Quote:
Originally Posted by Gaelic Storm
I thought this was an effort to get more 2 year old winners and card some N1X Alw races and get bigger fields in the 2 year old stakes later in the meet.
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I think people are over thinking this. I dont think the extra few races will make any dent in the later winners races mostly because the same handful of trainers are likely to win additional 2yo maiden races anyway. It is a really weak PR ploy that serves to diminish one of the key elements of Saratoga's meet and is another example of the racing establishment's desire to deemphasize 2yo racing (Derby selection process, CDI not taking entires on 2 yo's till they are calendar year 2yo, etc.).
Of course there are high profile cheerleaders for these moves but too much bs that is written about this sport demanding change misses the extremely important point that changes are just as likely to be negative (some would say far more likely to be negative based on recent history) as they are positives. As usual instead of a comprehensive plan of attack, taking a comprehensive and frank look at the issues causing the weakness of the product that we are putting on the track on a daily basis, we are capping maiden fields for some nonsensical gibberish about safety and quality. NYRA is hardly alone but they have the tools (purses, facilities, quality horses, strong statebred program) to create a better product unlike the crapfests being put on so many other places.