Horse Racing Forum - USA Thoroughbred Races

I was at Gulfstream recently on a day when there was a hellacious storm. All races were transferred to Tapeta and finally the last three were just cancelled altogether. Would the Pegasus be transferred to the Tapeta track? I know some will use it as a prep for the races in the Middle East, so moving it back a week wouldn’t work.

How was your cruise with your daughter and family?

Curtis wrote: ↑Tue Jan 09, 2024 3:16 pm I was at Gulfstream recently on a day when there was a hellacious storm. All races were transferred to Tapeta and finally the last three were just cancelled altogether. Would the Pegasus be transferred to the Tapeta track? I know some will use it as a prep for the races in the Middle East, so moving it back a week wouldn’t work.

Obviously its hard to say what they would do, as they are the only track that has the option to move to Tapeta. I don't think they'd push it back just because of like you said, they would lose entries plus I would imagine some people would stay in town for the races as the Eclipse Awards are on the 25th and the Pegasus on the 27th. If their track crew isn't used to dealing with a wet main track anymore because of the Tapeta, then I suppose they would move have to move the races for safety reasons. There is a really large part of me that thinks if the track crew knows how to deal with a muddy surface, they'd still run the Pegasus on the main track. I could see the turf races being moved over and maybe not lose a lot of entries.

The race formerly known as the Donn has been run in the slop before. City of Light won it on a sloppy track.

Given the field this year, good luck to any of them in Dubai.

I really don't think an American horse will win the Dubai world cup

thinair wrote: ↑Wed Jan 10, 2024 12:36 pm The race formerly known as the Donn has been run in the slop before. City of Light won it on a sloppy track.

Given the field this year, good luck to any of them in Dubai.

Yeah, I know it was but the option of Tapeta didn’t exist then nor did tracks get nervous and postpone or cancel races if someone spits heavily on the track or one of the horses urinates on it the way they seemingly do now. The day I was there was December 16. I was surprised that all races were moved to Tapeta. I don’t follow Gulfstream closely. I figured that the main reason for the Tapeta was when a big downpour came, races would come off the turf and be run on synthetic so perhaps the field size wouldn’t be reduced to 3 or 4 horses. In talking to some locals—much to their consternation—races are written for Tapeta as well as moving them over to it. It just surprised me when races that were written for the main track were moved. No other track of course has this option and I’m guessing the track officials are trying to come up with a plan that will work long term. We really don’t have top level races on synthetic anymore except for that prep at Turfway. I was just curious if there was a quasi-published plan.

If the statistics showing racing on synthetics is safer for horses are accurate, then I applaud Gulfstream's willingness to write for their Tapeta surface (in addition to moving races off grass). If the surface works out well there, maybe other tracks will see the value of having a safe alternative to dirt.

BaroqueAgain1 wrote: ↑Wed Jan 10, 2024 5:32 pm If the statistics showing racing on synthetics is safer for horses are accurate, then I applaud Gulfstream's willingness to write for their Tapeta surface (in addition to moving races off grass). If the surface works out well there, maybe other tracks will see the value of having a safe alternative to dirt.

It’s there because of handle. If sudden torrential rain wasn’t a thing in so. FL, there would only be dirt and turf there. Bettors aren’t enamored of it but short fields are disliked more. I haven’t looked closely but there could be some Woodbine and Presque Isle horses there and they would be entered in races written on the Tapeta surface. As far as being safer, it always depends on who is doing the study. It’ll change less in rain, there’ll be fewer bone breaks but that’ll be offset by more soft tissue injuries. At any rate, it’s not there because Team Stronach suddenly wanted to experiment with safety. If that’s a byproduct of it though, that’s fine.

Going with Nimitz Class because I randomly remembered his name yesterday and had no idea he was pointing to this race until this very second. Weird.

National Treasure
Fluffy Socks ()
Webslinger

Not a great field. Oof!
I hope First Mission wins.

Will root for Mission of Joy and Queen Goddess in the Mare race.

National Treasure, Fluffy Socks/Didia & Warm Heart

National Treasure
Integration
Star Fortress

Lots of chalk for me.

Big fan of Fluffy Socks <3

No obvious standout, but I can see National Treasure running a big race. I’ll be there watching on Saturday, and also got a last minute invite to the Eclipse awards Thursday. Very excited!

Mylute wrote: ↑Sun Jan 21, 2024 11:55 pm Big fan of Fluffy Socks <3

I love her too!

Northport wrote: ↑Mon Jan 22, 2024 7:43 pm No obvious standout, but I can see National Treasure running a big race. I’ll be there watching on Saturday, and also got a last minute invite to the Eclipse awards Thursday. Very excited!

I'm impressed!
Hoping for an insider's trip report on all of the other important stuff we won't read or see on Paulick or BH....
who ate too much, who drank too much, who was upset they didn't win, who didn't fit in their rented tux, etc.

stark wrote: ↑Thu Jan 25, 2024 7:58 pm

Northport wrote: ↑Mon Jan 22, 2024 7:43 pm No obvious standout, but I can see National Treasure running a big race. I’ll be there watching on Saturday, and also got a last minute invite to the Eclipse awards Thursday. Very excited!

I'm impressed!
Hoping for an insider's trip report on all of the other important stuff we won't read or see on Paulick or BH....
who ate too much, who drank too much, who was upset they didn't win, who didn't fit in their rented tux, etc.

Seeing people in person that I’ve only seen on TV or online is definitely trippy! Very hard not to go full fan girl. I will do my best to get some quality gossip for you fine folk.

Izvestia wrote: ↑Sun Jan 21, 2024 6:18 pm Not a great field. Oof!
I hope First Mission wins.

Will root for Mission of Joy and Queen Goddess in the Mare race.

I missed the Turf. I like Integration and Master Piece here.