The Belmont Stakes trophy awaiting it’s recipient (Jason (EASY GOER))

Fellow TBA-er Frank had a post last week on patience that I really liked and had wanted to reference but had become too scattered (perhaps there’s a follow up post to be had about lack of attention span?).

The post talks about the lightly raced nature of this years TC horses in general but really speaks to the grind of the TC and the general lack of patience in bringing horses along.

I was so jazzed about last year’s prep season all the way through to the Belmont, but this year I can’t say the same. I still really like Pyro and am hoping to see him regroup, but this year was just so full of odd twists and turns of the not so great/total let down variety that I’m starting to the think that, like fellow TBA-er Teresa, that I might also be a little disenchanted with the grind of the Triple Crown. (note, she’s more disinterested than disenchanted).

Historically (read that with irony, I’ve followed exactly 2 seasons) I haven’t done so well on Derby prep/TC races with the exception of last year’s Derby and this year’s Wood. I really enjoy following spring/summer and fall at Belmont and, of course, Saratoga much more. At the very least, I FEEL like I’m in a position to make better calls because there’s more of an element of stability in following a local track.

But, I’m sure I won’t be able to resist the siren song of the trail next year, so would someone please tattoo the sentiments in this excellent piece by Steve Davidowitz on my forehead (backwards, so I can read it in the mirror). [DRF+ - requires subscription]

If we step back to objectively examine details that were staring us in the face, we just might learn valuable handicapping lessons. Lessons that I thought I had learned many years ago.

That sentiment does make me feel a bit a better… while it obviously takes patience to prevail, periodic introspection can’t hurt either.

Posted by dana on Jun 10 2008    
Filed Under: TBA, 2008, Pyro, Steve Davidowitz, Belmont, Belmont Stakes, Racing

(No Ratings Yet)

 Loading ...

Share This

No Comments »

Casino Drive hiding in plain sight, just like the official Belmont Stakes site! (Sarah K. Andrew)

So, I’m catching up on my reading and I’m looking at this article from Sunday’s Daily News by Jerry Bossert. I, like Steve Davidowitz (see the comments), think it’s dead on.

As I’m reading the comments, I learn something that I didn’t know about the internet…

Commenter dlydbbl1 says:
Absolutely right on. NYRA is clueless. I went to the Derby a few years ago and the whole week is one big promotion/party

Commenter Ribot says:
This writer has no idea what he is talking about or is too old to use the internet. NYRA has had the Belmont Stakes website up for over a month. The site has videos, information on the days race and activities and a history of the Belmont stakes. Here is a link to it. You would think a newspaper writer who works on a computer all day would know how to use the internet or is this just a slander piece by a bad handicapper? http://www.nyra.com/BelmontStakes2008.html

What? NYRA has a Belmont Stakes website and it’s been up for a month? Apparently I’m too old and don’t know how to use the internet!

So, I click on over to NYRA to investigate. I notice the blue header graphic touting the Belmont Stakes on the top of the page but don’t think anything of it because they always have a graphic there. Not seeing anything that stands out as a link to the “site”, I click the graphic (not that there’s any indication that I should) and behold, I’m am transported to the Official Belmont Stakes site… a gigantic slow loading static graphic file with an audio file that auto plays in the background with no volume control or way to pause or turn it off.

The audio itself sounds like what I imagine a NYRA commercial for the Belmont Stakes would sound like, do they have one of those running? The audio definitely had a much higher production value than the “site” (I use the apostrophes because it’s a page buried within the NYRA site, kentuckyderby.com is a site).

Let’s review the pluses and minuses:

Pluses:
- Links to a list of all the prior Belmont winners
- Links to a VERY comprehensive archive of Belmont race replays

Minuses:
- It’s not exactly well promoted or easy to find
- It’s a giant graphic that doesn’t really add any value with the links on the bottom
- The two informational links point to pdfs instead of pages
- The audio is without controls
- Does that slick audio go with a commercial? Let’s see it!

How about some more content, Durkin’s favorite Belmont’s, stream the press conferences, clocker’s reports, pictures from morning work outs, videos of morning work outs, a list of contenders!

Well, at least they’re trying… I would suggest registering belmontstakes.com and hiring some internet professionals to create a site next year, not that anyone from NYRA makes their way over here, as GbG is not a venue of “significant coverage.”

