Quote:
Originally Posted by drib
I find this argument puzzling. You are saying that if everything were identical: date of race (mid July-Aug), horses, race conditions; jockeys, trainers etc., the simulcast horseplayer would bet more if the TV logo said Saratoga. I mentioned on another thread that, while the Saratoga, and Belmont main tracks are fairly comparable (Saratoga offers 2 turn 1 1/8 miles, but Belmont has much greater variety of distances, especially one mile racing), there is no doubt that the Belmont turf courses are better from a competitive viewpoint. It is impossible to simply compare handles (only off track of course) b/c June/July at Belmont not comparable to Saratoga.
Looking past the possible handle differences (even "almost 10%"), how about the trainer Contessa quote? Moving 1500 horses upstate has to cost over half a million, but the expense of relocating everyone involved must cost several million more. Who will foot this bill? Obviously, it all works when Toga rocking with fans, but, now, with trainers and owners wilting (like a lot of society), does it make sense?
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Gary Contessa's opinion matters to NYRA about as much as that of Dilanesp. Hell, they had roughly the same win percentage at Saratoga last year.
First, to answer your question, yes. Put the same field in the gate for the same race at the same distance at Belmont and Saratoga and it is 100% handling more at Saratoga.
More importantly, if you don't run at Saratoga, the racing at Belmont will NEVER be of the same caliber during that time period. Even if you bumped the purses up for the "Saratoga at Belmont" portion of the meet. Kentucky horsemen are not going to ship horses to Belmont for a "Saratoga at Belmont" meet. The prestige and allure of winning at Saratoga is gone. I understand the hang-ups for the virus, but it's ridiculous to conjecture about that in early May when the meet we're talking about is 10 weeks away. We have no idea what the situation will be in six weeks, though many people would like to see us quarantine for the next 4 years.
If you don't think these things are real, then why did Gulfstream destroy Calder handle-wise when they were running the same races in 2013? Why does Del Mar handle more than Santa Anita? Why could you run the exact same race on a Thursday afternoon in late September at CD and it'll get out-handled easily by a comparable race in October at Keeneland?
Certain tracks have appeal that others do not.
