Miff and 'bee,
I agree that no system is perfect.
But I do believe a human committee would be able to determine the best field. Put TGJB, Beyer, Crist, and jcovello on the committee. You don't trust them to get it right? I would trust that group over the graded earnings or points system. Songbird certainly could have "earned" her way into the field via the points system but I believe based on some of the factors 'bee pointed out that she would deserve an invite from a human committee. If she declined, on to the next potential entrant moving up at entry time. If she didn't want to face boys before the Derby but her trainer/owner wanted to at this point, I would be all for including her based on her accomplishments to this point. How many people on this board wouldn't want to at least see her in the field if her connections wanted to give it a sporting gesture?? Or also, how many people believe she doesn't deserve to be in at this point? Very few of you is my conjecture.
It is true the current points leader is considered slow and should be ranked below Nyquist by just about any standard. A committee would be able to ascertain this flaw. Nyquist would be the current 1 seed. This has nothing to do with my thoughts about his chances in the race but rather his accomplishments to this point. He should choose first for the post position. No committee would disagree on the number one ranked horse this year. Now obviously there will be many disagreements about exact rankings and in some years esp the number one seed but that would be part of the enjoyment of the process much like the tourney. So long as the top 20 are the best 20 horses that get in, that is my concern. And at the bottom there may be a few disagreements. But no way could you ever convince me that Cherry Wine should be excluded in favor of Trojan Nation at this point in time.
And without a doubt, a selection criteria for trainers to plan for and train for beginning as 2yo's should be set forth and followed by the committee. But giving them the discretion element to exclude a 2nd and 3rd place finisher from a weak prep is the key point to accomplishing the best field. Sophisticated systems or rankings would not be embraced by the public at large in my opinion. CDI is all about selling the Derby to the masses as it pays for their entire operation for the year from one week of racing. The points system while not my favorite does accomplish this goal but a committee reveal has also appealed to the masses as CBS has taught us with March Madness.
So as for tv, where I am really dreaming I know, I think the committee should have the field set leading into Lexington Day (but not revealed at that point) and have contingencies set up in the event that race changes the final rankings and invites. Immediately after the Lexington, the field would be revealed and ranked through say 25 or so horses on the same network that carries the Lexington. The week of the Derby the post position would be chosen by the trainers that enter their horses following the invites knowing where they stand in the rankings. That would be your usual 30 minute show that receives no ratings richiebee. But the Field Reveal after the Lexington would garner more tv fanfare in my opinion b/c the mystery of who is in and who is out would be a selling point.
As for horses that may not have run that deserved a chance: Rock Hard Ten, Bernardini, Tonalist (a stretch), Kid Cruz (??not sure??) are a few that come to mind with a few of those listed from before the graded earnings rule changed to points. And Songbird this year would be interesting to see as I said. I didn't "research" these horses listed so don't nail me to the cross on this reply to the bee's question.
Sir Barton was the first so-called Triple Crown winner winning in 1919. While I am all for tradition and paegentry and a healthy respect for the past, the previous system was already blown up and replaced with the points system rather than graded earnings. Sir Barton was literally almost 100 years ago and he did win as a maiden defeating 12 other horses including Billy Kelly. Times have changed so let's make the process as accurate as possible for the fans and the horses.....maidens shouldn't be entered in the Derby, number one on the list of criteria for the committee to put forth.
Let's get the best possible field of 20 is my point and I believe a committee would accomplish that better than any other system even with the human element flaws that may result.
