Del Mar's opening 2 cards: Embarrassing.

[Stillriledup]

Are they passing out bags at the gates or do you bring your own paper bag (to wear on your head)?

[horses4courses]

On Wednesday, you will see the 3yo horse of the year in action at Del Mar.

Twirling Candy

You heard it here first.........

(I do agree, though, that the cards are weak in comparison to yesteryear)

[DJofSD]

I'm still waiting for the morning line data to be included in the BRIS D/L. But looking at the number of runners, and, that once more, the Oceanside has not been split, does not make me jump for joy.

[rastajenk]

Originally Posted by horses4courses

On Wednesday, you will see the 3yo horse of the year in action at Del Mar.

Twirling Candy

You heard it here first.........

...for the last time.

[Stillriledup]

Originally Posted by DJofSD

I'm still waiting for the morning line data to be included in the BRIS D/L. But looking at the number of runners, and, that once more, the Oceanside has not been split, does not make me jump for joy.

Runner totals AND quality are suffering big time. I could have sworn that Todd Pletcher and some other east coast heavyweights were trumpeting the plastic saying they are going to run a string of horses out west. I havent seen too many Pletcher horses out west and to think about it, i haven't seen too many horses from trainers based out east either. You used to see them from time to time, but no more.

[statepierback]

It looks like Hollywood on Polycrap. I'm not excited at all. Right now the best racing is at Monmouth.

[surfdog89]

T. Candy Looks like the one of the horses... but must answer if he likes the turf,the added distance and can he be rated off the pace. Gallant Gent might improve off his last race. He had to need that last race. He has back class running with the likes of Lookin for Lucky. I think he will love the mile. He is one of a short list with T. Candy.

[andymays]

http://www.drf.com/news/article/114925.html

Excerpt:

Del Mar lopped six days (43 to 37) from its 2009 schedule, racing five days a week rather than six. The Wednesday-through-Sunday schedule helped the track maintain an average field size of 8.56 starters. That will be difficult to match. Available horse inventory in Southern California is down more than 25 percent, from 3,800 horses a year ago to 2,800.

"The numbers are down," Robbins said. "We knew that going in, and we actually were concerned."

The worry is compounded by ambitious scheduling of 10-race cards at Hollywood Park and Del Mar. Hollywood ran 10 races the final two days of its meet, Del Mar will run 10 races opening day, and 10 races are scheduled for this Saturday and Sunday.

Not long ago, most horsemen wanted to be at Del Mar. This year, Robbins said the stables are "not as filled up as we have been in the past." Del Mar historically has 2,200 horses on the grounds. This year there will be an estimated 1,900.

[pandy]

I would imagine the cards will be weaker at Saratoga this year, too, with Monmouth and the over all state of racing, although that may be a good thing, the races can be tough to handicap there.

[elhelmete]

Forget about the polytrack for a moment...

If you don't already have horses in SoCal, you've gotta think twice before shipping in. And from where are you shipping? Where's the closest racing product that could be considered a shipping source?

If you're in the east, even just east of, say, Ohio and you have horses of any ability you have what...a dozen?...tracks to consider that don't require a 2000-3000 mile ship.

On top of all else, SoCal will always be at a disadvantage due to its geographical isolation from other racing venues.

[levinmpa]

I used to enjoy the Del Mar meeting and looked forward to it every year. I don't remember the last time I had that excitement of Del Mar starting. The quality has not been good for so many years and now the Polytrack has made Del Mar completely insignificant for me. I have not made a wager there since they put that Poly surface down. California racing is going to have to go the Monmouth route and go Friday, Saturday and Sunday. The product just stinks right now due to the small fields. So many horses have left the state, and track management and the CHRB do not seem to have a plan. It's so discouraging to see a state with such a rich history of top class thoroughbred racing crumbling in front of us. I will be concentrating my handicapping efforts and wagering dollars on Saratoga, Monmouth and Delaware.

[affirmedny]

Originally Posted by elhelmete

Forget about the polytrack for a moment...

If you don't already have horses in SoCal, you've gotta think twice before shipping in. And from where are you shipping? Where's the closest racing product that could be considered a shipping source?

If you're in the east, even just east of, say, Ohio and you have horses of any ability you have what...a dozen?...tracks to consider that don't require a 2000-3000 mile ship.

On top of all else, SoCal will always be at a disadvantage due to its geographical isolation from other racing venues.

They haven't moved it since they had decent sized fields as I recall. I would think the problem lies elsewhere.

[Robert Goren]

Almost everybody is having problems with short fields these days. Too many tracks and too many horses staying in their stalls. I don't understand why owners want to own a horse and not have it run. Somebody is going to have explain to me how an owner makes with a horse who seldom, if ever, leaves it stall.

[Stillriledup]

Originally Posted by Robert Goren

Almost everybody is having problems with short fields these days. Too many tracks and too many horses staying in their stalls. I don't understand why owners want to own a horse and not have it run. Somebody is going to have explain to me how an owner makes with a horse who seldom, if ever, leaves it stall.

The great John Shirreffs had 99 starters for the entire 2009 racing season. Ninety Nine. That's 2 starters per week. There are dozens of tracks in the USA, a handful of slots tracks yet this guy only had 99 starters.

[Igeteven]

Originally Posted by Stillriledup

Are they passing out bags at the gates or do you bring your own paper bag (to wear on your head)?

They're doing the best they can with what they can