On Thursday, Curlin will be put on a plane going from Louisville to New York. The question of ownership licensing has been resolved and a decision to race Curlin in Belmont Park’s Man O’ War Stakes on Saturday has been taken.

Curlin, Horse of the Year in America in 2007, will be racing on grass for the first time. The Man O’War is a Grade I race carrying a $500,000 purse. The distance is 2200 metres. Opposing Curlin will be two Breeders’ Cup Turf champions, Better Talk Now and Red Rocks. Better Talk Now won the 2400-metre race at Lone Star Park in 2004. In 2006, Red Rocks emerged victorious in the Turf Classic at Churchill Downs.

There is another thing that Curlin needs to get acquainted with. When in France, the Prix Foy, the prep race for the Arc, will be run at Longchamp, a right-handed track. All American racecourses are left-handed. Given Curlin’s ability to adjust to new situations, it may not be too hard an obstacle to overcome.

Trainer Steve Asmussen said, “We have been approved by New York. The Man O’War will offer stiffer competition than the Arlington handicap. It is a Grade I race. He (Curlin) will go against two prior Breeders’ Cup winners on the grass. The question we want answered is if Curlin is of the caliber to be considered for the Arc. Facing two previous Breeders’ Cup winners should definitely give us that measure.”

“It is not a ‘must win’ race but he has to do well,” Asmnussen continued. “The Arc is the one of the greatest races in the world. We want Curlin to be part of the movement to strengthen international racing.”

Curlin will go to Chantilly to train. The Prix Foy will be over 2400 metres (same distance as the Arc) at Longchamp in mid-September. The Arc de Triomphe will be run on Sunday, October 5, 2008.

“It will be new to Curlin and it will be new to Robbie Albarado as well.” Asmussen said referring to the ‘grass’ experience. “We want to be fully prepared.”

The Arlington Handicap in Chicago was not picked because of weight considerations. This is a bold experiment that Curlin’s connections are embarking upon.

More often than not, the Arc has been run on moist grass. May be, when in Chantilly, Curlin will get to work on soft grass.

Steve Asmussen has one great asset. It is Cash Asmussen, Steve’s brother. Cash Asmussen rode in France for an extended period. Cash Asmussen won the Arc in 1991 with Suave Dancer. Steve will get firsthand advice from his brother.

I remember 2006 when Japan’s Deep Impact brought hundreds of journalists from the Land of the Rising Sun. A separate area was set up. Deep Impact finished third to Rail Link and Pride.

I can envision a huge media contingent from the US descending on Longchamp. I am looking forward to it.

The Qatar Racing Club has taken over sponsorship of the Arc beginning this year. The purse will be higher.

Curlin is a 15-1 chance in the Arc. If he wins the Man O’War on Saturday, I believe his odds will drop.

Let us switch to the Breeders’ Cup races. There will be 57 BC Challenge races in 2008. They will all be televised on different networks. If a horse wins one of these races, he or she gets a berth in the corresponding BC event. The 25th BC edition will be at Santa Anita on October 24 and 25. There will be 14 races worth 25.5 million dollars.

There will be nine hours of TV coverage of BC races this year. ABC will carry two and one half hours of live coverage.

In England, the July meeting at Newmarket has started. There has been rain in the area but racing has not been affected at the time of typing this report.

Duke of Marmalade is a firm favorite in the King George over 2000 metres at Ascot in the last week of July.

Chicago is hot. Arlington Park is getting ready to host the Arlington Million racing festival. It is coming up in August. In the recent past, there has been a strong European presence.