well its been a month
 

what is the opinion of gulfstream so far.. im very pleased with the cards being put up.its like a new track comparing the depth of the fields most every day..to last years crap.

Very good meet so far :tro:

I like what they've done to the turf course. It plays like real grass now instead of the carpet nonsense they have out west (the way it has played the last few years). Even though the scores have eluded me, I like the meet they've put on. Where quality is lacking, there's quantity, and of course not having to worry about a sloppy track or off-the-turf handicapping is nice.

Speed bias on the main LAST WEEKEND...FK that place. Not surprised Wesley Ward moved down there. Wish he would stay down there. Never come back. That's just my opinion. Notice, I didn't respond to someone else's opinion. I don't know why people can't just give their opinion. You don't have to come run in and respond to someone else's opinion. It's o.k. if people don't agree.

Potential for huge scores with logical horses have been there daily.....love the place this year.

Best it's been in recent years, cutting back to five racing days a week helps.

That's the key.


Less races / larger, more competitive fields.


Now we need fewer tracks PLUS less races and racing across the board would be better for the bettor.

speed holds on the lawn, hard time for closer to run down the rabbits


i guess the main is pretty solid, haven't seen any deep closers since kisses

-bt-

Its a good thing and a bad thing. For me, a good thing cause I love to play logical shots at 10-1 or higher on the lawn who have early speed that may hold.

Well(Mr. Dr. Professor, sir,) It depends on the subject at hand. If it's a new subject, then I agree. However, this is not a new subject(whether one likes or dislikes this track's main track.) The arguments are well known.

That's a terrific question. I don't recall there being any type of bias at all. Don't tell me it's because Delightful Kiss couldn't get there in the SM Classic.

NT

from the races I've seen, been fair not only to speed/closer, but pretty fair with gate position too.

You should come on down this weekend.

The buzz was Fair Grounds was on its way up, and Gulfstream on its way down. A few unfortunate situations at FG such as the quarantine combined with a better racing program at Gulfstream Park have axed such predictions.

I've said it before, but Doug Bredar, who was our racing secretary at LAD the past two years, and helped LAD be one of just a few tracks to increase handle last year, is doing a tremendous job. He told me he was going to bring back "a lot of the things that worked" and he's so far succeeded.

As for FG... one more "in defense of" post... but their new track super is Brian Jabelman, and he too works at LAD. Our track has been in tip-top shape since he came down and re-worked it. He says FG needs some long-term work, more than he can fix overnight. He knows what he's doing, and the breakdown talk out of NO is not related to his skill level, which is top notch.

Interestingly, I asked him about the speed/rail bias which can often appear at LAD and he said the track's banking will never allow him or any super to completely avoid. I found that interesting.

Okay, I apologize for the LAD rant!

I'm not sure what could be done, but the FG "Turf" course is hardly a Turf Course.

Turf courses are tricky, it's just like our lawn. Replacing and re-working a dirt course is far "easier" and less expensive than grass.

I'm not too familiar with the details of the FG turf, but Brian arrived in NO less than one month ago, so I'm sure he's made a list of things to improve.

FG is sand based. While it drains tremendously after heavy rains, it doesn't seem as hearty with use.

GP and Calder have similar issues. Their turf just doesn't stand up to a lot of use.

Calder's gets needed breaks because of the incessant So. FL. thunderstorms in the summer causing at least a couple off the turf days each week. While GP's turf is given breaks because it is very wide and has several rail settings. It too will be broken down pretty good with a lot of sand being kicked up by the end of the meet.

Keeneland's turf is sand based too, pre-poly, they used to leave almost everything on the turf because it drained so well. It didn't suffer the breakdown of the surface the others show because of the shortness of the meets.

Disclaimer: I am not a track superintendant, but I play one at home with my sand based lawn.

You will be missed here :(

huh? what did i miss here? doc is not around?

Doc is gone..Time will tell if he returns, but I doubt it...:(

He was definately one of the good ones here thats for sure...

Yes he is. I have spent a couple days at the track with him and he's a great dude (and a very good doctor) and a sharp handicapper. What happened????

You also stayed at a Holiday Inn Express last night :D