Lemme tell ya. There is plenty of eye candy at The Spa....More than one would believe

Dump?
Oh....How so? Or are you being intentionally obtuse?
Usage of words such as "dump" when describing Saratoga Race Course does little for your credibility.

You should've stuck to your last post, "Done and Done" concerning the racing at Saratoga, since it's no contest. However, you've obviously never been to Del Mar, or you wouldn't have made the above reference to the "eye candy"......Del Mar is vastly superior in climate and beautiful clientele. Saratoga has superior racing and a rustic, nostalgic charm that can be found nowhere else, IMO...

I grew up in Saratoga been going every year since I was 2. Been to Delmar a bunch. Here's the breakdown.

Racing Quality: Saratoga by far. Though I do agree with the earlier poster that noted that lately the Spa has been for a few years filling cards with state bred and lower level claiming races which would have never been carded when I was a kid.

Women: Delmar by far.

Food on track: Saratoga.

Ambience: Delmar.

Facility: Delmar.

On-track analysis: Saratoga

Paddock access: Delmar

Infield experience: Delmar. Saratoga does not have that.

Food outside the track: Delmar

Racing knowledge of patrons and in town: Saratoga by far.

Saratoga lives and breathes racing. If you wake up thinking about racing and go to bed thinking about racing, then the Spa is for you.

In Delmar, the racing is less important and it is more about the social experience and atmosphere. In sum, it depends on what you are looking for when you go to the track.

Yes,Saratoga is old, decrepit, has terrible sightlines, bad weather, and is overcrowded.

I guess some of you like that sort of thing. Personally I view it as similar to the old Boston Garden- an old facility with plenty of history but not a great place to actually watch a sports event.

Old stuff is vastly overrated in this world.

IMO,that is the best breakdown,I have ever seen in the comparison of the two tracks. Well stated.

Del Mar has a more modern fan-friendly feel. The SPA structure that contains the stands is over 100 years old-this is why most people rather sit in the grounds. Del Mar’s was completely demolished and rebuilt in the 1990s. Sure it’s nice to have attendants in the Saratoga restrooms handing you a towel, but that’s not the way things run these days. People want spacious modern stadiums, with large restrooms and shiny concession areas.
There’s no way the city of Saratoga Springs would vote to fund a new track, even though that track has been a windfall for them in terms of attracting retirees, which seems to be America’s number one business these days. A few years ago, they didn’t even vote to allow casinos, and there was a casino in Saratoga Springs before Las Vegas. . They wouldn’t vote to build a bridge across the Mohawk river, even if there wasn’t one there.
So NYRA would have to do it but putting all that money into a stadium just so you can do business there for 7 weeks is going to be a hard sell with Gordon Gekko at the helm.

Not even close. All this talk of women, this is a horse racing site right?

I feel the same way many others do here. The racing is far and away the best in the country. Some say the atmosphere is better at Delmar, but give me the backyard at saratoga any day. Fan experience is simply better when you can bring in your own food and beverage. Add to that, if you are in town it isnt a matter of what you are doing that day but rather what time are you getting to the track.

It is a racing town, every aspect of it. Add to that the dining, nightlife, and concerts at SPAC and I dont even see how you can make a comparison.

So nobody goes there anymore because it's too crowded? Thanks Yogi.

If you're at your house or OTB just wagering, Saratoga is an easy winner. But let's face it---most of us (Dilanesp excluded) would love to be at either track for about a month, just hanging out and betting. That's what it's all about.

Out of curiosity when's the last time you were at Saratoga?

That’s an excellent breakdown and comparison. I would only question the “Food outside the track”, but then I’ve only been to Del Mar a couple of times. So, I never really had a chance to check out many of the restaurants in that area.

I’ve been going to the Spa regularly for the last 30 years or so, and I’ve never been disappointed with any aspect of my visits. When my friends and I go, the wives are content to spend the day in town while we’re at the track. That arrangement definitely helps to improve the concentration level.

The “eye candy” may not be on par with Del Mar, but who needs the distractions when you trying to make money?

I'm totally into both. Of course I prefer betting in the afternoon on east coast time. But Del Mar's turf course and I have a great relationship that hope to bring to climax again this year! The turf racing at both is top notch IMO. This is my focal point with dirt being a secondary reality. So for me this is why I think the racing is great all round. Ready to roll!:)

If you can get past the owners who want their picture in the winners circle at either of these meets, it comes down to the number of stock available.

Racing has always been parochial - LeftCoast vs RightCost. The primary difference is number of horses available (no sense commenting on each tracks conditions book - best left to another thread). With apologies to NoCal, there's just one circuit here and only two tracks, SA and DM. SAR has horses from all over available frankly - besides the NY circuit there's NJ, KY, and whomever wants to come up from GP to name just a few. From a betting perspective, I want full fields, or at least more that 6-7 horses.

DM opening entries show a total of 107 tho the first 2 CLM races have 7 and 6 respectively. DM Day 2 shows 74 over 8 races. Haven't seen SAR opening entries yet. It's going to be interesting to see if DM can sustain more that an avg of 7 or so entries over the meet. This should not be an issue for SAR.

Saratoga is the be all end all of thoroughbred racing in the US, and a true test of the handicapper. Horses shipping in from Woodbine in the north, all the way down to the gulf coast and west to the Mississippi River. Sharpies from Finger Lakes and New England...well I guess no more New England.

Well meant firsters, seconders and everything else. The racing has declined as you would expect due to racino purses...not nearly as many sharp shippers from the Mid Atlantic as in years gone by..but all the right trainers and outfits are there. There has been plenty of thinning in the maiden ranks especially...it used to be you had to be something to break your maiden at Saratoga.

Del Mar's isolation makes it second rate. Shippers from...well, nowhere? Arapahoe, TuP? New Mexico? Does anyone ship there from out of state? Besides the ambience, which apparently is first rate, what exactly distinguished Del Mar from the rest of SoCal?

Keep in mind this is mostly truly but a decent splash of hyperbole as well, so please no hate mail :)

CJ,

You are right. I looked at both cards and somehow was confused (Could have been the Miller Lites):mad::mad::mad:

Wednesday card is much better than Thursday