Quote:
Originally Posted by Rudeboyelvis
I'm not willing to concede that it's cheap horses that are the main cause/source of breakdowns and by eliminating the venue for them you eliminate the breakdowns happening. And really don't want to rehash the argument of what is the cause.
The fact is, it's a horse shortage situation and the quality of product here has fallen as a result of having to write races for what you have available to run.
If NYRA is to continue down this path, they HAVE to cut race days. They aren't going to open anytime mid week to run a 6 race card. Players are not going to invest full price for handicapping material for 6 six horse field races (pre-scratch). Furthermore, chasing 60% of the barn off the property by removing their races would devastate and already exacerbated problem
|
While I realize that the problem is multi-faceted, and that bottom-level claimers are not inherently sore, here are the types of races in which the horses that suffered fatal musculoskeletal injuries competed: $25,000 NW2L; NY-bred $25,000 maiden claiming; $12,500 NW3L; NY-bred $25,000 maiden claiming; $12,500 NW2L; NY-bred MSW; $12,500 maiden claiming; $16,000 starter allowance (two fatalities); $12,500 maiden claiming; and $25,000 NW2L.
It's not as if NYRA won't be able to card good races; they may just have to run less of them. Yesterday, we ran in a state-bred NW2x allowance/optional claiming event that was split into two competitive divisions after 18 horses passed the entry box. The meet's maiden races have been particularly strong, to the point where several Pletcher shippers from Florida have been defeated (even in the state-bred ranks). Whether you think he can ultimately get a classic distance, the first inner track Derby prep was won by a very nice horse in El Kabier.