NYRA: Saratoga Race Course’s Summer Season Will Likely Occur Without Fans

[drib]

Originally Posted by PaceAdvantage

LOL

You get points for tenacity and stubbornness.

How about common sense? As of yesterday, the county of Saratoga has had a total 0f 364 cases (11 currently hospitalized); the town of Saratoga Springs (population 28k) has had 40. There have been 14 viral deaths in the county (population 230k). Elmont (population 33k), home to Belmont Park, reports a count of 1138. Does anyone think that in just 2 months time, Cuomo will sanction a 5,000 person migration up to the Spa?....and that is assuming no fans allowed. Incidentally, these #'s are probably one reason that there is no date for the opening of Oklahoma training track. The wise medical decision is to confine the virus downstate.

[PaceAdvantage]

With Cuomo, anything is possible:

https://www.wsj.com/articles/new-yor...ls-11585228215

How's that for common sense?

[Tom]

Does the city of Saratoga even WANT them to open is they do nothing in the crowds of people?

Are they willing to take all of the risk and a fraction of the $$$ windfall? Anyone heard their thoughts?

[classhandicapper]

Originally Posted by Tom

Does the city of Saratoga even WANT them to open is they do nothing in the crowds of people?

Are they willing to take all of the risk and a fraction of the $$$ windfall? Anyone heard their thoughts?

That's a very good question.

You'd be surprised, but a lot of people in Saratoga don't like the racing. They leave. It's the local business people that like it. But if there are no customers, who needs it?

[drib]

Originally Posted by PaceAdvantage

With Cuomo, anything is possible:

https://www.wsj.com/articles/new-yor...ls-11585228215

How's that for common sense?

Classic case of deflection. In late March, Cuomo, and NY health officials were petrified that the hospitals would be completely overwhelmed by viral patients, thus the edict about putting stable, recovering viral patients in nursing homes actually made some sense. Where would u have them go if u were worried about an onslaught of new, acutely ill patients? I am not defending Cuomo anyway, just listening to what he has been saying. Remember, a decision to open Saratoga (even w/o any fans) is completely optional. There is no compelling need to unleash the downstate viral hordes in the Spa.

[PaceAdvantage]

Originally Posted by drib

Classic case of deflection.

Was it? You brought up Cuomo and common sense.

[Magician]

saratoga can't allow fans for one reason. they are not equipped to deal with an outbreak in that part of new york. saratoga will not open to fans until there is a vaccine. an outbreak in hotels, restaurants, and crowds like at a racetrack are the nightmare scenario when you combine it with the very limited hospital beds in the area.

[westernmassbob]

Originally Posted by Magician

saratoga can't allow fans for one reason. they are not equipped to deal with an outbreak in that part of new york. saratoga will not open to fans until there is a vaccine. an outbreak in hotels, restaurants, and crowds like at a racetrack are the nightmare scenario when you combine it with the very limited hospital beds in the area.

Saratoga already has spring/summer home residents moving back in as of today. I know two family friends that have checked in this past week from Florida. The town will still see tourists even if no live viewing at the track. I still say Toga can do it with attendance if they limit ticket sales per day sold in advance.

[Clocker]

Originally Posted by Magician

saratoga can't allow fans for one reason. they are not equipped to deal with an outbreak in that part of new york. saratoga will not open to fans until there is a vaccine. an outbreak in hotels, restaurants, and crowds like at a racetrack are the nightmare scenario when you combine it with the very limited hospital beds in the area.

Fans aside, is the town even equipped to handle the horse people if a number of them get sick? Those people are coming in from all over the country, and no way of telling what they have been exposed to.

[AndyC]

Originally Posted by drib

Classic case of deflection. In late March, Cuomo, and NY health officials were petrified that the hospitals would be completely overwhelmed by viral patients, thus the edict about putting stable, recovering viral patients in nursing homes actually made some sense. Where would u have them go if u were worried about an onslaught of new, acutely ill patients? I am not defending Cuomo anyway, just listening to what he has been saying. Remember, a decision to open Saratoga (even w/o any fans) is completely optional. There is no compelling need to unleash the downstate viral hordes in the Spa.

Viral patients in nursing homes made sense? It was well known at that time that elderly people with underlying conditions were by far the most vulnerable. The people running the nursing homes certainly didn't think it was a good idea.

Who are these viral hordes waiting to be unleashed? The data from NYC shows that they may be down to close to zero by mid May.

