NYRA turf condition- the Going

[tenfurlongs]

We talked about this at the track before the races yesterday, and I wonder if anyone else was surprised. NYRA called the turf "firm" when they announced scratches and changes around 10:45am. Every single handicapper-type that I chatted with said "What?!" when I told them it was firm. At my place we had over an inch of rain Thursday night, and then another batch of showers/storms Friday evening into the overnight hours.

There is no way the turf course was "firm." Just look at the fractions and final times of any of the turf races that were run yesterday. It was "Good" at best, and was probably softer than that early in the day. The reason this matters can best be summed up by Chad Brown, who said after the Diana that the one thing that worried him about In Italian's chances was the possibility of soft ground, which he blamed for her defeat.

I play UK//IRE//FR racing on a daily basis. The first thing a handicapper looks at before any other factor is the 'going.' Many/most horses have a distinct preference for a certain type of ground. Racetracks over there don't take races off-the-turf, there is no main track alternative. If it gets too waterlogged, they abandon the racecard.

I wonder if US tracks worry about losing handle if they downgrade the announced condition of the turf (sarcasm). Maybe its a case of 'close enough,' because nobody calls them out on it. If you used In Italian as a free bingo square yesterday assuming he'd wire the field on firm ground, you got hosed. End rant.





TW

[eye123]

This had a direct effect on my early horizontals.(and probably most bettors) At the time I was listening to Maggie Wolfendale on the radio. She indicated exactly what you said. Only thing worrisome on In Italian was the going. (vulnerable on anything but firm) NYRA posted "firm" and I used as a single. (like probably about 80% of bettors) Wish I knew then what I know now. Frustrating to think the information coming from the track might not be right.(but just another straw on the camel's back of racing today)

[1hooper]

I sent an email to NYRA and Kozak asking how they determine condition. Not expecting much.
That course yesterday was as firm as my abs.

[1hooper]

Yielding today. ?

[docd]

Jul 16, 2023 11:02:37 GMT -5 1hooper said:

Yielding today. ?

That's what they called it.Rained here(Alb) pretty heavy,my turf is off (long too)
track harrowed / good but I see more showers mid day.I have a feeling you will see the floats being dragged around a little later.

[tenfurlongs]

From the Stakes Review in today's Saratoga Special:

...Brown watched the battle and
knew he would win an eighth Diana,
just not which horse. The course was
labeled firm, but rain made an impact.

“In Italian ran her heart out,”
Brown said. “The turf was pretty
soft and she was going pretty quick
there. Flavien rode a good stalking
race. [Fev Rover] really wanted to be
up in there and Flavien told me he
really had to go early and keep pres-
sure. Javier looked like he wanted to
be where Whitebeam was . . . Pretty
fast fractions on this soft of turf but,
Whitebeam, she also ran just a little
bit better today and was able to han-
dle the soft ground and showed a lot
of heart late.”






TW