My fellow citizens,
It has just come to my attention that next years Racing season will be extended to
40 days. I’m putting my foot down. Enough is enough.
Ken Ivin’s has his VLT petition now Citizen Nancy will start her own petition against a 40 day
Racing Season.
I will knock on every door, I will recruit volunteers and have this crap about a 40 Day meet come to a screeching halt folks.
Yes I realize that the 4 additional days of racing are in the beginning of the meet which is fine with me as long as NYRA drops the week after Travers.
Anyone with any sense knows that once Travers is over, Racing is essentially DONE! Continuing to have it open after that is just an act of desperation.
We’ve got to stop looking at Saratoga Racecourse as our prized Golden Goose that will continue to work for us so we avoid thinking of other ways to generate money for this town.
ITS THE SLOWEST WEEK OF THE MEET PEOPLE!! The Racecourse should rightly close after TRAVERS is over. Period.
How is keeping the track open even LONGER going to attract more revenue? IT WON’T!
I am a native of Saratoga Springs and I remember when the only people who went to the racetrack were people who knew something about horses, now its everyone and their mother schlepping the beer coolers with the ‘traditional track uniform’ shorts and flip flops who know NOTHING about horses.
Lets bring it back to 24 days AS WAS THE TRADITION and we were calling Saratoga THE AUGUST PLACE TO BE. Because it was. It was the perfect time frame, it left everyone including Saratogian’s begging for more.
Also, do the morons who run NYRA realize that we can’t stand racing people and that only reason that we put up with them and their incompetent driving skills is because it does generate money for town? But anything past 4 weeks is just asking too much of the good citizens of Saratoga.
Does NYRA also realize that they are LUCKY they are still running the place since they are responsible for ‘losing 200 million dollars by way of mass corruption and scandal? I’m sure they know they pulled the wool over some peoples eyes but not everyones.
If it wasn’t for Eliot Spitzer NYRA would have lost out on that contract, as they should have as I don’t know anyone who could “lose money” and still get to keep their job.
Oh, and another thing, next years meet will start on a FRIDAY and not WEDNESDAY?
But what happened to TRADITION? Annnnnnnd Therreeeeee Offffffffff!!
Now, who wants to sign my petition?
Oh, no, Nancy, you may be the SECOND most-opinionated person, for I am the first.
In reading your rant about NYRA’s wise decision–based on a spectacular meet, the best in the country–you neglected to cite facts and figures. I know ranting, for I rant regularly on a popular horse racing blog where I have free rein to speak as I wish.
In the realm of logical argumentation, the use of ad hominem statements (“against the man”), you immediately negate your own premise when you call the administrators of NYRA, “morons.” Name-calling doesn’t prove your point, it only serves to make you look childish. When people run out of good words and logic, they resort to name-calling, not unlike a seven-year-old.
I must ask what is your background in Thoroughbred racing, that you believe that your opinion is more valid than the thousands of others who welcome the four days added to the Saratoga NYRA meet? (By-the-way, the four days will be at the BEGINNING of the meet, when excitement is high, not the END, when those who have rugrats must get them back to school.) And, in case your memory is faded or you’re not very familiar with racing or Saratoga racing, in particular: both the Woodward (which was won by Rachel Alexandra this year and Curlin last year) and the Hopeful, a respected race for promising two-year-olds–are held the weekend after the Shadwell Travers.
Speak for thyself when you spout off that you can’t stand racing people, Nancy. I’m a racing person, and I love us. Don’t you dare use the collective, “we” when speaking about Saratogians and our relationship to the racing world. The locals who think clearly may grow tired of tourists–but they recognize, wisely, that fully 72% of Saratoga’s annual income is the direct result of those gorgeous horses being out at the track. You wouldn’t have such a beautiful downtown to enjoy were it not for the racing people for whom you have such disdain.
I don’t wish to negate my own argument, but were I to indulge, I’d say that your rage against four extra days is not only the minority argument–it is also inane, puerile and it makes me wonder if nothing else came across your mind against which you could rant. Your concern for tradition is touching, but you forget that, long before you were born, John Morrissey was establishing traditions at that racetrack that became part of the very fabric of our wonderful City. Without those traditions and the people who celebrate them every year–Saratoga would be a dumpy, small Upstate town with no future and children who run like Hell to get out as soon as they turn 18.
Nancy – You go Girl !!
-From a ” …background in Thoroughbred racing…”
Owner.
Bettor.
Breeder.
Alpha Mare ???