Venue for 2/15

[JolyB]

Originally Posted by RUFFIAN-333

That isn’t what I was asking

What I meant was
How do the track Stewards determine which horses
they put into which division
since the purse is the same + the distance is the same in both

Ruff, I'm pretty sure that when the Stewards determine that there are so many entrants that they run the race in 2 divisions, they have a random draw to determine who runs in which division. Then they have the additional draws for post positions. Any other process could lead to allegations that Horse X was intentionally placed in an easier division to provide a benefit to a favored owner or trainer.

I seem to recall from earlier years that Derby qualifying points are affected by having a race run in two divisions. The number of points awarded to the top finishers is smaller than if that race had not been run in two divisions. I think that is provided in the small print of the rules for Derby qualification. What I don't know is exactly how many points will be on the line for the Risen Star.

Hope that answers your question.

[JolyB]

Originally Posted by JolyB

Ruff, I'm pretty sure that when the Stewards determine that there are so many entrants that they run the race in 2 divisions, they have a random draw to determine who runs in which division. Then they have the additional draws for post positions. Any other process could lead to allegations that Horse X was intentionally placed in an easier division to provide a benefit to a favored owner or trainer.

I seem to recall from earlier years that Derby qualifying points are affected by having a race run in two divisions. The number of points awarded to the top finishers is smaller than if that race had not been run in two divisions. I think that is provided in the small print of the rules for Derby qualification. What I don't know is exactly how many points will be on the line for the Risen Star.

Hope that answers your question.

I need to correct myself. According to the Bloodhorse:

"Each race will be contested for the advertised $400,000 purse, and per Road to the Kentucky Derby rules, the two stakes will both offer 85 qualifying points [50-20-10-5] toward Kentucky Derby"

[JolyB]

This is completely off topic and I apologize to any who aren't baseball fans looking forward to Spring.

Many pay attention to groundhog day, but for me the surest sign of the passing of the dreaded winter and the approach of the unsure spring is the day on which PITCHERS AND CATCHERS REPORT. For most teams, that day is today.

Thank you.

[DonGuido]

Originally Posted by JolyB

This is completely off topic and I apologize to any who aren't baseball fans looking forward to Spring.

Many pay attention to groundhog day, but for me the surest sign of the passing of the dreaded winter and the approach of the unsure spring is the day on which PITCHERS AND CATCHERS REPORT. For most teams, that day is today.

Thank you.

Well it's likely Spring in Surprise, AZ anyway, but not here in North Texas . . wet and cold. It's been a VERY wet winter. The sound of a hardball smacking into the center of the cather's mit at 90 mph is pretty awesome.

[cal828]

Originally Posted by DonGuido

Well it's likely Spring in Surprise, AZ anyway, but not here in North Texas . . wet and cold. It's been a VERY wet winter. The sound of a hardball smacking into the center of the cather's mit at 90 mph is pretty awesome.

I think all that wet weather you guys get in North Texas, Don, heads right up here to Hot Springs. We are completely water logged here. I think we might see a little sun over the next 3 or 4 days then more rain on Monday. I had thought about going to see the Southwest. I think they have a drawing after every race and the amount Oaklawn gives away starts with a thousand dollars and increases by a thousand with each race, but with the rain, I think I'll just stay home. Wouldn't be so bad, if it was nice day so that some of the crowd could be shunted outside, but with rain everyone will be indoors. President's Day is very big at Oaklawn largely because it's a holiday for all Arkansas State Employees and they all go to the track.