A Saratoga wrap up, best and worst

[Rupert Pupkin]

Yes, that is true that Del Mar does have some crappy races but that's true everywhere. Keeneland actually runs some claiming races for lees than $10k.

Saratoga may not have as many cheap claiming races, but they have a ton of state-bred races. A lot of those races are pretty weak in terms of quality. Overall, I would give the edge in quality to Saratoga, but I certanly would not say that the quality of racing is weak at Del Mar. It's one of the best meets in the country.

[dalakhani]

Originally Posted by Rupert Pupkin

Yes, that is true that Del Mar does have some crappy races but that's true everywhere. Keeneland actually runs some claiming races for lees than $10k.

Saratoga may not have as many cheap claiming races, but they have a ton of state-bred races. A lot of those races are pretty weak in terms of quality. Overall, I would give the edge in quality to Saratoga, but I certanly would not say that the quality of racing is weak at Del Mar. It's one of the best meets in the country.

Agreed. I, too, get defensive about California racing when people down the top stars for "only racing in cali". Why do the california horses have to ship east but the New York horses dont have to ship west?

[Rupert Pupkin]

Originally Posted by dalakhani

Agreed. I, too, get defensive about California racing when people down the top stars for "only racing in cali". Why do the california horses have to ship east but the New York horses dont have to ship west?

I agree with you. However, the problem nowadays is that the tracks are so dangerous in California, that a guy would have to be crazy to ship to California to run his horse. If I had a horse back East, I wouldn't want to ship to California to run on those rock-hard tracks. The horse may not come back in one piece.

[Revolution]

Originally Posted by dalakhani

Agreed. I, too, get defensive about California racing when people down the top stars for "only racing in cali". Why do the california horses have to ship east but the New York horses dont have to ship west?

this is an excellent point. i just spent the entire summer at saratoga and it was great but i have spent an entire summer at del mar and the racing was just as good. there is a huge east coast bias in horse racing. even midwestern racing does not get the respect it deserves. saratoga has plenty of 2yr old and new york bred races that leave a lot to be desired. gulfstream park had some of the worst racing in the country last year but because there are so many new york trainers there is gets a better reputation than it deserves.

[Gander]

there is a huge east coast bias in horse racing

I would agree with that. Horses like Lava Man dont get the credit they are due. I find it funny that this year's older horse division in the east is apparently so much stronger than that in the west. Exactly (besides Invasor) is so fabulous?

[Rupert Pupkin]

Originally Posted by Gander

there is a huge east coast bias in horse racing

I would agree with that. Horses like Lava Man dont get the credit they are due. I find it funny that this year's older horse division in the east is apparently so much stronger than that in the west. Exactly (besides Invasor) is so fabulous?

As I have stated before, I don't think Invasor is anything special. I think Bernardini would beat him by 4-5 lengths.

[Danzig]

Originally Posted by Gander

there is a huge east coast bias in horse racing

I would agree with that. Horses like Lava Man dont get the credit they are due. I find it funny that this year's older horse division in the east is apparently so much stronger than that in the west. Exactly (besides Invasor) is so fabulous?

don't forget everyone bent over backwards to excuse st liams bad run in the big cap last year. but lava man isn't given the same consideration, when he was vanned off in his last start prior to shipping east and the far east. obviously a tired horse, obviously the trainer thought he was of sterner stuff. they're lucky they didn't ruin him for good...thankfully some time and some patience, and he's back better than ever. this is lava mans best year ever--anyone can go look at his prior years to see that he's at the top of his game.

i know a lot of people, myself included, gave mineshaft a get out of jail free card when he skipped the bcc in cali. just imagine the uproar that would erupt if they tried the same with lava man!! and he's undefeated this year, while mineshaft ( who i really like(d)) was not in his HOY year. ah, but that was different...he beat east coasters!! lol


if the west coast is as hard and difficult to run over, and stay healthy on, as we all believe it be, shouldn't lava man get that much MORE credit for doing it all year, without a blemish?????? i mean, if the easterners are such cream puffs they can't do it, how is lava man somehow the lesser???

[Rupert Pupkin]

Originally Posted by Revolution

this is an excellent point. i just spent the entire summer at saratoga and it was great but i have spent an entire summer at del mar and the racing was just as good. there is a huge east coast bias in horse racing. even midwestern racing does not get the respect it deserves. saratoga has plenty of 2yr old and new york bred races that leave a lot to be desired. gulfstream park had some of the worst racing in the country last year but because there are so many new york trainers there is gets a better reputation than it deserves.

One of the best things about Saratoga is all the 2 year old races. Those are my favorite races. You get to see a lot of the future stars. For me, they are the best betting races too.