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#1
07-13-2008, 09:45 PM
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In the long run it's irrelevant, but Arlington would have pulled at least 25K if Curlin had run. I really was surprised to see that low a Belmont #..I mean...what would it have been if Curlin didn't run??
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"but there's just no point in trying to predict when the narcissits finally figure out they aren't living in the most important time ever." hi im god quote 
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#2
07-13-2008, 10:15 PM
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It should be obvious by now that the only time New York racing fans show up at a track other than Saratoga is if a possible Triple Crown winner is on the line. Breeders Cup, Horse of the year running, ideal weather, who gives a sh**? They couldn't be bothered to get out to the track.
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#3
07-13-2008, 10:21 PM
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On another note during the simulcast I thought the music they played when Curlin was coming out for the post parade was cool.
I noticed alot of empty seats behind Curlin man I know I would have been up on the rail trying to get a close look.
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#4
07-13-2008, 10:45 PM
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#5
07-14-2008, 10:46 AM
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#7
07-14-2008, 10:21 PM
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Ron Thompson   Avatar is Invasor in his stall/Post Classic taken by my trusty cell phone camera.
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#8
07-14-2008, 12:03 PM
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Belmont is located at the tip of Long Island and is a journey for anyone not from the area. The road that goes out there (Belt Parkway) is a borderline suicide mission. I know that there is a train, but I am assuming most people have to switch several times. I have been to Belmont many times and love it, it is an absolute georgeous venue. But from where I used to live (Staten Island-35 miles away), it was about the same distance to Belmont and Monmouth. Most of the time I went to Monmouth. It just seemed like it was an easier ride. I knew the racing was better at Belmont, but I chose to play it from another track. Now that I live in Jersey, I head down to Monmouth for a couple of races all the time. For most people in NY, it is unrealistic to think that you can just head out to Belmont for a couple of races, you really have to make a day out of it. It is just easier to go to an OTB to bet/watch the one or two races you really want to see. Maybe if it was closer to the city and more accessable, people would go more. It does bring up the issue what NYRA and Racing can do to get people down to the track for the day.
__________________
Felix Unger talking to Oscar Madison: "Your horse could finish third by 20 lengths and they still pay you? And you have been losing money for all these years?!"
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#9
07-14-2008, 01:02 PM
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Alright I'm one of the Guilty ones who was at Monmouth on Saturday instead of Belmont. Would I have preferred to be at Belmont, Hell yes. But a friend of mine had his annual picnic at Monmouth Park on that day so I was obliged to be at Monmouth. I think my friend would have prefered to be at Belmont as well but since he scheduled his picnic in January I don't think it was really an option especially since he was expecting about 140 people.
I too was shocked that the attendance at Monmouth was > than Belmont. I live in Western NJ (almost is Pa) and go to NYRA tracks more than I go to Monmouth. Monmouth is just such a pain to get to if you have to take the Garden State Parkway South and fight all of the Shore / Beach traffic. It took about two hours to get to Monmouth and about the same to get home. So for me going to Monmouth is the same kind of committment as it is going to Belmont. Without summer traffic is should only take about an hour. Actually it would probably be quicker to go to Belmont as long as the Yankees aren't play an early afternoon game at the Stadium. I think you also have to figure into the equation that a lot of people are away on vacation, some of which are down on the Jersey Shore. This plays against Belmont and in favor of Monmouth.
__________________
"Be who you are and say what you feel, because those that matter don't mind, and those that mind, dont matter." Theodore Seuss Geisel "Dr. Seuss"
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#10
07-14-2008, 01:20 PM
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Believe it or not, the crowd seemed bigger at Belmont, but maybe that's because I am used to the usual attendance. I disagree with Linny that the box area was a " ghost town " as actually it was probably as busy as it's been any day this meet save the Belmont Stakes. However, I am not suggesting it was packed.
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Just more nebulous nonsense from BBB
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#11
07-14-2008, 01:40 PM
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Get real here.
As a few knowledgeable posters stated, Belmont is in Long Island, NY and is SURROUNDED by OTB's in Nassau, Suffolk, NYC, Westchester(Yonkers) and upstate.(Catskill OTB's and Albany OTB's). The HANDLE at Belmont was 14M+ million Sat. Churchill doesn't even post handle anymore (yes, I know it closed  )Sure, NYRA would like attendance at the track for the direct handle, but realistically it is easier and cheaper to go to the local OTB or bet from home. Hollywood had attendance of 7800 on Saturday. And there are NO OTB's in CA. MON doesn't even post total handle.A trip to Belmont from No. NJ or Westchester is 100-120 miles, RT and $10 in tolls to start. Anyone who has been trapped in LI traffic would NEVER question why a fan would avoid a trip to Belmont. ..a 60 minute drive turns into a 2.5 hr marathon especially on a SATURDAY....even for ppl who live in LI. Monmouth is at the Jersey Shore...a big summer vacation destination. MON gets the vacation traffic. Not many people are vacationing in Elmont, NY  And Curlin isn't the big fan draw some here seem to believe he should be...
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#12
07-14-2008, 06:14 PM
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#13
07-14-2008, 08:18 PM
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#14
07-15-2008, 08:41 AM
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I think you are overstating the difficulty of getting there. I wait in far more traffic getting into Saratoga than I did on the Cross Island on Sat. Blackthroat...to my mind, the boxes looked empty. I'm sure that there were many more there than most Saturdays but compared to the last 2 years JCGC days, it was deserted. I was expecting that it "might" look like at least Gold Cup day. Wishful thinking...
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RIP Monroe.
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#15
07-15-2008, 08:59 AM
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I think one of the biggest problems, so to speak, is that July, especially after the holiday weekend, is even more quiet at Belmont than normal, as it's almost a dead zone before Saratoga, and Curlin's appearance sort of caught the general populace by surprise. Also, unlike a lot of people, I don't particularly believe that a supposed " superstar " racing can save the game ( whatever that means ). Sadly, it's just not that big a deal, especially in NYC where nothing is that big a deal.
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Just more nebulous nonsense from BBB
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#16
07-15-2008, 07:14 PM
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#17
07-16-2008, 11:40 AM
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“Next time I come I’ll say, ‘Hey man, my horse is going to win the Breeders’ Cup, babe.” Nobutaka Tada, Racing Manager of Casino Drive
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