Question For Saratoga Folks
 

Would Saratoga ever be considered as a host of the Breeders cup or is it simply too cold that time of year ?

I am not from Saratoga but have spent plenty of time there during all times of the year. Saratoga can be 55 or 30 degrees. It just doesn't make much sense as a BC venue IMO mainly because of how nasty it could be. I doubt it is much colder than Monmouth is going to be. Monmouth is not as "open air" as Saratoga though which might make it a little more tolerable on a cold and/or raw late October day.

There is no way they could undergo a "winterization" at the Spa like they did for Belmont in '90. The reason the '85 BC was at Aquedirt instead of Belmont was because it was winterized.

Originally I wanted to go to the Monmouth BC, but because of how the BC is treating people that don't spend a fortune for a seat and the possibility of inclement weather, I am taking a pass. I ain't spending $100 to sit on the clubhouse turn and freeze my ass off. I would feel the same way about Saratoga as much as I love the place.

I don't think weather enters into the decision making process. The held one in Toronto and I froze my ass off.

It's more about the facilities.

a couple years ago, we were at west point for a football game, the first saturday in nov. no way would i want to be at saratoga on the first of nov.

i don't see why they won't give saratoga the breeders cup for one year, back in 1996 they ran the cup at Woodbine supposedly as a one time favor for Charles Taylor, give Saratoga the breeders cup just one time no matter what the temperature is

It would also requiring moving all the NYRA equipment up from Belmont for one day and then moving it back afterwards. Doesn't make much sense when Belmont is already a good host.

belmont is not a good host in my opinion, back in 2005 they had what 57,000 people! thats crap! saratoga gets that for travers day! so saying saratoga doesn't have the space either is just another excuse

Saratoga had 38,000 people for Travers Day this year and as Da Hoss correctly pointed out most of those people are accomodated in the backyard/picnic area. Somehow I doubt that same situation will work for the BC and with Saratoga's roughly 5000 seating capacity I highly doubt even temporary bleachers could come even remotely close to filling the seating needs. Sniper also correctly pointed out that the costs in moving equipment to Saratoga would be prohibitive. Plus, there are virtually no indoor areas at the racetrack and little to nothing can ( or will ) be done to change that.

However, apparently none of that makes sense. Frankly, I don't understand why NYRA even utilizes Aqueduct and Belmont.....why not just continue racing at Saratoga until zero people come through the turnstyles. When the inevitable blizzardlike conditions create massive snow drifts on the turf course it would be a piece of cake to run an all-steeplechase meet.

Kentucky Downs would be a fantastic choice for the BC.

look at past attendances at Saratoga on Traver's Day, they've had crowds of 65,000 and have been able to accommodate all the people, put me on this bc committee and i'll get the breeders cup at saratoga LOL

Well, your ideas are certainly bad enough to qualify for a position. It wouldn't surprise me to see you heading the NTRA in the very near future.

Put me on the committee and i'll make sure the BC is at Kentucky Downs.

Oh and if anyone has power in the NFL...make me head NFL decider-in-chief and I'll add franchises in Chattanooga (Choo-Choo's) and Beaver Dam (It)

Andy is back....

hmmm ok and your ideas are what? jeez nobody on this damn board can take a joke

TMI

this is hilarious how all these threads turn out

65.000 on Travers day? You sure about that? The biggest days are giveaway spinner days.

sorry i was off by 4,000, back in 2001 they had 61,000