Venue thoughts for August 29
 

Since we will be playing the Kentucky Derby card on September 5 [it still sounds strange for me to think of the "first Saturday in September" as Derby Day], that means the last opportunity for us to visit Saratoga this season will be this coming Saturday.

The stakes card includes the Forego [G1], the Sword Dancer [G1], the Amsterdam [G2] and the Saranac [G3]. While the non-spectator version of Saratoga has lacked the overall excitement of previous years, there have been some outstanding performances - Rushing Fall's effort in last Sunday's Diana comes to mind.

I'll await posting the final venue until entries are available, but as of now I'd like to take us back to the Spa for one final virtual visit.

It looks like a decent card for Saratoga. Not sure about the weather but it does look like options are limited. My opinion would be races 1 to 9 but JB would know better on how the pick 3 and 4 arrays go. It may be August but I am looking forward to a strong Derby Day card.

While figuring out such mundane things as Saturday's contest, I wanted to express my hopes that our friends in the path of Hurricane Laura are able to get through it safely and securely. I'm especially thinking of Cruzan in East Texas, and as the storm moves inland of Cal in Central Arkansas. Stay safe and after the storm has passed, please check in to let us know that you are all right.

Yes . . . to all that may be in the path in the south central and mid eastern states, be safe and hope all is well!!! It's great to see Saratoga come and sad to see it go!!!

One of my friends from New Jersey sent me a text yesterday and said that the weather channel was talking about Arkansas and Hot Springs in particular being in the path of the remnants of the storm with rain and high winds and the possibility of flooding and tornadoes. So far, nothing but rain. I am a bit sceptical that it will get worse than that, but I've been wrong once or twice. We are about 300 miles from the Louisiana coast as the crow flies so maybe it won't get any worse than it has been so far, but I appreciate the concern.

I like your way of thinking, RQ. Let's do races 1 through 9. Our ROI opportunities would lose the late pick 4 and the Grand Slam [I know that would grieve you:)], but we would still have plenty of ROI wagering opportunities and a very nice group of races to handicap.

Post time for Race 1 will be 1:10 PM Eastern.

CURIOSITY CAUGHT THE CAT WONDERING ...
WHY R1–9 INSTEAD OF R3–11 :confused:

That gives some players more time in the morning to get posted

Just a thought to consider :)

Well, I did consider it, and felt that one race for two year old maidens [race 6] was a guessing game we could tolerate. When it's in the middle of the card you have to live with it. I didn't want to also include another one in race 10.

Besides, I didn't realize that a post time of 1:10 was too early. I recall your post when you selected the venue for July 25:
"SO IT'S BACK TO SARATOGA
LIKE YA DIDN'T SEE THIS COMIN
AND AT 1:10 EAST COAST TIME
WE'LL ALL BEGIN A-RUNNIN"

It didn't seem to be a problem when you did the selection.

:p :(. :eek: :rolleyes:

I see it’s better to keep one’s Inquiring Mind to One’s self
rather than asking An Innocent question of
Why R1–9 Rather than R3–11

The Idea Being That Starting Later
Gives Players More Time To Check Scratches
And Make Changes If Needed

In Case U Forgot
*** I Prefer Playing An ENTIRE CARD ***

SORRY I EVEN ASKED
Won’t Bother Again!

Looks like I survived storm Laura. Just got a lot of intense wind and rain for a while. It has now moved north and is hovering around Little Rock. Not much damage here at my place. There is a prodigious amount of leaves and small tree branches and sweet gum balls from the tree next to the deck. I hate those little balls. They always conspire to make you fall down. If I can avoid that, I should be ok.:D

{CAL} "hate those little balls. They always conspire to make you fall down"

SMALL BALLS ARE BETTER THAN NO BALLS AT ALL! ;) :eek: :zz:

I'll have to take your word for that ma'am.

On a more serious note, those little gumballs are kind of dangerous. Not so much on my deck, where I can see them, but out in my yard. I've almost lost my footing several times because you can't always see them down in the grass. It's almost like stepping on some marbles on a hardwood floor. You could easily find yourself flat on your back.

Not sure whether you are familiar with sweet gum trees or not, but they can be quite pretty in the fall. Their leaves can be red or yellow or some color in between or they can be purple. The trees are a bit different from Oaks or Pines in that they often have more than one trunk and the one growing next to my deck that puts out all the little sweet gum balls is a triple trunk tree
and each trunk is massive. I think it is the mother of all gum trees. I am assuming it is a female tree. At any rate, it keeps me busy trying to clear off all the balls and leaves and branches from my deck. Pretty much have to clear off all the debris or otherwise my dogs will track it in the house.

I guess I could have it cut down, but unfortunately, I am a bit of a tree hugger.