Horse Betting World
- All Articles
- Handicapping Picks
- Breeders Cup
- The Horse Whisperer
- Newsletter
- Results and Charts
- Entries and Programs
- Useful Links
- Videos
- Contact Us
"The Horse Whisperer" Informing and entertaining the masses on this great sport of horse racing!
To read our most recent horse racing articles
Subscribe Here To Get The Most Accurate Horse Racing Information
Online horse handicapping picks will be available shortly. These picks will make you a horse betting winner.
Breeders´ Cup Marathon
The Breeders’ Cup has been run only twice, with both editions coming at Santa Anita. The inaugural edition was run at 1 ½ miles and won by Muhannak. Last year the race was lengthened to 1 ¾ miles and won by Man of Iron. Notice that both winners were European invaders. While they are more accustomed to these marathon races than their U. S. rivals, they also showed up to take advantage of the synthetic surface.
This year at Churchill Downs the race will be run at 1 ¾ miles, and it will be run over conventional dirt for the first time. It remains to be seen the level of European interest given the switch in surfaces.
The Marathon will be the first of 14 Breeders’ Cup races run on championship weekend, and it kicks off a $750,000 Guaranteed Pick Six on Friday.
Breeders’ Cup Dirt Marathon facts to consider in your handicapping:
Distance: 1 ¾ Miles on Dirt
Post Time: 4:10 PM (ET), Friday
Churchill Downs Track Profile for this distance – a rarely-used distance at any racetrack, this will be the longest race run over the main track at Churchill Downs in some time. In fact, during the last two race meets only two races were run at 1 ¼ miles or longer (the other was at 1 ½ miles). Both winners were at least 6.5 lengths behind the leaders at the second call.
Breeders’ Cup Track Profile at Churchill Downs for this distance – no previous editions run at this racetrack.
Churchill Downs Post Position Profile for this distance – the impact of post position at a distance like this is minimal.
Breeders’ Cup Post Position Profile at Churchill Downs for this distance – no previous editions run at this racetrack.
Betting Angles – In the U. S., most handicapping angles (speed, post, etc.) are irrelevant when analyzing races at distances such as 1 ¾ miles. Races at this distance are far more prevalent in other countries, even if most are run over turf. Even with the race switching to conventional dirt, any proven long-distance runner from overseas should be given extra consideration. Races such as the Marathon are often decided by long-winded runners with proven class. In two previous editions early speed has fared poorly – the leader after one mile finished dead-last in 2008 and next-to-last in 2009.
