One Mile dirt races returning at Saratoga

[Al Gobbi]

NYRA to reconstruct the historic Wilson Chute at Saratoga Race Course

The New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA) today announced that it plans to reconstruct the historic “Wilson Chute” at Saratoga Race Course, which will be in use during the 2022 summer meet and allow for one-mile races to be contested on the main track.

Long a distinctive part of Saratoga Race Course, the Wilson Chute was dismantled after the 1972 season to accommodate additional parking. It was brought back briefly in 1992 when 25 races started in the chute, including an off-the-turf edition of the Grade 3 Daryl’s Joy, later renamed the Fourstardave Handicap and now one of the most popular Grade 1 races of the annual summer meet.

https://www.nyra.com/saratoga/news/n...ga-race-course

[Tom]

I rember it as if it were only 30 years ago!
And as fondly as chicken pox.

[Cholly]

Dirt races conducted around two-turns are inherently the most interesting and exciting part of horse racing. If this means fewer two-turn, 9 furlong races at SAR…bummah

[Redbullsnation]

Nice. I do enjoy some more 1-turn races...

[dilanesp]

1. These will be 1 1/2 turn races.

2. It's almost assured that almost nobody in the Saratoga grandstand will see the start of them, buried back there.

This seems like pointless nostalgia.

[Redboard]

It always seemed unfair that when they took a 1-mile turf race to the main track they ran it at 7f. So this will fix that "problem."

[Big Russ]

Sounds like fun. I think Ellis Park's dirt course was modeled after Saratoga including the 1 mile chute.

[Tom]

Originally Posted by Cholly

Dirt races conducted around two-turns are inherently the most interesting and exciting part of horse racing. If this means fewer two-turn, 9 furlong races at SAR…bummah

Exactly. Maybe they will make the chute Tapeta for kicks and giggles.
If you like wierd distaces, Charlestown might be your cup of tea.

[The_Turf_Monster]

I love when NYRA runs these types of races like at 8.5 on the outer turf at Belmont. I’ll wait months until I can get a huge overlay on a horse coming out of the outer gates that is going to send the field into chaos in the turn going into the backstretch

[46zilzal]

Fantastic news..Good friend just finished his history of the course, works for the Sratogain newspaper and he was the first to tell me about this. He has always wonderd why it was discontinued. Michael Veitch

[thespaah]

Originally Posted by Cholly

Dirt races conducted around two-turns are inherently the most interesting and exciting part of horse racing. If this means fewer two-turn, 9 furlong races at SAR…bummah

Nah
9f races are a staple at SAR.
I think there will be fewer 7f races and those will become 8f.
7f is an oddball distance. Its a long sprint and a short route.

[thespaah]

Originally Posted by The_Turf_Monster

I love when NYRA runs these types of races like at 8.5 on the outer turf at Belmont. I’ll wait months until I can get a huge overlay on a horse coming out of the outer gates that is going to send the field into chaos in the turn going into the backstretch

Oh yeah. If a horse needs the lead from the bell, The inside posts are at a distinct disadvantage in those 8.5f races on the Widener

[thespaah]

Originally Posted by dilanesp

1. These will be 1 1/2 turn races.

2. It's almost assured that almost nobody in the Saratoga grandstand will see the start of them, buried back there.

This seems like pointless nostalgia.

That's why God invented TV monitors and the big board in the infield.

[Cholly]

Originally Posted by thespaah

Nah
9f races are a staple at SAR.
I think there will be fewer 7f races and those will become 8f.
7f is an oddball distance. Its a long sprint and a short route.

good to hear

(hope you're right...)

[Tom]

So having one dirt race day around 2 turns and one around 1.5 turns is a good thing?

Monmouth looking better every day.