Small Fields

[paisjpq]

I was b*tching about this on the fourth when the Tremont had 4 runners but a MSW two races later had 12 entries...there was a time when trainers would have thrown a horse in a stake even if it was a maiden or if it had to run against a 1-9 from a top trainer...ducking top conditioners or top horses does nothing to help the game, and it gets me steamed--It is also why we constantly hear the phrase 'well he beat nothing'

Originally Posted by paisjpq

I was b*tching about this on the fourth when the Tremont had 4 runners but a MSW two races later had 12 entries...there was a time when trainers would have thrown a horse in a stake even if it was a maiden or if it had to run against a 1-9 from a top trainer...ducking top conditioners or top horses does nothing to help the game, and it gets me steamed--It is also why we constantly hear the phrase 'well he beat nothing'

Well this makes me think of two things:

1) The new medication rules doesnt allow for trainers to do a last minute adjustment. A trainer doesnt want to get fined or suspended if their horse runs in a race and has a positive test. Say you gave your horse some meds two weeks before the Tremont...well the Tremont comes up short and you would love to run your horse in the race. However, you know you are going to test positive because it has only been 14 days since the horse took the drug.

2) There are so many races for horses these days that the trainer can pick the sports for the horse. If you have a borderline Grade III/Allowace horse, you can ship that horse to Delaware or West Virginia and catch a weak field for a nice purse. There are too many options for the number of horses that are racing.

This is a total mess and there is no easy fix.

[paisjpq]

Originally Posted by eurobounce

Well this makes me think of two things:

1) The new medication rules doesnt allow for trainers to do a last minute adjustment. A trainer doesnt want to get fined or suspended if their horse runs in a race and has a positive test. Say you gave your horse some meds two weeks before the Tremont...well the Tremont comes up short and you would love to run your horse in the race. However, you know you are going to test positive because it has only been 14 days since the horse took the drug.

2) There are so many races for horses these days that the trainer can pick the sports for the horse. If you have a borderline Grade III/Allowace horse, you can ship that horse to Delaware or West Virginia and catch a weak field for a nice purse. There are too many options for the number of horses that are racing.

This is a total mess and there is no easy fix.

you make good points except that my complaint was taht the two races were on the same card--one was a 4 horse field and one was filled. In the 4 horse field one horse/trainer completely dominated the field and was the winner--but I can't understand why no one even wanted to try to beat him, (well, actually I can understand it but I hate it). The focus today is so bent on a horse's residual value that they never truly compete against each other except once a year on Breeder's cup day.

[slotdirt]

Originally Posted by eurobounce

Well this makes me think of two things:

1) The new medication rules doesnt allow for trainers to do a last minute adjustment. A trainer doesnt want to get fined or suspended if their horse runs in a race and has a positive test. Say you gave your horse some meds two weeks before the Tremont...well the Tremont comes up short and you would love to run your horse in the race. However, you know you are going to test positive because it has only been 14 days since the horse took the drug.

2) There are so many races for horses these days that the trainer can pick the sports for the horse. If you have a borderline Grade III/Allowace horse, you can ship that horse to Delaware or West Virginia and catch a weak field for a nice purse. There are too many options for the number of horses that are racing.

This is a total mess and there is no easy fix.

This reminds me of old Golden Man having a go at Sun King the day after running up at Monmouth last year.

[Nostradamus]

Match race today at Belmont. 2 horse field. What a joke.