Track news and notes

[Squeaky]

I’ll start this thread.

The jockeys at Oaklawn have apparently voted to not ride the rest of today's Oaklawn card. They ran the first race after an hour delay to try to deal with unsafe areas on the track surface, but the riders felt that the surface still isn't completely safe. So racing is cancelled.

[Flanders]

https://www.thoroughbreddailynews.com/h ... -and-indy/



The original incident at Evangeline is just so dangerous and irresponsible that the race wasn't stopped. A horse could have easily spooked and slammed into it, killing both horse and rider. What happens if a jockey saw that the starting gate was barely out of their way and pulled their horse up? Would they then get fined/suspended for not riding to win?

[Flanders]

Arapahoe summer meet cancelled. Inspections that found the barns had plumbing and electrical problems which made them unsafe for use. They hope to have the issues fixed by fall to run a meet.

https://paulickreport.com/news/the-biz/ ... -this-fall

[Northport]

"ECL Entertainment (ECL) announced Monday that, alongside its joint venture partner, Clairvest Group Inc. (collectively, the “Buyers”), it has entered into an agreement to purchase Wyoming Downs. ECL will operate Wyoming Downs’ racetrack in Evanston as well as Wyoming Downs’ historic racing locations across the Cowboy State."

Marc Falcone and Ron Winchell are among the the buyers. If they can make it anything like Kentucky Downs then this could be a really exciting move.

https://paulickreport.com/news/the-biz/ ... ming-downs

[Cigarillo]

"ECL Entertainment (ECL) announced Monday that, alongside its joint venture partner, Clairvest Group Inc. (collectively, the “Buyers”), it has entered into an agreement to purchase Wyoming Downs. ECL will operate Wyoming Downs’ racetrack in Evanston as well as Wyoming Downs’ historic racing locations across the Cowboy State."

Marc Falcone and Ron Winchell are among the the buyers. If they can make it anything like Kentucky Downs then this could be a really exciting move.

https://paulickreport.com/news/the-biz/ ... ming-downs

That would be awesome. Looking forward to seeing the updates as it goes along.

[Flanders]

Golden Gate had to cancel for Friday May 3rd due to lack of entries and said the track also canceled on April 19th because of the same reason. In the article it says "Last year, there were 5,126 Thoroughbred races in California compared to just 2,815 the year prior." Why did California add so many races from 2022 to 2023? Is that even right? Just seems like an awful lot of races when field sizes have been poor for awhile, which they are all over the US not just in California.

https://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing ... of-entries

[BaroqueAgain1]

Perhaps that jump was due to tracks returning to more normal numbers of races after a couple years of Covid restrictions? The timing can't be just coincidental.

[Curtis]

Golden Gate had to cancel for Friday May 3rd due to lack of entries and said the track also canceled on April 19th because of the same reason. In the article it says "Last year, there were 5,126 Thoroughbred races in California compared to just 2,815 the year prior." Why did California add so many races from 2022 to 2023? Is that even right? Just seems like an awful lot of races when field sizes have been poor for awhile, which they are all over the US not just in California.

https://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing ... of-entries

The numbers can be looked up of course but it wouldn’t shock me if this is shenanigans by Team Stronach trying to prove that racing should not be allowed in no. CA. I can see a jump like that between 2020 and ‘21 or maybe 2021 and ‘22.

[Diver52]

Maybe the fairs didn't run in 2022? But the numbers don't make sense to me either and I'm here in California.

[Flanders]

Golden Gate had to cancel for Friday May 3rd due to lack of entries and said the track also canceled on April 19th because of the same reason. In the article it says "Last year, there were 5,126 Thoroughbred races in California compared to just 2,815 the year prior." Why did California add so many races from 2022 to 2023? Is that even right? Just seems like an awful lot of races when field sizes have been poor for awhile, which they are all over the US not just in California.

https://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing ... of-entries

The numbers can be looked up of course but it wouldn’t shock me if this is shenanigans by Team Stronach trying to prove that racing should not be allowed in no. CA. I can see a jump like that between 2020 and ‘21 or maybe 2021 and ‘22.

