Mountaineer cancels

[46zilzal]

All races 2/5/08

[SMOO]

We really need more night time tracks, I can't deal with harness racing. :bang:

[46zilzal]

We really need more night time tracks, I can't deal with harness racing.
I vote for more on Monday and Tuesday as well.

Having said that however, I love the little venues that participate in most other track's dark days.

[njcurveball]

It is 56 degrees there and cloudy, what was the reason for cancellation?

They ran last month on a frigid night where it was something like 20 degrees.

Very strange! :bang:

[46zilzal]

It is 56 degrees there and cloudy, what was the reason for cancellation?

They ran last month on a frigid night where it was something like 20 degrees.


Equibase quotes track condition

[njcurveball]

Equibase quotes track condition

Looks like the "tug of war" starts to lean back to the WAX team! :mad:

[Tom]

Warming up can be bad on a track - FL has problems when it goes from very cold to warm - the track comes apart.

[46zilzal]

Warming up can be bad on a track - FL has problems when it goes from very cold to warm - the track comes apart.
Same here. That is why the harness track here canceled all of last weekend with more snow on the way.

[ponyplayerdotca]

NJ wrote:

"It is 56 degrees there and cloudy, what was the reason for cancellation?
They ran last month on a frigid night where it was something like 20 degrees.

Very strange!" [end]

====

Monday night, Peter Berry (Barry?) came on and announced all the card scratches, changes, etc. and listed the track as sloppy.

It had rained all day Monday, so the track had a significant amount of water on it. But, they still planned on racing it seemed.

Then, at 6:50pm, 10 min. to first post, and seconds before Mark and Nancy were going to come on and do their in-house simulcast show, Berry announced that "tonight's card had been cancelled". I missed a reason if one was given. Usually, though, when it's that late before the card starts, it's because the jockeys vote not to race due to unsafe track condition.

Today, despite not raining yet, it's forecasted to be raining at the track around 6pm tonight, and the storm behind it will see a significant amount of rain/sleet/snow as well.

I guess management felt it was wise to simply cancel the card early to prevent everyone from travelling out to the track only to find out that the card was going to be cancelled late again, and save everyone the task of driving back home in the bad weather.

That's my take on it. It's probably the right call. They're back Saturday night, weather permitting.

[bigmack]

Equibase quotes track condition
Dirt is not all it's cracked up to be. We've been duped!

[njcurveball]

I guess management felt it was wise to simply cancel the card early to prevent everyone from travelling out to the track only to find out that the card was going to be cancelled late again, and save everyone the task of driving back home in the bad weather.

.

We are talking about a town where they go about their business when it is 20 degrees and snowing. We are talking about a track that gets more people for their casino then they do for racing.

You cannot believe it was due to Management caring about people driving in 50 degree weather? Really?

[Peter Berry]

Monday night, Peter Berry came on and announced all the card scratches, changes, etc. and listed the track as sloppy.

It had rained all day Monday, so the track had a significant amount of water on it. But, they still planned on racing it seemed.

Then, at 6:50pm, 10 min. to first post, and seconds before Mark and Nancy were going to come on and do their in-house simulcast show, Berry announced that "tonight's card had been cancelled". I missed a reason if one was given. Usually, though, when it's that late before the card starts, it's because the jockeys vote not to race due to unsafe track condition.

[/QUOTE]

I believe only three jockeys would ride on Monday night.

[smokinjoe@bp]

they may as well just close down around christmas and reopen in march.

[Tampa Russ]

Next Tuesday we get Penn back in action...well, better than watching cart races I guess.

[rufus999]

NJ wrote:


I guess management felt it was wise to simply cancel the card early to prevent everyone from travelling out to the track only to find out that the card was going to be cancelled late again, and save everyone the task of driving back home in the bad weather.



I think most people travel to Mountaineer for the slots and booze. The horses are just a way to score big on some astronomical exotic wager and head back to the casino.

rufus

[Chris Longshot]

My resolution: I think the mountain should use replacement jocks lol, hey the cancellations are frustrating but it beats a synthetic surface and that wouldn't matter anyway because turfway always is canceling. Have to think the jocks refused on Monday, cancelling so late, it seems that the heirarchy at the mnr wants to run, regardless of the fact that they mainly get their money from slots, usually when they cancel in the middle of the card in the past, it seems it takes forever to come to a final decision. I've noticed in the past sometimes the jocks come out after 20 minutes and ride, almost like they convinced them into racing, sometimes they end up cancelling after 20 minutes. Its percieved by an outsider almost like its a cat and mouse game, but just my opinion, I think the bigger issue is the unavailability to play other night time tracks, mabey we wouldn't care so much about the mountain cancelling if we had other viable options. Windsor and Georgian Downs just doesn't do it for me tonight and I'm sure not for many of us. Regardless, its so intresting to see how many people get upset when the mountain cancels, of course me included, for a "minor track" it just goes to show how many people play mountaineer, it has almost a cult like following. Maybe Mountainman can explain what goes on with the cancellations.

[ponyplayerdotca]

rufus 999 wrote:

I think most people travel to Mountaineer for the slots and booze. The horses are just a way to score big on some astronomical exotic wager and head back to the casino.

njcurveball wrote:

We are talking about a town where they go about their business when it is 20 degrees and snowing. We are talking about a track that gets more people for their casino then they do for racing.

You cannot believe it was due to Management caring about people driving in 50 degree weather? Really?

===

When I said "everyone", I also meant the horse people driving in with their horses (if not stabled there), the management and the crew, etc. - obviously, not just the patrons who usually are small in number to begin with.

As Peter Berry himself posted just after yours, only 3 jockeys consented to ride.

With the track condition unchanged from Monday night BEFORE Tuesday's bad weather rolling in, management probably decided the jockeys would vote "NO" again to riding Tuesday.

Knowing that early Tuesday probably led to their early cancellation announcement. It's also the final night of their race week, so why not just wait until Saturday if the track condition isn't right?

I think they got it right. If the jockeys won't ride, what's the point of pretending racing could go on? Just my two cents.

[Tom]

If it's the jockey's call, what are you going to do?
Tell them go risk your lives so I can have some fun tonight?
Riding for purses is thier livelihood - you think they are going to cancel without a good reason? Warm weather on a cold weather tack can be bad.
you get spots where the surface varies. Not a good thing for horses to run over.
I repsect the jocks' decsion in all weather cases.

[Zaf]

Bang On , Tom :ThmbUp:

Z

[ldiatone]

it rained heavy most of the day here in pittsburgh. it could have been bad in chester.
ldiatone

[kenwoodallpromos]

IMO the stats showing over the years less races and less starts per horse, combined with all these cancellations, the push against heavy drugs, better diagnostic tools for horses, is just God's way of saying "take better care of my animals and give them a little break now and then"!! :jump: