THIS year’s Breeders’ Cup seemed a great success for someone, admittedly, watching from afar.

Given the world’s best racehorse dazzled down the Keeneland straight and one of the most emotional sporting stories imaginable came to tear-including fruition, that was, perhaps, hardly a surprise.

The stunning performance of Flightline in the Classic and the Dirt Mile success of Cody’s Wish made for one of the most enduring Breeders’ Cups for years.

For those unaware of Flightline, he had won a Grade 1 on his previous start by 19 lengths to prompt comparisons with stateside legend Secretariat. Those comparisons were not misplaced.

The build up to the supporting races also focussed on the incredible story of Cody’s Wish.

The horse was named after Cody Dorman. The teenager, battling a rare genetic disorder, had struck up a remarkable bond with Cody’s Wish on a visit to Godolphin’s Gainsborough Farm.

The extraordinary friendship has extended to the track where Cody’s Wish seems to recognise his friend and makes a beeline for the wheelchair-bound youngster after his races.

There were many other stories highlighted in the days before the two-day meeting kicked off.

British sprinter Highfield Princess was making the trip after starting off her career in lowly handicaps and Hollie Doyle’s attempt to win her first Breeders’ Cup prize on star filly Nashwa was another to fill newspaper inches and TV airtime.

Of course, it’s not every year such newsworthy stories will accompany any race meeting but having the final fields declared four days before the start of the meeting can only have helped.

It’s something British racing could easily replicate for its biggest races.

It might not work for longer meetings like the Cheltenham Festival, Royal Ascot or Glorious Goodwood but for individual races it absolutely would.

It could help the promotion of the Derby and the Grand National a huge amount to know the definite runners four or five days before the race.

The promotion of the biggest races could build into a crescendo over those days, increasing the excitement and anticipation on the lead up to the feature days.

The introduction of 48-hour decs for all races has helped but it just isn’t enough for the very biggest contests that are capable of engaging those with merely a passing interest in the sport.

Focus on the contenders with certainty would help give the casual viewer an attachment to the horses and riders like never before.

There would also be the opportunity to create events in the days before the races.

On the run-up to the Melbourne Cup a parade of the owners, trainers and jockeys connected to the runners is held through the streets of the Australian city.

It can’t take much organising and is hardly an earth-shattering spectacle but still the crowds stand ten deep in places to catch a glimpse of the parade.

The promoters of British racing, given more time, would be able to be far more creative with their events to increase the anticipation of our top races.

What would be the negatives? The Derby hopefuls are hardly going to swerve Epsom in favour of other targets so close to the first Saturday in June and reserves are already used for last-minute defections for the National.

British racing needs all the help it can get to attract new fans and this simple act of self help has the potential to return its biggest races to the standing they used to enjoy among the general public.