Calder--what the heck........
 

Calder is going to run two races at the same time on a program called EXTREME DAY. They are also going to run a 2 mile race worth $250k. The also are going to run races clockwise instead of counter-clockwise. Extreme Day is going to be July 22nd.

Two races at once. I wonder if they are going to have a bet you can make on the two winners--maybe a two-race trifecta etc etc. Never heard of anything like this but it should be interesting.

Yes they are its called I believe that worlds fastest daily double! It all has to do with the 22nd of the month and something to break up the normal sch. it should be fun.

Well the 2-mile turf race is a good thing and with 29 noms and a purse of $250k, it should be a great race.

As for the "two-at-once" races, I thonk it's a terrible idea. They'll have to add to the gate crew(s), use two starters and I have no idea how they will use the patrol cameras. And what happens of a horse gets loose in the post parade ?

Love Calder's innovation. It likely will go well. But I'd rather not see them do this.

I love the 2 mile race. I think we should race longer distances in America. I would love to get rid of the 1 1/8 and 1 1/16 mile distance. I would like to see this.

5 furlong
5.5 furlongs
6 furlongs
6.5 furlongs
7.5 furlongs
1 mile
1 1/4 miles
2 miles

These are the distance I would love to see.

You can see 5F and 5.5F races at Calder most every weeekday. Yu may not like the quality, but they run plenty of them. Calder also runs a lot of 7.5F races, but on the turf only. 1 1/4 and 2 mile races are very rare anywhere, I believe.

I believe you are correct. I love those 2 mile races.

What's next? A relay race? Maybe some figure eight racing?

And waht about jocks? You are going to need 20-24 riders and there aren't that many talented riders down there as it is!! Whose going to ride these horses? Exercise boys? ten pound bugs?
I don't like it, not a bit. And how will they call the races? Sounds like a cluster**** to me.

STS,

You going down there to watch the races? I have an awards dinner that night that we are leaving at 4:00 for or I would go.

Good God, Oracle, it isn't as though it's to be a regular feature.

I wish I could go to this. I think the whole card sounds fun. "Gray Pride Race" :D :D :D

I love it. That Bob Umphrey is my kinda guy. I love the whole card. I wish them well. And I think they'll do well.

Is there really a gray pride race? That is absolutely hilarious and a brilliant idea. I wish we had that here at Saratoga. What a great draw that would be.

Yes sir. They wanted Grecian Formula to sponsor it, have the horses manes and tails dyed, but it didn't work out for the sponsors.

I'd love to see some major 1/4 horse sprints at Saratoga. I'm talkin big purses to bring in the stars of that game.

This is pretty old news. It's gonna be called "The World's Fastest Daily Double" and will feature one race on the dirt and one on the turf simultaneously.

And Gander, your favorite track The Meadowlands already has the Grey Ghost, which is limited to grays and I believe is run on Halloween or thereabouts. It's a blast.

Couple of years ago it was really foggy during that race and it was a night race. I saw some incredible photos from it. Imagine grey horses coming out of the fog at night. Just great.

Yes I know about the Meadowlands race. They have been doing that for a few years now and I think things like this are great for the game. Maybe NYRA will start one of these races? Cant hurt to ask. They certainly have no shortage of gray horses on the grounds.

I also think on Halloween they should have a race where all the jockeys dress up in costumes. It would be funny and add something above the ordinary.
Variety is after all the spice of life.

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Hopefully they'll limit the fields to eight in each race. Paddock holds 14... I suppose they can saddle one group in the walking ring area which is fairly large and lead them out first. Still, warming up, etc.... I don't care much for it.

Buffy, won't be there for Extreme Day. Trying to get there for this Saturday, but it doesn't look promising.

Nice pictures. Thanks for sharing.