Mid-Atlantic Circuit: Possible ... or Laughable?

re: Mid-Atlantic Circuit: Possible ... or Laughable?

Uncle Smiley — Thu, 05 Sep 2013 00:09:22 GMT

Guess I am a bit late to chime in on this blog...

Sad to see Sunday racing gone from Delaware Park.

They had one day last year, Father's Day, and none this year, 2013.

Sunday, in the day, was a fine day to attract fans.

The DelCap was a grade 1 stakes this year.

The Park is also is a kick off for great jockey prospects.

re: Mid-Atlantic Circuit: Possible ... or Laughable?

Cris — Mon, 21 May 2012 19:42:03 GMT

Charles Town and Penn National should shut down in the winter. Charles Town could have the Breeders Classics in late November. and shut down till March. Penn could do the same. Colonial does not need to have a steamy meet. Late May through mid June and again from Sept through mid November. Parx and Mountaineer could race in late September, close in mid January and reopen in April and Delaware, Monmouth, Atlantic City can have the late spring and summer racing with Monmouth staying open till October.

Laurel could have mid February through the end of April and reopen in September and stay open through December. Pimlico has May through mid- August.and the two weeks for the State Fair remains the same. If it seems almost all tracks are closed in February your right; horses should not have to gallop over frozen ground.

re: Mid-Atlantic Circuit: Possible ... or Laughable?

Joltman — Fri, 11 May 2012 12:40:15 GMT

Some good ideas here. One weakness is the plan for Cnl. It is bloody hot in the summer down there, and shipping in compromised. An early spring meet (as soon as the turf came in, with the turf VA Derby as a headliner prep for KY Derby) would bring more local interest in the Mid-Atlantic than the lifeless Lrl and Pim meets. Keep Lrl open in winter, finish with the Gen George. Start the Pim meet with Preakness week.

re: Mid-Atlantic Circuit: Possible ... or Laughable?

fuzzbert — Thu, 10 May 2012 01:11:03 GMT

It's sad to realize that Maryland racing is probably going, going, GONE. With Pimlico hosting only the Preakness, and Laurel having super-small fields, it's a wonder there is any racing here at all. The horsemen of Maryland had no real support when all of this started several years ago. They left and the tracks stood empty. Folks thought slots would be the deciding factor. But as usual, government got involved and so on and so on.

Purse structure and field size grew all around us and the horsemen went where the money was. I'm sure AGV and Native Dancer are spinning in their graves. Thank God for Kevin Plank bringing Sagamore back. Racing in Maryland, I believe, is coming to a close. Sad, very sad.

re: Mid-Atlantic Circuit: Possible ... or Laughable?

chiefdave777 — Wed, 09 May 2012 23:53:32 GMT

I think the tracks may go for some of it especially the racinos. The horsemen like 8-horse or less fields where they almost always collect a purse.

re: Mid-Atlantic Circuit: Possible ... or Laughable?

Bill Two — Wed, 09 May 2012 19:29:52 GMT

Reminds me of the Beach Boy hit, "Wouldn't It Be Nice". Lots of good ideas here. I think we all agree there is too much racing going on at the same time in the Mid-Atlantic. I would be pleased if all of these tracks could at least coordinate the timing of their races so they aren't going off simultaneously. Also, it would be nice - and this is a national issue - if two tracks weren't running stakes with identical conditions on the same day. It drives me nuts to see Belmont and some other track both running a stakes for whatever category of horse on the same day. Doing this dilutes the pool of candidates for either race and doesn't make for attractive betting possibilities. Just a few things that bother me....