Question For Saratoga Folks

[blackthroatedwind]

Originally Posted by ptgiven

belmont is not a good host in my opinion, back in 2005 they had what 57,000 people! thats crap! saratoga gets that for travers day! so saying saratoga doesn't have the space either is just another excuse

Saratoga had 38,000 people for Travers Day this year and as Da Hoss correctly pointed out most of those people are accomodated in the backyard/picnic area. Somehow I doubt that same situation will work for the BC and with Saratoga's roughly 5000 seating capacity I highly doubt even temporary bleachers could come even remotely close to filling the seating needs. Sniper also correctly pointed out that the costs in moving equipment to Saratoga would be prohibitive. Plus, there are virtually no indoor areas at the racetrack and little to nothing can ( or will ) be done to change that.

However, apparently none of that makes sense. Frankly, I don't understand why NYRA even utilizes Aqueduct and Belmont.....why not just continue racing at Saratoga until zero people come through the turnstyles. When the inevitable blizzardlike conditions create massive snow drifts on the turf course it would be a piece of cake to run an all-steeplechase meet.