Go Focus Yourself

[TGJB]

Michael--

1-- I have said that racehorses AS A GROUP are running about 5-6 points faster than they were when we started making figures in 1982. That\'s about 10-12 lengths faster at 1 1/4 than they were 22 years ago, not 10-20 lengths faster than they were 10-15 years ago. Focus indeed.

2-- The CD super, as far as I know, only said the surface hasn\'t gotten much DEEPER. As I have said before, I would like to know exactly what he was asked, and exactly what he said in response. Assuming he was even there back then.

But that aside, what would be his BASIS for saying it hasn\'t gotten slower (or faster, for that matter)? Before you answer that, roll it around in your mind a little, because answering that question is what I have spent my whole adult life doing.

3-- What EXACTLY was your inquiry to the Maryland Jockey Club, and what EXACTLY was their response? Who EXACTLY responded, and what is the basis for their answer?

4-- \"There is not a single pro in the biz who thinks your theory about longer route races makes any sense\".

The mind boggles. Aside from not even knowing I had a theory about longer races, you talked to every pro? Pro what? If you mean top handicappers, give me a few names, since you talked to all of them-- I suspect I know more of them than you.

5-- Michael, I don\'t have to attack you personally. You really do have an astounding ability to miss the point, and I\'m sure enough that everyone gets that that I won\'t respond again on this unless you bring up something new.

[Michael D.]

ok jerry, sorry, time to focus on the facts, something you hate doing when you start losing your case. here it goes: your longer distance route #\'s are getting much, much faster, while the longer distance times of races are not getting that much faster. for your longer distance #\'s to have any integrity whatsoever, you would have to explain why every major track in the country is much, much slower than it used to be. jerry, you are unable to do this. jerry, you have no idea. jerry, now this is very simple, please tell your customers why times of longer route races are not getting as fast as your #\'s...............i will always answer any relevant question you ask, as long as you are not trying to run away from the facts, as you are here. the pros in the biz are the other figure makers. some have horses running faster at the longer route distances, but not to the degree that you do.... when i sent an inquiry to the track superintendent at pimlico, i received a response from the maryland jockey club. the gentlemen said he asked \"more than a few\" people on the grounds about this issue. he said that the reason why times of the longer distance route races were not getting faster was because less horsemen are pointing their horses towards the longer distance races, and they are not running them as fast as they used to...... now jerry, do not try and skirt the facts by coming back with ten more questions, just answer the obvious. focus now jerry: has every track in the country gotten much, much slower? if the answer is yes, then i am sure everybody will have a lot more confidence in your longer distance route #\'s. to be honest, i hope the answer is yes. i have put a good amount into your product over the last few years, and will continue to do so as many more cards today are filled with shorter races than they were years ago, so the issue is not that important at times (other times, it is).

[TGJB]

Like I said Michael, the last word is yours.

[dodie]

Michael D., Michael D., Michael D., . . .

  Now sing along with me . . . to the tune of John Lennon\'s immortal anthem, \"Give Peace a Chance\"

  \"All Jerry is saying, . . . is give \'rational discourse supported by verifiable facts\' . . .  a chance\'\"

COME ON, EVERYBODY!!!

\"All Jerry is saying,. . .  is give \'rational discourse supported by verifiable facts . . . and untainted by personal hubris and ad hominem attacks . . . a chance\'\"

Names, specifics, that\'s all he\'s asking.  That\'s all any rational person would ask for in this situation.  Beleive me dude, I don\'t have a dog in this fight, I really don\'t.  But it\'s painful for me to read what you write man.  I\'m a history teacher.  I\'m grading the term end papers right now . . . I\'m knee deep in trying to convince students that they really need to come up with some verifiable facts to support such statements as \"the P-51 was a better fighter than the FW190 and that\'s why we won the war.\"  Work with me dude.


Oh, and Cabobble\'s a bet tomorrow at Tampa Bay in the 3rd at odds of 5/2 or better.  M/L is 6/1

[TGJB]

That\'s pretty funny. But watch out for incoming.

[Michael D.]

facts - northern dancer ran 10f in about 2:00 flat, over 40 years ago. spectacular bid ran 10f in 1:57 and change a long time ago. there are your facts. now thell me why these horses are so much slower than today\'s horses. you don\'t like these facts, so you run around the issue.... cute post though, i was just listening to \"the john lennon collection\" a short while ago.

[Michael D.]

TGJB,
nice discussion all. probably not the best time to be having it though, since the racing is so poor this time of year. i will bring it up again in late winter and early spring, when the racing gets interesting, and we all can look at specific races, and give our opinions. as everybody agrees, these issues are best solved at the windows.



Post Edited (12-10-04 20:43)

[Michael D.]

as for the BC #\'s, i hope to have time to look closely this w/e. i will let you know what things look like from my standpoint.

[kev]

Here are the years for the track records, for 8.5 and 9.0F at the major tracks. Not counting this year if there were any.
73-92-93-81-80-98-73-01-78-70-99-98-60-62-79-94-98-73-79-87-96-90-87-97-85-84-87-93-79-02.For sprint races looks like the times are getting faster.