006 saw 75,132 people walk through the turnstiles, the third-highest attendance in Breeders’ Cup history.  Churchill had 80,452 in 1998.

The third running of the Breeders’ Cup at Santa Anita in 1986 attracted a crowd of 69,155 and the tenth running at Santa Anita drew an on-track attendance of 55,130.  In 2003, attendance at the Breeders’ Cup at Santa Anita was 51,648.

In 2004 Breeders’ Cup  53,717 were in attendance at Lone Star. Attendance on track for the Breeders’ Cup was 56,289 at Belmont Park in 2005.

Considering that Del Mar pulls 42,000 for opening day, I’m hoping for a raucous crowd of over 60,000 for Saturday alone for the “Super Bowl of Horseracing” in Southern California.

Sustained Handle

A total of $111,903,685 was wagered from all sources on the 11-race Breeders’ Cup World Championships card at Monmouth Park Oct. 27, according to preliminary data, a decline of 20.3% from the all-time record set at Churchill Downs in 2006 of over $140 million.

2007 had the excuse of poor racing conditions.  2008 has the excuse of a poor economy.  I hope we can break $110 million.

Youth

This is Los Angeles.  Where even 45 year old women look 21.  Joking aside, I’m hoping to see a young crowd.  The old rich people will definitely be there.  The horseracing diehards who grind it out at Hollywood every weekend will be there.  With major sponsors TVG, Grey Goose, Emeritas Airline, Sentient and Bessemer Trust on board, I’m hoping they are on board every year…along with Apple, Coors Light and other brands that seek to reach a younger demographic.

At some point horse racing will need to appeal to younger people.  And there is no better time than back-t0-back races in the entertainment capital of the world.

Here is hoping for a successful Championships, an upset by Colonel John to pay for my drinks, and a big victory by Penn State over Ohio State to cap off a wonderful day for sports!