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Those under a certain age might not realize that once upon a time, many of the big fall stakes in New York were the sports championship-defining events. Adidas NMD Human Race China . And then the Breeders Cup was born, and everything changed.This is not a knock on the Breeders Cup. Its a great event, even with its few flaws. But it is to say no racing circuit in America sacrificed more for the benefit of the Breeders Cup than the New York Racing Association, and no circuit has seen so many of its major races so devalued as a result.Its not even remotely close. On either count.Well before the Breeders Cup existed, New Yorks Jockey Club Gold Cup was for decades the de facto Breeders Cup Classic. The same was true of the Beldame, which was the forerunner to the Breeders Cup Distaff; the Champagne, which was as comparably title-defining as the Breeders Cup Juvenile, more so than any other fall 2-year-old stakes of the time; and the Frizette was the same before the advent of the Breeders Cup Juvenile Fillies.That is why it is painful for people who well remember what these big fall stakes events at Belmont Park once were to see what has become of them. Saturdays Jockey Club Gold Cup, Champagne, and Frizette each drew fields of only six. And last Saturdays Beldame lured a field of only seven. That in itself wouldnt be bad if they were the right six or seven horses in each race. But with other tracks running their big Breeders Cup preps in the same time frame, getting the right six or seven in one stakes this time of year just cant happen.The Champagne did attract an interesting field, and it is possible a couple of its entrants might go on to be title contenders, but the Frizette drew a less inspiring field. More troubling were the fields the Beldame and Gold Cup lured. Not a single entrant in either one of those once mighty events can be considered a prime contender for a divisional Eclipse Award, let alone Horse of the Year honors.So what can be done about the alarming decline of major fall racing in New York? It seems to me there are three courses of action:** One thing is to do nothing. Just recognize that things never stay the same, and accept that New York racing in the fall will never again be what it once was. Personally, I think this would be tragic, allowing stakes of this magnitude to wither without event attempting to restore them.** Another path would be to be pro-active, and stop allowing New Yorks best fall stakes races to be subservient to a Breeders Cup that doesnt appear to care much about New York racing.The last time the Breeders Cup was held in New York was in 2005, when it was run at Belmont Park. And the earliest the Breeders Cup could return to New York is 2019, because after it is run this year at Santa Anita, it is promised to Del Mar in 2017, and to Churchill Downs in 2018. This will be the sixth Breeders Cup at Santa Anita alone since there was a Breeders Cup in New York. The 2018 Cup will be the fourth at Churchill Downs alone since a New York Breeders Cup.This is just plain wrong, and there is plenty of blame to go around. Unpredictable and untenable management situations at the NYRA had a lot to do with it, as did heavy-handed state government oversight, and simple inertia. The desire on the part of a past Breeders Cup administration to make Santa Anita the permanent host site was a major factor, too.Whatever, two unmistakable, and not coincidental, outcomes of this freeze out have been the marginalization of New Yorks fall stakes program, and how Belmont Park itself seems an unpopular prep locale for bigger events run elsewhere because of the unique configuration of the track.Belmonts main track is 1-1/2 miles in circumference, the largest in the nation. And that means the Beldame, Champagne, and Frizette are run around one turn, and the Gold Cup is run around 1-1/2 turns with an awkward starting gate placement. Horsemen have demonstrated that despite the history and prestige of the big New York fall stakes, when it comes to two turn Breeders Cup races, true two turn preps at tracks other than Belmont are simply more appealing.This has eroded participation in these New York events, and will continue to do so the longer Belmont Park goes without a Breeders Cup.A way to be pro-active in protecting Belmonts big fall stakes would, in the absence of the hope the Breeders Cup will ever return to New York, require the bold decision of no longer casting these races in as Breeders Cup preps, and finding a way to make them stand alone events they once were.Whether that means putting them in direct competition with the Breeders Cup (which, admittedly, would make them consolation prizes in the initial years), or, say, moving them to Thanksgiving weekend at Aqueduct along with the Cigar Mile and afford horses who competed in the Breeders Cup another opportunity to make or enhance their championship credentials, taking races like the Gold Cup out of subservient roles might revitalize them.