Why OFF the Turf for the 10th at BEL?
 

This was an interesting betting race. Why take this sprint off the turf while keeping the other turf races on? Not like they were better races.

Not sure I have a good answer for that one. Always been a bit mystified by NYRA's "off turf" policy.

We had well over an inch of rain yesterday and as a horseplayer I am very happy that two of the three turf races actually stayed on. Obviously they took the 10th race off because they only wanted to run one race on each course. The last was taken off because it promised to offer the biggest field on the dirt.

With five turf races for Sunday, most would say they were surprised they ran on the turf at all today, but I guess some are miserable that they took one of three off. Oh well.

Actually, I had an opinion in the 10th. So, I'm biased.

Moreover, I would've had no issues with taking all the races off the turf. (As it is, the courses are in horrible condition for so early in the season.) And, I'm sure, that most would be in agreement.

All or none: a credo to live by. :rolleyes:

Don't get me wrong I'm happy any of the races were on the grass, it's just that I've seen races taken off the grass with less rain, I've seen races taken off the Widener and not the inner, or races moved to the inner from the Widener. No complaints just confusion, there just seems to be no pattern.

They will switch when they want to run two races and only one on each course. Both courses, can accomodate 1 1/16th, while only the widener can run at a mile, and the inner at 1 1/8.

The current administration has attempted to leave races on the turf if the course was safe as they understand that off the turf races lose significant handle. The previous administrations made an enormous amount of mistakes.

Agreed, they are leaving more races on the turf, always a good thing. Also like the incentive they offer to stay in off the turf races by bumping up the purse 20% if field is 8 or more. The racing office is definitely a lot more creative than in the past.