Full fields at Delta Downs now a thing of the past

[Milkshaker]

Chalk this one up to the sharp dropoff in foal crop and the national horse shortage: Delta Downs, which for me has been attractive the past few years because every race draws full fields of 10 entrants and 2 AEs (they limit starters to 10 on the 6f track), is steadily slipping down to other tracks' levels.

Since the start of the New Year, more 8 and 9-horse races are common. They cut back to 10 races nightly instead of 11. The field sizes continued to lag, so to exacerbate these declining numbers, this past week Delta illogically decided to go back to 11-race cards.

I am hunting around for a new full-field track to play in the spring, I guess.

[Lasix67]

Then that would be Evangeline Downs. Home of the Biggest fields.

[jeebus1083]

Tampa Bay Downs hasn't been immune to this either. In my formative years as a college undergrad (and subsequently post-grad), it was common to see a 10-12 horse slobberknockers carded almost every single race. No more. It's sad to see 6-7-8 horse fields at TAM these days. In addition to the horse shortage nationwide, the slot purses at Gulfstream probably have some bearing on this.

[tokyo2002]

Hmmm, I guess I have not noticed this and I play Delta almost every day they are running. They still seem to have much fuller fields than the other Erving tracks.

[Some_One]

Every race tonight had double digit fields before scratches tonight, GG only had 1 out of 8 races with 7+ horses today.

[outofthebox]

Chalk this one up to the sharp dropoff in foal crop and the national horse shortage: Delta Downs, which for me has been attractive the past few years because every race draws full fields of 10 entrants and 2 AEs (they limit starters to 10 on the 6f track), is steadily slipping down to other tracks' levels.

Since the start of the New Year, more 8 and 9-horse races are common. They cut back to 10 races nightly instead of 11. The field sizes continued to lag, so to exacerbate these declining numbers, this past week Delta illogically decided to go back to 11-race cards.

I am hunting around for a new full-field track to play in the spring, I guess.I wish that was so. I would love to get my maidens to race at least once a month. Usually takes 5 weeks to get back in a race. Maybe a few allowance races are coming up with some 7-9 horse fields..

[David-LV]

DED still is the best night time track out there.

________
David-LV

[billyball]

Anybody know where the Melancon boys---Gerard and Jansen are---thanks---

[Vinman]

Gerard was hurt in a spill at DeD a few weeks ago....not sure about his return date.

[billyball]

thanx a lot---have been wondering---

[holmmd]

Jansen is injured as well. Not sure when either is due back.

[raybo]

I find nothing wrong with the fields at DeD. If you're looking for big fields, why? Is it because you like chaos races, higher payouts? Well, if you can't find chaos and high payouts at DeD then you're not looking very hard.

[green80]

when Sam Houston opens in Jan, it takes a little pressure off Delta Downs. If you are trying to run a maiden, it still takes some luck to get in more than 4 times in a season.

[raybo]

when Sam Houston opens in Jan, it takes a little pressure off Delta Downs. If you are trying to run a maiden, it still takes some luck to get in more than 4 times in a season.

That's true, but we are ALL boycotting Texas tracks, right? ;)

[Thomas Roulston]

Maybe if they paid more than $80 to each unplaced (lower than 5th) horse this problem wouldn't exist.