Todd Pletcher has not won a Grade 1 stakes in NY in 23 months, and has lost with 43 entered in that time span.

That's an interesting stat but he has won 8 Grade 1's outside of NY.

I think a big reason for this is the elimination of Non Winners of 2x, 3x allowance in NY.
Dale Romans was on one of the CapitalOTB shows yesterday and he mentioned that
NYRA has pretty much eliminated mid level claimers and allowance horses. He mentioned that
he should get more NY breds.

New York has done poorly with the allowance races and top-notch claimers.

Slow Breds, bogus starter handicaps, optional claimers, and an endless stream of maidens and cheap claimers do not make for good racing. You can't hide sub-par racing behind inflated purses. Not in New York anyway.

It is what it is Larry. Aqueduct in August is never ending and you can substitute August for May, June, July, September, and October.

But playing the races is still fun. However I do not play NY as much as I use to. I play often when they are at the Spa but not as much during Belmont which is my favorite track. Racing has been cheapened all over the place as this is not just a NYRA thing. When cheap track like Philly Park, Delaware can have big purses why would a trainer & owner run a horse here for a tag. Maybe slots in NY are the answer to that but I don't think slots is a long term solution for racing in NY.

Until the slot money that has been in the waiting since 2001 starts to churn in, I doubt that we will see these mid-level and high level allowance races with regularity.

I didn't realize that the rest of the country was offering such a fantastic product. Come off it Larry, the whole American industry lacks for quality. I cna't speak for what's happening in Europe but horses race on drugs, they're asked to go faster earlier in their careers, they get whisked off to the breeding shed, more venues open up offering more options to connections to beef up their horses stats. Just look at the Gulfstream product and how that pales in comparison to what it used to be. I don't even think it's the premier winter meet anymore with Fairgrounds growing and Oaklawn also.

But as with you and Sully, New York and NYRA will always shoulder the blame and get chastised for it's product when their's is still among the best being offered in an absolutely watered down era.

You raise a valid point, Clint.

Horses and people have taken a nose-dive in quality since I've been around but the breeding continues unabated on both fronts.

Action is OK nevertheless, whether it be in the back seat of a '57 Buick or along the rail at Saratoga.

Keep laughing. I'll be at at Belmont in a couple of weeks with Betty the Breeder. I'm going to need some help in the stairwell between races.

Here we go Again , Point at Everyone Else . Well thats BS . Go look at Purses and Open allowances at Arlington , Del Mar , Woodbine , Monmouth . They Are more Abundant and Better than Saratoga . Boat Racing has taken the Everyday Quality out of NY . Its Boats , bottom Claimers and Handicap.

Todd Chooses to look at the Best Purses and Competition for his open allowance types . that not Saratoga.

By the way , Mott , Zito , and Even New Kids Like Chad are Running Elsewhere. Are they all just Dumb ? if it isn't better why are they out of NY ?

I guess all the Top Jocks not doing Saratoga are Just Dumb Too ? Going to Lower Quality and Purse Tracks ??

Every Time it Begins to suck in NY , Someones Points Elsewhere. Did Anyone other than Me look at that Pathetic Card last SUNDAY . BOATS and Cheap maidens All Afternoon . On a SARATOGA SUNDAY .

By the way No Slots out West or at Arlington ??? Just a Bunch of Businessmen trying to improve a Product . Too Bad NY can't attract Businessmen as they Have Practiced Socialist Racetrack so long they Forgot How to compete.

Hey maybe Obama can come run NYRA after He has a Term in Washington . Same Style .

I will never forget the 20-horse entries at Aqueduct, Belmont, and Saratoga in some tough cheap races.

The tote could handle 12 and inside scratches got you the 12F (Field) on your ticket as an entry as the AEs drew in. There ain't nothing like watching your #19 horse rolling home and you're holding a #12 win ticket at a number. Stoopers could make a living then.

Not everything was wonderful 40 & 50 years ago. There was whiskey, beer, and loose women running around then but I only knew the fallen women when I was sober.

quote="BELMONTLOVER"]Todd Pletcher has not won a Grade 1 stakes in NY in 23 months, and has lost with 43 entered in that time span.[/quote]


[quote="Publius"]That's an interesting stat but he has won 8 Grade 1's outside of NY.



Contrary to what posters here want to believe, a reputable poster on another forum said, "NY has the toughest detention barn in the country...cameras in every corner, guards patrolling everywhere and only one person allowed with in with the horse and no vets". He also said, "I've been to detention barns up and down the East Coast and most are a "joke".

Add that to the steroid ban, and alot of former high percentage trainers are not so high % any longer, in NY that is.
Also, other states have more lenient drug rules and sporadic testing and lax pre race surveillance.
How many stakes wins does Asmussen have in NY? A couple of weekends ago, Asmussen and Albarado took down all three stakes races at MTN on a Saturday.
Levine cannot win a race at the SPA...but is the leading trainer at MON with 35% win stat.