Racing's Second Season

re: Racing's Second Season

RhondaH — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 17:06:50 GMT

Joining late, but my Challenge name is Dandy Lane.

Wish we all could get points for a show too. .

re: Racing's Second Season

Wanda — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 22:39:53 GMT

Just read that toe grabs cannot be used at racetracks in Kentucky. The decision made by the racing commision is the right one.Good for them,do whats best for the rider and the horse.

re: Racing's Second Season

Wanda — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 13:17:01 GMT

A few thoughts of mine about synthetic tracks. From what I've read and heard from horseman that have run at Woodbine,you do have to train a bit differint.The track plays fair meaning there is no speed bias.You don't need to shoe with toe grabs which in MY opinion should be outlawed.They cause more injuries to the front end than anything.When we ran horses in the 80's we shod them with outer rims.Would I trade catastrophic break downs for soft tissue injuries? Yes in a heart beat.I agree with you all about Santa Anita 2 years in a row.What about Woodbine? It hosted BC once. They have a Grade/Group One turf course that is world class and a facility that can hold the media and masses.Why are they shut out every year,any opinions on that people?

re: Racing's Second Season

katsan — Sat, 12 Jul 2008 17:24:24 GMT

Karen2 just do like most (not the heavy duty handicappers like Jason and Jordan and a couple others) but we just take our best guess. It's fun, it's free. And I just forgot my handle, password etc am looking for where I wrote it down and trying to remember which of the pc's I used when I did it. See anyone, even a scatterbrain like me can do it if it's just for fun. Off to search.

re: Racing's Second Season

Karen2 — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 19:56:50 GMT

Glad to see the comments about Vindication. I was very saddened to hear of his death. Its hard to remember that these majestic, powerful animals are so very fragile. RIP Vindication.

re: Racing's Second Season

Karen2 — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 19:54:15 GMT

Sure wish I knew a thing or two about betting and handicapping. I would play this game. But I wouldn't know where to start. Good luck to all of you. You all seem so knowledgable. Its fun to watch who each of you will pick and why.

re: Racing's Second Season

katsan — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 15:44:22 GMT

Jordan, Sorry to hear about your leg, get well soon hope no surgery. could tell you were a little out of it that time of the morning , pain and your spelling was a little off. Yes you are right, remember how the Blue Bloods stonewalled Lukas when he came in? Not so bad when he first came into it full time at Sunland Park and Ruidoso but back then NO one married outside the game and fathers, sons etc passed down training, jockeying and ownership.

It is sad about Vindication, we had a 2 year old did the same thing so did her brother who was an early favorite for the All American Futurity a long time ago, once they rupture the gut it's over (0urs ripped her spleen loose). I had a mare colic yesterday, is okay but the interesting vet take on it is like migraines, barometric pressure changes can cause colic, interesting and it's been raining here.

re: Racing's Second Season

JordanA — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 08:21:16 GMT

One last thing before I go, katsan. That was a very interesting commentary on racing and the closed circle. Most of the people are friendly, have clients from all walks but you're right. A lot of trainers are married to daughters of trainers etc. I know a long time ago they used to really close ranks and shut people out, and didn't like 'outsiders' coming into the game. Do you think it's as bad now as it used to be years ago? HH you're right about Vindication, sad.

re: Racing's Second Season

JordanA — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 08:11:04 GMT

Huh? I didn't say it was a farm town. I SAID you would have to sell the homestead it is such an expensive place to stay. That means you would have to sell your assets, property etc. It was sarcasm. Del Mar, have you been there since they put the new track in? It is holding moisture from the Ocean which is very close. They never did figure it out just like Santa Anita who lost like 11 days. They are a bit further inland and look they're replacing the whole thing, but I don't think DelMar will ever take moisture. Never been to Saratoga in the late fall, isn't it kind of rainy, cold and a lot like Belmont and Monmouth as far as weather that time of year?

HH actually Hollywood has the track figured out better than the other two. They've agred to stay open one more year but my personal guess is they won't be here after that especially if the housing market rebounds, developere right?

I don't know about you but I usually have to wear a wet suit in the ocean at Del Mar that time of year and the track was just way too unpredictable and they didn't ever seem to get it right from what I heard. I don't think the downhill will affect the Euro's do you? they have stuff like that over there from what I've heard from my Irish grandad. I threw a shoe so to speak broke a leg but they didn't have to put me down. I'm just down and out right now and bummed. Will probably sign off for a while, you folks have fun.

re: Racing's Second Season

Householder — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 02:37:29 GMT

Zenyatta on Friday...I'm there! The down hill turf course for classic distances at S.A. is equally as funky as Del Mar's "infield shoot." Del Mar's synthetic is awfully slow...Both tracks are simply beautiful and very photogenic for T.V. Hollywood Park I think hosted the first BC but it was long before synthetics (Not sure what type it runs...some kind of crumbly white stuff) and the physical location of the track is less than stellar.

re: Racing's Second Season

Huh — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 01:58:46 GMT

Two more thoughts on my part:

1. Del Mar's track although it is terrible, I'm pretty sure there renovating it so it will be more like Santa Anita and Hollywood

2. Vindication's death absolutely stunned me since he was only 8 and plus many horses today live after having colic surgery (like Stormello last year).

re: Racing's Second Season

Huh — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 01:54:27 GMT

JordanA:

To me Saratoga would be ideal for a BC for the following reasons:

1. unlike you said there aren't only farmers there, there are city people and plus there are many surrounding cities within a half hour of the track with decent hotels and many open rooms

2. Central New York horse racing fans like me would have a chance to go to a BC without traveling over 1,000 miles

re: Racing's Second Season

carla — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 15:36:19 GMT

Jason, you are right on that part. But my concern is also that they are closing down racetrack due to lack of interest in attending. I did not go to last years due to a few reason.....one being I was told if I had an outside seat and it rains I had no access to the inside for shelter. Since the seats were a little higher priced prior years and to me paying 150 to 200 to stand in the rain did not appeal to me I didn't go.....I do not think the BC/Monmouth Park handle the Event together as a team...But the two days of racing is great just I do not think they should make it mandatory to buy two days of seats.

