It's Belmont Week again . . . Reminders, Tidbits, thoughts, etc

[JolyB]

Originally Posted by RUFFIAN

YEP ! BELMONT CONSTRUCTION

What bothers me the most
Belmont has always been 1 1/2 M

Now because of the configuration of Saratoga
The race has been converted to 1 1/4 M

Not sure why they could not keep the same distance
It has to do with the configuration of the track
line and where the finish line would end up ?

I would've thought they could have figured a way
To keep the race at the same distance it's always been
Apparently not 😾

You're correct Ruff. The geometry of the Saratoga track just doesn't lend itself to a race of 1 1/2 miles. The starting gate would have to be located either in the middle of a turn or so close to a turn that all of the runners wouldn't have a fair chance. I'm pretty sure that the folks at NYRA considered all sorts of options to try to preserve the tradition before concluding that it just wouldn't work.

Don, the Belmont Stakes was held at the Spa last year as well, with the Belmont run at 1 1/4 miles. Construction at Belmont is proceeding apace. Racing at Saratoga will begin tomorrow and have blockbuster cards through Sunday. Wednesday's card includes a number of stakes races for New York breds and begins with a race over the hurdles.

Don, I know we will be playing the Belmont Stakes card at Saratoga on Saturday, but have you considered how many races should be included on our contest card? In addition to the Belmont, the meat of the card features a number of legendary stakes races, including the True North, the Met Mile, the Jaipur, the Woody Stephens and the Manhattan. However, it begins at 10:45 AM, includes 14 races and doesn't end until race 14 runs in the gloamin at 8:02 PM. Perhaps a somewhat slimmer contest card that still includes all of the stakes races and a couple of others would make sense?

[JolyB]

Interesting tidbit from Wikipedia on the historic length of Belmont Stakes.

"The Belmont Stakes has been run at a mile and a half from 1874 to 1889 and 1926 to the present. An exception was made in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic, when the national racing schedule underwent significant changes. Additionally, the distance of the Belmont Stakes has been changed during the race's temporary relocation to Saratoga in 2024 and 2025.

Besides 1+1⁄2 miles, the Belmont has been run at the following distances: a mile and five furlongs in 1867–1873; a mile and a quarter in 1890–1892, 1895, 1904–1905, and 2024; a mile and a furlong in 1893–1894 and again in 2020; and a mile and three furlongs from 1896 to 1903 and 1906–1925"

[DonGuido]

Originally Posted by JolyB

Interesting tidbit from Wikipedia on the historic length of Belmont Stakes.

"The Belmont Stakes has been run at a mile and a half from 1874 to 1889 and 1926 to the present. An exception was made in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic, when the national racing schedule underwent significant changes. Additionally, the distance of the Belmont Stakes has been changed during the race's temporary relocation to Saratoga in 2024 and 2025.

Besides 1+1⁄2 miles, the Belmont has been run at the following distances: a mile and five furlongs in 1867–1873; a mile and a quarter in 1890–1892, 1895, 1904–1905, and 2024; a mile and a furlong in 1893–1894 and again in 2020; and a mile and three furlongs from 1896 to 1903 and 1906–1925"

Very interesting! Thanks for the in depth info JB. One more question: does this mark the official opening of racing at The Spa, much earlier than normal?

[Real Quiet]

Tidbit. Colloquial will not run in the Woody Stephens via TDN.

[DonGuido]

Originally Posted by JolyB

You're correct Ruff. The geometry of the Saratoga track just doesn't lend itself to a race of 1 1/2 miles. The starting gate would have to be located either in the middle of a turn or so close to a turn that all of the runners wouldn't have a fair chance. I'm pretty sure that the folks at NYRA considered all sorts of options to try to preserve the tradition before concluding that it just wouldn't work.

Don, the Belmont Stakes was held at the Spa last year as well, with the Belmont run at 1 1/4 miles. Construction at Belmont is proceeding apace. Racing at Saratoga will begin tomorrow and have blockbuster cards through Sunday. Wednesday's card includes a number of stakes races for New York breds and begins with a race over the hurdles.

Don, I know we will be playing the Belmont Stakes card at Saratoga on Saturday, but have you considered how many races should be included on our contest card? In addition to the Belmont, the meat of the card features a number of legendary stakes races, including the True North, the Met Mile, the Jaipur, the Woody Stephens and the Manhattan. However, it begins at 10:45 AM, includes 14 races and doesn't end until race 14 runs in the gloamin at 8:02 PM. Perhaps a somewhat slimmer contest card that still includes all of the stakes races and a couple of others would make sense?

I'll get back to ya JB with with my card but you have the final say-so.