Stumbled across July 16, 1992 edition of NY Post

[Cannon Shell]

Originally Posted by DaTruth

What is there not to like about turf sprints, especially the stakes. They usually have full fields, and tend to be dominated by turf sprint specialists.

The problem I think people are having with turf sprints in NY is there are simply too many of them.

[VOL JACK]

Originally Posted by Cannon Shell

The problem I think people are having with turf sprints in NY is there are simply too many of them.

[blackthroatedwind]

Originally Posted by Cannon Shell

The problem I think people are having with turf sprints in NY is there are simply too many of them.

Compared to what....1 5/8 races?

[Cannon Shell]

Originally Posted by blackthroatedwind

Compared to what....1 5/8 races?

Everything else?

[PatCummings]

Originally Posted by Cannon Shell

The problem I think people are having with turf sprints in NY is there are simply too many of them.

How is this a problem?

[Bigsmc]

Originally Posted by PatCummings

How is this a problem?

Can one desire too much of a good thing?

[hoovesupsideyourhead]

http://www.lanesend.com/stallion/city-zip

[Linny]

I don't think that turf sprints were the intended point of the thread. Where have all the 2yo's and the straight maidens and the allowance runners gone. I will search for a couple of mid summer programs from last summer for comparison.

[parsixfarms]

Originally Posted by Linny

I don't think that turf sprints were the intended point of the thread. Where have all the 2yo's and the straight maidens and the allowance runners gone. I will search for a couple of mid summer programs from last summer for comparison.

In terms of tracks, it's Churchill, Monmouth, Delaware. With today's mega-outfits, it's hard to get allowance races to fill when the eligible horses are in the hands of only a few trainers rather than spread around the backstretch.

[Cannon Shell]

Originally Posted by parsixfarms

In terms of tracks, it's Churchill, Monmouth, Delaware. With today's mega-outfits, it's hard to get allowance races to fill when the eligible horses are in the hands of only a few trainers rather than spread around the backstretch.

True but also there is the attitude that running young horses somehow harms them. There are lots of horses today that are lightly raced that still wind up injured and on the sidelines.

[Cannon Shell]

Originally Posted by Linny

I don't think that turf sprints were the intended point of the thread. Where have all the 2yo's and the straight maidens and the allowance runners gone. I will search for a couple of mid summer programs from last summer for comparison.

Correct. For some reason over the last 20 years it has become taboo to run two year olds "early" and allowance runners arent supposed to run less than every 5 weeks.

[Antitrust32]

Originally Posted by Cannon Shell

Correct. For some reason over the last 20 years it has become taboo to run two year olds "early" and allowance runners arent supposed to run less than every 5 weeks.

exactly. It should be, IMO, every 14-21 days for horses that are healthy.

EVERYONE IS SCARED TO RACE THEIR HORSES INTO SHAPE! bunch of wimps. "oh no, I can't possibly loooooooose a race!"

[Linny]

Originally Posted by Cannon Shell

Correct. For some reason over the last 20 years it has become taboo to run two year olds "early" and allowance runners arent supposed to run less than every 5 weeks.

NY has ceded the 2yo division to Kentucky. They run 2yo's 3 or 4 times a week in spring at Keeneland and Churchill. In the fall they run babies with overflow fields daily and feature 2 days of all 2yo cards.

As for the allowance horses, they've all gone to ground. The sheets guys have convinced everyone that they'll just drop dead if they race on less than 45 days rest.

[golfer]

Originally Posted by Bigsmc

Can one desire too much of a good thing?

To have turf sprints or not to have turf sprints, that is the question?

[Cannon Shell]

Originally Posted by PatCummings

How is this a problem?

Lots of people dont like them.

[PatCummings]

Originally Posted by Cannon Shell

Lots of people dont like them.

If the racing secretary thought carding turf sprints was hurting entries, I can't imagine they would have become as popular as they've been with horsemen, carryover hunters, etc. Field sizes speak volumes - and if these races fill, and aren't contrary to progressive handle generation, I can't imagine they would keep carding them in greater quantities. Of all the problems racing might have, running more races that fit this bill seems a non-starter.

[Rudeboyelvis]

7 turf races in 3 days - in general, not simply sprints, over a track that has two turf courses seems odd

[cmorioles]

I blame Wayne Lukas and Thorograph.

One started the trend of one guy dominating all the best horses, though to be fair, he actually raced his. The other started the stupid bounce theory.

[freddymo]

Originally Posted by cmorioles

I blame Wayne Lukas and Thorograph.

One started the trend of one guy dominating all the best horses, though to be fair, he actually raced his. The other started the stupid bounce theory.

Wait till Black caviar bounces tonight

[Cannon Shell]

Originally Posted by cmorioles

I blame Wayne Lukas and Thorograph.

One started the trend of one guy dominating all the best horses, though to be fair, he actually raced his. The other started the stupid bounce theory.

Good points. DWL made it ok for trainers themselves not to actually train their horses.