When it comes to weather related issues, there is no T-generate more
respected than Frank \"Frankie the Forecaster\" D. My own theory on this is
that Frank became a keen observer of things meteorological back in the 70s,
when most football games were contested outdoors.
With a nod to Frank, I will try to predict the likelihood of NYRA putting on
a live show over the next few days. NYRA is scheduled to race today (Sunday),
Monday (President\'s Day), and then Friday.
Today: Snow has stopped at least until Tuesday. High temps expected near 30
degrees, with a wind chill in the low teens. If NYRA was able to clear the
racing surface in the last 12 hours, I think NYRA will at least be able to
start the Sunday card. While the wind chill is low enough that jocks might
usually refuse to ride, jocks have fixed expenses and bad habits just like
the rest of us, and they are not salaried.
Monday\'s President\'s Day card features 10 races, including the Hollie Hughes,
a stake for Ny Breds, one of only two NYB races on the card. On a holiday
Monday, with a pent up demand for product, would imagine that NYRA might get
a live gate of somewhere above 5,000. Forecast is for temps near 30 degrees
with diminishing winds.
Laurel runs the General George on President\'s Day weekend; I have always
assumed that this race honored George Washington (not MY favorite General
George, George S. Patton). Why doesn\'t NYRA have an annual presidentially
themed race? Whimsical suggestions: The Community Organizer Hcp, the Monica\'s
Blue Dress Hcp, the Triangulated Fire Hcp, etc. But as usual, I regress.
By Friday, temperatures will have moderated into the low 50s, and NYRA will
have had 4 days to work the track so that there should be no thawing issues
after a week during which temperatures rise gradually.
A moments reflection on recent weather: A lot of criticism for NYRA closing
due to weather, a lot of criticism for Mayor deBlasio keeping the NYC public
school system open.1 From a personal perspective, the large multi-
continental firm which I have worked for since 1987 closed the NY office
twice this year due to weather. The only previous time the NY office closed
was in 1993, when the firm was located in the World Trade Center and
terrorists tried to topple the Towers with a bomb placed in the underground
parking garage.
Does NYRA lose money every day they open the doors for live racing at the
downstate tracks? Has there been any mention of making up the six days lost
to weather? Is it possible that NYRA will tack on six extra days at the Spa
to make up the lost downstate days, as they did in 1982, when racing was
conducted for 28 consecutive days?
Tune in later. How did I do Frank?
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1. Mayor deBlasio said it was important to keep the schools open
because (a) many children receive a hot lunch at school and might not get a
hot lunch at home and (b) the children\'s attendance at school would mean that
the children\'s parents would be able to get to work. This is the goal of the
once great NYC public school system? To warehouse students? If true,
incredibly sad, and I am not blaming the Mayor for this.
Great exchange on the Rag Board, where Kenny (Abraham Link) Sherman called
Mayor deBlasio a communist, to which Len replied \"I am a Communist, and
deBlasio is no Communist.\"
