Saratoga or Del Mar?
 

So, for the second year in a row, I got to spend a few days at Del Mar this week.

At the same time I have been lucky enogh to do the double, spending opening day at the Spa.

So, the question is...which is better. First, they are two exceptional places which are the best of the best. But, let's dig deeper.

Weather: Del Mar

Horse Quality: Saratoga

Paddock Area: Del Mar

History: Saratoga

Restaurants: Saratoga

Scenery: Del Mar

Downtown Area: Saratoga

Hotels: Del Mar

After Midnight: Can't help you there I'm sleeping

So, it's a tie. Each has it's own character, and driving in this week off Hwy 15 on Valley Parkway was one of the most spectacular drives I've ever had. Before I can to Del Mar I thought it impossible to touch Saratoga. Del Mar does that in it's own way.

Well said....I have the privilege and luck to be able to attend both places each summer. They are unique and special in their own ways.


p.s. Other Scenery: Del Mar

pss; that's what I meant.

both very tough to cap.

The edge has always been with Saratoga - for me - because of all the shippers.

Other than Presque Isle Downs (with it's 475 stalls and no local training centers for a 100-day long, 5-day a week race meet) no track has quite as much variety with shippers that you get at Saratoga.

It's obviously a much greater test of handicapping skill when you have horses coming from six different circuits last-out. Although, because of factors like slots and the growing number of NY-Bred races ... you're seeing a little less variety like that at Saratoga compared with 5-to-10 years ago.



Look at Presque Isle's latest card drawn (7/17)

Race #1: Includes horses who raced last time out at: Saratoga, Parx, Arlington Park, Belmont Park.

Race #2: Includes horses who raced last time out at: Ellis Park, Penn National (2)

Race #3: Horses raced last out at: Tampa, Thistle, Parx, Mountaineer

Race #4: Horses raced last out at: Praire Meadows, and Delaware

Race #5: Horses raced last out at: Mountaineer and Charles Town

Race #6: Horses raced last out at: Delaware, Churchill Downs, Arlington Park

Race #7: Horses raced last out at: Parx (2) , Laurel, Finger Lakes, Penn National

Race #8: Horses Raced last out at: Delaware, Thistle, Colonial,


Oddly no Woodbine shippers... but there are about five or six of them on the prior days card. Surprisingly -- no River Downs or Indiana Downs shippers either -- but they're not uncommon.

It's hard to gain a big edge at places where the same horses run against each other over and over.