NYRA - too much New York Racing and PolyTrack.
 

I have always loved how the NYRA writes great races for New York breds and I truly believe it is the best state bred program in the nation. However, it seems that they are writing some many state bred races that they are shutting out non-state bred horses. Seems like one person who is not happy is Rusty Arnold. It appears he might be leaving New York in favor of Kentucky (Keeneland). Here is a quote from Mr Arnold:

"The second factor is the change in regime in New York. The new racing secretary, P.J. Campo, has a little different philosophy than the people before him. It's no one's fault. The increase in New York-bred races has been tremendous, and I don't have any of those, so that has reduced my starters. My young horses usually don't get running until July and August, and that didn't suit him, So, all of a sudden, I was getting reduced in stalls after having basically the same number for 20 years."

It also appears that Zito is sending some horses to Kentucky (Keeneland) for the winter. He is going to use the new PolyTrack surface as a rehab type of surface. Zito seems to like PolyTrack.

Zito said Polytrack was an important factor in his decision. "It absolutely played a big part in it," Zito said. "My owners like the idea. Horses don't get hurt - and when Keeneland tells you how safe the track is, what can you say? I have to go along. But I still want to see it for myself."

But what is interesting is that Zito is not convinced on PolyTrack. I think the move of his horses are being made by the owners and not Zito. Should be interesting to see how this plays out.

I have said over and over and over again that trainers LOVE training their horses over PolyTracy but they aren't totally convinced on racing over the surface.

Anyway, I want to applaud Campo for writing more state bred races. I think it is fantastic and I hope he continues to do great work.

I saw that first quote (which you bolded) attributed to Zito someplace.

Rusty Arnold had his stall space reduced for the reason EVERYONE gets reduced stall space: His number of STARTERS at the previous meet (Belmont spring). You take up stall space and don't run in races? You get less stalls the next place you go (Saratoga). Same thing occured with Reynaldo Abreu. Rusty can talk all he wants about not having NY-breds... Chuck Simon came in to Saratoga with no NY-breds and got the stalls he needed based on his record of starting runners... There seems to be other things "bothering" Arnold that motivated this transition..

I was kinda thinking the lack of winning a lot of races might have bee a little more important than he let on.

Rusty, just isnt a runner. There are pleanty of trainers who dont run numbers. A lack of running numbers really hurts the fields, plus they take up space trainers who actually run use. If a guy isnt starting x amont of horses for a meet, he simply doesnt need to be stabled on track. Send him over to Cooks, in Kentucky, thats a good spot for him. Campo has done a very good job, BTW