Stumbled across July 16, 1992 edition of NY Post

[Cannon Shell]

John Swenson in the "Through the Binoculars" column was complaining about the workout times posted by DRF and Post Parade (Program) as being wildly different on the same horses. One particular horse had the same work being recorded as 37.2 handily by the DRF and 40.62 breezing by the Post Parade. So things have gotten better in some areas.

Anyway I glanced at the three cards shown (Entries for 2 days and results of previous day). Hard to believe in 20 years things have changed so much.

Wed Belmont Card
1- 2yo fillies 75000 6 furlongs (9 entries-2 scratches)
2- 4 and up 14000 1 1/8 (11 entries-2 scratches)
3- 3 yo 50000 1 1/16 turf (12-3 scratches)*some scratches are AE's
4- 2yo fillies MSW 5 1/2 (13-4 scr)
5- 2yo fillies MSW 5 1/2 (13-3 scr)
6- 2 yo fillies allowance 5 1/2 (7)
7- 3 yo fillies 50000 1mile turf (12-2 scr)
8- 3 and up $ allowance 6f (5)
9- 3 and up 35000 6f (13)

Thursday
1- 3 and up f/m allowance 1 3/8 (dirt!!) (7)
2- 4 and up 17500 claiming 6f (11-3 scr)
3- 3yo 17500 6f (10)
4- 2yo NYB MSW 5 1/2f (12-2 scratches)
5- 2yo NYB MSW 5 1/2f (11-1)
6- 3 and up F/M MSW 1 1/16 T (20-10 scr-obviously MTO's)
7- 3yo MSW 7f (11-1 scr)
8- 3 and up $allowance 1 1/16 T (11-1 scr)
9- 4 and up F/M 25000 7f (12-1 scr)

Friday (no scratches when printed)
1- 3 and up allowance 6 1/2 furlongs (6)
2- 3yo 25000 6f (9)
3- 2yo fillies MSW 5 furlongs (8)
4- 4 and up 50000 1 3/8 Turf (8)
5- 3 and up allowance 7f (8)
6- 3 and up 35000 1 1/16 T(18)
7- 3 and up F/M allowance 6 furlongs (8)
8- 3 and up F/M Allowance/Hdcp 1 1/16th Turf (8)
9- 2 yo mdn claiming 35000 5 1/2 furlongs (16!)

3 weekday cards 2 weeks before Saratoga
27 races
1 maiden claiming race
2 2yo winners races !
8 allowance races
7 turf races
8 2yo races !!
2 NY bred races !!!
11 open claiming races

20 years...what the hell happened?

[blackthroatedwind]

I like Swenson. He's a good guy. He's also written a lot of good stuff for Rolling Stone over the years.

Personally I'm glad we have more turf racing now.

[3kings]

Interesting, no turf sprints.

[PatCummings]

I don't understand the complaints about turf sprints. Never have, never will. What is it?

[DaTruth]

Originally Posted by PatCummings

I don't understand the complaints about turf sprints. Never have, never will. What is it?

What is there not to like about turf sprints, especially the stakes. They usually have full fields, and tend to be dominated by turf sprint specialists.

[Cannon Shell]

Originally Posted by DaTruth

What is there not to like about turf sprints, especially the stakes. They usually have full fields, and tend to be dominated by turf sprint specialists.

The problem I think people are having with turf sprints in NY is there are simply too many of them.

[3kings]

Originally Posted by PatCummings

I don't understand the complaints about turf sprints. Never have, never will. What is it?

Show me where the complaint was. I pointed out that they didn't exist in the not to distant past.