Del Mar - Initial thoughts?

[ArlJim78]

Originally Posted by The Indomitable DrugS

Basically, these races can't be run like true horse races. Pace doesn't have anything to do with it. Horses are reserved early on in turf races, but they can showcase exciting acceleration through the late stages.

These races are very ugly to watch, only to someone who actually loves watching traditional horse racing.

If you look at yesterdays feature race, a field of very good older males in a 75K ALW race struggled through 8.5 furlongs in 1:47. Basically, horses can't use their exciting natural abilities, and they just have to try and be as reserved as possible for as long as possible, and simply try to be the least tired horse in the race, in order to win.

I don't have a problem with polytrack from a handicappres prospective, however, from a racing fans prospective....it makes horse racing look boring unwatchable.

So if I don't find these races ugly, are you implying that I must not love traditional horse racing?

All I see is the lack of a true speed bias to the same extent that most dirt tracks exhibit. For me there is nothing more boring than seeing a horse zip to the lead on a speed biased track and watching them run around the track in a futile attempt to catch the E horse. I don't know why this is the only thing considered "real" racing.

"and they just have to try and be as reserved as possible for as long as possible, and simply try to be the least tired horse in the race, in order to win"
What is the other approach? Don't dirt races also end up basically with the least tired horse winning the race?

gun the horse balls out and count on the bias against closers to get you across the wire first? this is what I see happening on many dirt tracks.