Saratoga 'Hurdles' question

[Robert Fischer]

Will be a starter to many cards.

I seem to remember one of the final hurdles being removed for safety concerns from the 2017 meet.

Anyone have definitive knowledge of whether that is still true?

It seemed to help early speed and/or draw-away/open-up speed.

[Robert Fischer]

2016 not 2017

term used is 'fence'

https://www.nationalsteeplechase.com...ratoga-season/

"With the fence at the furlong pole removed for the final run down Saratoga Race Course’s stretch, only one racing incident, a lost rider, occurred in all of the 2016 season. A year earlier, nine racing incidents had occurred. Only two horses failed to finish the course in the current season, compared with 14 in 2015."

[Quesmark]

Noticed that the hurdle was there the first time around the course today,and than it was removed by the 2nd go round,seemed the fence was hinged so it could be swiveled out of the way.The horses were on the flat a long way from home,guess this avoids tiring runners from having to jump late in these long distance races.

[Tom]

Weird race - one riderless horse leads the way, another runs off the course late.

[Robert Fischer]

Originally Posted by Quesmark

Noticed that the hurdle was there the first time around the course today,and than it was removed by the 2nd go round,seemed the fence was hinged so it could be swiveled out of the way.The horses were on the flat a long way from home,guess this avoids tiring runners from having to jump late in these long distance races.

Thanks. If they are swiveling it out, that is interesting. Can't remember if it was the track announcer, or the Saratoga Steeplechase expert, but they did reiterate to the public(maybe 20min to post?) that they were continuing without the final fence as they have since 2016.

After watching the best overall horse New Member win the Kiser Novice with ease today (although no early speed horses in that race could have been called 'brave' with one dumping the rider immediately and another leaving the course to DNF), I have a feeling connections and riders are familiar, and unless a horse is truly a deep closer that can't get in touch for the stretch-call of the race, they'll be fine. Still something to consider if I happen to like a prominent horse and a closer equally.

[CheckMark]

Originally Posted by Tom

Weird race - one riderless horse leads the way, another runs off the course late.

The horse could of won. But never realized it was the turn.

[Robert Fischer]

word of caution:
The brisnet PPs are missing certain races (looks like mainly Euro races are missed?). DRF seems to have the full past performance listing. You still may want to look at both for certain metrics.
(e.g. Euro shipper Oskar Denarius (IRE) is shown as having been off 2 Years on the bris PPs, while DRF shows him being somewhat busy with 15 races since 2015 and last racing in May 2018. )


If anyone is interested in some of the harder-to-find replays for the US steeplechase circuit; go to https://www.nationalsteeplechase.com...-steeplechase/ ... look on the right panel/side of the screen and scroll mid-way down and there is a drop-down arrow menu listed by year [>2018 RACE VIDEOS] for the major circuits. You will need to reference the race number once you get to that menu screen.