I didn't even think, oh they might be just pulling numbers out of a hat to make closing GG look better. Okay so it took me a bit to find the numbers and I suppose last year was 2003 cause that is where that number is from. That is the last year California ran that many races. So they are lying like you said. 2023 California had 2921 races, which was down compared to 2022 when there were 3011. So the numbers are just off all around. I don't know where the 2022 number came from. I used the Jockey Club's California stats (its a pdf) here: https://jockeyclub.com/factbook/StateFa ... fornia.pdf

[Curtis]

Golden Gate had to cancel for Friday May 3rd due to lack of entries and said the track also canceled on April 19th because of the same reason. In the article it says "Last year, there were 5,126 Thoroughbred races in California compared to just 2,815 the year prior." Why did California add so many races from 2022 to 2023? Is that even right? Just seems like an awful lot of races when field sizes have been poor for awhile, which they are all over the US not just in California.

https://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing ... of-entries

The numbers can be looked up of course but it wouldn’t shock me if this is shenanigans by Team Stronach trying to prove that racing should not be allowed in no. CA. I can see a jump like that between 2020 and ‘21 or maybe 2021 and ‘22.

I didn't even think, oh they might be just pulling numbers out of a hat to make closing GG look better. Okay so it took me a bit to find the numbers and I suppose last year was 2003 cause that is where that number is from. That is the last year California ran that many races. So they are lying like you said. 2023 California had 2921 races, which was down compared to 2022 when there were 3011. So the numbers are just off all around. I don't know where the 2022 number came from. I used the Jockey Club's California stats (its a pdf) here: https://jockeyclub.com/factbook/StateFa ... fornia.pdf

Yeah, they’ve been down to 2 nights a week at Los Al for more than a year now. I don’t even know how they classify those races but I’d say half the races on each card are populated by TB’s. The rules state they can only write TB races at 4.5f and for a claiming price of 5k or less. But then there are the 1,000 yd. Allowance races which are for mixed breeds but usually are all TB’s. The 4.5f races (990 yards) have a run up. The 1,000 yard races have no run up. But if you don’t want your horse to get claimed……..The DRF shows those 1,000 yard races in the horse’s PP’s but Equibase doesn’t recognize them. I’m waiting for someone to run a maiden in one of those, win it and then put it in a maiden race at Santa Anita or Del Mar.

[Northport]

Has anyone attended the Durkin Hall of Fame tour and/or the Saratoga track tour? I’m here for the week for a horseshow, with limited free time. Hoping to do both tours but wondering if anyone here has a preference. Thanks!

[Squeaky]

Has anyone attended the Durkin Hall of Fame tour and/or the Saratoga track tour? I’m here for the week for a horseshow, with limited free time. Hoping to do both tours but wondering if anyone here has a preference. Thanks!

I have done the backstretch tram tour which involves several stops including the starting gate, outside a barn in Oklahoma area and.a visit with a retired racehorse to learn about their day in the life. Nothing I didn’t already know but still fun. I also did the Museum of Racing walking tour which includes the sales pavilion and best of all the Oklahoma viewing stand where you can watch workouts. During my tour I saw Cody’s Wish and several of Chad’s stakes winning grass horses working out which was a thrill. Barbara Livingston the racing photographer was up there when we were there and she was great in identifying many of the horses for us. It is totally worth it just for that. There is no access to this viewing stand for an average fans during the racing meet so this tour is the only way to see it unless you have owner or other track credentials. This is not included in the regular track tour only the Museum tour. I have not done the Durkin tour but I’m sure would be great as well. There are also farm tours available that you need to sign up for in advance. I have not done these but would like to-esp Jimmy Bonds’ farm tour. Have fun!

[Tessablue]

Has anyone attended the Durkin Hall of Fame tour and/or the Saratoga track tour? I’m here for the week for a horseshow, with limited free time. Hoping to do both tours but wondering if anyone here has a preference. Thanks!

Depends on how much of a Durkin fan you are. If meeting him would be a dream come true, go with that tour. Otherwise, the Hall of Fame is perfectly nice to visit unguided and will not take up a lot of your time. Looks like they'll have a Ruffian exhibit this summer which I'm sure will be great.

Haven't done the track tour, but honestly, I'd recommend the backstretch tour over everything else. Being able to step behind the scenes at such a major meet--potentially running into some top horses or personal favorites along the way--is truly special. Even just visiting the track or Oklahoma for the morning workouts is totally worthwhile. If you have a morning free, I can't recommend it enough.

It's about a half hour from Saratoga so the timing probably isn't feasible, but Old Friends Cabin Creek is a fantastic place to visit as well.

