Saratoga 2004 Changes

[Figman]

New York Racing Association has cut the Adirondack Stakes (G2) for two-year-old fillies and the Saratoga Special Stakes (G2) for two-year-olds from its stakes schedule for 2004.

NYRA also moved two divisions of the New York Stallion Series—the Cab Calloway for three-year-olds and the Statue of Liberty for two-year-old fillies, from Belmont to Saratoga.

[Suff]

7/28/2004 The Schuylerville II 150,000 F2YO 6 Furlongs

7/29/2004 The Sanford II 150,000 2YO 6 Furlongs

7/30/2004 The Bernard Baruch Handicap II 150,000 3&UP 1 1/8 (Turf)

7/31/2004 The Diana Handicap I 500,000 F&M 3&UP 1 1/8 (Turf)

7/31/2004 The Test I 250,000 F3YO 7 Furlongs

8/1/2004 The Go For Wand I 250,000 F&M 3&UP 1 1/8

8/2/2004 The Lake George III 100,000 added F3YO 1 1/16 (Turf)

8/4/2004 New York Stallion Series-Cab Calloway Division
250,000 3YO 1 1/8

8/5/2004 New York Stallion Series-Statue Of Liberty Division 250,000 F3YO 1 1/8

8/6/2004 The Honorable Miss Handicap II 150,000 F&M 3&UP 6 Furlongs

8/7/2004 The Amsterdam II 150,000 3YO 6 Furlongs

8/7/2004 The Whitney Handicap I 750,000 3&UP 1 1/8

8/8/2004 The Jim Dandy II 500,000 3YO 1 1/8

8/9/2004 The National Museum of Racing Hall Of Fame II 150,000 3YO 1 1/8 (Turf)

8/11/2004 The De La Rose 65,000 added F&M 3&UP 1 mile (Turf)

8/12/2004 The A. P. Smithwick Mememorial Steeplechase II 75,000 added 4&UP 2 1/16 (Turf)

8/13/2004 TheWaya 65,000 added F&M 3&UP 1 1/2 (Turf)

8/14/2004 The Sword Dancer Invitational I 500,000 3&UP 1 1/2 (Turf)

8/14/2004 The A.G. Vanderbilt Handicap II 200,000 3&UP 6 Furlongs

8/15/2004 The West Point NYB 100,000 added 3&UP 1 1/8 (Turf)

8/16/2004 The John's Call 65,000 added 3&UP 1 5/8 (Turf)

8/18/2004 The Yaddo NYB 100,000 added F&M 3&UP 1 1/8 (Turf)

8/19/2004 The John Morrissey NYB 65,000 added 3&UP 6 1/2 Furlongs

8/20/2004 The Spinaway II 250,000 F2YO 7 Furlongs

8/21/2004 The Alabama I 750,000 F3YO 1 1/4

8/21/2004 The Hopeful I 250,000 2YO 7 Furlongs

8/22/2004 The Saratoga Breeders' Cup II 250,000 3&UP 1 1/4

8/23/2004 The Lake Placid Handicap II 150,000 F3YO 1 1/8 (Turf)

8/25/2004 The Albany Stakes NYB 150,000 added 3YO 1 1/8

8/26/2004 The Union Avenue NYB 65,000 added F&M 3&UP 6 Furlongs

8/27/2004 The Personal Ensign Handicap I 400,000 F&M 3&UP 1 1/4

8/28/2004 The King's Bishop I 250,000 3YO 7 Furlongs

8/28/2004 The Travers I 1,000,000 3YO 1 1/4

8/28/2004 The Fourstardave H. II 200,000 3&UP 1 1/16 (Turf)

8/28/2004 The Victory Ride 65,000 added F3YO 6 Furlongs

8/29/2004 The Ballerina I 250,000 F&M 3&UP 7 Furlongs

8/30/2004 The Ballston Spa Breeders' Cup III 200,000 added
F&M 3&UP 1 1/16 (Turf)

9/1/2004 The Saratoga Dew NYB 65,000 added F&M 3&UP 1 1/8

9/2/2004 The New York Turf Writers Cup Steeplechase I 100,000
added 4&UP 2 3/8 (Turf)

9/3/2004 The Troy 65,000 added 3&UP 1 mile (Turf)

9/4/2004 The Forego I 250,000 3&UP 7 Furlongs

9/5/2004 The Glens Falls Handicap III 100,000 added F&M 3&UP 1 3/8 (Turf)

9/6/2004 The Saranac III 100,000 added 3YO 1 3/16 (Turf)

[Bubbles]

Did anyone else notice the abundance of little 65,000-dollar stakes races in New York this year? According to this schedule, they appear to be a big part of next year's Spa meet. It just seems a little awkward that the meet with races like the Whitney and Travers can rely on these races so heavily.

[Speed Figure]

Those races seem good for the lil guy. If you have a good allowance horse it's a chance to run in a stakes race at SAR.

[Suff]

Some of these are glorified allowance races. Saratoga is to NYRA what the Keeneland meet is to the Kentucky Circuit. Short meet, big purses, heavy hitters in the barns.

But they have 29 Graded Races in 36 meet days... Including 11 Grade I's in 10 days. From The Alabama to the Travers.

Under the circumstances I did'nt expect any Major Changes in Purse Structure. However Tradition can only mean so Much. The travers is still ONE MIL in 2004. I'd like to see the Travers go to a Mil and a half or even 2 mil soon.

The money being thrown around for things Like these Triple Tiara's, and the 2 Mil they're giving away in Arkansas for the derby Prep races... sort of puts price pressure on the BIG Grade I's to get richer. Never mind the 5 million dollar Dubia Purses...Running for a MIL aint what it used to be.

[Suff]

Btw... I read a few pages of the NYRA settlement. They expect 400 million a year with the VLT's. It is written into the language of the settlement that NYRA must offer the richest Purses in the Nation. Starting late 2004-2005.