Winter Racing @ Gulfstream

[Silver Charm]

Hard to imagine a weekend like this one at GP being called on \"off\" or \"slow weekend\". Two Graded Turf Stakes yesterday, and 2 Time Eclipse Award Winner running today. A serious Kentucky Oaks comebacker yesterday along with the usual plate of solid fields and competitive wagering events.

But in some ways the week after Donn Day and a week before the FOY it is and yet it seems like it has been like this for the last month or more. Seriously great racing.

Little surprise the FOY Field is coming up short. Violence may be sensational but its February and its 3YO\'s and there lots of strange things that can happen and people need points. Am I missing something but is this Spectacular Bid? Regardless there will plenty of other good races on another great racing day at Gulfstream in the Winter.

[ajkreider]

Looks like a full field for the FOY according to the DRF - including one Falling Sky.

[heatherk]

I\'ve had the good fortune of visiting the three southern race tracks the past two years. To no ones surprise øGulfstream has the best racing, is the costliest($40 minimum in dining area weekdays, higher weekends, teletheatre.seating $25 with TV, 15 without & wifi that prompts Expressbet when you try to open Twinspires.  Fairgrounds racing is subpar and they seem to be having drainage problems with their turf course while only racing four days most weeks. Wifi is slow and when crowd is using phones slow or unresponsive. Tampa\'s racing is the weakest of the lot, but offers a wifi  far superior to that of the others while easy on you\'re expenses. Stakes days at FG & Tampa compare favorablely and at both you can bet Gulfs card and keep more of your bankroll in action and less on extra\'s.
I bet 25k annually and in order to maintain a positive ROI I need to be thrifty when it comes to frills. Most of Gulfs frills. I can do without.  I can still bet their quality racing program from home or other tracks. I noticed while near the winner\'s circle deterioration in the grandstand (paint & repairs) and I wonder why with the great daily handles

[Silver Charm]

From a Gamblers perspective all of what you said it true. A day in the
Ten Palms Room will cost you probably $50 minimum. And yes the WIFI defaults to EXPRESS Bet.

I guess I meant more from a quality of racing standpoint. if you were to compare the Gulfstream Meet to say Saratoga my perspective says GP wins. NO State-breds watering down the everyday Card. 3YO Maidens are NOT 2YO Maidens. And the Spa has a bunch of the later. The Older Horse division is probably in more full gear at the Spa but what we have seen down here at GP the last two weeks hasnt been chopped liver.

[P-Dub]

I hear what you guys are saying about racing quality.

But when I hear, \"from a gambling perspective\", does racing \"quality\" really matter??  I\'ve hit some of my biggest scores on cheap races. Turfway Race 8 Saturday featured 5k claimers N3l and the winner paid $81. Dime super a signer. Tampa Bay has large fields and often times nice mutuels.

I love watching quality race horses, its why I make a trip to Santa Anita once a year. But racing quality and gambling perspective are 2 different things, at least for me.