I'm confused. Today's Belmont Races 4 and 7 on the turf were called by Larry Collmus as course records. Race 4 on the inner turf was 1 mile and a 1/16th and finished 141.27. The 7th race also on the inner turf finished in 1:08.15. Equibase charts show that both were track records today. But on NYRA web site under track records for the Inner Turf Course it says the records are Roman Envoy in 1:39.38 and Gantry in 1:06.87. Those 1992 and 2011 records look faster to me. Am I missing something? Thanks.
Turf is like cement and:
DRF: Grening
These are quasi-course records
Just something to keep in mind about these course records that have taken place on the inner turf course today. With the rails out 35-feet, something that only started happening last year here, these are \"about distances.\"
So the fourth race final time of 1:41.27 was for an about 1 1-16-mile distance not a real 1 1-16-mile distance.
Same thing goes for SANCTIFY in race 7 who an \"about\" six furlongs in 1:08.15, eclipsing the previous \"about 6 furlong distance record of 1:09.12.
Yes, the turf is firm having not had significant rain in about a month, but these are not the fastest horses in the world.
Thanks. I hope these \"average\" horses come back in good shape.
been seeing the \'dust\' fly for a while .
Anyone here old enough to remember 1973? I think there were three track records at sprint distances set on opening day and the track played fast all year with Secretariat\'s world records for nine and 12 furlongs.
In 1973, Secretariat (@1/10) was at that point, the 1st Triple Crown winner in twenty-five (25) years! Succeeding Citation from 1948.
Even at that time it was an unusual occurrence. I\'d guess something about the 1940\'s made the achievement easier. I assert the 1970\'s (boom times and tax treatment in TG industry) contributed to an anomaly. The TC truly requires an extraordinary animal and good fortune. Remembering that Sham was very highly regarded through the first two legs. But running the first half mile in 46:1 separated the contender from the pretenders.
So what does a Triple Crown Champion look like before the fact vs after the fact? Umm, head and shoulders better than the competition with no flaws. I contend betting against AP is myopic and bucks the odds not vice-a-versa!