6/27: BEL (P4); PrM (P4); MTH-PHA-WO Stakes

[blackthroatedwind]

Comparing the grass courses to Prospect Park is a big smile. Thanks, it's been a long day, I needed the laugh.

You can't be this crazy......can you?

[the_fat_man]

Originally Posted by blackthroatedwind

Comparing the grass courses to Prospect Park is a big smile. Thanks, it's been a long day, I needed the laugh.

You can't be this crazy......can you?

Really? Why does the grass at BEL take so much longer to dry than just about anywhere else in the world? It's not tropical there. Elmont isn't in the Amazon. The area is not a swamp.

But that's what NYRA would have us believe and I guess, you think, that everyone needs to just buy that BS.

[pmacdaddy]

The rain storm before they cancelled yesterday was intense. Reminded me of Ghostbusters. Kids were wading in puddles on the way out.

That isolated storm had to have set things back dramatically.

[parsixfarms]

Originally Posted by the_fat_man

Why are the BEL turf courses so saturated with water? Why won't they absorb and dry like normal grass does? Why is the BEL turf SOFT when MTH is FIRM? Something indigenous to the Elmont region?

This is all BS. It's ****in grass, they're horses and they've been running over wet grass and dirt throughout their history. NYRA just needs to let them run on it and stop making an issue out of the trivial.

I'm not an agronomist and I haven't walked the Belmont turf courses. I don't believe it's any secret think that the turf courses at Belmont and Saratoga probably don't drain as well as NYRA would like and would be priorities for NYRA if it had funds for significant capital improvements for their tracks. Given its past financial difficulties, the problems with the turf courses can probably best be chalked up to the problems associated with deferred maintenance.

As for the issue as to why they aren't using the courses, it's in NYRA's financial interest to use the courses as much as possible when safe. Just compare the pick-4 handle this week ($494K) to last week's ($250K), when the races came off and NYRA had to pay over $100K on the pic-4 guarantee. I don't understand why you can't seem to grasp that these are long meets and constant use of the courses puts a strain on them. A few years ago at Saratoga (2006), they beat the sh** out of the course, and by the end of the meet, there were so many holes on the courses that they weren't safe (and they had to cancel turf races even though the weather was dry). If these were short meets or they had a single course with multiple paths, like Gulfstream or Colonial, they might not have to take as many races off the turf. But they don't, and we have to accept it, for now.

[chucklestheclown]

Blackthroatedwind, you need to fix this ASAP. It is a disgrace.

[Gander]

They moved Separatist up because he tried moving through an opening that wasnt there. Western Connection did come slightly over but was clearly in front of Separatist when he did and that happens all the time in horse racing, especially in turf racing. Look at the move Dame Ellen was making on Friday when she got the path she was going to take blocked. Would that have been grounds for a DQ had the horse that been in her way (I think it was La Rocca) finished in front of her? If they are going to move up every horse who tries to go through an opening thats not there and DQ a horse that moves slightly over, you better not even think of celebrating a win until the race becomes official.

[freddymo]

Originally Posted by the_fat_man

Really? Why does the grass at BEL take so much longer to dry than just about anywhere else in the world? It's not tropical there. Elmont isn't in the Amazon. The area is not a swamp.

But that's what NYRA would have us believe and I guess, you think, that everyone needs to just buy that BS.

If you think NYRA likes taking off your crazy its killing them. NYRA is now being run by people who know they have to make money, you think they want 40% of the turf races off? Anyway I agree that they should TRY to be a bit less careful and run at least one on each course.I guess we just dont comprehend the situation well enough.. It really is in everyones best interest to leave them on so when they take off I guess it reallly is necessary???

[pointman]

Originally Posted by blackthroatedwind

This is the third time in eight racing days I have been disqualified. Clearly I see races differently than those that make the decisions. Then again, I see a lot of things differently than many people.

You got one back!

[chucklestheclown]

Originally Posted by Gander

you better not even think of celebrating a win until the race becomes official.

Who does that?