Another Record Breaking Season @ Saratoga

[elhelmete]

Anyone actually read the article? The first handful of paragraphs talk about the weather's effects.

That said, the success this summer was based on much more than that.

[affirmedny]

Originally Posted by PaceAdvantage

I'm not fighting.

I'm bathing in facts. It feels wonderful.

Amazingly, gas prices had no effect on handle

[Andy Asaro]

Originally Posted by BarchCapper

I'm taking this to mean that out-of-state visitors using NYRA Bets while physically at Saratoga/Belmont/Aqueduct do NOT count as on-track handle?

No idea. My guess is that they use geolocation but who knows.

[the little guy]

Of course weather is a huge factor. We lost 16 turf races this year as compared to 31 last year. Not exactly a dramatic swing, just as the record low of 8 we lost in 2015 isn't statistically relevant. We also had two weeks early in the meet of hot and humid weather. Weather will always matter. If you have prolonged rain, as we have had in a few years past ( this possibility is often overblown, but opinions about popular places like Saratoga frequently are ), this could have a significant negative affect. Fortunately, that has not been the case recently.

One thing is for sure, the product was well received...and gas prices and the economy don't appear to have hurt. Then again, that's hardly surprising.

[ClockersCorner]

A good solid meet in all aspects. As one would expect from the premier track in the USA. Delighted they did so well. I would say it has much to do with high quality racing, with top horses and riders competing daily, and to a much lesser degree on the quality of the television coverage. Congratulations to NYRA.

[Brisk Urging]

it wasnt without some BS


1.Stewards were awful
2.Chad Brown arrested
3.Races taken off the grass in horizontals wagers screwing fans
4.LINK? PROOF? <-- asking for a friend of PA's
5.Stabile's cheap shots at Flavien the entire meet was classless

[dilanesp]

NYRA has done a heck of a job turning Saratoga, which was a boutique meet when I was young, into the most important and one of the most profitable meets in the country. They deserve enormous credit for that.

[westernmassbob]

Originally Posted by the little guy

Of course weather is a huge factor. We lost 16 turf races this year as compared to 31 last year. Not exactly a dramatic swing, just as the record low of 8 we lost in 2015 isn't statistically relevant. We also had two weeks early in the meet of hot and humid weather. Weather will always matter. If you have prolonged rain, as we have had in a few years past ( this possibility is often overblown, but opinions about popular places like Saratoga frequently are ), this could have a significant negative affect. Fortunately, that has not been the case recently.

One thing is for sure, the product was well received...and gas prices and the economy don't appear to have hurt. Then again, that's hardly surprising.

Thanks for at least acknowledging the weather factor. I do believe that if gas wasn’t so high and the economy wasn’t in such a turmoil Saratoga could have done even better. Recently I talked to an older gentlemen at a local OTB. Asked if he made it to Saratoga this year and his response was no and that cost kept him away. Nobody knows for sure …what we do know is that Toga is a special place and this year was super successful. BTW nice pick with Forte yesterday.

[rastajenk]

What are you going to do for the next 10 months, Bob?

Asking for a friend, I don't really care, myself.

[westernmassbob]

Originally Posted by rastajenk

What are you going to do for the next 10 months, Bob?

Asking for a friend, I don't really care, myself.

Pondering how much Kentucky is going to take over the top spot in horse racing in the coming years. Unless tracks match those huge purses you will see a major exodus from NY ….horses, trainers and of course jockeys .

[castaway01]

Originally Posted by westernmassbob

Pondering how much Kentucky is going to take over the top spot in horse racing in the coming years. Unless tracks match those huge purses you will see a major exodus from NY ….horses, trainers and of course jockeys .

Maybe it will start raining more in Kentucky and the handle will plummet, since that's the only determining factor in how much people wager.

[classhandicapper]

Originally Posted by westernmassbob

Pondering how much Kentucky is going to take over the top spot in horse racing in the coming years. Unless tracks match those huge purses you will see a major exodus from NY ….horses, trainers and of course jockeys .

I don't know what's going to happen to racing in NY long term, but I wouldn't count Oaklawn out as a contender for premier dirt racing. Hot Springs is a nice vacation spot, the track is very nice, the purses are huge, the hotel/casino are nice, the quality of the racing is high and getting better, and they seem dedicated to racing and making the on track experience pleasant and affordable. It's in my top few. I haven't been to Fair Grounds yet (bucket list), but I like the racing and potential there too.

[bks]

Originally Posted by westernmassbob

Pondering how much Kentucky is going to take over the top spot in horse racing in the coming years. Unless tracks match those huge purses you will see a major exodus from NY ….horses, trainers and of course jockeys .

Kentucky won't be taking over anything in July and August. Saratoga and Del Mar are destinations for reasons Kentucky will never be during the summer. Great racing at both places this year, and Saratoga was utterly unmatched in terms of race quality.

[PaceAdvantage]

Originally Posted by Brisk Urging

it wasnt without some BS


1.Stewards were awful
2.Chad Brown arrested
3.Races taken off the grass in horizontals wagers screwing fans
4.LINK? PROOF? <-- asking for a friend of PA's
5.Stabile's cheap shots at Flavien the entire meet was classless

Fixed that for you.

[Brisk Urging]

Originally Posted by PaceAdvantage

Fixed that for you.

My bad it was near his barn

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=...2NtGN-Ay1OUR9u