Today's cancellation at Aqueduct

[littleandy]

Another fine job by track superintendant extrordinaire Jerry Porcelli in, once again, failing to provide a safe riding strip for the riders, and thus depriving racing fans of the Thanksgiving card at the Big A. Despite temperatures in the mid 50s, a breeze and sunshine, Porcelli was unable to get this strip of dirt in racing condition. And, don\'t blame the rain, as we have had barely a drop since around 1:30 am. Couple this with his incompetant handling of the Aqueduct turf course, which inexplicably \" fell apart \" despite a relative lack of rain and also almost a complete lack of use this year, and it\'s hard not to wonder how he still has his job. While I may be wrong about this, and I don\'t have any stats at hand, I would be willing to bet that cancellations, at NYRA, have gone up substantially since he took over.

While my heart goes out to the many patrons, like myself, who were truly looking forward to playing today\'s races before settling in for Thanksgiving dinner with their respective families, I also feel terribly for the loss Thorograph must be absorbing. It is hard not to have great sympathy for all the hard work that was put into putting today\'s Thorograph booklet together for Aqueduct only to now find themselves in the unenviable position of refunding the money to their many loyal patrons. It is bad enough that NYRA has to suffer this needless financial loss, but on this day when most of us are giving thanks for what we have, it is particularly difficult to accept this needless loss to so many others.

Happy Holidays!

[TGJB]

Nice to know you were thinking of us, brush away your tears. I\'m guessing a race you REALLY wanted to bet got cancelled.

I don\'t know enough about track maintenance to really comment, but I do know two things:

1-- the biggest problems often come not with rain but with sudden warm weather after there is already water in the track, and

2-- Porcelli is pretty sharp, and is about his job 24/7. I would be surprised if this was cancellation was due to incompetence.

Call me if you\'re going to be around this weekend, you curmudgeon.

[littleandy]

I would just like to thank you, not only for responding, but for being in the office preparing Saturday\'s Thorograph sheets, even on this Holiday, and especially after your busy morning guiding Garfield in the Macy\'s Thanksgiving Day Parade.

I will be around and give you a call.

[TGJB]

Started drinking early?