Gossip claiming that Sea the Stars won’t be running in the Breeders’ Cup Classic because of insurance costs has all been rubbished by its close connections.

The piece of gossip that was doing the rounds was that the rising popularity and value of the Arc winner lead to no one willing to underwrite the risk of it traveling to Santa Anita and back.

However according to John Clarke, who is the racing manager to its owners, the Tsui family, states that it will be (as expected) John Oxx who will be making the final decision of whether Sea the Stars will be running in the Breeders’ Cup Classic or not.

He has also stated that insurance costs were in no way a factor that will change or make the outcome of his decision, and that he was in no hurry to make a final decision. John Oxx has thus far managed Sea The Stars very well in my opinion, so who are we to argue with whatever he decides.

In the meantime, it is interesting to learn that Cheltenham has announced prize money of 5.77 million pounds for the 2009/2010 season, a quite astonishing pool of prize money, however it is still lower than last season!

This means that as well as what will be available in races between now and the new year, an incredible 130,000 pounds per race will be up for grabs during the four days of the March 2010 Festival.

According to the Director of Racing and clerk of Cheltenham course, Simon Claisse, this year’s total prize money is slightly lower than the record level of last season. He also announced that there would be no additional races during the 2010 festival.