Arlington Condition Book One

[dogs up]

Checked out the Condition Book #1 on the AP web site this evening.  There are several obvious changes from last year.

First 2 year old race scheduled for fillies on May 18- I do not remember races in Ill this eary- Distance is 4 and a half fur

Numerous races on the Main track at a mile and one sixteenth. Did AP move the finish line or add a second one. I thought that when AP hosted the BC in 2002- the Juvenile races had to have distanced changed because a one  mile and sixteenth on the main track hits the first turn too quickly.

Fewer turf races--at least in this book-- was this because they want to get money's worth from poly or a reflection on the weather wiping out numerous turf races last year?

Prices seem uniformly higher, hardly any claiming races at 5 grand or less. Last year, they seemed to provide some of the larger fields. Less than a handful carded at this stage. I used May 17, a rather nondescript Thursday as my example date- Purses for ten races that day are 208,000. Does anyone have figures to compare that with last year May--

I hope your comments and /or corrections will follow

[pjcleve]

Checked out the Condition Book #1 on the AP web site this evening.  There are several obvious changes from last year.

First 2 year old race scheduled for fillies on May 18- I do not remember races in Ill this eary- Distance is 4 and a half fur

Numerous races on the Main track at a mile and one sixteenth. Did AP move the finish line or add a second one. I thought that when AP hosted the BC in 2002- the Juvenile races had to have distanced changed because a one  mile and sixteenth on the main track hits the first turn too quickly.

Fewer turf races--at least in this book-- was this because they want to get money's worth from poly or a reflection on the weather wiping out numerous turf races last year?

Prices seem uniformly higher, hardly any claiming races at 5 grand or less. Last year, they seemed to provide some of the larger fields. Less than a handful carded at this stage. I used May 17, a rather nondescript Thursday as my example date- Purses for ten races that day are 208,000. Does anyone have figures to compare that with last year May--

I hope your comments and /or corrections will follow

Dog,
   It is surprising that AP has carded 1 1/16 dirt races. The start is very close to the turn and clearly favors the inside PP's. They stopped routinely carding those races about two decades ago. If so, it's a very playble wagering angle.

Pete

[pjcleve]

I just looked at their first condition book and one thing that is different from previous years is 10 races EVERY racing day. That's very nice to see for those of us that enjoy going there for the live racing.

As I've said before, I have a strong sense that this will be a turnaround meet. Time will tell.

Pete

[Horse Voice]

I just looked at their first condition book and one thing that is different from previous years is 10 races EVERY racing day.

I noticed a difference from previous years, too: they're only racing 4 days a week. 

The good news is, with 5 less races per week to fill, they are a mortal cinch to have full fields...I mean, what possible excuse could they have now for not having 10, 12, even 14 starters per race??

[CLOCKERTERRY]

As I've said before, I have a strong sense that this will be a turnaround meet. Time will tell.

I think we should take your upbeat rumors about everyone coming, add it to Mel's downbeat rumors about no one coming, and divide by two. That average would probably be the most likely scenario for 2007.

[Jim C]

I had heard that AP was going to put in 2 finish lines, but have not had anyone confirm that as of yet. But if they are running 1 1/16 on the poly then I would take that as some confirmation that they have in fact installed 2 finish lines.

As far as people coming here, I have also heard that there is currently a waiting list for stalls with some 50 trainers on it. While down in Ocala I did hear about more trainers then usual planning to come to AP this summer. Hollendorfer has applied for 50 stalls, it will be interesting to see if he shows up at all let alone with 50 head.

AP usually starts off with not many turf races in the first book and I do not recall them ever running any claiming races under 5k.

[RunSuckerRun]

PJ writes:

The good news is, with 5 less races per week to fill, they are a mortal cinch to have full fields...I mean, what possible excuse could they have now for not having 10, 12, even 14 starters per race??

I think if you do the math, they have nine less races to fill...

Having 4 days didn't really help Hawthorne.  I guess we'll see after OP closes and the few remaining FG stragglers make it up here if it gets better.

-RSR

[Horse Voice]

PJ writes:
I think if you do the math, they have nine less races to fill...

Having 4 days didn't really help Hawthorne.  I guess we'll see after OP closes and the few remaining FG stragglers make it up here if it gets better.

-RSR

I used: previous schedule @ 5 days X 9 races per day = 45 races per week, new AP schedule @ 4 days X 10 races = 40 races per week.

[BeauNarro]

You're right HV. I was wondering how people have been saying that they should have 10-12-14 horses per race when all I can see in about one more horse per race due to the shortened weekly race amount.

Currently: 5 x 9 = 45 races x 7.55 (average starters) = 340 horses per week

Proposed: 340 / 40 races = 8.5 horses per race

However, I do think arlington will have fuller fields than that because they converted to the Polytrack.

[BeauNarro]

dog up,

In response to your starting thread - the condition book is only a partial guage to what races and daily purses will actually go to press. At most tracks about 1/2 of the written races for any day in the condition book actually are carded. The rest are "written" to accomodate the horsemen for the horses that they have available to race. Below is an example from Arlington's last overnight sheet from last September 2006:

http://www.arlingtonpark.com/racing_information/horsemen/overnights_and_extras/ap%20overnight%209.12.pdf

As you can see on the right side - there were 4 of the original races from the condition book that were carried over, and 2 of the alternates from the condition book that were carried over.
On that last day, there were 88 horses entered to race, but there were 30 scratches by race time resulting in only 53 starters or an average of 5.89 horses per race.

[Horse Voice]

You're right HV. I was wondering how people have been saying that they should have 10-12-14 horses per race when all I can see in about one more horse per race due to the shortened weekly race amount.

