Some Friday Morning Musings

[ScottJ]

Here are some under-reported stories and other thoughts to encourage your synapses heading into Master's Weekend.

[1] Acquisitions Anyone? - While many argue over takeout rates, has anyone considered all of the players in the chain? Interestingly, there has been no discussion that Churchill Downs sold 49% of United Tote Company to New York Racing Association Content Management Solutions, a subsidiary of NYRA on April 8th. This comes on top of a similar announcement in September 2022 with 1/ST Content.

[2] Rain, Rain, Go Away - With the heavy rains over the eastern third of the States and handle down 29.5% on Thursday, I have just flipped my egg timer to see how long before calls emerge to reinstall a synthetic surface at Keeneland to save the off-the-turf field sizes. (Imagine if this was the Saratoga meet in July.) While on this one, the over-under line on posters suggesting a full turf course tarp is 2.5.

[3] Labels Aside - Is anything left of the Gulfstream "Championship" meet aside from marketing a label? Oaklawn has clearly emerged as an exciting dirt play during the December through March window and interest in Turfway Park seems to be at a peak. Meanwhile, how long before Fair Grounds puts on an all-out push to be the main winter turf option? Imagine if Texas was not playing by themselves.

[rastajenk]

Keeneland should install a SubAir system like Augusta National has.

[racenomics]

Originally Posted by ScottJ

Here are some under-reported stories and other thoughts to encourage your synapses heading into Master's Weekend.

[1] Acquisitions Anyone? - While many argue over takeout rates, has anyone considered all of the players in the chain? Interestingly, there has been no discussion that Churchill Downs sold 49% of United Tote Company to New York Racing Association Content Management Solutions, a subsidiary of NYRA on April 8th. This comes on top of a similar announcement in September 2022 with 1/ST Content.

[2] Rain, Rain, Go Away - With the heavy rains over the eastern third of the States and handle down 29.5% on Thursday, I have just flipped my egg timer to see how long before calls emerge to reinstall a synthetic surface at Keeneland to save the off-the-turf field sizes. (Imagine if this was the Saratoga meet in July.) While on this one, the over-under line on posters suggesting a full turf course tarp is 2.5.

[3] Labels Aside - Is anything left of the Gulfstream "Championship" meet aside from marketing a label? Oaklawn has clearly emerged as an exciting dirt play during the December through March window and interest in Turfway Park seems to be at a peak. Meanwhile, how long before Fair Grounds puts on an all-out push to be the main winter turf option? Imagine if Texas was not playing by themselves.

Texas racing really could be great… it’s sad. GPs handle is still far above all the other tracks mentioned, tho I have no idea why

[classhandicapper]

There's a noticeable shift of quality in progress from everywhere else to Kentucky, FG and OP with Saratoga being the one major obvious exception and we'll see what happens in CA at DMR longer term.

Almost all my betting is at CD, KEE, FG, and OP these days with occasional one day excursions to other tracks for a single card.