Turfway Stigma

[Scurlogue Champ]

Does anyone else feel like Turfway is bottom-rung and embarrasing to run at?

I remember last year when Biancone started running a bunch there and I wondered if he was hard up for some quality horses or slipping down a notch, etc...

It just seems like it is really s hitty, and I'm not sure I would be thrilled about being up there if I were a trainer/owner.

Originally Posted by moodwalker

Does anyone else feel like Turfway is bottom-rung and embarrasing to run at?

I remember last year when Biancone started running a bunch there and I wondered if he was hard up for some quality horses or slipping down a notch, etc...

It just seems like it is really s hitty, and I'm not sure I would be thrilled about being up there if I were a trainer/owner.

Well Biacone, Pletcher, Lukas, Baffert, Romasn, Blasi/Asmussen all have stalls at Turfway for the fall meet. They have done several changes that I listed in a earlier post. I think the fall meet has tons to offer to trainers for their 2nd tier crop of horses. Should be a good fall meet.

[Scurlogue Champ]

Originally Posted by eurobounce

Well Biacone, Pletcher, Lukas, Baffert, Romasn, Blasi/Asmussen all have stalls at Turfway for the fall meet. They have done several changes that I listed in a earlier post. I think the fall meet has tons to offer to trainers for their 2nd tier crop of horses. Should be a good fall meet.

I read your post about the changes, Euro. Thanks.

It still seems like it is terrible to me when I go visit. I won't even drive the 70 miles to go see live racing because the atmosphere and horses are so sub-par compared to Churchill-Keeneland.

[Pointg5]

Originally Posted by moodwalker

Does anyone else feel like Turfway is bottom-rung and embarrasing to run at?

I remember last year when Biancone started running a bunch there and I wondered if he was hard up for some quality horses or slipping down a notch, etc...

It just seems like it is really s hitty, and I'm not sure I would be thrilled about being up there if I were a trainer/owner.

About 6 or 7 years ago, it was a decent Fall meet, now they are the lowest of the low, I would rate River Downs in front of them. There were some nice horses that would ship in for the Kentucky Cup: Silver Charm, Thunder Gulch, Congaree, Caller One, Captain Steve, Point Given, Cash Run, Vindication, Alley's Ally etc...But no more, the place is a dump and would be better served being used for retail, which it will become in the next couple of years, the property is much more valuable than that piece of crap track that stands there...

[Gander]

Its pretty depressing watching a race there with Mike Battaglia calling. Seems like such a morbid place and his calls are an utter mess.
"And gaining ground."

I dont recall any other track that yields such lopsided victories and spread out fields as much as Turfway.

Bottom line is this place stinks. Real bad. Stick a fork in it.

[JJP]

Originally Posted by Gander

Its pretty depressing watching a race there with Mike Battaglia calling. Seems like such a morbid place and his calls are an utter mess.
"And gaining ground."

I dont recall any other track that yields such lopsided victories and spread out fields as much as Turfway.

Bottom line is this place stinks. Real bad. Stick a fork in it.

The old surface produced the runaway victories. Definitely don't see that much of that on the Polytrack.

[Pointg5]

The place stinks-literally, the last time I was there was in December, it was really windy and that poly track was blowing all over the parking lot, Scuds described it best, it looks like the stuff that comes out of your sweeper and it smells very badly...

[SentToStud]

Originally Posted by Pointg5

The place stinks-literally, the last time I was there was in December, it was really windy and that poly track was blowing all over the parking lot, Scuds described it best, it looks like the stuff that comes out of your sweeper and it smells very badly...

Honestly, can you go to any track in the Midwest in December and expect a great atmosphere, especially if there's worse than normal weather? It is what it is.... winter runners in the worst climate they run in anywhere in Dec/Jan. I suppose it gives the owners somewhere to run their nickel claimers and ultra-cheap maidens. If people want to bet on those races, then Turfway serves a purpose. The fact they run on those insulation chips won't stop people from betting.

[JJP]

Originally Posted by moodwalker

Does anyone else feel like Turfway is bottom-rung and embarrasing to run at?

I remember last year when Biancone started running a bunch there and I wondered if he was hard up for some quality horses or slipping down a notch, etc...

It just seems like it is really s hitty, and I'm not sure I would be thrilled about being up there if I were a trainer/owner.

It depends. The fall meet is pretty solid. No, its not CD or Kee, but its better than what Ellis runs. And December isn't too bad. But after New Year's, the quality really gets bad. Any decent horse in KY has shipped to either Florida, New Orleans or Oaklawn.