saratoga countdown...

[parsixfarms]

Originally Posted by scat daddy

Have a feeling the 40 days will hurt Saratoga in the form of quality. This track is all about the quality of horse flesh we are witness too and with the current horse shortage showing very clearly now, and with the non stop 5 horse fields and gate scratches we are seeing at Belmont, we should all be concerned going ino this meet what you will get. Should be interesting.

I don't get the constant harping about gate scratches at Belmont. There was an issue with the gate crew a few summers ago at Saratoga, and NYRA addressed it. Now, the "gate scratches" that are referenced are typically vet scratches because a horse did not warm up well, or is showing signs of unsoundness. How can any bettor in his right mind complain when the track/vets are acting to protect the horse and the bettor?

Originally Posted by parsixfarms

I don't get the constant harping about gate scratches at Belmont. There was an issue with the gate crew a few summers ago at Saratoga, and NYRA addressed it. Now, the "gate scratches" that are referenced are typically vet scratches because a horse did not warm up well, or is showing signs of unsoundness. How can any bettor in his right mind complain when the track/vets are acting to protect the horse and the bettor?

Seriously? No connection whatsoever to the gate crew issue a few years ago, they were plain terrible and missed the break/loading of several horses and thier boss was held accountable and removed.

The point was the field size and although a gate scratch a few years ago left still a good sized field, today when it happens the fields are reduced to a small number of starters taking awat at times lucrative betting options. Pretty sad state NYRA is in and the industry for that matter.

[parsixfarms]

Originally Posted by scat daddy

Seriously? No connection whatsoever to the gate crew issue a few years ago, they were plain terrible and missed the break/loading of several horses and thier boss was held accountable and removed.

Yes, vet scratches to protect the horse/betting public have nothing whatsoever do do with the gate crew problems that befell the Saratoga meet a few years ago. I don't recall, for example, a single situation at the current Belmont meet where a horse was declared a non-starter because it was in the hands of the starter when the latch was sprung.

[herkhorse]

Best time of the year is near.

Nothing like a whack and track, golf at 7:00, Spa at noon...., or even better, the trifecta... Whack, Track, and SPAC. (Thanks to Naval Orange for that one )

[MaTH716]

Originally Posted by herkhorse

Best time of the year is near.

Nothing like a whack and track, golf at 7:00, Spa at noon...., or even better, the trifecta... Whack, Track, and SPAC. (Thanks to Naval Orange for that one )

Come on Herk, no love for Saratoga Harness?

[herkhorse]

Oh, don't get me wrong, I've pulled that trifecta many a time, but it doesn't rhyme.

[MaTH716]

Originally Posted by herkhorse

Oh, don't get me wrong, I've pulled that trifecta many a time, but it doesn't rhyme.

I pulled off the double once, between the Spa and the harness joint. I have to admit that Mrs. MaTH wasn't too pleased about being dragged to the back end of the double.

[herkhorse]

And in a perfect world, they would keep Saratoga open for DelMar and late night simulcast, Byk could keep the barbie open all night, and I could sleep in a tent under the pines.