Saratoga Stats on wet tracks

[BB]

You want stats? Make your own. Call Frank D every day and ask him to look out the window. Don\'t call Tuesdays.

[MO]

I\'ll make sure I tell that to the next person who asks, BB. BTW, Are you in the NYRA marketing department? Because you sound just like the guy whom I asked for directions to the licencing office on my first day on the job in 1987. Thanks.

[BB]

Sorry for being rude. I just thought it was a silly question.

And, no, I don\'t work in promotions for NYRA, but I\'ll throw in a freebie for the DRF.

http://www.drf.com/store/saratoga-players-guide

[MO]

Apology accepted! Now give me the friggin stats!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[MO]

Seriously though, I get asked this question a lot and since I\'ve been to Saratoga just twice (hard to believe, I know) and rarely play it, I don\'t want to give an answer that might seem uninformed. But over the years, if memory serves, this is a constant gripe about \"the mighty \'toga\" - the weather.

Right now, I\'m inclined to say \"Saratoga? Same people/horses as Belmont, different place. Oh, and bring an umbrella...\"

Would that be accurate?

[richiebee]

I am a bit prejudiced, because Saratoga, even in its current watered down form
(no pun intended) is a magical place.

When I first started visiting the Spa in 1975 or so, wonder of wonder, here was
this humble upstate town which just happened to have a 100 year old racetrack
where the best horses, jockeys and trainers in this country and from Canada and
from Europe competed.

Yeah, MO, there are some intense rainstorms with wicked lightning. Yes there is
some ridiculous groundfog which rolls in at the hour when you might be trying to
navigate home after a few too many cold ones...

... but let me tell you, to me there is no better feeling than being in the
relatively cool upstate air only three hours after being packed asshole to elbow
with your fellow man in a sweltering NYC subway car which reeks of homelessness.

I\'ll repeat myself ... I\'d rather be in the trackside parking lot at the Spa than
in 2/3rds of the racetracks that I\'ve visited.

[BB]

Hudson Valley & Catskills
August averages for total rainfall
Days   Place             Inches   Millimetres
10   Albany                3.7     93
  9   Poughkeepsie        3.8     97
10   Saratoga Springs     4.1   103

You get slightly more rain in Saratoga than in Albany or Poughkeepsie, but it\'s way more than a fair trade. Go with what Richie said.

[moosepalm]

MO Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------

> Right now, I\'m inclined to say \"Saratoga? Same
> people/horses as Belmont, different place. Oh, and
> bring an umbrella...\"
>
> Would that be accurate?


The umbrella part, yes.  I just spent the day at the Spa in a driving rain, watched decimated fields, and barely cashed a ticket.  Still had a better time than at any track I\'ve been to not named Del Mar (disclaimer: never been to Keeneland; been to nearly every other \"major\"). Heard some decent fiddle music, had a passable fish taco (wouldn\'t pass in California, though), chatted up some knowledgeable strangers, and then ate some fine chicken at Hattie\'s. Yeah, it\'s not what it used to be, but not much is.  As for \"same people/horses,\" not entirely.  Many more Kentucky shippers here than Belmont.  Too many maiden races, but there will always be some real beauties making their debut.

I still greatly prefer the experience of being at the track as opposed to sitting in front of my computer, but there are only a handful where that is a clear choice.  For me, that decision is a no brainer with Saratoga.  Does it rain a lot?  Hell yes.  I was just complaining about that this morning to a guy in West Texas.  I think my complaint fell on deaf ears.

[richiebee]

MO Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
 
> Right now, I\'m inclined to say \"Saratoga? Same
> people/horses as Belmont, different place. Oh, and
> bring an umbrella...\"
>
> Would that be accurate?

No.

The live crowd at Belmont on any given day consists of about 60-70% fans of
Caribbean descent, including my good Jamaican friend, \"Mafia\". I call him \"Mafia\"
because he has been calling me \"Mafia\" since the mid 80s. I was a little puzzled
initially until I realized he called all white people \"Mafia\", except Mike Smith,
who he either called \"Mistah Mike\" or \"Iron Mike\".

There are very few people of color attending the races at Saratoga. As Bruce
Hornsby once sang along the same lines \"Thats just the way it is\".

The people who were outraged that Belmont was passed over for the BC in 2012 have
probably not been there recently. NYRA really has not been keeping Belmont too
tidy, and it would probably take more money than NYRA cares to spend (gotta make
sure those NYRA officers get raises,no?) to get the place in suitable condition.

Speaking of which, from Monday\'s New York Post:

\"The opening of the city\'s first casino, at Aqueduct... has been delayed --
because of massive mounds of pigeon doo-doo.

\"There were pigeon droppings everywhere -- on the floors, ceilings, walls, on
every surface,\" said one stunned official.

Genting Resorts World New York has spent more rthan 15 million to remove lead
paint, asbestos and, yes, pigeon waste.\"

[FrankD.]

Oh come on Mafia you told me you were a big fan of curry goat !!!

[richiebee]

Frank:

Tell Steve to work on a curry goat BBQ sandwich at Carolina Que and I\'ll bring up
the Red Stripe on closing weekend.

[FrankD.]

Richie,

Steve reads the board daily so I\'m sure he will be menu planning pronto !!!
LMAO !!!!

[MO]

Thanks everyone!