NY Circuit to go Poly soon?

[JJP]

Just wait until the idiot talking heads at TVG start talking it up. Funny how they never mentioned previous problems when Hol had issues and TP with the clumping of the PT. Almost leads one to think they have an agenda.....

[The Bid]

Its tragic anyone would buy into that stuff being better than a good dirt track.

[geeker2]

There would be one big advantage to a poly/cushion at Saratoga. When the rains come - and it always happens - and the races are taken off the turf - you would see many many less scratches when the races were moved to the main.

[Swap Fliparoo]

Originally Posted by Benevolus

I have to believe somebody that owns polytrack is slipping a lot of money around under the table, if you know what I mean. It probably is much like road construction contracts. Give a few dollars to the right people and then all of the sudden you are building.

His name is Martin Collins!

Sold interest in the Poly company to the non-profit Keeneland Association, who now have a vested interest in hocking the stuff and not discussing the negatives with the media.

[sumitas]

it's deja vous all over again

[ArlJim78]

its been very negative at Arlington other than the dramatically reduced number of catostrophic breakdowns (14 in '06 vs. 2 in '07), the increased field sizes, and the increased handle. But who cares about facts like those when instead we can just make unsubtantiated rants about people being paid under the table.

[ArlJim78]

Originally Posted by Cardus

Replacing one of Belmont's turf courses with a synthetic surface would rob Belmont of one reason why it is special (at least in my eyes): having dual turf courses allows for a plethora of turf racing.

I agree, synthetic is not the answer for every track. To me Belmont and Saratoga seem fine the way they are.

[theiman]

I still say my idea is the best.

Close Big A

Convert training track at Belmont to poly/cushion/tapeta surface.
Build a grandstand, enclosed, for winter racing. Race on one mile Training track for November thru Mid April.
Back to Belmont Saratoga circuit for balance of year.
Expand barn area to parking lot area behind the backstretch, that lot I rarely see cars parked in(maybe two days a year?). Barn upgrades would be needed but they probably are needed anyway.

New enclosed grandstand would have two levels, "view" seating upstairs. Downstairs typical individual tables and tv's. Small track apron for those who want to go outside to yell at the jocks. Upstairs would also be clubhouse style restaurant. Make the restaurant big enough that during off racing season it can accomadate weddings and those type events, thus maximizing your building during down racing times. Perhaps also a theater style room for company usage for meetings and such.
You could make the downstairs a full simo facility, unless Nassau OTB has some sort of rights to that.
Slots will be at the main Belmont building. Slots would be closed on Belmont day and BC day when at Belmont.

This keeps the Belmont track dirt and two turfs. It gives horsemen option to train on whatever surface they want. It allows for winter racing under better conditions.
Bring back the buses in the parking lots that used to take you from the back parking lot to the gate, they can be used for the LIRR shuttle from the station to the winter grandstand building.

Money used from sale of Big A would pay for this plus plenty extra.

The only big inconvenience I see is if you have a giant crowd for Belmont or BC days. Those days will have to rely on more public transport than normal.

[parsixfarms]

Originally Posted by Cardus

Eventually, Aqueduct will be sold. The land is too valuable. Whether it is sold to be converted into housing or commercial interests -- or sold to the Port Authority -- the Big A will not be around much longer.

Not so fast, my friend. I think there is a lot of resistance in the NY legislature to closing Aqueduct, and in case you hadn't noticed lately, the Governor and the legislative leaders haven't exactly been playing nice lately.

A racino, given public transportation issues, is likely to be far more successful at Aqueduct, and I'm told that NYC leaders might oppose having the racino taken out of one of the five boroughs and placed in Nassau County. Besides, from a racing perspective (overtaxing one racing suface/turf courses, lack of stall space, non-winterized plant or racing surfaces) closing Aqueduct would be a colossal mistake, and the cost of winterizing Belmont would be enormous.

Originally Posted by Cardus

Eventually, Aqueduct will be sold. The land is too valuable. Whether it is sold to be converted into housing or commercial interests -- or sold to the Port Authority -- the Big A will not be around much longer.

I have to agree. It really isn't necessary anymore anyway. There is no reason why they can't run at Belmont all year. I love Belmont but they really don't need two turf courses. Just make the inner course a polytrack and run on it in the winter and turn Belmont into a casino all year round. They just need to make more LIRR trips from NYC directly to Belmont but the track is already there anyway.

[sumitas]

Hold on now. If Belmont has one turf course the condition of the turf will be compromised. With 2 turf courses the surfaces at Belmont are in great shape. I feel uneasy about trying to cram everything into just Belmont.

[JJP]

If they have to make any PolyCrack, I'd say make the inner dirt at the Big A. But the PolyCrack people will jump in and claim that you can't make one of them Poly; they all have to be, the paddock and walking ring have to be. They claim that their brilliant creation will be polluted by surrounding dirt. I really have no idea if any of those claims are substantiated. Sounds like propaganda to me.

Anyone see the infomercial on DelMar's polytrack? They might as well have had Tony Robbins doing the narration.