Saratoga preview from Brisnet
DiscreetCat
Moderator
from Brisnet:
BACKDROP
When I was much younger and first starting going to Saratoga in the 1960's, racing was nearing the end of the big stable era (Greentree, Rokeby, Cragwood, King Ranch, George D. Widener, Calumet, Elmendorf, etc.) and along with them the career trainers who stayed with one outfit almost their entire careers (John Gaver, Max Hirsch and his son Bill, Elliot Burch, "Mack Miller" and many others too numerous to mention).
The meeting at that time consisted of four, six-day weeks with no racing on Sundays. The traditional features were positioned on the calendar like clockwork, with the Whitney, Alabama, Travers and Hopeful run on consecutive Saturdays. The place had an air about it that was very calm and peaceful, and the atmosphere in town echoed that feeling. A crowd of 8,000 to 12,000 was considered large.
All this stayed in place until the mid-70s and it all changed very quickly. Racing became more of a "business" than a sport and the big stables began to disband. In this writer's opinion, the emergence of Secretariat in 1973 and the popularity of Seattle Slew, Affirmed and Alydar had a lot to do with it. Those horses made racing an "in" thing at the time and the New York Racing Association (NYRA) was smart enough to jump on the bandwagon in helping Saratoga achieve the status and popularity that it now enjoys.
The meeting's length was tinkered with several times, as was the official dark days, and has evolved into a steady six-week beat who's popularity has actually gone nationwide.
GENERAL INFO
The 2009 six-week session begins Wednesday and will end on Labor Day, September 7. Racing will be conducted everyday but Tuesdays, with first post at 1 p.m. (EDT). As with everything there are exceptions, and racing will begin at 2:30 p.m. on a pair of Friday twilight cards (July 31 and September 4) and at noon on the 13-race Travers (G1) card (August 29).
TYPES OF RACES
Saratoga has always been known for it's two-year-old maiden and stakes racing and those events are conducted on both dirt and turf. The distances on the main track for juvenile runners range from five to seven furlongs, but stop there as the next distance that is run on the dirt after seven panels is 1 1/8 miles. In recent years, there has been an increased number of turf races written for the younger set and many are conducted at one mile or at 1 1/16 miles. (Bettors Note -- In the event that these races are switched to the dirt due to weather-related issues, they are shortened-up to seven furlongs as the corresponding distances cannot be run on the main track).
Turf racing has grown in importance with each passing season at the Spa, with several carded each day and a large number of graded stakes and overnight features as part of the menu. Most are highly competitive and can give the bettor a chance to get generous odds on runners who have a legitimate shot at the win.
Dirt racing for older runners is still the mainstay on the everyday program, and this meet features many stakes on the main track and a high-end level of allowances, optional claimers, starter allowances and good old-fashioned claiming races (with most being geared to the upper end in prices).
TRAINERS AND JOCKEYS
At a highly competitive meet like this, each race is fought over tooth and nail with every owner in the country wanting to have his picture taken in the Spa winner's circle.
It's a solid meet for the bettor as there are opportunities in most races to get a good trainer who has a horse with a winning shot at generous odds. Look past the obvious, as the runners from the barns of Todd Pletcher, Bill Mott, Shug McGaughey and Richard Dutrow will always be overbet. Trainers on the rise to look out for here are Chad Brown, Chris Clement, Dave Donk, Bruce Levine and some fine out-of-state barns such as Kelly Breen, Graham Motion, Mike Trombetta and Steve Klesaris. Value is the name of the game and a meet like Saratoga very often has heavily-bet runners who may have several rivals on the same page in talent.
There was a time not too long ago when several riders dominated each and every year. That's no longer the case, with many of the nation's leading jockeys shifting their tack here for the lucrative 36-day session. One rider can catch fire early in the meet and ride that popularity along with a hot trainer (Alan Garcia and Kiaran McLaughlin last year) to the top of the standings.
It may be hard to topple Ramon Dominguez from winning the title, though, as he's coming off a record-breaking meet at Belmont and likes to ride five or six times on every card. Rajiv Maragh and Jose Lezcano may not be familiar names to many casual racing fans, but both are excellent at their game and, at least early in the meet, many of their mounts may be a bit over-looked in the wagering.
POST POSITIONS AND BIAS
Without much moisture in it, the Saratoga main track often plays kindly to speed or those racing just off the lead. Combine that with an inside post going six furlongs or 1 1/8 miles, or an outside post out of the seven-furlong chute, and you have a solid wager.
However, just like the speed with which an Adirondack thunderstorm can descend here, the track bias can change drastically, especially on the day of or the day after some rain (as it's drying out). The front-end advantage can be gone until the surface completely dries out.
The turf tends to play fairly in the two-turn events, though inside runners with speed tend to hold an advantage.
The sprints on the infield always favor outside speed with not one winner coming from a hedge draw during last season. The turn in the 5 1/2-furlong turf contests comes up very quickly, and many runners encounter problems of one sort or another at that point. Best to stay with a horse whom you know will be on the lead or just off of it.
CONCLUSIONS
If you go, enjoy this meet for what it is -- Thoroughbred racing at the highest level possible in this country, jam-packed with stakes, classy runners, big crowds, top trainers and jockeys, and nice betting opportunities.