** The third, and far more preferable option would be to get the Breeders Cup back to Belmont as soon as possible. I understand that you can get crappy weather in the Northeast in late October and early November. I understand that you never have to roll the weather dice when Santa Anita is the host. I also understand that Santa Anita is a tremendous site for the Breeders Cup, and they do a tremendous job with it every time they host it. I love that track.But the Breeders Cup was intended at its origin to be a moveable event, so fans in various corners of the country would have the opportunity to enjoy the spectacle, and so that, over time, there would be no home court advantage for horsemen based in a specific geographical area. A Breeders Cup at Belmont Park would instantly make the Gold Cup, Beldame and other stakes THE most desirable preps that year. And I suspect it would have a positive carryover effect as well, re-emphasizing to new eyes how great these fall stakes races in New York were, and still might be. Adidas NMD R1 Wholesale . Colin Wilson had two goals and an assist, and Mike Fisher scored a goal and helped set up two others in the Predators 6-4 victory over the Red Wings on Monday night. Adidas NMD R2 Sale . LOUIS -- St. http:///...-s75234-women-s.html . Hamelin, who triumphed in the 500 on Saturday, edged out Victor An of Russia by 0.021 seconds to maintain his lead in the World Cup standings. Russias Vladimir Grigorev was third. In the relay, Canada took control six laps from the finish line to beat Russia and the Netherlands. COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Indianas upset of Michigan State in overtime Saturday raised some eyebrows among college football pundits around the country, but it wasnt a huge stunner for Ohio State players who know the Hoosiers as a tough out the past few years.Indiana (3-1, 1-0 Big Ten) overcame a 14-point Spartans lead in the final 16 minutes Saturday night, and won on a 20-yard field goal in overtime, 24-21. Indiana won its first overtime game in six years and got its second win in 26 tries over a ranked foe.The task this week will be more formidable for the Hoosiers when they travel to Columbus to play No. 2 Ohio State (4-0, 1-0).Last year the Buckeyes just snuck by Indiana 34-27, fumbling the ball four times and racking up 109 penalty yards. In 2014, the Buckeyes didnt manage to pull away until the third quarter in a 42-27 win.Ohio State coach Urban Meyer said Monday the Hoosiers have by far their best team this season.I see an outstanding team, Meyer said. For four years in a row its been a swing-as-hard-as-you-can (game)....Theyve got an excellent coaching staff, you can see some really good things on video tape, and their game Saturday was a great win for that program.Defensive end Sam Hubbard said Indianas victory over the defending Big Ten champs last week just adds to the intensity of Saturdays matchup.They almost beat us last year, so we didnt really expect it to be an easy game at all, Hubbard said, noting that Indiana could have the best offensive line the Buckeyes have faced this year.When I heard about it, I wasnt shocked by any means, said quarterback J.T. Barrett, who became the Ohio State career leader for touchdown passes Saturday. Indiana is not a team to look past because they give us trouble every year.DEFENSE MAKES THE DIFFERENCEA slow start in the Tulsa game notwithstanding, the Buckeyes have clicked early this season and havent run into anny major potholes, in contrast to last season when they had trouble playing consistently until near the end. Adidas NMD Human Race Sale. Meyer credits a deep, stifling defense with making the difference.Ohio State had another shut-down defensive performance on Saturday in the 58-0 dismantling of Rutgers. The Scarlet Knights were held to 116 total yards, 33 passing yards and nine first downs. Ohio State is third in the nation in total defense and is the only team not to have allowed a rushing touchdown.Thats just the way the game of football is -- if you have a great defense, things are usually going to get rolling for you at some point, even if you struggle a little bit, Meyer said. And the fact that you have J.T. Barrett running the show, its pretty smooth. Even when he makes a mistake, usually its not an awful one and we can rally right back up. But it starts with defense.WEBER ROLLING ALONGRunning back Mike Weber was named Big Ten freshman of the week after rushing for 144 yards on 14 carries against Rutgers, including a 46-yard breakaway for a touchdown. He also had a 49-year breakaway run. Weber, a redshirt freshman, leads the Big Ten with a 123.8-yards-per-game average. He ranks 11th nationally.LAST WORD ON RUTGERSTwelve Ohio State players caught passes from Barrett Saturday, and eight different players scored touchdowns. Wide receivers Terry McLaurin, Parris Campbell and Johnnie Dixon all caught the first career TD passes....Backup running back Demario McCall ran for 85 yards and a TD on 10 carries late in the game after spelling Weber....Nick Bosa -- Joeys younger brother -- had four tackles and a sack.---Follow Mitch Stacy at http://twitter.com/mitchstacyFor some of his other recent stories: http://bigstory.ap.org/content/mitch-stacy ' ' '