tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8711985.post7657338436635555027..comments2024-03-05T05:38:22.024-05:00Comments on Left at the Gate: Saratoga NotesAlan Mannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12570505944559196118noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8711985.post-78632548105461240912010-08-11T12:22:17.055-04:002010-08-11T12:22:17.055-04:00Brian Boru was trained by the late Frank Wright an...Brian Boru was trained by the late Frank Wright and I can remember him doing his Channel 9 "Race of the Week" telecast, all nervous since he actually had a horse in the race. Although one can find plenty of TV racing if one has the patience to wade through scores of channels, I think the sport has suffered since the demise of programs like ROTW, where impressionable sorts like myself were introduced to the sport by the likes of Wright and Win Elliot, may they both RIP. And Charlsie, of course, hopefully still alive and kicking. Why, I even remember the song they faded out to years ago, on their final telecast (can't remember the year) -- Time Passages by Al Stewart. Their usual theme was Wes Montgomery's Road Song.John Manleynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8711985.post-25640297798862442812010-08-11T09:37:14.904-04:002010-08-11T09:37:14.904-04:00Andy Serling pointed out that was Rice's first...Andy Serling pointed out that was Rice's first winner of an originally scheduled dirt race in two years at Saratoga. He threw the horse out based on that stat, another case of too much information. She obviously can win with debut runners, and this horse showed good works and decent pedigree for this field, why would you stand against based solely on that stat? Good for me, bad for him.<br /><br />As for overall race quality holding up, not so much. Field size yes, but there have been plenty of bad, bad races. My buddy went home early last Monday when he looked at the card in the morning.<br /><br />Believe handle and attendance are way down, although the NYRA spin machine is comparing vs. projections rather than real numbers.<br /><br />Part the economy, sure, but with Monmouth way up in all stats you can not just blame the economy.Figlessnoreply@blogger.com