ny

[Michael D.]

from today\'s DRF:

Part of the reason for the increased business is that NYRA has been running more races for New York-breds, which typically have larger fields than open-company allowance races. In fact, Hayward estimated that NYRA is on course to run 800 New York-bred races this year, up from 722 run in 2005 and 642 run in 2004.

That has caused some issues for horsemen such as Todd Pletcher and Bobby Frankel, who have been frustrated this summer by races failing to fill. While both men attended Thursday\'s meeting, neither spoke. Pletcher did talk privately with Hayward and Duncker afterward.

\"I wanted to make sure they\'re aware that Belmont and Saratoga need to be treated differently than winter racing at Aqueduct,\" Pletcher said.

Hayward admitted that racing secretary P.J. Campo has been instructed to use races with bigger fields, but added that he needs to be flexible.


\"P.J.\'s instructions are to maximize field size and to run competitive racing,\" Hayward said. \"But he\'s got to feel empowered that when he has a five-horse field, to let that race go rather than go with a claimer with 10 or 12 horses.\"

.....

handle is up. somebody likes the new and improved nyra.

i\'m sure as hell not going to battle forty thousand fans at the spa in order to watch four state bred and four claiming races.

[Upper Nile]

I don\'t mind the NY bred and claiming races.  I do mind the raise in takeout to fund a rewards program for \"big\" bettors.  Give me my 14% takeout back.  Barry Schwartz worked hard to lower the takeout and it didn\'t last more than 3 years.  

[Silver Charm]

Interesting this is creating a stir. I myself noticed several weekend cards that looked less than desirable, from a quality standpoint, the Met Mile Card on Monday being one of them.

A couple of times I thought it might be the weather was shaky, so afraid to card turf races, but after a while I began to believe the overall stock was really down.

As far a Pletcher goes there should a few more Restricted races written. Ones where only he, Frankel and Dutrow can enter. They can then decide among themselves before the race how the race is going to be scripted.

For each one of those they write, they should write two more where the three of them can not enter.

[richiebee]

Funny Frankel and Pletcher would complain-- how many times are graded stakes run at NYRA with five and six horse fields which sometimes have multiple entries from these guys?

Isn\'t it enough that they have huge stall allocations and because of who they are, they are not pressured by NYRA to run the way most trainers are?

I like what Campo has done. Optional claimers, claiming tags for NYBs, using the turf courses for shorter races. One innovation I haven\'t seen him use-- his predecessor had written a couple-- was starter races limited to NJ and NY breds.

I understand not wanting to fight the traffic. One of my favorite \"Yogisms\" is \"No one goes there anymore, its too crowded\".

The Direct TV guys are here as I speak. Its quite possible I am losing Jan the Hat but gaining the ability to watch and wager on races from Fairmount Park.

[davidrex]

The Met Mile card was filled with junk the entire day

[BitPlayer]

Richie -

Not to worry.  TVG has recently started having their hosts talk to Jan from time to time during the NYRA card.

[richiebee]

Bit:

  Found the mute button on the remote and found immediate improvement in TVG coverage. I guess an acquired taste.

  Got spoiled watching the NYRA house feed. Doubles/ Exactas continually displayed with extensive warm up and paddock coverage; replay, head on replay all part of basic cable. Will have to hack into it I guess.

[RICH]

I\'ll tell you what junk is a five horse field with pletcher,dutrow,frankel,dutrow and levine

[xichibanx]

Darn you SC.

If I didn\'t have to go to work today I would have made that comment.

Didn\'t this same thing happen at GP last year where Pletcher and Frankel (Who are running at 30% each) complain how unfair things are?  That would be perfect, all four horse races where Pletcher runs 2, Frankel runs 1, and Dutrow the other.  When business goes down they can blame it all on the lack of slots.