That was me with the 10-12-14 comment, intended as a tongue-in-cheek tweak of our resident AP hugger.

We'll see about more horses at AP. Other tracks that have synthetic still have problems with short fields, except Woodbine, which happens to also have slotracing.

We can hope for fuller fields all we want, but the horsemen go where the MONEY is...and rightfully so. Why race for ham sandwiches in Illinois if you can race for steak and lobster a van ride away?

[Moon]

Maybe they extended the mile chute with the new poly?

/I doubt it, but maybe.

[Scav]

That is pretty weird, I have seen that in a long time regarding the 8.5 furlong races

[pjcleve]

That was me with the 10-12-14 comment, intended as a tongue-in-cheek tweak of our resident AP hugger.

More like your tongue up your ass. I may be an AP hugger, what are you? I would much prefer 4 days per week, 10 races per day and 8.5+ field sizes compared to last year or the mess being served up at Haw currently. Feel free to keep looking backwards, you won't see the train hit you dufus. AP is investing serious money IN racing and I appreciate that and I have heard some strong indications the racing will be just fine. Time will tell and we won't have to wait much longer, will we?

Pete

[Horse Voice]

...I have heard some strong indications the racing will be just fine.

Well, quit teasing us, Pete -- tell us what these "strong indications" are, and identify your sources. You wouldn't want us to think that you are merely full of hot air, would you?

[David]

They didn't extend the mile chute, thats for sure. I don't belive they added a finish line, that isn't for sure.

I do think they had 8.5 dirt races regularly up to just a few years ago, not the decade mentioned above.

Also, it doesn't appear they are polytracking the training track, doesn't look like anything has been done there at all. I thought someone said they needed to do that as well as all paths due to some kind of contamination problem.

[nwaryas]

There is a small fraction of dirt in the polytrack, so minimal you can't see it.

[Moon]

They didn't extend the mile chute, thats for sure. I don't belive they added a finish line, that isn't for sure.

I do think they had 8.5 dirt races regularly up to just a few years ago, not the decade mentioned above.

Also, it doesn't appear they are polytracking the training track, doesn't look like anything has been done there at all. I thought someone said they needed to do that as well as all paths due to some kind of contamination problem.

Looking at my database, there are quite a few 8.5 furlong races in 2000 and 2001, but none since.

[APCD Dan]

Well, we are into April.  It is make or break time for Hawthorne this month.  Their on-track handles have come up a little, but they need to do better.  Illinois Derby Day should be good for them as they seem to have a decent field shaping up.

Horse Voice, you know that when the weather gets warmer and the grass turns green, we Arlington huggers start dreaming of Opening Day at the great AP.

[Thomas Graham]

I talked to a couple of trainers when i was at Hawthorne yesterday and they said that they heard that Arlington is adding a second finish line at the sixteenth pole for the 8.5f poly races. Start at the regular finish but end at the 16th pole (like the mile races at FG and OP).  Hopefully those races will filler better than the 9f race.

Also, I had Book 1 from last year and there's lots of differences I saw -- nw3 claiming this year (not last); lower bottom tag on turf ($25k vs. $50k last year); the 8.5f this year vs. 9f last year.

Jim C. --- bottom last year was $4k as it is this year.

TJG

[mel4600]

I think we should take your upbeat rumors about everyone coming, add it to Mel's downbeat rumors about no one coming, and divide by two. That average would probably be the most likely scenario for 2007.

Terry,

While I don't mind being quoted at least be accurate as you tend to exaggerate statements. I never made a downbeat rumor that no one was coming, I stated a few big Arlington outfits were opting out for the coming meet due to more lucrative purse structures elsewhere. I am still very optimistic about the Arlington meet and look forward to it.

[Jim C]

My mistake Thomas....they did have 4k claimers last year. I recall when they would not card anything less than 5k.

I was by AP today and did notice some work taking place around the 16th pole. But it is hard to tell if that work is for the drainage system or for another finish line. Maybe if Dave Zenner is reading these posts he can confirm if or if not there will be 2 finish lines this year.

I did take some pictures of the track surface but right now it just looks like a paved road...just blacktop there so not much to see really. I will try and post them later.

[CLOCKERTERRY]

Terry,

While I don't mind being quoted at least be accurate as you tend to exaggerate statements. I never made a downbeat rumor that no one was coming, I stated a few big Arlington outfits were opting out for the coming meet due to more lucrative purse structures elsewhere. I am still very optimistic about the Arlington meet and look forward to it.

You're right, it was exaggerated for effect. For the record, what Mel really wrote was: "I think a lot of jocks won't be coming here this year. I hear that a lot of them will be in Louisiana. I also heard a few big Arlington outfits have already notified Arlington that they won't be coming this year." It just struck me how at odds your statement was with Pete's, that's all.

I stick by my prediction reality will fall somewhere between an important loss of outfits and jocks that your rumor implies, and an important gain of outfits and jocks like Pete's implies. Things will be about normal is my prediction. Someone might not come, abut someone else will.

[CLOCKERbiggestal]

Dog,
   It is surprising that AP has carded 1 1/16 dirt races. The start is very close to the turn and clearly favors the inside PP's. They stopped routinely carding those races about two decades ago. If so, it's a very playble wagering angle.

Pete

That dirt thinking. Poly PP's play way more evenly.

  biggestal

[Moon]

I talked to a couple of trainers when i was at Hawthorne yesterday and they said that they heard that Arlington is adding a second finish line at the sixteenth pole for the 8.5f poly races. Start at the regular finish but end at the 16th pole (like the mile races at FG and OP).  Hopefully those races will filler better than the 9f race.

Oh, man, is THAT going to confuse the old folks and the stroller crowd.

Be prepared for a lot of "Why are they stopping? Keep going!" comments.