Saratoga maiden policy...

[Calzone Lord]

It's a little silly.

In the old days, you'd get 24 horse fields in 2yo MSW races at Belmont on the straightaway.

Fields of 12 were very common in early season 2yo races around a turn.

"Protecting our horses is an important mandate"

Anything to make the sport safer for the humans and horses is what they're trying to get across I suppose.