Tuesday, June 29, 2010
Optimism Guarded as Saratoga Warily Approaches
COLONIE, NY, June 29, 2010--As it turned out, it wasn’t just me, because the New York Racing Association annual press conference trumpeting the start of another Saratoga race meet, its 142nd race meet to be exact, had a different aura this time.
This time the atmosphere felt more like relief, resignation and hopeful optimism, as compared to the usual drum beats and the waving of pom-poms. But that was only to be expected. No one need recount the reasons why this particular meet feels different than most others.
But, yes, Virginia, there will be horse racing at the corners of Union and Nelson this year, precisely 24 days hence. The racing will be top class, of course. World class? That might be a bit of a stretch.
“It would be inappropriate if we didn’t talk about this and just pretended this is happy-face time. It really isn’t,” said NYRA President Charlie Hayward, explaining that from 2007 to 2009 there was a 26 percent decline in yearling sales, a 20 percent decline in two-year-old sales, and 18 percent fewer foals.
“There’s a real horse shortage and we will see more claimers at Saratoga this year than in the past. We all need to understand the backdrop under which the racing world is operating,” said Hayward.
Despite 3,000 stall applications and a record number of 150 trainers applying for 1,800 available stalls, the shortage is a bitter reality when trying to present full, bettable fields of quality horses six days a week for an extended 40-day period.
If only the NYRA Board of Directors knew then what everyone knows now.
“Because we’ve had a record number of applications, as you can imagine I’m dealing with 150 unhappy trainers” said Vice President of Racing P.J. Campo, whose responsibility it is to fill those stalls and, by extension, Saratoga’s racing programs.
Campo did not dwell on the negative, immediately reminding an SRO crowd of assembled media, dignitaries, politicos and corporate partners that there would be $10.5 million available for 17 Grade 1, 12 Grade 2 and five G3 events, maintaining Saratoga’s standing as America’s most important extended session.
Campo said he expected to see defending Horse of the Year Rachel Alexandra in the Ruffian and Quality Road, the best older horse in training, in the Whitney and Woodward. The 2009 Derby winner, Mine That Bird, will make his first stakes appearance for new trainer D. Wayne Lukas and is also pointing to the Whitney.
In addition, he’s hoping to attract the Derby, Preakness and Belmont winners to the Travers, the first time that would happen in 28 years. The one possible defection could be Lookin At Lucky, at the moment considered to be the divisional leader.
The Preakness winner was scheduled to return to the track Tuesday morning after missing eight days of training with a cough. Unless things go perfectly, his scheduled appearance in the August 1 Haskell at Monmouth Park could be at issue. Many horsemen use the Haskell as a bridge race to the Travers.
And what of the 1,300 pound monster in the room, Zenyatta, currently atop the National Thoroughbred Racing Association national poll and the leading candidate for Horse of the Year 2010?
“The Mosses are from New York, Shirreffs is from New York, and they have expressed an interest in running in New York,” said Hayward, adding that he would reach out to them at some point in the future.
The Personal Ensign on Travers weekend would be a most logical spot. With her connections already stating she would remain at her Hollywood Park base and highly unlikely to race at Del Mar, a surface not especially to her liking, the 10-furlong Grade 1 seems the perfect fit if she decided to accept the challenge.
As of last weekend, it doesn’t appear that Shirreffs is all that anxious to leave the Golden State. “Not really,” he said, when asked if he had made inquiries about shipping to another circuit. Shirreffs has been outspoken about his disdain NYRA’s detention barn.
But that need not be a difficult fix. Surely some accommodation could be made--such as a personal guard in front of the stall of all Personal Ensign entrants--thereby eliminating a worrisome obstacle for a mare that has as many quirky traits as victories.
Continuing the reality bites theme, Hayward said that New York City OTB remains the biggest unresolved financial issue facing his cash-strapped association. NYC-OTB currently owes the NYRA fees totaling about $20-million, a number that’s been growing at a rate of $2-million per month.
One positive development for the association and horseplayers alike is that permission has been granted by the State Racing & Wagering Board to allow racing with uncoupled stable entries.
Given anticipated increases in handle, the elimination of this outdated statute could amount to $7-million at the bottom line, revenue badly needed for purse accounts. More fan friendly measures could be on the horizon according to SRWB chairman John Sabini.
And so it’s against this background that Saratoga 142 will play out. Trying to handicap how it all shakes out is about as easy as divining the trifecta in a turf sprint for maidens out of the 5-½ furlong chute. Chances are you’ll being seeing more of those this year, too.
Written by John Pricci