miff Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Mike D,
>
> An official at NYRA informs that the picnic table
> decision is partially the result of complaints by
> "older" and in some cases disabled customers who
> are unable to get there at 7:00 am and charge in
> with the crowd.

I have no problem with NYRA's picnic table policy. Follow me on this one:

1) Forget "older" and "disabled" (comments which might be used to describe me
after the TG Open). What about young healthy people who wouldn't mind plunking
down whatever NYRA is charging for the privilege of being able to sleep an
extra 3 or 4 hours instead of having to join the dawn patrol in order to be
able to lay claim to a table?

2) The old system of first come first served was in some ways inefficient.
These tables can accommodate 6 or 8 folks, but under the old system there was
nothing to prevent two people from spreading their tablecloth and enjoying an
entire table to themselves.

3) The people who commandeer these tables, from my mainly non scientific
observations gleaned over decades, tend to be families, and I would imagine
that a lot of the kiddies and moms are betting absolutely no more than $2 per
race, if that. I have no problem with NYRA squeezing revenue from these folks,
most of whom also bring their own food and beverage.

> As far as the areas reclaimed for the 117 pay
> tables, there is an open mind by NYRA depending on
> what they see and hear from customers.
>
> None of what was said explained away the charging
> for some tables and the bad moves in the
> backyard.

The addition of structures to the facility, other than on the backside, was
never necessary; the ancient grandstand could have undergone renovation. But
Stephen Duncker and Danny Meyer are buddies, so now we have Blue Smoke near the
paddock area. The cutting down of trees, some of which may have endured the
elements for a century or more, to add this Masters rip - off Red Jacket Hall
of Fame was an unnecessary crime against nature. The strip - mallization of the
Saratoga facility will, sadly, continue until the track bears very little
resemblance to the place most of us remember.

The sad thing to me in the last two weeks is that we're talking restaurants and
red jackets and picnic tables and the Kay Bomb. We should be talking about
[b]RACING[/b]. What, if any, trainers, jockeys and horses are coming from
different circuits? Will Jimmy Jerkens go 3 ply in the Whitney with Wicked
Strong, Effinex and Spa lover VE Day? How many times will Frank D get beat out
of a pick 4 by a jump horse racing on the flat, or by a Finger Lakes
shipper?

People are wringing their hands about the abandonment of tradition, but the
only real Saratoga tradition which matters is great racing; if the racing is
not great, or at least significantly better than the downstate product, I
wouldn't care less if they rolled back all of the prices and restored some of
the traditions like free picnic tables, the ping pong table outside of the
jocks room, or the old saddling regimen where each runner had their own tree
and walking ring.

If NYRA will not present a quality racing product at the Spa, they can plop a
miniature golf course in the backyard and bring in a load of overpriced food
and beverage options, and lets see if Kay's family fun people can push
enough through the windows to support racing.



> .......whatever!
>
>
> Mike