boardedup Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Thanks for the info, I didn't realize Jockey's
> weren't aware of the order of the races on any
> given card. I guess my next question would be
> when is the actual race order decided upon?n


A condition book (which is available online at most racetrack websites in the "Horseman" section)(if the Racing Office at Mth is still next to the paddock anyone can get a hard copy) usually covers 3 to 4 weeks of racing. So it is conceivable that 3 weeks ago Carla Gaines told Mike Smith (or his agent if he has one) "I'm going to try that Mineshaft colt in a turf race that's in the book on May 27". At that point Smith might commit to ride for Gaines.

Entries are of course taken three to four days prior to races being run, and only
then is the order of a days races determined.

Also found on the websites for most tracks in the "Horseman" section is a area which lists nominations/ past performances for upcoming stakes races, so one can get an idea, for example, of who is going to line up against the returning Songbird in the Ogden Phipps stakes on Belmont day.

Speaking of Belmont day, it is one of the four or five best days on the racing calendar. I can only hope that the conversation on the board focuses on the "consonants" ([u]F[/u]acts, [u]S[/u]tatistics, [u]N[/u]umbers, [u]P[/u]atterns) rather than the "vowels" ([u]A[/u]ssertions, [u]A[/u]necdotes, [u]U[/u]supported[u] O[/u]pinions). (This coming from a man who has here discussed covering his wife with schlag and has been known to discuss rock albums released well before many of you were born).

Also hoping T-Sev will return for the Belmont with his unique brand of "Clown Computing".