[Magician]

Originally Posted by Clocker

Fans aside, is the town even equipped to handle the horse people if a number of them get sick? Those people are coming in from all over the country, and no way of telling what they have been exposed to.

yes, saratoga and the albany area could easily handle the "horse people" that are needed to have a meet. it is the influx of everyone else at hotels, restaurants, and at the track that could overwhelm the system.

one of most illogical things going on in america right now is not racing at belmont park. cuomo seems unable to grasp the fact that horses go to the track everyday and that workers have to take care of horses whether they are racing or just training in the morning. there is no logical reason to not race. you just can't allow fans. it is quite amazing that the governor and his people are not capable of grasping such a simple concept. the only thing i can think of is that it is bad optics having a large number of people dying in the city and other people racing horses a few miles away.

[drib]

Originally Posted by AndyC

Viral patients in nursing homes made sense? It was well known at that time that elderly people with underlying conditions were by far the most vulnerable. The people running the nursing homes certainly didn't think it was a good idea.

Who are these viral hordes waiting to be unleashed? The data from NYC shows that they may be down to close to zero by mid May.

Not looking for another viral thread, but the notion that "NYC...may be down close to zero by mid May" is, sadly, laughable....of course, I don't know whether you are talking about new cases (today NYC added 1223; the state 2239; or deaths (198-230). Yes the curve is slowly improving, but that is combined with a continued rigorous lockdown.

[dilanesp]

Originally Posted by Magician

yes, saratoga and the albany area could easily handle the "horse people" that are needed to have a meet. it is the influx of everyone else at hotels, restaurants, and at the track that could overwhelm the system.

one of most illogical things going on in america right now is not racing at belmont park. cuomo seems unable to grasp the fact that horses go to the track everyday and that workers have to take care of horses whether they are racing or just training in the morning. there is no logical reason to not race. you just can't allow fans. it is quite amazing that the governor and his people are not capable of grasping such a simple concept. the only thing i can think of is that it is bad optics having a large number of people dying in the city and other people racing horses a few miles away.

I think the fact that NYRA hasn''t convinced the state government to let them race without spectators at Belmont is incredibly important and, indeed, by far the most important data point here. The people who would need to approve any grandiose plans clearly are extremely skeptical about even letting NYRA putting even baby steps forward.

This discussion is sort of like asking Jim Mora about the playoffs when he's concerned whether his team can win a game.

[alhattab]

Originally Posted by Magician

yes, saratoga and the albany area could easily handle the "horse people" that are needed to have a meet. it is the influx of everyone else at hotels, restaurants, and at the track that could overwhelm the system.

one of most illogical things going on in america right now is not racing at belmont park. cuomo seems unable to grasp the fact that horses go to the track everyday and that workers have to take care of horses whether they are racing or just training in the morning. there is no logical reason to not race. you just can't allow fans. it is quite amazing that the governor and his people are not capable of grasping such a simple concept. the only thing i can think of is that it is bad optics having a large number of people dying in the city and other people racing horses a few miles away.

I think you hit the nail on the head here, especially since the horses and people are already there. They should be racing and one cannot come up with a reasonable explanation otherwise. Belmont Park should be open to spectators, too. Golf is another one- makes zero sense- unless you think of the optic of "allowing" the "privileged" to enjoy something that many others cannot. Same with parks- something generally more available to people out in the sticks than people in cities (or even in NY, more available to wealthy Manhattanites than less affluent sections of Brooklyn, Queens and the Bronx). NJ General Secretary Murphy wouldn't allow either golf or parks open until this past weekend. In terms of racing, Monmouth Park is a different story from Belmont in that the backstretch is closed and every person and horse on the grounds will likely come from many places. Creating density isn't a good thing these days. Saying that, the backstretches have been generally safe save for a few unfortunate incidents, correct?

[classhandicapper]

Originally Posted by Magician

one of most illogical things going on in america right now is not racing at belmont park. cuomo seems unable to grasp the fact that horses go to the track everyday and that workers have to take care of horses whether they are racing or just training in the morning. there is no logical reason to not race. you just can't allow fans. it is quite amazing that the governor and his people are not capable of grasping such a simple concept. the only thing i can think of is that it is bad optics having a large number of people dying in the city and other people racing horses a few miles away.

I co-sign on this 100%.

There are cost and health risk reasons to consider not moving everyone to Saratoga, but there is almost no reason for not running at Belmont now. The number of incremental people needed to actually put on the show is not huge and other tracks are already demonstrating it can be done safely. It's probably even easier at Belmont because it's so huge. It will be easier to maintain distance.