Saratoga Week #8 Final Curtain Call - Horse Racing Forum - PaceAdvantage.Com (2024)

ScottJ

Join Date: Jul 2022

Posts: 445

The final Saratoga week of 2024 is suddenly upon us and the weather forecast appears to be favorable for the most part.

[1] Let me get this rant off my chest to start. I will never understand the excitement that people express for the Kentucky Downs meeting. Sure, the landscape and geometry of the course are like nothing else in the US, but why does the meet start in competition with Saratoga? Why state misleading purse values for past performance purposes? The adage, "What happens at Kentucky Downs stays at Kentucky Downs", will be with us sooner than later. Again, not my cup-of-tea, but always open to other views.

[2] Congratulations to Laffit Pincay III as the recipient of the Jim McKay Award for broadcast excellence.

[3] For those who follow the Saratoga Special (and you absolutely should in my view), congratulations also go to Sean Clancy, the recipient of the Walter Haight Award for career excellence in turf writing. Sean's Cup of Coffee article in the August 28th edition, Missing It, his annual "I'll miss, I won't miss" column is an absolute DO NOT MISS.

[4] The end-of-season Wednesday card actually included turf racing, a steeplechase as scheduled, and no rain. The card was a complete "whiff" for my handicapping and started with some headshaking as Get a Job ($6.20), beaten by an 0-for-34 maiden in his only start at Horseshoe Indianapolis, galloped by seven lengths. Every horse behind him will be a bet-against for me going forward.

[5] Bombs were dropping through the sixth race as the early 50-cent Pick-5 paid $110,980 each to five ticket holders. The 50-cent Pick-4 paid a paltry $15,302.

[6] Totally Justified ($14.60) shipped in from Ellis Park for Rusty Arnold to take the PG Johnson over favored Virgin Colada who could not close enough ground in the final panel. As was said in the Saratoga Special, "I'd like to come. I miss it. But it wasn’t right this year." Nothing like shipping in for a stake win.

[7] In the Pick-6, 5-of-6 was worth $28,612 to one ticket holder as was discussed earlier today during Talking Horses.

[8] Total handle to open the critical final week was $12.1M.

[9] In the jockey's battle, Irad Ortiz seems to have a hammerlock on the wins title with several others heading to Kentucky Downs engagements this week. Flavien Prat seems to have the money title secured at $5.4M this season. For the owner's title, it will be Klaravich vs. Flying P to the wire. Expect that we will see some major class drop downs from these two stables on Sunday and Monday if the race is still within one.

Have a great week!

Last edited by ScottJ; 08-29-2024 at 03:12 PM.

PhantomOnTour

Join Date: Dec 2009

Location: Cajunland

Posts: 13,496

Brass Hat

Join Date: Nov 2017

Posts: 147

So, Talking Horses with Andy Beyer starts at 10:30 AM Saturday, while the track does not open for admission until 11 AM. Have stood outside the gate during this meet hearing Miramahdi read the scratches to an empty track. The Friday before Travers the messages on the on-track screen read admissions open at 7 AM, the time it has always opened in the past for the Travers. There is confusion in our section as someone who works at the track told someone in our section that the gates opened at 9, despite what it said on the screen. Finally Miramahdi makes an announcement before the 5th race saying the gates open at 9.

What is going on here? Why open the gates at 11 AM for a 12 PM post time? Why have Talking Horses before an empty track?

the little guy

Join Date: May 2004

Posts: 7,425

Nothing like a good whine for naught. We open at 10:30 on Saturday.

Mr_Ed

Join Date: Jan 2011

Posts: 461

The Big Torpedo/Take Me To Church (IRE)

I didn't hear any updates I hope those 2 got up, though I have my doubts on 'Torpedo'.

Tough sport.

lamboguy

Join Date: Sep 2007

Location: Boston+Ocala

Posts: 24,148

Teach was missing the whole meet this year. he used to handicap races daily and do writeups. not that i could make any money with them, but i actually read them because he put his time and efffort into them.

hope he is doing well.

Saratoga

Join Date: Mar 2012

Posts: 1,186

Hey Scott ...

What are your plans after Saratoga?

AQU commentaries ...selections?

Brass Hat

Join Date: Nov 2017

Posts: 147

Yes, I found that out. I think though that track management could communicate this better.

From the website:

Admission can also be purchased at all track entrances on live racing days, pending availability. Admission gates open at 11:00am daily, except for DraftKings Travers Day, which opens at 9:00am.

ScottJ

Join Date: Jul 2022

Posts: 445

Over the last decade since my dad's passing, each Saratoga farewell gets just a little bit harder, but each season opener is a little sweeter.

This year, I will finish up work on the two closing cards for Sunday and Monday (as I do all the races during Saratoga), talk about the races (on-line here and with friends), and, as always, lift a good bourbon in celebration of the last race of the season.

What's next? I'll be watching and playing Aqueduct (BAQ/AQU) - the first track that I ever attended with my dad back when I was 8 years old. I'll be counting the days until we see the new Belmont and lose Aqueduct as a result. I'll be looking forward to what will hopefully be great Fall, Winter, and Spring seasons. I'll be looking forward to coming back for Belmont 2025 at Saratoga.

Thanks to everyone who offered kind words about the weekly posts this season. Hope that the stories spun up some positive conversations.

Good luck with the final two cards and safe travels to all! And most importantly, keep looking forward!

ScottJ

Join Date: Jul 2022

Posts: 445

With today being closing day on the 2024 Saratoga season, two stake races are on the card.

The first, of course, is the standard closing day feature, the Hopeful. The second is the Harvey Pack. Originally called the Lucky Coin, this race was renamed for Pack in 2023. For those who have never seen the 2013 interview that Andy Serling did with Harvey, it is horseplayer gold with some great stories. Have a great day on this closing day!

Saratoga

Join Date: Mar 2012

Posts: 1,186

Grew up listening to him all the time...on tv and at the track

he was some character...

ScottJ

Join Date: Jul 2022

Posts: 445

An incredible, surprising final day handle in excess of $27M has enabled NYRA to break the $800M mark for the third time in their Saratoga summer history. Final stats are crossing the news wires now.

Saratoga Statistics: 2024 (39 Days) vs. 2023 (40 Days)

All-sources handle: $803,806,964 vs. $799,229,288

Average daily handle: $20,610,435 vs. $19,980,732

Total on-track handle: $136,295,228 vs. $142,918,763

Total paid attendance: 1,051,092 vs. 1,105,683

Average daily paid attendance: 26,951 vs. 27,642

Races off the turf: 45 vs. 65

Total races: 412 (257 dirt and 155 turf) vs. 410 (270 dirt and 140 turf)

Average field size: 7.8 vs. 7.6

Saratoga

Join Date: Mar 2012

Posts: 1,186

2024 is now closed....

PaceAdvantage

Join Date: Mar 2001

Location: Del Boca Vista

Posts: 90,856

I miss Harvey.

That was a great interview and a great video. It's amazing how Harvey never lost a step, even at age 86 when that video was made.

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Saratoga

Join Date: Mar 2012

Posts: 1,186

Me too...

Last edited by PaceAdvantage; Yesterday at 11:54 AM.