Posted by dana on Jun 03 2008    
Filed Under: Technology, Sarah K. Andrew, Internet, 2008, Industry, Steve Davidowitz, NYRA, Belmont, Triple Crown, Belmont Stakes, Marketing, Racing

(No Ratings Yet)

 Loading ...

Share This

10 Comments »

Churchill Downs (blake seely)

Note to self, “if you had more PTO you could theoretically take the week prior to the Derby off just to read all the reports coming out of Louisville”.

A few things caught my eye as I bounced around the internet today.

Cheers to glimmerglass for an excellent comment on fellow TBA-er Alan’s Rail Piece that speculates on the potential brouhaha if Eight Belles scratches.

Eight Belles is 4-0 this year; if one of the boys possibly “bumped” by her has accomplished that and earned as much graded money as she has, then they wouldn’t be on the outside looking in.

There are more then a couple colts going who haven’t a prayer but no complaints exists when they are still being entered.

And a special nod goes to commenter Joe for noting that there are already about 6 too many horses running anyway.

Over at fellow TBA-er Thoroughblog I noticed this quote from Asmussen about Pyro:

I’m not looking to run him on a synthetic track again.

Read no Breeders’ Cup for Pyro.

Steve Davidowitz reminds us to not overlook the Derby under card [DRF+]. That is, if we’ll be able to play it if we’re not literally at Churchill Downs.

Posted by dana on Apr 28 2008    
Filed Under: Churchill Downs, Internet, 2008, Signal Wars, TBA, Pyro, Derby Trail, 3yo, Steve Davidowitz, Racing

(No Ratings Yet)

 Loading ...

Share This

5 Comments »

The Twinspires, looking maaaah-velous (eqqman)

This cracked me up.

If you were looking for a sign that Pyro has bounced out of his Toyota Blue Grass (gr. I) fiasco in top shape and is back to being the Pyro of old, you certainly didn’t get it Monday morning when the colt worked six furlongs in fog so thick it wasn’t able to be timed by the Keeneland clockers.

This is a crazy year, no? The foggy Gotham, War Pass out, possibly a couple of talented fillies in, a bunch of horses who haven’t raced on dirt yet, a bunch of confirmed dirt horses doing their final prep on poly, a South American invader and a hype machine so strong I’m wondering if it’s the real reason the Times started it’s racing blog.

I’m much more interested to see Pyro’s work at Churchill anyway. I was surprised to see Curlin get back to work so soon. Since he’s shipping to Churchill presumably with Pyro, I wonder if Pyro’s last Derby work with be with the master? I hope that doesn’t tinker with his odd too much!

Meanwhile, one has to look no further to understand why Steve Davidowitz is my handicapping idol. In his more recent DRF column, he shares some Derby lessons, both generally and his own.

The thing I like about Davidowitz is that he’s holistic. He reminds us to not only take into account each horse but to look at how each piece of the puzzle could potentially come together (or not). Seeing people tout Big Brown as being “head and shoulders” above the rest based speed figures and a flashy performance cracks me up.

I have all the same questions about Big Brown that I had about Curlin last year. Foot issues not withstanding, let’s say he can hold the distance, will he hold up in stretch battle? Can he look a horse in the eye and dig in?

I suspect there are a lot of people out there who think he won’t get a chance to answer those questions, but I’m not one of them. When he checks off all the items on my “prove it me” list, then I’ll be singing his praises, just like I now do for Curlin.

Davidowitz goes on:

I also have come to realize that it is a bad mistake to settle on a firm pick before the final field is known, before post positions are drawn, and before the overall pace of the race can be mapped out. At the same time, trying to stretch your view of the race to accent marginal longshots for a win play, usually is a prescription for a stack of losing tickets.

Sorry Ernie, I’m not gonna do a top 5… but I will update my Derby Dating selections at least one more time before the big dance! Until then, check out some Kentucky Derby Odds!

Posted by dana on Apr 22 2008    
Filed Under: Pyro, 2008, Prove it to Me, Hype, Steve Davidowitz, 3yo, Derby Trail, Handicapping, Kentucky Derby, Racing

(No Ratings Yet)

 Loading ...

Share This

No Comments »