Quote:
Originally Posted by NTamm1215
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.
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I agree with you about the "prestige and glory" of Saratoga....but not so sure when the stands are a ghost town, and owners/breeders are not even allowed on the backstretch. I am surprised how little you value a trainer like Contessa (74 starters at the Spa last year). I can think of 20-30 similar guys who help fill out cards. You fail to recognize the unusual nature of this coming summer. The industry in NY has now missed 2 months worth of racing, with zero income for owners and trainers. I can easily see many of these type trainers deciding to stay at Belmont, even should racing move upstate, They each would save tens of thousands plus there will be no owners to entertain anyway. You mention Kentucky shippers. Earlier I posted an article from Louisville speculating that Keeneland might run a summer meet; in addition, I doubt anyone is rushing on airplanes to fly into Albany. Consider also that Monmouth has announced a meet starting July 4. With a shortened season, my guess is the purses will be strong, and one no longer has to beat Servis and Navarro. What will happen to Saratoga field size????
