NYRA did a great job with the Travers. Everything for the most part went very smoothly. Definitely the most people I have ever seen at the track but they had every window open and no problems betting. It would have been great if Pharoah won but I don't think it ruined anyone's day (except maybe for Baffert). Castellano did a great job on Keen Ice and a better job in the following race coming from even further back. If he gets 10%, he earned himself $200,000 in the matter of less than an hour.
only 50K meant quite a bit more room at the track.. had they let it be a normal year they would have probably set a track record. once you get above 40k the place starts to get congested.
jockey cost the horse the race for sure.
wish they would look into opening up the infield again.. that would allow for the bigger crowds and its always fun to watch a race from the infield, it feels so different and you can see a whole race from in there and it gives more room for people to watch on the rail. miss the good old days of crossing the track between races.
limit the crowd sell it like the grandstand tickets and keep is small, maybe a couple food/drink trucks.tents some tables and do it up right. they have done a ton with the new brick work. keep it low so it doesnt take away from the other views. i think people would pay just for the experience. you could limit it to 500-1000 any given day advance sale only and see what it does. if there is no market no loss.. but i know how much fun it was to watch in there and churchhill would be the same if it wasnt over sold and a party place.All three of the main NYRA tracks have beautiful infields. I think allowing large crowds on them will compromise that. I'd hate to see them go the way of Pimlico and Churchhill Downs. Beautiful infields are something New York Racing does well.
Espinoza's whining immediately after the race about being put in tight quarters by Frosted was ridiculous. Lezcano was riding to win the race, as he should have been. Had he conceded an easy lead to Espinoza, that race is over. Shame on the connections of Frosted for not racing for second money, I guess.Just never been a fan of Espinoza. I think he is vastly overrated, just my opinion. He has won a ton of races. Lots of good young riders coming up though going to bounce some of these guys out. That said Stevens and Mike Smith still riding lights out for the most part. Beholder the 6 year old mare is probably the best horse going two turns on the dirt right now. Breeder's cup classic will be fun with her in. Too bad California Chrome and Shared Belief wont make it.
I'm old enough to remember going into the infield with a cooler and crossing the track between races. It would be another great spot at Saratoga to enjoy the day at the races. I'm just wondering if the amount of turf races now have anything to do with it. I really don't remember 40 years ago having the turf races on those days but that was a long time ago.limit the crowd sell it like the grandstand tickets and keep is small, maybe a couple food/drink trucks.tents some tables and do it up right. they have done a ton with the new brick work. keep it low so it doesnt take away from the other views. i think people would pay just for the experience. you could limit it to 500-1000 any given day advance sale only and see what it does. if there is no market no loss.. but i know how much fun it was to watch in there and churchhill would be the same if it wasnt over sold and a party place.
Lezcano and Frosted took a lot out of Pharoah but victor was dumb enough to let it happen. He rode the race like a 9f race not a 10f race should have let Frosted go early without any doubt.
I just watched the race again and you nailed it. Once Pharaoh put Frosted away, Espinoza thought the race was his to win. When Keen Ice came from the outside, Pharaoh had nothing left at that point.