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#1
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The big NYC paper and PETA? The former just wants to impose their will to change the sport so they can pat themselves on the back. The latter is weird. I've learned that Republicans and Democrats are not even political parties anymore. They are like the two sports teams with the two most myopic fanbases. Just because one or two entities want to see failure to benefit their agenda -- doesn't mean those that don't like them should make it a Yankees VS Red Sox or Dem's VS Repub's. To a fair judge -- reading stuff like "magical day of racing" and "intrepid human connections whom we revere and celebrate" and "had it shoved up their ass by an enthusiastic crowd" to describe yesterday is overblown hyperbole. By the way...watch that fight from last night when you get a chance. Everyone is saying "boxing is now dead" and "RIP Boxing" on ESPN and in the press. That kid who won last night may have lost all 12 of those rounds -- but he fought a very brave and determined fight against a clear-cut superior fighter. He made the fight entertaining and worth the money. It's a shame he was getting so heavily boo'd by the crowd -- because he wasn't one of the guys scoring the fight. |
#2
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![]() Doug.. make no mistake, there are people out there working to destroy the sport and cheer its' ruination. The way people were walking around Friday after the SCR, there was a legitimate pall over the joint. Here's Hegarty's doom and gloom piece from Friday for example (http://www.drf.com/news/belmont-stak...-take-huge-hit).
I wrote what I wrote last night because I had as fun an afternoon at the track as I can recall. I wasn't referring to the action on the racetrack. The people who came made the day magical by belying what might have been a deflating experience. No one was grousing about paying top dollar for tickets and being denied the TC try. They made the most of it and it was infectious. And the atmosphere just flew in the face of the oafs (especially from the media side) that refuse to see anything but the negative. And after, the same buzz was carried over with a party of 40 for dinner that had the same great day. Tina and I couldn't have had more fun yesterday and I wanted to convey to those that couldn't be there how worthwhile emotional investment in the game is for anyone that doubts. I guess that's what I do 7 days a week.
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All ambitions are lawful except those which climb upward on the miseries or credulities of mankind. ~ Joseph Conrad A long habit of not thinking a thing wrong, gives it a superficial appearance of being right. ~ Thomas Paine Don't let anyone tell you that your dreams can't come true. They are only afraid that theirs won't and yours will. ~ Robert Evans The Party told you to reject the evidence of your eyes and ears. It was their final, most essential command. ~ George Orwell, 1984. |
#3
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I had a great time yesterday as well watching the races from the track here and having my computer with me. I'll Have Another VS Bodemeister round #3 with a triple crown on the line would have probably made the day less enjoyable for me. I wouldn't have been able to think about anything else without forcing it off my mind. |
#4
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three cheers for all those that celebrate this great sport that offers something daily for die hard fans families and freshman alike and now we can bask in anticipation of the spa and derby hopefuls |
#5
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![]() It was a good day of racing, but let's be honest about the big picture. Yes 88,000 showed up, but it would have been 120,000 so off 30%+. I suspect the off track wagering, and television numbers suffered similar fates. Good day- not so good weekend if you look at it from what was expected Thursday.
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Do I think Charity can win? Well, I am walking around in yesterday's suit. |
#6
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Books serve to show a man that those original thoughts of his aren't very new at all. Abraham Lincoln |
#7
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![]() I'm with you Steve. From a day at the races standpoint, yesterday was totally awesome. I spent most of my time in the picnic area and paddock and the crowd was great.
I arrived expecting to find ample parking and folks with stacks of unused tickets outside the gate. Not so. Not sure how much it means for racing or anything, but personally it was one of the more enjoyable Belmonts I have attended. |
#8
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The great thing about yesterday was that so many people didn't change their plans after IHA scratched- they still went to the track. The joy and sense of fun was palpable.
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Gentlemen! We're burning daylight! Riders up! -Bill Murray |
#9
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http://www.drf.com/news/2012-belmont...over-last-year
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"Success does not consist in never making blunders, but in never making the same one a second time." - Josh Billings |
#10
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![]() I wish NYRA would put in the effort to make JCGC day an event the way the Belmont is an event. The thing Belmont Stakes Day has going for the casual fan is that there's a lot of other stuff to do- merchandise tents, food options, cocktails. Belmont is so gorgeous in the fall; it would be nice to have a day in the Fall meet that is the same sort of celebration the Belmont Stakes is.
Especially the food options.
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Gentlemen! We're burning daylight! Riders up! -Bill Murray |
#11
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![]() Yesterday was my first Belmont and while I was hoping to see history, I still had a very enjoyable time (despite maybe my worst day ever at the windows). It was crowded, but bearable. I thought that NYRA did a very good job. There were plenty of buses from the parking lot, plenty of tellers and opportunites to get food and drink all over the place. I don't recall waiting on line for anything yesterday. The only lines that I did see were from the woman's room and the ATM (which was literally 100 deep). No sure how I would have fared if the other 40k showed up, but I would have grinned and beared it. I'm not that keen on big crowds, but I wouldn't hesitate again to go to the Belmont.
But the thing that struck me the most, was the amount of young people that were there. I'm guessing that the Belmont and pretty much the rest of the TC series have become more of social events that happen to have horses race every 45 minutes. That being said, the atmosphere was excellent and the crowd really got in to the races. It made me think that the sport does have a chance, but they really need to capitalize on days like yesterday. That's where I think that NYRA might have dropped the ball. They had large crowd on hand and there was no promotion (or at least I didn't see any) of any future event to try to get some of the patrons back. Like I said, there were tons of young people there. Schedule a concert on a sunset Friday, bring your stub next week on Father's Day and get free admission and a hat. Have a handicapping help station, where newbies can ask questions the whole day. Just do something that might want to make them come back before next year's Belmont and even better maybe they'll come back because they like the racing..
