Del Mar opens Wed. Racing hurting all over the place

[MisterB]

Elite meet opens with a card of 3 maidan races, an ungraded stakes, with the first 3 races with 8 startes before the scratches come out. Boy, this has got to be the worst I have seen in many years.

[pba1817]

California has become a place where it is virtually impossible to be a small business owner with employees.


The eyes of our government think that if you can afford hiring an employee = you are rich.

[Alan07]

The feature race Friday got 5 entries.

[Siena 16]

It's a dead game! laddie--- take a look at today's 5th from Belmont and the last two cards of the Spring meet at Belmont. I know everyone is going to say horses were held over until Saratoga that's why! so save it

[Cannon Shell]

Originally Posted by Kasept

That's 10 years ago Doug.. or more. How is that different than anywhere else that is considered 'A' level racing? Saratoga and Keeneland aren't what they were 10-15 years ago either. What is so difficult about merely dealing with the present? Better to bemoan how awful things are. Baseball, Football, Hockey and every other sport is less 'elite' than 10 and 20 years ago too. Why is this a revelation?

Saratoga has slipped immensely but Keeneland isnt that different that it was and has a stronger stakes schedule than it did. Of course outside Tampa which is still pretty cheap overall what meet now isn't worse than it was 15 years ago?

[Calzone Lord]

Originally Posted by Cannon Shell

Of course outside Tampa which is still pretty cheap overall what meet now isn't worse than it was 15 years ago?

Delaware, Presque Isle, Charles Town, Prarie Meadows, Sunland, Penn, Parx, etc.

[Cannon Shell]

Originally Posted by Calzone Lord

Delaware, Presque Isle, Charles Town, Prarie Meadows, Sunland, Penn, Parx, etc.

Presque Isle obviously doesnt count. The racing is better at these places because of slots but it isnt good.

[TheSpyder]

The Big T has not dropped in the least. I'm just thay'in

[Calzone Lord]

Originally Posted by Cannon Shell

Presque Isle obviously doesnt count. The racing is better at these places because of slots but it isnt good.

Of the big 3, Del Mar is the one who would figure to have been least hurt by the Slots tracks, but has taken the biggest fall from grace IMO.

[MisterB]

So your saying where the surf meets the turf isn't So. Cal elite hang out. Frankel would be disappointed in your statement. I guess Saratoga is a trash bin for losers as well. Thanks for the history leason on how racing has declined. You think the card is OK, who am I to disagree.

[MisterB]

2008 -- The seaside oval charges out of the gate with an Opening Day record crowd – 43,459

Not 10 years ago!!!

2009-- 44,907--goes to 5 days.

Must be a bunch of bums attending

Del Mar Race Track was branded as the Saratoga of the West for summer racing. Since when has Saratoga become elite/ I don't know.

2010--45,309 opening day

[Kasept]

Originally Posted by MisterB

So your saying where the surf meets the turf isn't So. Cal elite hang out. Frankel would be disappointed in your statement. I guess Saratoga is a trash bin for losers as well. Thanks for the history leason on how racing has declined. You think the card is OK, who am I to disagree.

That's not what I said, and I was the one doing the disagreeing.. but I've changed my mind. You're 100% right. Del Mar is a sad shell of its' former greatness.

[NTamm1215]

Did anybody do anything crazy like look at the PPs for the card? Or compare it to last year's opening day as a frame of reference?

It's a pretty decent card that's considerably better than last year's.

[Indian Charlie]

Originally Posted by NTamm1215

Did anybody do anything crazy like look at the PPs for the card? Or compare it to last year's opening day as a frame of reference?

It's a pretty decent card that's considerably better than last year's.

I don't think he was saying DMR fell apart just in one year. If you were to compare pre-poly to poly days, there's been a pretty noticeable drop off in all around quality.

Not that poly is the only thing wrong there.

[NTamm1215]

Originally Posted by Indian Charlie

I don't think he was saying DMR fell apart just in one year. If you were to compare pre-poly to poly days, there's been a pretty noticeable drop off in all around quality.

Not that poly is the only thing wrong there.

So does this portend 40 days of bitching about how the quality of the Saratoga meet has fallen apart? This just in, racing used to be a lot better at the "elite" meets all over the country.

[Indian Charlie]

Originally Posted by NTamm1215

So does this portend 40 days of bitching about how the quality of the Saratoga meet has fallen apart? This just in, racing used to be a lot better at the "elite" meets all over the country.

Yeah, I don't really get people whining over it like they do.

I do think, while Saratoga has maybe slipped some, Dmr has really fallen much further than Saratoga ever can or will.

And that is the point in people complaining about Dmr. That place has been almost ruined.

[philcski]

Originally Posted by MisterB

Elite meet opens with a card of 3 maidan races, an ungraded stakes, with the first 3 races with 8 startes before the scratches come out. Boy, this has got to be the worst I have seen in many years.

How is this a sh!tty card? I just made a first pass on it and it's not bad at all. Other than the polytrack, of course.

[dino]

We will always have shitty cards as long as the trainers of good horses have no problem only running them 4 or 5 times a year. It's ruined horse racing just like pitch count has ruined baseball. The breed is now as week as the pitchers arms.

[geeker2]

If you are going to opening day at DMR you aren't going for the horse racing.

[MaTH716]

Originally Posted by philcski

How is this a sh!tty card? I just made a first pass on it and it's not bad at all. Other than the polytrack, of course.

I'm with you Phil, there's nothing wrong with the opening day card.