changes to gulfstream stakes

[Cannon Shell]

Originally Posted by blackthroatedwind

Ummmm, they added four stakes restricted to Florida Breds to supplement the already bloated ( from a purse standpoint ) Sunshine Millions card. Those purses were the ones that should have been reduced first. Regardless, they cut the purse to save themselves money, not that I blame them, but let's not act like it is merely a redistribution.

However, this was the quote from the article that I really enjoyed.....“Horse racing’s appeal is strong with women and we want Sundays to be special not only in terms of the racing product but also in terms of the various attractions Gulfstream offers,” Murphy said.

I may be wrong but doesnt Stronach put alot of the money up for the Sunshine millions and it is not counted towards the usual stakes versus overnight percentages? And I believe that alot of the money for the FL bred stakes comes from the FL breeders program. They didnt specifically say that the cut from the FL Derby is going to create the other races.

Sundays are conditioned claiming day at GP. Or is that every other day but Saturday? i do like the Friday stakes races.

[blackthroatedwind]

I like the Friday Stakes as well.

Ya know Chuck, feel free to correct me if you disagree, but it seems like they have an unusual lack of regard for Horsemen at Gulfstream. I realize all facets of the industry, specifically horseplayers and horsemen, always feel management should care more about them, but Gulfstream really takes the cake. Starting with the ridiculous paddock/walking ring situation, and ending with this change to the Fountain of Youth, you have to wonder if they ever ask ( or care ) how the trainers feel about what they do.

They now have exactly one two turn prep for the KY Derby....and it's five weeks before the race. They used to have three, the Preview ( which became the Holy Bull ), the FOY, and finally the Florida Derby.....and you still had time for one more serious prep. And, this is at the track that is theoretically the East Coast center for TC preparation.

[NTamm1215]

Originally Posted by blackthroatedwind

I like the Friday Stakes as well.

Ya know Chuck, feel free to correct me if you disagree, but it seems like they have an unusual lack of regard for Horsemen at Gulfstream. I realize all facets of the industry, specifically horseplayers and horsemen, always feel management should care more about them, but Gulfstream really takes the cake. Starting with the ridiculous paddock/walking ring situation, and ending with this change to the Fountain of Youth, you have to wonder if they ever ask ( or care ) how the trainers feel about what they do.

They now have exactly one two turn prep for the KY Derby....and it's five weeks before the race. They used to have three, the Preview ( which became the Holy Bull ), the FOY, and finally the Florida Derby.....and you still had time for one more serious prep. And, this is at the track that is theoretically the East Coast center for TC preparation.

The Holy Bull is two turns, so they have two two-turn preps. The changing of the distances is strange but the configuration of the track really handcuffs the progression of distances.

NT

[the_fat_man]

Here's hoping those ****ers (and all the other BUSH, time-challenged tracks out there) are able to time their races correctly next meet. Somehow, I doubt it.

[blackthroatedwind]

Originally Posted by the_fat_man

Here's hoping those ****ers (and all the other BUSH, time-challenged tracks out there) are able to time their races correctly next meet. Somehow, I doubt it.

That's one problem, at least, we can't lay on Stronach. They have never been able to time their races accurately.

[Cannon Shell]

Originally Posted by blackthroatedwind

That's one problem, at least, we can't lay on Stronach. They have never been able to time their races accurately.

You would think that they could put in a working system considering they put in a new track. Of course they forgot the saddling area when they rebuilt the grandstand.

[blackthroatedwind]

Originally Posted by Cannon Shell

You would think that they could put in a working system considering they put in a new track. Of course they forgot the saddling area when they rebuilt the grandstand.

They didn't even know the actual circumference of their track.

[blackthroatedwind]

Originally Posted by NTamm1215

The Holy Bull is two turns, so they have two two-turn preps. The changing of the distances is strange but the configuration of the track really handcuffs the progression of distances.

NT

Thanks.....I missed that they moved it back to it's original spot. Nice progression......1 1/8th to a mile to 1 1/8th. Whatever.

I understand the configuration screws things up....but they further screwed things up with the timing of the races and the distance moves. Why not make the Holy Bull a mile again and leave the FOY at 1 1/8th? They seem to do a good job of breaking things that were best left alone.

[Cannon Shell]

Originally Posted by blackthroatedwind

I like the Friday Stakes as well.

Ya know Chuck, feel free to correct me if you disagree, but it seems like they have an unusual lack of regard for Horsemen at Gulfstream. I realize all facets of the industry, specifically horseplayers and horsemen, always feel management should care more about them, but Gulfstream really takes the cake. Starting with the ridiculous paddock/walking ring situation, and ending with this change to the Fountain of Youth, you have to wonder if they ever ask ( or care ) how the trainers feel about what they do.

They now have exactly one two turn prep for the KY Derby....and it's five weeks before the race. They used to have three, the Preview ( which became the Holy Bull ), the FOY, and finally the Florida Derby.....and you still had time for one more serious prep. And, this is at the track that is theoretically the East Coast center for TC preparation.

They seem to have a disregard for everyone including slots customers since they mainly go elsewhere. The dynamics of the horseman situation in Fl in the winter is a bit strange because most of the stronger trainers at GP are seasonal guys in from somewhere else and they dont really take part in the horsemans groups in FL which is all calder guys. The Calder guys seem happy to run for whatever at GP because they hate Calder management so much and most of them dont have TC contenders and horses for the big races anyway.

[blackthroatedwind]

Originally Posted by Cannon Shell

They seem to have a disregard for everyone including slots customers since they mainly go elsewhere. The dynamics of the horseman situation in Fl in the winter is a bit strange because most of the stronger trainers at GP are seasonal guys in from somewhere else and they dont really take part in the horsemans groups in FL which is all calder guys. The Calder guys seem happy to run for whatever at GP because they hate Calder management so much and most of them dont have TC contenders and horses for the big races anyway.

And, I guess given their purse structure, and uber-reliance on cheap racing, they don't really care what the trainers ( or owners ) from up North want.

What a debacle.