Saturday Saratoga Race Card

[Calzone Lord]

Originally Posted by OTM Al

But others, like me, love these races. Players that are at their best at claimers could tell you the BC card is no good as clearly there is no mix of races those days.

The Breeders Cup Card is and always was hand down, by a mile, the best card of the year.

Almost everyone able shows up (only those crazy sup fees for horses with obscure pedigrees sometimes keep contenders away) and most importantly -- you get a mix of horses from all different regions...which is the test any good handicapper should want.

Even among people considered good handicappers -- a lot of them focus and waste way too much of their energy on a home track and pay little to no attention elsewhere. There aren't enough racing days like it anymore where you get entire cards loaded with quality shippers from all different regions.

[jms62]

Originally Posted by Calzone Lord

The Breeders Cup Card is and always was hand down, by a mile, the best card of the year.

Almost everyone able shows up (only those crazy sup fees for horses with obscure pedigrees sometimes keep contenders away) and most importantly -- you get a mix of horses from all different regions...which is the test any good handicapper should want.

Even among people considered good handicappers -- a lot of them focus and waste way too much of their energy on a home track and pay little to no attention elsewhere. There aren't enough racing days like it anymore where you get entire cards loaded with quality shippers from all different regions.

And you don't have to deal with trainers using the race as a prep for something else.

[OTM Al]

Originally Posted by Calzone Lord

The Breeders Cup Card is and always was hand down, by a mile, the best card of the year.

Almost everyone able shows up (only those crazy sup fees for horses with obscure pedigrees sometimes keep contenders away) and most importantly -- you get a mix of horses from all different regions...which is the test any good handicapper should want.

Even among people considered good handicappers -- a lot of them focus and waste way too much of their energy on a home track and pay little to no attention elsewhere. There aren't enough racing days like it anymore where you get entire cards loaded with quality shippers from all different regions.

I don't disagree on that standpoint, but I guaranteee you there are guys out there who don't touch it or watch it because it isn't what they play. For them it's not a good card.

[Calzone Lord]

Originally Posted by OTM Al

I don't disagree on that standpoint, but I guaranteee you there are guys out there who don't touch it or watch it because it isn't what they play. For them it's not a good card.

I don't know -- a dedicated horseplayer that does not bet or even watch the Breeders Cup? To me, they would be the ultimate outlier.

[OTM Al]

It's extreme I'll give you, but a guy that's strictly a gambler could care less. You and I are clearly in between the extremes, we gamble but we also enjoy the sport. Hardcore gambler just cares about winning. He doesnt care who is the best ever unless its making money for him. Guys that run around claiming its only about the gambling and then get gushy on Derby day crack me up.

[PatCummings]

Regardless of what people thought of the quality of the card on Saturday, they didn't shy away.

11 races (6 claimers) - total handle of $11,958,086 (with mostly sloppy/off-turf)

The same Saturday on the calendar a year ago had 3 claiming races, a G1 turf stake, and was fast/firm and handled $11,927,406 (it did go up against the Arlington Million card, which is a weekend later this year).

Monmouth Park ran 11 races in similar wet conditions on Saturday, handled $3,801,312. A year ago, they ran 12 races fast/firm and handled $6,191,436

[Cannon Shell]

Originally Posted by PatCummings

Regardless of what people thought of the quality of the card on Saturday, they didn't shy away.

11 races (6 claimers) - total handle of $11,958,086 (with mostly sloppy/off-turf)

The same Saturday on the calendar a year ago had 3 claiming races, a G1 turf stake, and was fast/firm and handled $11,927,406 (it did go up against the Arlington Million card, which is a weekend later this year).

Monmouth Park ran 11 races in similar wet conditions on Saturday, handled $3,801,312. A year ago, they ran 12 races fast/firm and handled $6,191,436

Based on this logic when Gov Cuomo slashes the purse subsidy the new NYRA can just go ahead and get rid of all those good races and just run claimers and the handle will stay the same.

[Alan07]

Originally Posted by Cannon Shell

Based on this logic when Gov Cuomo slashes the purse subsidy the new NYRA can just go ahead and get rid of all those good races and just run claimers and the handle will stay the same.

and when the slot money disappears there will have to be an overhaul of the racing calendar in New York.