A Saratoga wrap up, best and worst

[Seattleallstar]

not winning a god damn cent saratoga was all the worst for me, ****in pure incentive costing me a few thousand dollars

[philcski]

Originally Posted by Seattleallstar

not winning a god damn cent saratoga was all the worst for me, ****in pure incentive costing me a few thousand dollars

And Appealing Zophie cost me an $80K pick 6...

But Saratoga this year was better than ever. Anybody that can say there's a better place to race with a straight face better pass the joint. Driving back to the city on Monday was downright depressing- Belmont fall is a great meet but nothing compared to the mystique, energy, and quality of the Spa. I'm a firm believer they should expand the meet to the Wednesday after July 4th until Labor Day (so approximately 9 weeks.) How amazing would that be??

I love the place enough that I'd move there, and put up with upstate (where I grew up and vowed I'd never come back) for 46 weeks a year, just to take in the whole 6 weeks instead of just the weekends...

[ateamstupid]

Originally Posted by philcski

And Appealing Zophie cost me an $80K pick 6...

But Saratoga this year was better than ever. Anybody that can say there's a better place to race with a straight face better pass the joint. Driving back to the city on Monday was downright depressing- Belmont fall is a great meet but nothing compared to the mystique, energy, and quality of the Spa. I'm a firm believer they should expand the meet to the Wednesday after July 4th until Labor Day (so approximately 9 weeks.) How amazing would that be??

I love the place enough that I'd move there, and put up with upstate (where I grew up and vowed I'd never come back) for 46 weeks a year, just to take in the whole 6 weeks instead of just the weekends...

Not amazing at all. You have any idea how terrible those cards would become?

[Gander]

I have mixed feelings on extending the meet. But I will say this. The majority of people that attend the races at Saratoga could give a rat's ass about the quality of the cards. Most people are just there to hang out and I doubt it would hurt NYRA or the sport if they moved those 3 weeks of racing to Saratoga instead of keeping them at Belmont.

Adding Labor Day weekend was the best thing that ever happened to Saratoga racing.

Originally Posted by Gander

I have mixed feelings on extending the meet. But I will say this. The majority of people that attend the races at Saratoga could give a rat's ass about the quality of the cards. Most people are just there to hang out and I doubt it would hurt NYRA or the sport if they moved those 3 weeks of racing to Saratoga instead of keeping them at Belmont.

Adding Labor Day weekend was the best thing that ever happened to Saratoga racing.

As if they could be any worse than the last two weeks at Belmont? Are you kidding me?
The last two weeks at Belmont aren't any good at all
The next change at the Spa should be 8 weeks, 5 racing days a week.

[Gander]

Yes I agree Oracle. 6 days is too much. Add a couple extra weeks and chop off Monday racing, although if it wasnt for one particular monday this meet, I would have had the worst meet ever. Instead I finished around even.

[Sightseek]

Originally Posted by Gander

Yes I agree Oracle. 6 days is too much. Add a couple extra weeks and chop off Monday racing, although if it wasnt for one particular monday this meet, I would have had the worst meet ever. Instead I finished around even.

Hall of Fame day is always Monday.

[philcski]

Originally Posted by ateamstupid

Not amazing at all. You have any idea how terrible those cards would become?

The cards at the end of the Belmont meet were awful this year. They CAN'T be worse than that.

I'd take 90% of Saratoga over anywhere in the world, and from NYRA's perspective the handle increase would be very much in their favor.

My proposal:
Run the Friday after July 4th until Labor Day, 5 days a week except Travers Monday, Hall of Fame Monday, and Labor Day.
That would be 46 racing days (vs. the typical 36.)

[Gander]

Who cares about Hall of Fame day? Break tradition and put it on a Wed. Who would really care? The race itself is no great shakes, thats for sure.

I like the Labor Day thing, that could be the only Monday. Start on a Thursday after July 4th, run 5 days a week Wed-Sun, with the exception of Labor Day being the one Monday and missing the first Wednesday of the meet, starting on that Thursday instead.

[Gander]

18K people attended the races the Hall of Fame Day. Big whoop. It can be changed to a different day of the week to fit into my proposed 5 day a week schedule.

[Sightseek]

Originally Posted by Gander

Who cares about Hall of Fame day? Break tradition and put it on a Wed. Who would really care? The race itself is no great shakes, thats for sure.

I like the Labor Day thing, that could be the only Monday. Start on a Thursday after July 4th, run 5 days a week Wed-Sun, with the exception of Labor Day being the one Monday and missing the first Wednesday of the meet, starting on that Thursday instead.

Personally I had a delightful time and the yearling sales are at that time as well.