tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8711985.post5558023468624311798..comments2024-03-05T05:38:22.024-05:00Comments on Left at the Gate: Itchy Times Columnist Blasts Big AAlan Mannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12570505944559196118noreply@blogger.comBlogger22125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8711985.post-36568312782444239852010-12-20T11:59:33.186-05:002010-12-20T11:59:33.186-05:00He's in the same parallel universe as Steve Cr...He's in the same parallel universe as Steve Crist. In fairness, December is by far the most uninteresting month of the racing season.El Angelohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14145024095815950963noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8711985.post-34631689314511038382010-12-19T10:44:18.115-05:002010-12-19T10:44:18.115-05:00I think the base is made of all the money Stronach...I think the base is made of all the money Stronach's shredded.<br /><br />Hey Alan, where are ya? Your blog's not the same without you.steve in nchttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04061356872686618093noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8711985.post-42896358316861603802010-12-19T08:13:28.852-05:002010-12-19T08:13:28.852-05:00Have not been following the ongoing SA dirt track ...Have not been following the ongoing SA dirt track follies, but was wondering is Stronarch ever changed the base of that track or is he just pouring new stuff on top and calling it a new track?Figlessnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8711985.post-55487767973790188022010-12-19T00:33:45.202-05:002010-12-19T00:33:45.202-05:00And JP's Gusto was much the best.
DirtyAnd JP's Gusto was much the best.<br /><br />DirtyAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8711985.post-54440288652881493882010-12-19T00:28:02.288-05:002010-12-19T00:28:02.288-05:00The new dirt main track at SA is closed for the ne...The new dirt main track at SA is closed for the next 5 days due to rain. I'm thinking this isn't going well.<br /><br />DirtyAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8711985.post-27839731540977504602010-12-18T14:16:08.153-05:002010-12-18T14:16:08.153-05:00No figless, as I read the piece (which, btw, appea...No figless, as I read the piece (which, btw, appeared in the NY/metro section, not the Sports section, so it wasn't designed to appeal to racefans) I knew he was describing the nature of Aqueduct the grandstand, and not the nature of me personally.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8711985.post-35795831933091648582010-12-18T09:07:07.672-05:002010-12-18T09:07:07.672-05:00Anon - I presume you are rank with crushed hope an...Anon - I presume you are rank with crushed hope and misplaced dreams?<br /><br />And you feel lousy when you win?Figlessnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8711985.post-57594173896206237812010-12-17T18:45:39.852-05:002010-12-17T18:45:39.852-05:00btw, it's great to hear another adult admit to...btw, it's great to hear another adult admit to watching "The Simpsons" hahaAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8711985.post-69671550994824142602010-12-17T18:34:34.554-05:002010-12-17T18:34:34.554-05:00I guess I'm weird cuz I'm at Aqueduct ever...I guess I'm weird cuz I'm at Aqueduct every day and I thought Haberman's piece was laughably accurate! I must be biased since I'm a subscriber...<br />Gosh folks, change the tampon and move on.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8711985.post-28807071237086468632010-12-16T18:19:07.847-05:002010-12-16T18:19:07.847-05:00Mr. Haberman seems out of touch not only with our ...Mr. Haberman seems out of touch not only with our game. He's also beyond out of touch with his anecdote about Macao. I doubt he knows that Macao is now perhaps the most advanced, most alluring gambling destination on earth. (Except Saragota in July-August, of course). Mike D.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8711985.post-87334328464698618502010-12-16T09:48:58.634-05:002010-12-16T09:48:58.634-05:00I'm impressed greenmtnpunter could spell or ev...I'm impressed greenmtnpunter could spell or even know the meaning of such an advanced word. Or type. I thought he would be crying your eyes out along with that bozo Boehner.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8711985.post-81630238295323546472010-12-16T09:32:19.762-05:002010-12-16T09:32:19.762-05:00Why does anyone even read the NYT? They have long...Why does anyone even read the NYT? They have long since lost their credibility. They are as biased as Fox News (albeit in the other direction).<br /><br />Anyway, the reporter's ignorance reminds me of a story from long ago.<br /><br />Back when Bill Hartack was the top jockey (along with Shoemaker), he was riding at Keeneland when the Ky Derby was imminent.<br /><br />Because of the Derby, the mainstream sportwriters were there. They attempted to question Hartack. He responded to the first question by saying this,"What's the matter, aren't there any baseball games today"?<br /><br />Sportswriters, most of whom don't know a fetlock from a furlong, are not deterred by their own ignorance.ballyfagerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16946523913002020541noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8711985.post-13543451758411032422010-12-15T16:21:02.473-05:002010-12-15T16:21:02.473-05:00This Spa regular is pleased to see Alan and others...This Spa regular is pleased to see Alan and others sticking up for the Big A. Without the Big A there will be no NY racing at Belmont or Saratoga. <br /><br />The demise of NYCOTB is another chance to do the OTB thing the way it should have been done when it first came into being: Let those who know racing best operate the OTB's.