{Official} VENUE: July 20 = Monmouth R5--13

[RUFFIAN]

BARRING ANY OBJECTIONS
{{SEE THE TRACK SUPURRR-IN-TENDENT}}

WOULD LIKE TO GO WITH THE FOLLOWING SUPURR SATURDAY CARD

MONMOUTH PARK BEGINNING WITH RACE #5 = OCEANPORT S @ 1:53 ET
ENDING THE DAY WITH LUCKY RACE 13 ON TURF

AM VERY IMPRESSED WITH MONMOUTH'S GENUINE CONCERN
FOR THE HORSES WELL BEING BY TAKING SIGNIFICANT CHANGES
EVEN AT THE EXPENSE OF INTERFERENCE WITH TV BROADCAST!

WOULD THAT MORE TRACKS WOULD TAKE THE HINT!


=^,,^=

[Roamin42]

R5…1-4-2
R6…7-3-4
R7…2-8-6
R8…3-2-1
R9…5-4-3
R10..4-3-1
R11..6-3-2
R12..6-7-1
R13..8-5-6

[Real Quiet]

Before the news of the heat wave I looked at the entries for Haskell Day at Monmouth and thought it was pathetic that on the biggest thoroughbred day of racing in New Jersey that the fields were so small. Now with the heat there are quite a lot of scratches and smaller than small fields in a lot of races. I am rethinking my conviction that thoroughbred racing in New Jersey is viable. Why subsidize an inferior product that can't even draw decent fields on a big day.

[JolyB]

The small size of the fields on Monmouth's biggest day is certainly disappointing. There are two horses in the Molly Pitcher who were cross entered in tomorrow's Shuvee at the Spa; fortunately, both of them are running today; otherwise the Molly Pitcher would have been completely shattered.

For today's 9 contest races we have a total of only 60 entries. Worse yet, the 5 graded stakes races only have a total of 29 runners, despite the fact that they are running for a total of $1,650,000 in purse money plus another $150,000 in breeding fees for the top three finishers in the Matchmaker.

RQ, I don't think that this is just an indictment of New Jersey racing. In yesterday's feature race at Saratoga, there were only 3 runners after scratches, and all of them were trained by Chad Brown. This for a race that was NOT taken off of the turf.

[Real Quiet]

I saw that race at Saratoga yesterday. On the plus side my horse in the race Dogtag showed. Something has to give somewhere. Giving away money in races like these does nothing for the game.

[JolyB]

Houston, we may have a problem. First post was supposed to be 12:00 PM. It's 12:30 and race 1 has not been run. The horses for Race 1 are just being called to post. I suspect that there may be very short post parades and possibly other delays during the afternoon.

I just hope there are no incidents on this very hot and humid day.

[RUFFIAN]

MONMOUTH PARK NEWS UPDATE :l

Monmouth Park will have protocols for extreme weather in place Saturday
on the Haskell Invitational card.

The protocols are intended to help both horses and humans deal with high temperatures
and humidity from the ongoing heat wave.

The protocols include having extra emergency medical technicians on hand
to help people affected by the heat;
having ice containers positioned throughout the track and along the path
where the horses walk to the paddock;

having additional hoses accessible for horses before and after the races;
and having a misting system in the paddock.

*** Additionally, post parades will be shortened if necessary
and water trucks will be equipped to hose down any horses in distress on the track.

Races will be pushed back until later in the afternoon when temperatures will be lower, if necessary.

The Haskell Invitational is scheduled to go off at 5:47 p.m. Eastern and be televised live on NBC from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m.
, but post times will be altered even if it impacts NBC being able to show the race.

Monmouth, which is located several miles from the Atlantic Ocean, is in a better position
than inland racetracks in the region because of the ocean’s tempering effect.

The Weather Channel’s Saturday forecast for Oceanport, N.J.,
calls for humid conditions and a high temperature of 94.
======================

[JolyB]

Ruff, that's very much like the article I linked a couple of days ago before the final card was selected. Management is clearly doing all it can to be safe while still running.

My comment above was prompted by the realization that no matter how many worthwhile safety protocols are in place, if there are any incidents that result from racing on a day when virtually every other track in the East has cancelled because of heat dangers, it will give horse racing a horrible black eye.

[RUFFIAN]

So many other tracks canceled their card
because they placed the welfare of the horse
above the money in their purse

Too bad Monmouth couldn’t have Done the same and just postpone the card until Sunday or the following weekend...

but as we all know
The Almighty $$$ speaks louder than the welfare of the horses

[JolyB]

New development:

Racing card has been curtailed.
Races 3,4,6,7,13,14 have been cancelled.

Race 5 will be run at 6:00 (hopefully when it's cooler)
Race 8 at 6:25
Race 9 at 6:53
Race 10 at 7:15
Race 11 at 7:40
Race 12 at 8:05

Need your thoughts whether this abbreviated race card should constitute our contest or whether we should call it a day.

Comments please.

[RUFFIAN]

The CAT’S MEOW

With such a late cancellation
and players having ROI wagers that would involve the races that were canceled

I think we probably should cancel our contest for the day to be fair to everybody

Many players do not check back once the day begins because they have other priorities with family and friends
and would never know those races were canceled or that their wagers were invalid