BACKDROP
When I was much younger and first starting going to Saratoga in the 1960's, racing was nearing the end of the big stable era (Greentree, Rokeby, Cragwood, King Ranch, George D. Widener, Calumet, Elmendorf, etc.) and along with them the career trainers who stayed with one outfit almost their entire careers (John Gaver, Max Hirsch and his son Bill, Elliot Burch, "Mack Miller" and many others too numerous to mention).
The meeting at that time consisted of four, six-day weeks with no racing on Sundays. The traditional features were positioned on the calendar like clockwork, with the Whitney, Alabama, Travers and Hopeful run on consecutive Saturdays. The place had an air about it that was very calm and peaceful, and the atmosphere in town echoed that feeling. A crowd of 8,000 to 12,000 was considered large.
All this stayed in place until the mid-70s and it all changed very quickly. Racing became more of a "business" than a sport and the big stables began to disband. In this writer's opinion, the emergence of Secretariat in 1973 and the popularity of Seattle Slew, Affirmed and Alydar had a lot to do with it. Those horses made racing an "in" thing at the time and the New York Racing Association (NYRA) was smart enough to jump on the bandwagon in helping Saratoga achieve the status and popularity that it now enjoys.
The meeting's length was tinkered with several times, as was the official dark days, and has evolved into a steady six-week beat who's popularity has actually gone nationwide.
GENERAL INFO
The 2009 six-week session begins Wednesday and will end on Labor Day, September 7. Racing will be conducted everyday but Tuesdays, with first post at 1 p.m. (EDT). As with everything there are exceptions, and racing will begin at 2:30 p.m. on a pair of Friday twilight cards (July 31 and September 4) and at noon on the 13-race Travers (G1) card (August 29).
TYPES OF RACES
Saratoga has always been known for it's two-year-old maiden and stakes racing and those events are conducted on both dirt and turf. The distances on the main track for juvenile runners range from five to seven furlongs, but stop there as the next distance that is run on the dirt after seven panels is 1 1/8 miles. In recent years, there has been an increased number of turf races written for the younger set and many are conducted at one mile or at 1 1/16 miles. (Bettors Note -- In the event that these races are switched to the dirt due to weather-related issues, they are shortened-up to seven furlongs as the corresponding distances cannot be run on the main track).
Turf racing has grown in importance with each passing season at the Spa, with several carded each day and a large number of graded stakes and overnight features as part of the menu. Most are highly competitive and can give the bettor a chance to get generous odds on runners who have a legitimate shot at the win.
Dirt racing for older runners is still the mainstay on the everyday program, and this meet features many stakes on the main track and a high-end level of allowances, optional claimers, starter allowances and good old-fashioned claiming races (with most being geared to the upper end in prices).
TRAINERS AND JOCKEYS
At a highly competitive meet like this, each race is fought over tooth and nail with every owner in the country wanting to have his picture taken in the Spa winner's circle.
It's a solid meet for the bettor as there are opportunities in most races to get a good trainer who has a horse with a winning shot at generous odds. Look past the obvious, as the runners from the barns of Todd Pletcher, Bill Mott, Shug McGaughey and Richard Dutrow will always be overbet. Trainers on the rise to look out for here are Chad Brown, Chris Clement, Dave Donk, Bruce Levine and some fine out-of-state barns such as Kelly Breen, Graham Motion, Mike Trombetta and Steve Klesaris. Value is the name of the game and a meet like Saratoga very often has heavily-bet runners who may have several rivals on the same page in talent.
There was a time not too long ago when several riders dominated each and every year. That's no longer the case, with many of the nation's leading jockeys shifting their tack here for the lucrative 36-day session. One rider can catch fire early in the meet and ride that popularity along with a hot trainer (Alan Garcia and Kiaran McLaughlin last year) to the top of the standings.
It may be hard to topple Ramon Dominguez from winning the title, though, as he's coming off a record-breaking meet at Belmont and likes to ride five or six times on every card. Rajiv Maragh and Jose Lezcano may not be familiar names to many casual racing fans, but both are excellent at their game and, at least early in the meet, many of their mounts may be a bit over-looked in the wagering.
POST POSITIONS AND BIAS
Without much moisture in it, the Saratoga main track often plays kindly to speed or those racing just off the lead. Combine that with an inside post going six furlongs or 1 1/8 miles, or an outside post out of the seven-furlong chute, and you have a solid wager.
However, just like the speed with which an Adirondack thunderstorm can descend here, the track bias can change drastically, especially on the day of or the day after some rain (as it's drying out). The front-end advantage can be gone until the surface completely dries out.
The turf tends to play fairly in the two-turn events, though inside runners with speed tend to hold an advantage.
The sprints on the infield always favor outside speed with not one winner coming from a hedge draw during last season. The turn in the 5 1/2-furlong turf contests comes up very quickly, and many runners encounter problems of one sort or another at that point. Best to stay with a horse whom you know will be on the lead or just off of it.
CONCLUSIONS
If you go, enjoy this meet for what it is -- Thoroughbred racing at the highest level possible in this country, jam-packed with stakes, classy runners, big crowds, top trainers and jockeys, and nice betting opportunities.
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