Saratoga and Del Mar
 

Nice little story by Rich Eng:
http://www.lvrj.com/sports/24445019.html

Nice read. Tx.

You really can't compare Saratoga and Del Mar.

The racing at Saratoga is 100x better. The entire time you can have at Del Mar is 100x better. If I only have a weekend I would go to Saratoga. If I have an entire week it is Del Mar.

Funny you said that. I'm fortunate enough to do that exact thing every summer. No comparison on the racing whatsoever. But Eng is right, in my opinion, that there is many more money making opportunities at Del Mar due to the less sophisticated players.

Spa vs Delmar
 

I never got excited by Delmar. I like thier baby 2 year and 3 year races, but I will never rush to the track to bet Races 1 through 5 at Delmar. Its always seems its a 6 horse field, $20,000 claiming race with a pounded 6/5 shot. Oh wait a minute that's Hollywood Park. Look at the Spa, you have 51 stakes races in 36 days. The first saturday you have the Vanderbuilt/Go for Wand/Diana & Whitney. Then Sunday, its ends with the Jim Dandy. Its also embrassing to compare the Spa's solid/solid Allowance races, 3 year old dirt races and so competitive 2 year old Turf baby races. Obviously too each his own, but I'm not throwing away green paper on cheap claiming races, when I can bet 8 to 10 horse fields, with great wide open betting boards, with the best quality horses.

Saratoga racing is much better. Del Mar atmosphere is much better. Neither is really debatable.

I would say the racing at Saratoga is a 10, the atmosphere an 8. The racing at Del Mar is an 8, the atmosphere a 10.

Can't go wrong with either place.


Monmouth is underrated, Keeneland and Gulfstream are overrated.

100 times better might be a bit extreme.

I agree. Like I said in another post, Saratoga is a 10 for racing, 8 for atmosphere. Del Mar an 8 for racing, 10 for atmosphere.

I disagree on the atmosphere ratings for 'Toga and Del Mar. I've been to both and I think it depends on what kind of atmosphere you enjoy. It also depends on where you hang out at each track. I do agree that you can't go wrong at either place.

The only two days I spent at Monmouth were during the BC deluge last year. I don't think I can pass judgement after that.

Keeneland is vastly overrated and I don't think Gulfstream is on anybody's radar anymore so it's not really overrated.

I keep wondering where Thistledowns fits in? Overrated?

Spyder

Totally agree on the racing. No one should waste their time debating this. BUT, I guarantee you will get excited if you go to the turf club on Friday afternoon. The 2 legged filly's are tremendous!!

Opening day at Del Mar not to be believed..

To quote PeeWee from Porky's.."It's a pu**y stampede":tro:

Not knowing your age, I would think anyone over 50 might prefer Saratoga. But you can't really compare Saratoga with Del Mar. Del Mar has so much better weather, so much better women, and so much more to do.

You can have the ballet, I will take the beach, the evening Padres game, the great restaurants, and Torrey Pines.

Saratoga has significantly better racing though, but considering I watch most on the TV, it doesn't matter if I am at the SPA or anywhere there is a tv.

Makes Keeneland look like the ugly girl crowd.

I can honestly say I have never seen anything like the women at Del Mar anywhere. It is like the hottest girls in the world are all out there fishing for rich husbands.

"Tell Porky to bring the best he's got........."
hahahaha
Classic!!!

saratoga has built in advantages in terms of generating fields that del mar does not have and cannot overcome. Its apples and oranges really.

No question about it. Del Mar has about 10 excellent racing days the entire meet. The Spa has 34.

I do believe Bigs is a regular at the Ballet...

Yup, that's me. Surprised you didn't jump on Strategic Mission's guess at my age too.

Silly me, I thought the discussion was about the atmosphere at the tracks.

Yeah, the atmosphere at Saratoga somedays can be about as nice as it can get.

I'd almost say Gulfstream is underrated now. It was bashed so bad on here and I hate the whole racino concept so I thought I was going to hate it and wound up actually liking it.

Agreed on Keeneland, that place sucks.