What Is The Fairest Turf Course?
 

I was thinking about this yesterday for some reason. Any ideas? I don't know that I follow enough tracks closely enough to know how each one plays.

But in terms of fair to all types, no wacky turns etc...

I guess of the ones I follow, I might go with Arlington. Woodbine might be close if the stretch wasn't so long....Churchill is up there. Maybe Belmont outer.

I dont think of CD as that fair considering the course plays a lot differently with the rais up or down. Tampa is pretty consistent. AP is a great course but they often get crazy about the temp rail too.

Yeah I consider CD to be in the 2nd tier somewhere I would say. And yes temp rails screw up fairness but on big days they are always down.

WO by a long margin. It's tough as hell to figure out but no cheap winners on it.

Once upon a time it was the two BEL courses (especially the wider) but no more. And, SAR this year is playing more and more like the Southern Cal courses. When sprinters are able to stretch and consistently beat routers, there's a problem.

Other fair courses are GG, CRC, and TAM.

Fairgrounds.

I agree with this. Would be in my Top 3

even though most of you have never seen it, Turf Paradise has a great Turf Course and it doesn't look bad after the meets over with.

Usually down I guess I don't follow ARL close enough to know. I can't see other than drainage problems having the rail out. I know how it is in NY on big days.

I thought you were speaking in terms of Arl's because that is what Chuck was talking about. All good

You should be happy. I think your local track has the fairest turf course. Maybe I'm wrong.

I think your wrong. Speed never really hold even with real slow fractions. It favors stalkers IMO. Closers have a hell of a time getting to the wire.

What's your pick?

You'll laugh but The Big M turf course plays very fair though it may never be used again. Much fairer than Monmouth.

I loved Hialeah's turf course.

I have no opinion because I never look that deep into things. I just look at a race and try and pick the winner and figure out the best way to make myself look like an idiot.

:tro:

Go down to the park 7th Heaven is playing that day. Arlington notified me by email, not who may be running but what band is playing and forgot; 'pony rides' as well :zz:

Colonial and Tampa

Sorry I have bet a lot of Tampa and think the turns are too tight to play that fairly.

The problem I have with CNL (and FG and AP, and some others) is that too often the leaders collapse very late. Your horse could be home on any other course but get run down the last few strides on these courses.

I suspected this was due to course issues of some sort. This was clarified by Desormeaux in the post race interview of the Virginia Derby. He spoke about the course(s) being uneven, how there are portions, in the stretch and elsewhere, that are lower than the rest of the course. And, how it was very important to keep Paddy O'Prado's head up while running over those portions so that he didn't bobble or lose his stride.

Speed favoring turf courses can be a real pain in the ass to handicap but at least they play consistently. It's courses like those mentioned above that are the most difficult to beat because you don't know how they'll pay and you can lose with the best horse very late.

I find Tampa at 8/8.5F about as fair as it gets for Turf.