Inner track meet so far

[parsixfarms]

Originally Posted by freddymo

I don't agree with the new rule to limit the purses to 2x of claiming tag. I loved when MP had nickels running for 30k. I loved how the fields were huge and horses would drop from being well placed in 20k claimer into 5's. I thought it was fun handicapping and added to the fun. What's wrong with a field of 12 7500 claimers running for 28k?

I understand what the rule is intended to accomplish; I'm not sure it does that, especially with tracks like Parx having $7,500 claimers running for purses that are at least 3X the claiming price.

I always thought that, when things got rough the past few years, NYRA "cheapened" the condition book to avoid having to announce a purse cut. For example, it is not that long ago that the bottom claiming price on turf was $35,000; it was dropped to $25,000 (with essentially the same horses), with a corresponding drop in purse (and has subsequently been dropped even further). One way to get around the new rule would be to reinflate the condition book (in the example above, re-raise the bottom claiming price on turf to $35,000); then the rule has little applicability. I'm surprised that NYRA has not done that.

[Calzone Lord]

I never understood the ridiculousness of making the bottom level claiming price for turf races so high.

Even still, in a lot of different parts of the country, there are so many times where a cheap horse has a pedigree slanted strongly to turf racing...but the trainer would rather run him for $5,000 to $10,000 tags where he's barely even competitive, than try him on turf for $16,000 to $25,000 tags at the bottom.

Like you said:

For example, it is not that long ago that the bottom claiming price on turf was $35,000; it was dropped to $25,000 (with essentially the same horses),

There is also less incentive to claim a turf horse in the East and Mid-West, because you don't have year-round turf racing ... and, in those eight months out of a year when you do have turf racing, you get rained off the turf sometimes.