40-day horse racing season ends at Saratoga, NYRA officials happy
Memories of this year’s spectacular horse racing season have left an impact on the fans that would probably take quite some time to fade away. The race track once again managed to gather a huge crowd and also lived up to the tradition of ultimate horse racing.
This year, Saratoga Race Course offered a great deal of entertainment for the fans of the sport especially at the Travers Stakes, when the unbeatable Rachael Alexandra and the Woodward Stakes winner, Quality Road, were defeated by a one eyed horse known as Lisa’s Booby Trap.
At the conclusion of 11-race-card on Labor Day, gates of the Saratoga Race Course were closed for this summer. The management of New York Racing Association was seen content and satisfied with the 40 day long meet. This time, the event lasted four days longer than last year.
NYRA President, Charles Hayward maintains that the members of the association worked very hard to make this a successful event for all those who were looking forward to it, and now that they have succeeded in achieving their goal, they were going home happy. However, NYRA figures show that the number of people who attended this event declined as compared to last year as this year, 21,957 people witnessed the event which is a 7.4 percent decrease.
Nonetheless, Hayward told media that next year’s event will most probably begin on 22nd July 2011 but it wouldn’t be extended for more than 40 days. He said that the final schedule is yet to be devised and approved by the board of trustees of the association. Charles didn’t agree to the suggestions of organizing the event from 4th July 2011 till the Labor Day.
Meanwhile, Todd Pletcher, the seventh time training title winner at Spa said that 40 days get more than hectic for one meet so he would totally agree with the association’s decision. He added that if the event is spread over 40 days, it will lose its ambience and excitement as the turnover will be less and people will get tired at Saratoga.
On the other hand, chairman of New York’s State Racing and Wagering Board, John Sabini told the correspondents that if NYRA decides to go beyond 40 days at Saratoga, it will be a great mistake on its part.
NYRA has admitted that it has been confronted by economic setbacks this year. Hayward, while commenting on this issue, stated that according to the survey carried out by association, the number of horses in America in general and New York in particular, has decreased significantly over the past decade, which isn’t pleasing. As for the betting at Saratoga, Hayward said it was as strong as ever.
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