Question For Saratoga Folks

[saratogabrit]

Originally Posted by SentToStud

Why couldn't they just limit attendance at Saratoga? Really no big deal on the weather. Chance of bad weather can't be worse than Chicago or Toronto. There's no Gen Admission at Monmouth. What are they capping attendance at? I assume they capped attendence at Lone Star.

They can't limit attendance much below 45,000. The original criteria-they may have altered them in recent years-is that you should provide permanent/temporary seating for 45,000. I would think that would require the construction of around 30,000 temporary seats.

Bad weather would be an issue. There's so little inside space-especially in the Club House.

Pricing out the local community is also a big issue.

[blackthroatedwind]

Originally Posted by SentToStud

I hear that. And, I won't wear my fur coat down here until it gets down to 65 degrees. I do have my standards.

Which animal?

[Antitrust32]

Originally Posted by Cajungator26

When I was up there, it just didn't feel that hot to me...

I live in Orlando, though... it's blasted hot here so anything below 90 feels like winter.

it wasnt bad opening weekend, but the majority of the meet was extremely hot. Couple that with working in between a grill and a steamtable.. I was praying for rain most days but it never came.

By far the "hottest" Saratoga meet I've ever witnessed in the past 10 years I've been going.

Ya know its bad when you cant tell the difference between saratoga and florida some days!

[SentToStud]

Originally Posted by blackthroatedwind

Which animal?

faux jackazz.

[saratogabrit]

Originally Posted by Antitrust32

it wasnt bad opening weekend, but the majority of the meet was extremely hot. Couple that with working in between a grill and a steamtable.. I was praying for rain most days but it never came.

By far the "hottest" Saratoga meet I've ever witnessed in the past 10 years I've been going.

Ya know its bad when you cant tell the difference between saratoga and florida some days!

I hear you but I thought it was overall the coolest meet of the 5 that I have attended. Travers Day was awful and 1 or 2 others but there surely can be no comparison to the 4-5 day period of last year that was centred around the abandoned Wednesday.

[Antitrust32]

Originally Posted by saratogabrit

I hear you but I thought it was overall the coolest meet of the 5 that I have attended. Travers Day was awful and 1 or 2 others but there surely can be no comparison to the 4-5 day period of last year that was centred around the abandoned Wednesday.

that is true... I was at Saratoga last year for a week or two but not during that hot period, so I guess I cant judge.

The thing that sucked most this year was that it didnt really cool off at night that often. I'd rely on opening my bedroom windows to get a nice cool breeze because the air condition in the house was not that strong... and I did not get that cool breeze a lot of nights, it was just hot and sticky and its no fun to sleep in those conditions!

[boswd]

wasn't there that 1.5 to 2 week stretch where it was in the low to mid 70's? It was the two weeks leading up to The Travers. It was very very comfortable weather during that stretch.

[saratogabrit]

Originally Posted by Antitrust32

that is true... I was at Saratoga last year for a week or two but not during that hot period, so I guess I cant judge.

The thing that sucked most this year was that it didnt really cool off at night that often. I'd rely on opening my bedroom windows to get a nice cool breeze because the air condition in the house was not that strong... and I did not get that cool breeze a lot of nights, it was just hot and sticky and its no fun to sleep in those conditions!

We played Bingo in St Clements Church Hall on the hottest night last Summer. You had to get there about 3 hours before play started to be by one of the fans on the tables

[Slewbopper]

Originally Posted by Linny

Were the blessed event to occur, I thank God and Man o' War that I'd have to board nothing more exotic than my old jalopy in order to attend...assuming I could get seats.

A picnic table for 6 (and no more)....$1000
A picnic table for 6 next to the Big Red Spring....$1500

[ARyan]

Just for those who said it is far too cold up here to host a BC...

http://www.weather.com/weather/weeke...nav_undeclared

Outside of the 50% chance of Rain, high of 70 on Saturday dosen't seem too bad...

[ARyan]

Originally Posted by DaHoss9698

Would you agree that it has been unseasonably warm up here and this is more or less the exception than reality when it comes to weather? I mean it's fun to rehash these old arguements, but if it were snowing right now (something unlikely, but as probable as it being 70), the arguement is the same.

Actually, its been off and on. Almost a frost the other morning, and then some days top out at 75. Then last night I had my windows and sreen doors open because it was so nice.

The weather up here is always a crapshoot, I don't think its any more warmer this fall then the last few years I can rememebr. Look at Sunday in that forcast, 54 high. Like I said, its a crapshoot. I have lived up here for almost my entire life, and some falls you won't see a snowfall (till January), and others it snows in early October.

I guess my point is that anywhere in the Northeast (Toronto to Monmouth to Belmont) you are going to be hit or miss on the weather. You can't count Saratoga out because of it. On the flip side, it really has no indoor seating, and that is probably one of the biggest issues with it for the BC. If you do get a cold, rainy day, where will the attendees go to seek shelter?

I just hope I can squeeze into some shelter tomorrow and Saturday at Monmouth...

[kgar311]

Wow out of all of the smart people on here (granted I havent read all the threads) but there is a reason the BC is not held at Saratoga. There are up to 14 horse fields in each race of the BC and the Saratoga track is not wide enough to accomodate 14 horse fields. Along with the sharp turns on the grass, Saratogas "racecourse" is whats not big enough. Not the stands.

[ARyan]

Originally Posted by kgar311

Wow out of all of the smart people on here (granted I havent read all the threads) but there is a reason the BC is not held at Saratoga. There are up to 14 horse fields in each race of the BC and the Saratoga track is not wide enough to accomodate 14 horse fields. Along with the sharp turns on the grass, Saratogas "racecourse" is whats not big enough. Not the stands.

I do not agree with this at all. I think you are flat out wrong. Look where it is being held this year.

By the way, your first sentence is not coherent or even a proper sentance.

[philcski]

Originally Posted by kgar311

Wow out of all of the smart people on here (granted I havent read all the threads) but there is a reason the BC is not held at Saratoga. There are up to 14 horse fields in each race of the BC and the Saratoga track is not wide enough to accomodate 14 horse fields. Along with the sharp turns on the grass, Saratogas "racecourse" is whats not big enough. Not the stands.

Width of Belmont stretch: 100'
Width of Saratoga stretch: 100'

Q.E.D

[sumitas]

It'll never happen. Belmont is fine.

[Cannon Shell]

They should hold the BC in warm weather venues only.
2008 - Santa Anita
2009- Sunland Park
2010- Turf Paradise
2011 -Calder
2012 - Fair Grounds
2013 - Fairplex

[paisjpq]

Originally Posted by Cannon Shell

They should hold the BC in warm weather venues only.
2008 - Santa Anita
2009- Sunland Park
2010- Turf Paradise
2011 -Calder
2012 - Fair Grounds
2013 - Fairplex

I'm in for the fairplex trip.

[Cannon Shell]

Originally Posted by paisjpq

I'm in for the fairplex trip.

I forgot Zia

[philcski]

Originally Posted by Cannon Shell

I forgot Zia

do they have slots there? sign me up if they do

i nominate ruidoso downs as a potential venue as well...

[SniperSB23]

Interesting to note the forecast Saturday for Saratoga Springs is exactly the same as for Monmouth, 70 and raining. It isn't the weather that is preventing it from happening, it is the logistics of moving the whole NYRA operation up from Queens and then back down for four days of racing when there is already a perfectly good venue for NYRA to host it at Belmont.