[Squeaky]

Has anyone attended the Durkin Hall of Fame tour and/or the Saratoga track tour? I’m here for the week for a horseshow, with limited free time. Hoping to do both tours but wondering if anyone here has a preference. Thanks!

Depends on how much of a Durkin fan you are. If meeting him would be a dream come true, go with that tour. Otherwise, the Hall of Fame is perfectly nice to visit unguided and will not take up a lot of your time. Looks like they'll have a Ruffian exhibit this summer which I'm sure will be great.

Haven't done the track tour, but honestly, I'd recommend the backstretch tour over everything else. Being able to step behind the scenes at such a major meet--potentially running into some top horses or personal favorites along the way--is truly special. Even just visiting the track or Oklahoma for the morning workouts is totally worthwhile. If you have a morning free, I can't recommend it enough.

It's about a half hour from Saratoga so the timing probably isn't feasible, but Old Friends Cabin Creek is a fantastic place to visit as well.

Just a note that the backstretch tram tours of late do not allow you to go inside or close to any of the barns, nor can you go up to the Oklahoma viewing stand. You can on your own go to the rail of the main track and watch work outs with or without the breakfast ( just ok) before the tour-go early if you want to have a better chance of seeing more horses. I did not see any famous trainers or horses on my tour, but did see a lot of entitled looking people in golf carts, with the exception of retired jockey Robbie Davis exercising a horse heading out to the track, but your experience may be different.

[Tessablue]

Just a note that the backstretch tram tours of late do not allow you to go inside or close to any of the barns, nor can you go up to the Oklahoma viewing stand. You can on your own go to the rail of the main track and watch work outs with or without the breakfast ( just ok) before the tour-go early if you want to have a better chance of seeing more horses. I did not see any famous trainers or horses on my tour, but did see a lot of entitled looking people in golf carts, with the exception of retired jockey Robbie Davis exercising a horse heading out to the track, but your experience may be different.

Huh, I could have sworn there used to be a backstretch walking tour. Might be mixing it up with the time a TBC poster gave me a tour, which was only... good lord... seventeen years ago. Thanks for the update!

It looks like there's a golf cart tour that will get you up pretty close, but it's expensive. Honestly, I think the best experience for a hardcore racing fan would be hanging out at Oklahoma during the morning training. It's basically right next to the backstretch and you have no idea who you'll run into or which horses you'll see. Can't go wrong with the main track training either (skip the breakfast, you don't want to be stuck in your seat when Sierra Leone gallops by), and getting to just roam about the clubhouse while it's mostly empty is really cool. Haven't been on the more general track tours, but my guess would be that they are more catered towards casual fans--which could still be awesome, especially if it's your first time visiting the course!

[Squeaky]

Just FYI You cannot enter the Oklahoma track area or viewing stand unless you have credentials during the racing meet-there are guards to make sure this is followed. Hence my reco for the Racing Museum tour although they don’t let you linger there for long, disappointingly. I guess we all want to be insiders while just being regular little people.

[Tessablue]

Just FYI You cannot enter the Oklahoma track area or viewing stand unless you have credentials during the racing meet-there are guards to make sure this is followed. Hence my reco for the Racing Museum tour although they don’t let you linger there for long, disappointingly. I guess we all want to be insiders while just being regular little people.

Wait really?? Since when? I was there the day it opened and a few other times, you could just wander right in. I can see that it was opened this April for free public viewing, but can't find any information about the current summer meet. Information on previous years is spotty, but it looks like it was open during the meet as recently as 2021. So strange. I loved hanging out there.

Sorry, Northport. I'll stop offering advice now lol.

[Squeaky]

Please continue to comment Tessa-I am just sharing my experiences. Last 2 years I have been there. Maybe there is a secret way to get in but when I tried to enter via the Union Ave? entrance there were guards checking badges. Maybe Thinair can confirm what the current policy is. From what I understand the track and viewing stand was open to the public on non- racing days before the meet opened but not during the summer meet unless part of the Museum tour. I hope that changes at some point as it really is the best part of the track and some of us just want to see the horses vs being there for betting. I will stop posting now as I don’t want to dominate this thread or others.

[Tessablue]

No worries at all! Were you at the Travers both of those times? I know you went last year, and Travers weekend is pretty atypical in Saratoga. I would not be shocked if it was closed at that time, I think breakfast is also canceled on Travers weekend.

If the other one was on another weekend, then I've got nothing!