LA Derby will lengthen, richen, compete with FL Derby

SniperSB23 · #1 08-11-2009, 05:12 PM

So dumb. They now get lesser fields having to compete with all the other final preps and make it impossible for horses to run in the New Orleans Handicap and Oaklawn Handicap. Moving it up one week to give 8 weeks until the Derby would have made so much more sense.

Bobby Fischer · #2 08-11-2009, 05:27 PM

i like the distance increase

NTamm1215 · #3 08-11-2009, 05:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SniperSB23

So dumb. They now get lesser fields having to compete with all the other final preps and make it impossible for horses to run in the New Orleans Handicap and Oaklawn Handicap. Moving it up one week to give 8 weeks until the Derby would have made so much more sense.

Moving it up one week would have put them six weeks out. This year it was run seven weeks prior to the Derby on March 14.

As for the NO Handicap, there is such a dearth of legitimate handicap races in the country at that time of year that they could run it whenever they want. FG had a field of 14 entered in the NO Cap last year. Oaklawn had 7 in the Oaklawn Handicap. They shouldn't be concerned with allowing horsemen to run at Oaklawn, a track that had a significantly stronger meet than FG last year.

I like the move, it adds some starch to their closing weeks and puts it in position to be a legitimate prep. This will keep people like Larry Jones, Todd Pletcher and all the rest from using the La Derby as a final Derby prep eight weeks off the race.

NT

Travis Stone · #4 08-11-2009, 05:50 PM

This is a good move on the part of the Fair Grounds. Their race was becoming less popular with its odd distance/spacing at that time of year. Now they've taken a stand. Going the other way could have worked, but then you're still another round away from the Derby.

DaTruth · #5 08-11-2009, 07:10 PM

Smart move by Fair Grounds to return the Derby to nine furlongs, boost the purse, and move it five weeks out from the big day. I'm also pleased that the Risen Star purse was returned to $300,000 and moved to late February. Hopefully this will mean some of the good Derby prospects will race at FG instead of merely using the track for training (for past examples, see Curlin, Victory Gallop, Touch Gold).

Moving the Fair Grounds to late March is going to basically eliminate the Ashland as an Oaks prep. Not sure how it is going to affect the Fantasy, as with the exception of Rachel Alexandra, many of the FG Oaks winners have not run in the Fantasy on their way to the Oaks.

According to Bob Fortus with the Times Picayune, the FG Oaks is going to be run on the Friday before the La Derby, along with three other stakes for the ladies.

NTamm1215 · #6 08-11-2009, 07:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaTruth

Smart move by Fair Grounds to return the Derby to nine furlongs, boost the purse, and move it five weeks out from the big day. I'm also pleased that the Risen Star purse was returned to $300,000 and moved to late February. Hopefully this will mean some of the good Derby prospects will race at FG instead of merely using the track for training (for past examples, see Curlin, Victory Gallop, Touch Gold).

Moving the Fair Grounds to late March is going to basically eliminate the Ashland as an Oaks prep. Not sure how it is going to affect the Fantasy, as with the exception of Rachel Alexandra, many of the FG Oaks winners have not run in the Fantasy on their way to the Oaks.

According to Bob Fortus with the Times Picayune, the FG Oaks is going to be run on the Friday before the La Derby, along with three other stakes for the ladies.

I would think there's also an excellent chance you see some twilight/night cards come back at FG considering CDI is all about night racing after the experiment at CD.

NT

Travis Stone · #7 08-11-2009, 08:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NTamm1215

I would think there's also an excellent chance you see some twilight/night cards come back at FG considering CDI is all about night racing after the experiment at CD.

NT

I dunno... driving out of the Fair Grounds at 11pm... yikes!

hi_im_god · #8 08-11-2009, 09:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Travis Stone

I dunno... driving out of the Fair Grounds at 11pm... yikes!

i've walked out of there to a friends house on the other side of esplanade.

it was during jazzfest and i had the cover of a few thousand other music fans but still...shows it can be done.

FGFan · #9 08-11-2009, 08:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NTamm1215

I would think there's also an excellent chance you see some twilight/night cards come back at FG considering CDI is all about night racing after the experiment at CD.

NT

We had nite/twilight racing for the last 3 Fridays of the 08/09 season, first time in 20 years I think they said.
Maybe we were the experiment...

I like the move to the last weekend of March and raising the purses. I think whoever said it hopefully will stop us from just becoming a training spot is right on target. We also are opening on Nov. 6 which is 3 weeks early....

We shall see how it works out come the Louisiana derby trail, but can't wait until Nov. 6.

SniperSB23 · #10 08-11-2009, 08:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NTamm1215

Moving it up one week would have put them six weeks out. This year it was run seven weeks prior to the Derby on March 14.

Up to me means earlier in the calendar. I thought that was pretty clear by specifying 8 weeks.

NTamm1215 · #11 08-11-2009, 08:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SniperSB23

Up to me means earlier in the calendar. I thought that was pretty clear by specifying 8 weeks.

OK but it's pretty safe to say tracks that feel like they run a "major" Derby prep just about never move it farther from the Derby.

NT

SniperSB23 · #12 08-11-2009, 08:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NTamm1215

OK but it's pretty safe to say tracks that feel like they run a "major" Derby prep just about never move it farther from the Derby.

NT

At 8 weeks out they would draw horses from everywhere who would then go split up for the final preps. At 5 weeks out they are just going to split the pool of horses even further off from the other major preps which means weaker pools for everyone. They'll never get G1 status from that. At 8 weeks out they could draw a great field each year with that purse increase.

Dunbar · #13 08-11-2009, 08:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SniperSB23

At 8 weeks out they would draw horses from everywhere who would then go split up for the final preps. At 5 weeks out they are just going to split the pool of horses even further off from the other major preps which means weaker pools for everyone. They'll never get G1 status from that. At 8 weeks out they could draw a great field each year with that purse increase.

Agree completely.

--Dunbar

DaTruth · #14 08-11-2009, 08:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SniperSB23

At 8 weeks out they would draw horses from everywhere who would then go split up for the final preps. At 5 weeks out they are just going to split the pool of horses even further off from the other major preps which means weaker pools for everyone. They'll never get G1 status from that. At 8 weeks out they could draw a great field each year with that purse increase.

In 2003, the purse was $750k and the race was run on March 9th, putting eight weeks before the Derby. The field included Funny Cide, Peace Rules, Kafwain, and Badge of Silver.

SniperSB23 · #15 08-11-2009, 09:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaTruth

In 2003, the purse was $750k and the race was run on March 9th, putting eight weeks before the Derby. The field included Funny Cide, Peace Rules, Kafwain, and Badge of Silver.

Yup, and we'll see who shows up next year with horses split between the Lane's End, Louisiana Derby, Florida Derby, Wood Memorial, Santa Anita Derby, Blue Grass Stakes, and Arkansas Derby. And god forbid the Sunland Derby gets G3 status next year and draws some horses looking for graded earnings. This is a bad move.