Short and … Sweet?

The2010 Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint at Churchill Downs is shaping up to be a far different race from its first two incarnations. This year’s Turf Sprint is to be run over 5 furlongs, the Turf Sprints at Santa Anita were held over 6 ½ furlongs. The configuration of Churchill Downs’ turf course lends itself to 5 furlong sprints, which are run regularly during race meets.

Richard Migliore, who rode Desert Code to win the inaugural BC Turf Sprint at Santa Anita, observes that the Breeders’ Cup the field is larger than regular races and the stakes are higher, “In this year’s race so many horses have the same style of running; the fourteen highly specialized turf sprinters are the best in the world. At Churchill Downs there is a short time to the turn; out of the gate there is not much time to separate the field before the turn.

“With the potential to have so many horses in the same spot, it could be a fairly roughly run race. Horses are going to be going 20 and change or 21 flat, the juices will be flowing on the day, and because of the stakes, the riding will be more aggressive.” Fourteen horses will be charging for the same spot. Since they all can’t be in that spot, a jockey’s skill, tactics and nerve come into play

Before the turf sprint, when the stewards talk to the jockeys, Migliore would like them to stress the 5 furlongs’ distance limitations and impress upon the riders the need to take care of each other, avoiding a melee. No stranger to the stewards’ sting for hard-driving riding, Migliore says, “The five furlong Turf Sprint is the race that day where the riders are going to have to look out for themselves and the other guys.”