We usually do get the best of seats but I am happy to have a seat at these events.

Racing is looking to get people interested in the sport and bring them in my point was this is more of a way to push the fans they have away.

Its just a thought......I have been honored or lucky enough to meet many owners, trainers of these horses and find them all to be amazingly great wonderful nice people.

re: Racing's Second Season

FormerFan — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 14:23:43 GMT

I know this is about the Breeder's Cup, but they just put Champion 2 yr. old Vindication down because of colic. This is so upsetting, wasn't he the last son of Seattle Slew.? What a major loss to the industry, and he was only 8 years old.

re: Racing's Second Season

kkatsan — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 12:35:37 GMT

FSF, sorry I forgot to write that its 48 hrs prior to the race at the earliest I believe. Didn't get in for last week.

re: Racing's Second Season

katsan — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 12:33:22 GMT

FSF, think they were waiting for the entries. Maybe later today, I couldn't get in either.

re: Racing's Second Season

katsan — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 19:12:26 GMT

Carla, I don't think it's filling the track on BC days that the powers that be worry about (although last year wasn't very good). Most of the big races have waiting lists, draws and such for the tickets. I think it's the day to day and tv viewers, simulcasts that they're going after. Correct me if you think I'm wrong Jason

re: Racing's Second Season

JordanA — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 18:35:20 GMT

Still no HS, have blown up 2 or 3 posts already.

Jason, isn't Tapeta Michael Dickinsons deal?

Aluminot, As far as Del Mar, the main track was like running through the deepest sand on the beach in the afternoons, great in the a.m. ocean dampness made the track uneven and no one could tell from a.m. to p.m. how it would play and how the horses would do. Turf course I think is 7F with a chute to 1/16 so not too sure how that would play.

Bryce, I read so much by eventers that I looked it up think you are the one who has a horse by that name saw your finishes on their site, good work though I'm not familiar with it per se anybody who's a winner gets kudos.

re: Racing's Second Season

Jason Shandler — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 17:00:19 GMT

Bryce: You raise interesting points. I have also heard that Tapeta is a terrific surface. I also agree with you on turf races. They make the BC so much more entertaining. As for Curlin, who knows how he runs on the green. One thing is for sure though, his presence this year has made racing all that much more interesting for fans. He is exactly what this sport needs right now.

re: Racing's Second Season

carla — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 16:19:16 GMT

Does anyone else feel like I do about the Breeder Cup Tickets this year?

I read that horse racing is losing fans left and right. I plan my one vacation around the Breeders Cup for the past 10yrs. I have to budget to save for this so this year if anyone wants to have a seat they have to buy two days of seats.......This means to the average person taking a day off from work, (or a vacation day) an extra day hotel expense, rental car, food. I like to gamble when I go to the track and I am sorry but I find this pushing the ever day track visitor away from going to the Best Day of Horse Racing.

Personally I love visiting Santa Anita so 2 years in arow is fine with me but to ask fans even that live in Ca to take a day off if you want to have a seat is just not fair.....

Breeders Cup would not force a horse owner to race his horse in the Turf in order to race his horse in the Classic.

I am very disappointed that Breeders Cup there decision to make the patron buy seat tickets for two days.

Thank Goodness for online Betting!

re: Racing's Second Season

Nicholas — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 14:09:01 GMT

I'm DowninMS. Looking forward to this weekend.

re: Racing's Second Season

Poor Boy — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 13:55:54 GMT

Now we have enough divisions to allow each horse to run their best distance. If only we had 2 days at 2 surfaces, we would get best horses in both distance and surface on 2 tracks on 2 coasts; attendance and handle up-instead of money wasted and travel.

re: Racing's Second Season

FSF — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 13:08:49 GMT

Does anybody know when you can actually get on the BC Challenge website and make picks for this weekend? When I log in, all I see is last weekend' races. Am I in the wrong part of the website? Thanks!

re: Racing's Second Season

Bryce Be Quick — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 12:09:17 GMT

Hey, Dirt Tracks Forever--

I know Jason is going to rip us for talking about racing surfaces we have no control over, but the very early evidence does suggest we may be trading one set of problems, front end issues, particularly fracture-related ones, on the dirt, for problems with tendons, ligaments and soft tissue issues arising more frequently when on the synthetics, and perhaps more prone to the rear as you suggest.

If synthetics are used, I sure prefer the Tapeta on the training track up at Fair Hill, MD. Sure would have enjoyed having Eight Belles training up there in the new barn Larry Jones has at Fair Hill housing his stable. RIP, Girlie.

Synthetic racing surfaces MAY ultimately prove to be part of the solution, but the jury still very much out on that one. Getting horses back on hay, oats, and water, and 30 years worth of stronger breeding practices should not be discounted, as you wisely suggest.

As for me, I prefer the turf, period, hence one of the reasons why I enjoy the BC.

Wonder what Curlin will think of the stuff? Will he run on it or try to graze on it? :-) Based on breeding and his temperment first time out training on it, have to like his chances-- his Sire, Smart Strike, has sent a number to the turf, including, as I recall, English Channel....

re: Racing's Second Season

Rachel — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 11:36:24 GMT

Hmmm...call in sick on a Friday and lie...hmmm...since I'm the boss and don't appreciate that from others...I'll pass.

Mix it up and put it on Sunday!!