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Felix Unger talking to Oscar Madison: "Your horse could finish third by 20 lengths and they still pay you? And you have been losing money for all these years?!" |
#12
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![]() The following reflection on yesterday resulted from reading a post from the deservedly well respected host of this site.
The royal we you used Mr. Host to describe those who agree what a magical day it was is indicative of the blur of your perspective. As the racing game is your source of income, you rightfully fear its tarnished image and eroding popularity more than those who are not so closely attached to the sport. I attended the same racebook for all three triple crown races. When they load the gates for the derby that place is a madhouse every year; when they loaded the gates for this year's preakness, that place was a madhouse; when they loaded the place for the Belmont yesterday, it was like a typical early summer saturday at the racebook: as soon as the race ended, people turned their focus immediately to the next at Betfair and Golden Gate. You and your girl having some great time at some racing industry dinner is fantastic and all for you I guess, but how that makes for a magical day of racing is really difficult to comprehend unless it was meant for your Facebook page and you accidentally posted it here. The reality was that it was an average card and an average day of racing. Unless we get a great crop of three years olds, for example the Curlin crop, the Breeders cup has more or less supplanted the Belmont as the third biggest day in racing in the States. As far as the fight goes Calzone, Teddy Atlas described it correctly when he said that Bradley's style made him a sitting duck for Pac Man's straight left hand. Anyone who watches that fight closely will see that Bradley was so limited in his skill set that anyone who forked over $55 to view this mismatch had been taken. To make matters worse, Pac Man knew very early that this guy wasn't in his class, so he coasted for extended periods, especially the last two rounds. Bradley gave what his limited skill set allowed him to give, which was very little, but when a guy never hits another guy with one meaningful shot over 12 rounds, I am not sure how such a fight is worth the price, especially when the money guy subconciuosly says screw it I ain't taking this guy out tonight and he can't hit me - f****** coast home. I bet on Bradley at plus 350, a terrible terrible bet fueled by that 24/7 HBO bullshite. So outclassed was Bradley that the wife and I didnt even bother to stick around for the decision, left right after the 12th round. I had it scored 9-3 Pac Man. I laughed when I came home - a gift from organized crime syndicates. Made up for the Celtics collapse and the Kings lackluster effort. There was no magic yesterday if you want the perspective of a two bit gambler; rather, a f****** grinder saturday. Made lots of mistakes. Chalked it up to the early morning racing, which I partake in about four times a year, and playing scared. Keyed four horses in the double in front of the Flower Alley lone speed. Buried my nose in the form again a few minutes before the race and told this retired old man handicapped handicapper buddy of mine that the only three horses you need in this race are the 2,4 and 6. I asked him who he used in the pick 3. He said 6 & 10. I played another double using the 2,4, & 6 to his 6 & 10. As I was walking back to the table I buried the nose in the form again and asked how did you not use this 3? This horse is sharp as f***. Some humpbacked f*** mumbled "damn speed" 100 yards from the wire, right about the time the first time turfer, the 4 horse, kicked into another gear to nail the Flower alley on the wire. I sat dumbfounded as I realized I had no exacta box, no tri, nothign but a double going with the 4. /when the 3 broke on top by 2 lengths I knew I was f****** and the gods were enjoying themselves at the expense of my stupidity. Rallied and hit the Pick 4 that closed with the Belmont, Should have singled Trinniberg at hit it for a couple of dollars. Another mistake. The biggest mistake was sticking around for a track I abhor, Betfair. They took a benjamin from my pocket in about an hour. Left there and took in the evening sporting events described above. If any magic occured during the day Mr. Host, it occurred when the humpack - a disabled construction worker with both a literal and figurative broken back - muttered "damn speed." Many on this board felt the pang of Cosmic Irony triggered by his words, words meant to accept defeat for him but foreshadowing a gut wrenching defeat for those on this board who were set for a real nice score. No sir, you and the other suits mentally masturbating each other while you sit around imbibing at the open bar and smoking a gar after a tremendous meal is not a magcial day. The event was lost when the horse wenrt wrong. You cant recover the magic by elevating some dinner with suits or suggesting the electricity of the crowd. Come on, sir. Child please. Good luck to all over the summer. See you in the fall as the Breeders Cup nears. PR |
#13
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How's Gator doing? |
#14
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Sorry you had a bad day.
__________________
All ambitions are lawful except those which climb upward on the miseries or credulities of mankind. ~ Joseph Conrad A long habit of not thinking a thing wrong, gives it a superficial appearance of being right. ~ Thomas Paine Don't let anyone tell you that your dreams can't come true. They are only afraid that theirs won't and yours will. ~ Robert Evans The Party told you to reject the evidence of your eyes and ears. It was their final, most essential command. ~ George Orwell, 1984. |
#15
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![]() Yeah ok Mr Host...
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#16
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Steve, Allow yourself to describe a great day at the track as you deem appropriate. Those of us who have not only a firm knowledge as well as a deep seated passion and love for the sport, and the equine athletes that compete understand exactly what you meant. Anyone who knows this sport beyond a racing form or a betting window know just how fragile these animals are and that this sport can have the highest of highs and the lowest of lows. As far as previous comments, what you would call passion, I would call ignorance.... |
#17
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__________________
Books serve to show a man that those original thoughts of his aren't very new at all. Abraham Lincoln |
#18
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![]() Sounds like Bell Bends Boy move to Brittan and had another shizzy day at the windows
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#19
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![]() Well said as always, Steve
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"Change can be good, but constant change shows no direction" http://www.hickoryhillhoff.blogspot.com/ |
#20
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![]() That makes it really tough then as the sport is doing a great job on its own to destroy itself!
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"To learn who rules over you, simply find out who you are not allowed to criticize"...Voltaire |