BEYER: Poly's Anti-Speed Bias

[ArlJim78]

While I admire and respect Beyer, I think he is just wrong on this one.

Since when is it assumed that the Blue Grass or any other prep race will be or should be definitive? In my view they are almost never definitive. No better example than last years Blue Grass run on the dirt. Did we learn anything from that with Sinister Minister romping?

Are we not supposed to have to work to figure this stuff out? Okay so this years Bluegrass was run in a style that we are not used to. So we'll have to learn what we can, maybe dig deeper in ways that we're not acustomed to.
There is nothing to say that next years Blue Grass will be run the same way as this years addition.

I like it because it makes it more complex, challenges you to think about what you've watched. It's another puzzle piece to consider, a race run with a different pace set-up, on a different surface. It highlights different attributes of the horses. Its only a hunch of mine at this point, but I think there is a chance that down the road we will look back on this years Blue Grass and say "Oh, well it did tell us something after all". we'll just have to see about that.

I love it that you've basically got someone like Andy Beyer, one of the true gods of racing imo, throwing up his hands and saying "I don't know, can't figure it out".

I see it as an opportunity.

[estreetposse]

Originally Posted by ArlJim78

While I admire and respect Beyer, I think he is just wrong on this one.

Since when is it assumed that the Blue Grass or any other prep race will be or should be definitive? In my view they are almost never definitive. No better example than last years Blue Grass run on the dirt. Did we learn anything from that with Sinister Minister romping?

Are we not supposed to have to work to figure this stuff out? Okay so this years Bluegrass was run in a style that we are not used to. So we'll have to learn what we can, maybe dig deeper in ways that we're not acustomed to.
There is nothing to say that next years Blue Grass will be run the same way as this years addition.

I like it because it makes it more complex, challenges you to think about what you've watched. It's another puzzle piece to consider, a race run with a different pace set-up, on a different surface. It highlights different attributes of the horses. Its only a hunch of mine at this point, but I think there is a chance that down the road we will look back on this years Blue Grass and say "Oh, well it did tell us something after all". we'll just have to see about that.

I love it that you've basically got someone like Andy Beyer, one of the true gods of racing imo, throwing up his hands and saying "I don't know, can't figure it out".

I see it as an opportunity.

Sinister Minister was a freak that day...where is he now?

[slotdirt]

That Blue Grass was a joke, and Beyer seems pretty spot-on in his comments.

[jpops757]

If so many think Beyer and his figures are so bogus. Why is one of the first questions asked after an important race is, WHAT WAS THE BEYER NUMBER?

[MisterB]

Originally Posted by jpops757

If so many think Beyer and his figures are so bogus. Why is one of the first questions asked after an important race is, WHAT WAS THE BEYER NUMBER?

Beyers are not just put on important races, what is an important race anyway?? My next race I bet, is just important as the last.

[Grits]

In this article Beyer openly complains about the polytrack surface, holding the belief that this may not be good for racing.

Yet, when he speaks to the general manager . . . etc, and learns that part of this can well be attributed to the jockeys making the determination of how to ride this particular track (and of course, the jock is going to ride to win the race therefore getting his check) . . . he ignores this bit of information. Still believing the surface to be the sole problem. I think that this is a mistake.

Lifelong handicappers can be difficult. They can be as difficult as the trainers, the jockeys, the horses...etc. The puzzle is difficult enough, and when there is a new concern that confounds them--so completely as polytrack has--they are not pleased.

I think too, that two short race meets provide little in determining the ultimate answers regarding this new dynamic to racing.

And, as all weather as this has been billed, there may be changes in the surface on days like Saturday's, with constant pouring, pouring rain. This has been shown at Woodbine and at Turfway.

I'm not sure Andy was on track at Keeneland on Saturday, but the rain and the jock's judgements could have had a great deal to do with how the Bluegrass Stakes was run.

I think its a little premature to determine the surface unfit for North American racecourses, therefore possibly a hindrance to the game.

Maybe Andy will think on this one a little bit longer.

[ateamstupid]

Originally Posted by ArlJim78

While I admire and respect Beyer, I think he is just wrong on this one.

Since when is it assumed that the Blue Grass or any other prep race will be or should be definitive? In my view they are almost never definitive. No better example than last years Blue Grass run on the dirt. Did we learn anything from that with Sinister Minister romping?

Are we not supposed to have to work to figure this stuff out? Okay so this years Bluegrass was run in a style that we are not used to. So we'll have to learn what we can, maybe dig deeper in ways that we're not acustomed to.
There is nothing to say that next years Blue Grass will be run the same way as this years addition.

I like it because it makes it more complex, challenges you to think about what you've watched. It's another puzzle piece to consider, a race run with a different pace set-up, on a different surface. It highlights different attributes of the horses. Its only a hunch of mine at this point, but I think there is a chance that down the road we will look back on this years Blue Grass and say "Oh, well it did tell us something after all". we'll just have to see about that.

I love it that you've basically got someone like Andy Beyer, one of the true gods of racing imo, throwing up his hands and saying "I don't know, can't figure it out".

I see it as an opportunity.

So what conclusions have you drawn from this race? What different "attributes" were highlighted to you in the horses who ran well?

It's easy to say that we can draw something from the Blue Grass or it'll prove to be important later on, but I've yet to see you make any declarations regarding the race.