Belmont Stakes

[curious]

Great coverage all morning on ESPN. A slew of G1s and the Belmont itself at 11am.

[Chief Stipe]

Interesting that two races have been abandoned on the NZTAB at Saratoga.  I assume due to lack of money in the pools.

An hour to go to the Belmont Stakes and $7 in the win pool on the tote!

[Chief Stipe]

I see they groom the track between races.  I've always wondered why they don't do that with our AWT's.  Harness do it.

[Freda]

I believe it is done overseas with the AWT's too.

[Chief Stipe]

19 minutes ago, Freda said:

I believe it is done overseas with the AWT's too.

Mind you Saratoga seems to have 6 very large John Deere tractors doing the work.

[Chief Stipe]

1 hour ago, curious said:

Great coverage all morning on ESPN. A slew of G1s and the Belmont itself at 11am.

I hope Trackside Management and Presenters are watching the ESPN show.  Great mix of human interest and great visuals alongside some great presenters.  Our race commentators are better though.

Love the sound of the horses galloping as well in the race audio.

[Chief Stipe]

They seem to have their irrigation worked out...

[Chief Stipe]

A rendition of New York New York and we get a haka.

I can't get over how close the public can get to the horses.  Mind you if you got kicked you could sue for millions.

[Chief Stipe]

Geez barely enough to avoid the TAB abandoning betting! $638 in the tote win pool.

[curious]

 

[Chief Stipe]

 

[curious]

https://paulickreport.com/news/the-biz/despite-turf-washout-two-postponed-races-belmont-stakes-day-handle-tops-101-million

Despite Turf Washout, Two Postponed Races, Belmont Stakes Day Handle Tops $101 Million

Heavy rains caused New York Racing Association officials to move Grade 1 duo of Jaipur and Manhattan Stakes from Saturday to Sunday

• Edited Press Release
• 6 hours ago

The New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA) announced that Saturday’s 12-race Belmont Stakes Day card, highlighted by Sovereignty’s victory in the 157th running of the Grade 1, $2 million Belmont Stakes presented by NYRA Bets, generated all-sources handle of $101,861,883.

Heavy rain in the Saratoga Springs region on Saturday forced all races off the turf. In addition, NYRA canceled both the Grade 1, $500,000 Jaipur [Race 9], a “Win and You’re In” for the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint; and the Grade 1, $1 million Resorts World Casino Manhattan [Race 12].

The pair of Grade 1s, originally part of a 14-race card on Belmont Stakes Day, will be run Sunday, June 8 to close out the 2025 Belmont Stakes Racing Festival. As a result, handle declined from $125,748,941 on Belmont Stakes Day in 2024.

Paid attendance on Saturday was 46,243.

[Chief Stipe]

Oh that explains it.  There were two races abandoned and I thought given the lack of money in the pools that that was the reason.  But doh they were abandoned well ahead.

Interesting though that the turf looked great, the sun was out and most were wearing shorts and flip flops.

Now what is really interesting is were races scheduled for the turf (other than the Grp races which were cancelled) transferred to the dirt?  

[curious]

5 minutes ago, Chief Stipe said:

Oh that explains it.  There were two races abandoned and I thought given the lack of money in the pools that that was the reason.  But doh they were abandoned well ahead.

Interesting though that the turf looked great, the sun was out and most were wearing shorts and flip flops.

Now what is really interesting is were races scheduled for the turf (other than the Grp races which were cancelled) transferred to the dirt?  

Yes the 2 allowances and 3yo turf race were transferred.

[Chief Stipe]

1 minute ago, curious said:

Yes the 2 allowances and 3yo turf race were transferred.

Interesting.  How much warning did they give?  

[curious]

 

Paulick Report

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Heavy rain in the Saratoga Springs area has forced a surface switch for Saturday’s card at the Belmont Stakes Racing Festival. The New York Racing Association has moved all scheduled turf races to the main track at Saratoga Race Course.

That includes Race 3, Race 6 (the Grade 2, $300,000 Wonder Again), Race 10 (the Grade 3, $300,000 Pennine Ridge), and Race 14.

The Grade 1 Jaipur and Manhattan have been moved to Sunday.

[Chief Stipe]

I wonder if any Trainers got as upset as ours do?