<br /><br /> Hopefully Alan and others will cancel their subscriptions to The NY Times, that most supercilious of all news media. Somehow I don't think it will be necessary in Alan's case as he has demonstrated time and again that he is not fond of the Times proclivity to bash racing in general and NY racing in particular. /S/greenmtnpunterAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8711985.post-4292543283809136182010-12-14T20:41:07.348-05:002010-12-14T20:41:07.348-05:00If Haberman doesn't know how to handicap, how ...If Haberman doesn't know how to handicap, how the hell can he expect to have any fun at the track?<br /><br />I didn't read the piece, but the "crushed hopes and misplaced dreams" line sounds more like a comment on the current political moment than any racetrack.<br /><br />Not that there's any shortage of pitiful folks at any gambling facility, but I suspect Haberman doesn't have many friends in low places. (Big surprise for a Times reporter.)<br /><br />When we lived in NY, my wife used to go to the track with me and never looked at the Form. She focused a little on equine body language, and did even more people watching. She always felt there were lots of folks with real character. If it were mostly hopeless cases, she'd have never come back.steve in nchttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04061356872686618093noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8711985.post-74126697113555662842010-12-14T19:54:11.641-05:002010-12-14T19:54:11.641-05:00Alan - What are your thoughts on the 3-5% pay incr...Alan - What are your thoughts on the 3-5% pay increases that the NYRA board just approved ?<br /><br />Article here:<br /><br />http://www.saratogian.com/articles/2010/12/14/news/doc4d067e4371a81470832936.txt<br /><br />I find Charles Wait's comments laughable....Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8711985.post-35781919245916706532010-12-14T18:08:40.653-05:002010-12-14T18:08:40.653-05:00Sounds like the author of this blog doesn't kn...Sounds like the author of this blog doesn't know much about gambling.<br /><br />Vast numbers of hard-core gamblers are effectively trying to lose. Thus, to win, causes them to feel somewhat depressed.<br /><br />Nice try though!<br /><br />If you're going to write on a subject, at least know the subject before you start critiquing...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8711985.post-28991506736908250772010-12-14T14:05:00.441-05:002010-12-14T14:05:00.441-05:00Winning is fun, even in Macao.
Losing at the tra...Winning is fun, even in Macao. <br /><br />Losing at the track, in moderation, is entertainment and a lot cheaper than many other entertainment venues, especially if you haul in your own refreshments.Figlessnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8711985.post-79329980038455422222010-12-14T12:59:33.379-05:002010-12-14T12:59:33.379-05:00I expect nothing less from the NYT.I expect nothing less from the NYT.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8711985.post-35639841553000495632010-12-14T10:12:01.829-05:002010-12-14T10:12:01.829-05:00What stereotype did he leave out?- none that I cou...What stereotype did he leave out?- none that I could find. Terrible article. The funny thing is I read the article last night while watching the NY Giants crush the spread. I won a large bet and felt very good, not lousy at all.SaratogaSpahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05181152277681879529noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8711985.post-66744426529720294172010-12-14T09:33:33.047-05:002010-12-14T09:33:33.047-05:00The bigger story which Alan mentions is the busine...The bigger story which Alan mentions is the business opportunity for NYRA. Their biggest competitor just went under and any business with a pulse will take advantage. It looks like NYRA is doing all it can including a request for streaming video on its website. The opening of Belmont as a simulcast center is a shot across Nassau OTB's bow as well. The initial results do not look like a wipe out as many had feared and predicted. There is a lot of upside here if the State govt. is willing to get out of the way.jknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8711985.post-88036547201051305452010-12-14T09:25:53.851-05:002010-12-14T09:25:53.851-05:00PS- a journalist would point out the decline of at...PS- a journalist would point out the decline of attendance has corresponded to the opening of the OTB wagering outlets, especially since this is the backdrop from which this article is derived.Figlessnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8711985.post-64954266002218338352010-12-14T09:22:30.661-05:002010-12-14T09:22:30.661-05:00The authors anti- horse racing agenda is very evid...The authors anti- horse racing agenda is very evident.<br /><br />Other gems from the article;<br /><br />"Instead of hanging out in dreary parlors rank with the air of crushed hopes and misplaced dreams, they can hang out at a race course rank with the air of crushed hopes and misplaced dreams."<br /><br />Look, some of these folks undoubtedly harbor some misplaced dreams that they are going to get rich playing the ponies, but the vast majority consider it entertainment, pure and simple. <br /><br />Would he write the same thing about the patrons of a Vegas Casino? Doubt it, and if you took a poll I suspect more of those casino patrons believe they are going to get rich than those of at the Big A, who are simply out for a good time.<br /><br />His criticsm of the posters on the wall is silly, these are clearly meant to celebrate the City's great sporting past and have not been hanging there since the Big A opened, but rather since Champs Bar was renovated in the 90's.<br /><br />"Champs", get it? Ali, Yankees, Mets 1969. Duh!<br /><br />And he lazily falls into the trap of using attendance to emphasize the sports decline. A true journalist would point out those wagering figs that Alan counters.<br /><br />If I had to guess, this guy was pissed he got assigned this gig by the editor, googled a few stats, typed the article on his laptop while on the train to the track, and spent about 15 minutes at the Big A to gather some "facts" to support his pre-ordained conclusion.<br /><br />Lazy journalism, while preaching to the anti-gambling choir.Figlessnoreply@blogger.com