Horse Shortages?

[sq764]

I rarely play Southern Cal, but happened to be at the track yesterday afternoon and decided to give a look.. What I saw baffled me.. 5 and 6 horse fields at Santa Anita and Bay Meadows??

I mean maybe I have been oblivous to this going on, since I rarely play there but wow.. How can you only get 5 horses to race in a $200K stakes race?

7 horses in a $250K stakes race..

Bay Meadows had a total of 69 horses for their 9 race card, including 16 total entries for races 1-3..

2 Questions:

1) Is there a massive horse shortage out there?

2) Doesn't this get ridiculously frustrating when capping Southern Cal?

[cj]

1) This has been going on for a while, so I would guess yes. Hell, any decent claimer with a pulse usually gets about 15 claim slips dropped in the box.

2) I still find quite a few decent bets there. Its simple for me, if I think the favorite will win, I usually look somewhere else. So there are less races to play, as naturally the favorites are going to win a higher percentage of short field races. But, it doesn't change anything, there is either value, or there isn't.

In the 4th, I had Tarlow and A.P. Adventure rated evenly, and no other horse close. One went off at 9-2, one at 4-5, so that is value, even if only three other horses were in the race.

In the 8th, I again had the 6-5 favorite rated even with a 7-2 shot in a four horse field. This time the favorite won and I didn't, but it was a good bet I'd make again. Its not always about field size.

[WINMANWIN]

I also nailed that Exacta at Santa. Tarlow I figured would be on the lead, with another speed that I thought would back up and did. :cool: I used the 2 faves with Tarlow obviously :o Exacta was ok $53.00

[GMB@BP]

Its been great so far this meet when it has not rained, yesterday was rain.

[NoDayJob]

2 Questions:

1) Is there a massive horse shortage out there?

Because there was an unfavorable tax change, a number of years ago, involving breeding, it's no longer profitable for the small operations to stay in business. So unless you've got a big breeding farm, you're pretty much toast. The late Senator Ken Maddy was a champion of California horse racing and it thrived. After his death, the politicians decided to remove certain tax benefits involving the breeders and you see the results.

NDJ

[so.cal.fan]

NDJ is correct.
Calif. racing is in trouble.....the breeding farms are in trouble, many who have been in business for many decades are going out of the business...selling out to real estate developers.
The problem of workman's comp. insurance in Calif. has been a huge issue.
Another GIANT issue is the illegal/legal drugs being used. Small stables and/or honest trainers cannot compete in today's game in Calif.
One of the trainers in So. Calif. who was recently "busted" for milkshake positives.........we knew a former owner with him, who said he recieved vet bills that were so high, he couldn't possible stay in the game.
My family and several friends used to own and race horses in So. Cal. We would not even consider getting back in the game, as it stands today.
So you have the losing "trifecta" of negative tax laws, workman's comp, and illegal drugs, and it is really destroying the game.
I sure can see why most of you guys don't even bet our tracks.....wish I had the same option.
If and when things change, you won't see my posts too often, because I will be back at the track.

[kenwoodallpromos]

At BM there is a shortage of owners willing pay the price for little increase in purses.

[ratpack]

I know Arnold has done very little for the Tracks except use them as leverage to get the Indian Casinos to pay some taxes

[sq764]

What kind of prices are we talking, relative to other tracks?

[Glitchy]

Living in FL, I've never player the CAL tracks that much except on business trips and the odd online play, but this trend (if it is a trend) is very disturbing.

CAL has always been a hotbed of racing and it can't be good to see 4,5 or 6 horse field going off every race. Hell, my home track @ Tampa gets 9 plus every race (quality of horses, notwithstanding).


You guys who know CAL racing, what's the solution?

Horseracing in general cannot afford to take this kind of hit......

Glitchy

[ratpack]

[You guys who know CAL racing, what's the solution?

Horseracing in general cannot afford to take this kind of hit......

Glitchy[/QUOTE]

The biggest problem is Workers Comp and that problem is starting to be addressed but if purses could be increased also that would be a 2 pronged asset. Slots would help but I don't see that coming

[Buddha]

but if purses could be increased also that would be a 2 pronged asset.

I know SA and I think HOL, the last few meets had been slashing purses. I think Del Mar is the only So. Cal track that has increased purses over the last 2 years. I dont know where they would get the money to increase purses much.

[ratpack]

I know SA and I think HOL, the last few meets had been slashing purses. I think Del Mar is the only So. Cal track that has increased purses over the last 2 years. I dont know where they would get the money to increase purses much.

From what I read the compacts that Arnolds has negotiated with some of the tribes does not prohibited Slots in tracks like SA, Hol, Fairplex or Los Al and I guess that could be done with an bill in the assembly it does not need voter appoval.

That would be the only way I see to increase purse value at this point.

[levinmpa]

This is much more of an issue with Golden Gate and Bay Meadows. Those tracks are a far cry from what they used to be. I grew up going to those tracks and it was never a problem. Over the past 10 years, the fields have dwindled, but the number of racing days seems to have increased or at least stayed the same. I know they run 8 race cards on weekdays, but it really is a disgrace. I couldn't tell you the last time I made a wager or even looked at a card at GG or BM. They need to cut the racing season in half, but that will never happen. The best thing to do is put your money into pools with large competetive fields and avoid the short fields in Northern Calif. With so many wagering options today, I don't see the point in playing those tracks. Also, add the Russell Baze factor into the equation, and those tracks are even less attractive. Give yourself a chance and move on to other circuits.