EJXD2 Wrote:
> Dude, just look at the field sizes in Southern
> California. Remember when racing there was a
> laughing stock because of five- and six-horse
> fields?
>
> Clearly, synthetic surfaces have helped more
> horses race.
EJ:
While synthetic surfaces may \"have helped more horses race\", field size in
California and New York has been bolstered by a)State Bred racing; b)con-
ditioned claiming races and c) opening up turf racing to cheaper animals.
The idea is to get large fields of QUALITY animals at the major racing venues
and it certainly could be done if racing officials were not beholden to state
breeding interests and the trainers who maintain large strings of horses
stabled on racetrack grounds. These trainers, such as Todd Pletcher, use the
stable areas as training centers for stock which may be 60 - 90 days away from
a race.
I will mention for the umpteenth time the great dichotomy in horse racing-- the
quality of racing and racehorses has been diminished radically in the last 20 -
30 years, but horseplayers have not really been that concerned because there
are so many new ways in which to bet on this inferior product-- internet
wagering, multi race wagers, multi- state multi- race wagers, etc. So while the
quality of horses racing in NY was far better in 1978 than it is in 2008 (my
opinion), it was very difficult to accumulate a bankroll given the wagering
menu offered. As best as I can recall, the wagering menu at the NYRA tracks in
the mid 70s was something like this-- WPS and exacta on every race, daily
double races 1/2 and 8/9, quinella races 2 and 4, trifecta on last race only.
Abolish state bred racing in NY and California, except for state bred stake
races. Give weight to state breds when they compete against open company. One
of the great things about Saratoga used to be that trainers would ship in from
Canada and the midwest and stable and race at Saratoga. I am sure a lot of
these trainers have been discouraged from traveling to the Spa in recent years
after looking at a condition book which is too heavily burdened with NYB races.
In a slightly unrelated matter, it looks like Ellis Park, once affectionately
known as the \"pea patch\" (they used to grow soybeans in the infield), will race
over the summer. From a horseplayer\'s point of view, I think Ellis is typical
of many smaller tracks currently operating in the US-- people will bet on Ellis
races if they are running, but very few horseplayers would lament Ellis if it
was gone. Some of these smaller tracks should be eliminated; their main purpose
is to provide a cushion for the excessive number of horses which are bred in
the US each year.
I know the fashionable issue is Drugs in Racing,but what really needs to be
worked on is reducing the number of racetracks and racing days, and reducing
the number of horses being bred each year. The result would be a return to
quality racing with larger fields at the larger venues.
One of the great travesties in this industry/sport is that a young thoroughbred
can be pinhooked 2 or 3 times, resulting in large profits for each pinhooker,
profits which in many cases dwarf the horse\'s eventual earnings (if any) on the
racetrack. Good for commercial breeders, but probably not good for the sport.
Looking forward to drinking a liberal dose of TG Kool Aid at the Spa in 3 weeks.
Anyone planning on being there opening weekend?
