The Real Championship Meet

[tjfrab]

Given Steve's attachment to NYRA and frequent slant that way, I guess that's the expected response I should have figured on getting. I suppose that's also the reason the post thread had to be moved to the back room. The point about the BC is fair and we'll see how it plays out in 4 weeks.

I can't argue that several favorites for BC races ran last weekend at New York. What I'm interested in is playing full fields and having fun with the hobby. New York's been running their cards with 50% maidens for months now- even at Saratoga on weekends. Again, fair point on the top dirt horses but I doubt there are many (if any) who follow the sport as weekend bettors who were excited to see those stakes race draws last week. Seriously, when you perused the entries on the internet last Wednesday for "Super Saturday", were you excited about playing those races?

I would also think that these types of disappointments are contributing to nearly every facet of the sport continuing to decline. There are too many graded races out there and I believe there are a bunch of downgrades needed. But why downgrade the ones that draw big, competitive fields over the 4 or 5 horse fields we've seen in New York that have 1 or 2 decent horses in each of them. Flower Bowl had 1 top horse. Vosburgh was a good race but I don't think Giant Ryan's a champion horse. Beldame, 2 good horses. Kelso, 2 good horses. Jockey Club Gold Cup, 2 good horses. Turf Classic, 1 top horse.

For my money, Keenland's opening weekend is a welcome passtime, albeit a brief interruption to the watered down racing in most of the country.