Saratoga News & Notes

[janpal]

I'm not a doctor.....but I play one on TV.

Forming your own opinions is what playing the game is all about...however the opinion you are agreeing with always conveniently omits one thing.....what happens when the handicapper puts you on a winner. It does happen sometimes.

Now you've got me curious. Were you Dr. Killdare or Marcus Welby??? I like both.

[Rick1323]

I'm not a doctor.....but I play one on TV.

Forming your own opinions is what playing the game is all about...however the opinion you are agreeing with always conveniently omits one thing.....what happens when the handicapper puts you on a winner. It does happen sometimes.

I can honestly say it is 50-50. My stance has nothing to do with the quality of the public handicappers. This one happens to be very good, but that doesn't mean I want his opinion. As I said, I bet almost exclusivly horizontally. My biggest problem is keeping my tickets down to a manageable size.

Opinions at the track are not hard to come by, and frankly some of them can be misleading. I sometimes play in syndicates when a large pick 6 is available, the same problems exist when trying to put together mega tickets as when trying to build one for yourself. There is never a lack of opinion, or a lack of horses who should be included.

[janpal]

I can honestly say it is 50-50. My stance has nothing to do with the quality of the public handicappers. This one happens to be very good, but that doesn't mean I want his opinion. As I said, I bet almost exclusivly horizontally. My biggest problem is keeping my tickets down to a manageable size.

Opinions at the track are not hard to come by, and frankly some of them can be misleading. I sometimes play in syndicates when a large pick 6 is available, the same problems exist when trying to put together mega tickets as when trying to build one for yourself. There is never a lack of opinion, or a lack of horses who should be included.

LOL. My golfing friends and I, way back when I played serious golf on a national level, had a saying that was part of a famous cartoon: "Paralysis by analysis" -- where the poor guy couldn't even draw his club back because he was frozen by too much info! I imagine this can be the same for the expert handicapper.

[Thinair]

I can honestly say it is 50-50. My stance has nothing to do with the quality of the public handicappers. This one happens to be very good, but that doesn't mean I want his opinion. As I said, I bet almost exclusivly horizontally. My biggest problem is keeping my tickets down to a manageable size.

Opinions at the track are not hard to come by, and frankly some of them can be misleading. I sometimes play in syndicates when a large pick 6 is available, the same problems exist when trying to put together mega tickets as when trying to build one for yourself. There is never a lack of opinion, or a lack of horses who should be included.

I understand, and absolutely agree that handicappers should form their own opinions, but I don't agree in the use of the word misleading. It is up to a person to evaluate another's opinion, and decide if perhaps it makes some sense, and proceed from there. We may mislead ourselves....but I wouldn't say it is fair that because one chooses to listen to another they were misled.

However, I absolutely understand the idea of not wanting to cloud your thinking with that of others. That's a personal choice. Personally I like to hear the opinions of people I respect, as they can only help me perhaps to see a clearer picture, and if I choose to adopt one of their opinions it is only because it makes sense to me, and I would never say I was then misled, regardless of the outcome.

Plus, you can learn from others for the future. Maybe their judgement in this case didn't work out ( it's racing....it usually doesn't! ) but perhaps a similar situation will arise in the future, and you will apply a similar logic, and this time profit. It's hard, at least for me, to layer your understanding of the game without at least contemplating the theories of others. You just need to be careful who those others are.

I don't mean any of this to suggest, however, they I don't totally respect what you said.

[janpal]

I think you both make great sense! No wonder you've both been known to cash some big checks at the track. I really think both your points of how important it is to learn to form your own opinion is significant and can almost be applied to any walk of life -- learn to trust your knowledge and instincts. Being able to apply knowledge to new situations, think independently and reach logical conclusions are all part, I believe, in becoming successful at anything you do. There isn't always going to be someone there holding your hand, nor would you want there to be! ;-)

[Ballerina]

I think one can really mind F*** themselves with over analyzing.

[janpal]

I think one can really mind F*** themselves with over analyzing.

No question, Bal! In almost anything. When I was in a major golf tournament, I tried never to have more than two thoughts going through my head when I swung the club. Some of my friends refused to have any -- they just swung! Anyway, I knew if I had anymore than two thoughts going through my head, my swing wouldn't flow or be natural. In short, I'd be a dead duck!

[Rick1323]

No question, Bal! In almost anything. When I was in a major golf tournament, I tried never to have more than two thoughts going through my head when I swung the club. Some of my friends refused to have any -- they just swung! Anyway, I knew if I had anymore than two thoughts going through my head, my swing wouldn't flow or be natural. In short, I'd be a dead duck!

I think that is my problem. Since I retired, all I do is play golf and or play the horses. What a brutal combination......

[janpal]

I think that is my problem. Since I retired, all I do is play golf and or play the horses. What a brutal combination......

Boy, Rick, you really are a glutton for punishment, aren't you! They claim there is no more humbling game than golf! I gave it up long before I retired from my "real" job and only once in a while ( usually after watching the Women's Open on TV ) contemplate playing again. When I wake up to the fact that I'll never be able to hit the ball like I used to and remember how time-consuming it is, I change my mind and go back to planning traveling, home projects, family and friend get-to-gethers. That's all more than enough most days to fill my time.

[PJMIII]

Travers Celebration to benefit BEST, Hope Fund and PDJF

The 12th annual Travers Celebration will return this summer to support the Backstretch Employee Service Team (BEST), the Times Union Hope Fund and its newest beneficiary, the Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund (PDJF), on August 23 from 7:30 to 11 p.m. (EDT) at Saratoga Race Course.

http://www.brisnet.com/cgi-bin/edito...e.cgi?id=30424

[second_glance]

Another birthday, another win for Bill Mott, as Alaura Michele took the Nani Rose Stakes.

According to Grening, Mott has won a race on his birthday in 14 of the last 21 years. And in two of those other years, there was no racing on July 29.

[PJMIII]

Saratoga fetes Virginia Kraft Payson on Fab Fillies Day

The New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA) will celebrate women and their contributions to the Thoroughbred industry with a special day appropriately titled "Fabulous Fillies Day" on August 17 at Saratoga Race Course.

http://www.brisnet.com/cgi-bin/edito...e.cgi?id=30528

[algobbi]

Fire damages small building next to Sabina's restaurant

The prep building at Sabina's Wood Fired Restaurant on Union Avenue across from the Saratoga Race Course entrance was struck by fire early Friday, but the owner assured the restaurant will be open for dinner.

The restaurant and patio are not affected, owner Joe Devivo confirmed. The fire was contained to a building used for prep and storage next to the restaurant.

http://saratogian.com/articles/2012/...4052317497.txt

[Thinair]

Fire strikes Sabina's restaurant across from Saratoga Race Course

Sabina's Wood Fired Restaurant on Union Avenue across from teh Saratoga Race Course entrance was struck by fire early Friday.

No injuries were reported in the blaze, which strarted about 5:30 a.m. and resulted in extensive damage throughout, a fire official said.

http://saratogian.com/articles/2012/...4052317497.txt

Did you actually read the article?

It was the prep building next door and the restaurant will be open this evening.

[Jeff]

In other breaking news, fire also did not strike Siro's and they will also be open this evening.

[second_glance]

A cautionary note from trainer Mark Hennig: "If you are spending Sunday evening handicapping Saratoga's Monday card, I think it's safe to assume we are off turf."

[Jeff]

A cautionary note from trainer Mark Hennig: "If you are spending Sunday evening handicapping Saratoga's Monday card, I think it's safe to assume we are off turf."

We did get quite a bit of rain this evening, but it has been so dry I am not sure I agree with Hennig.

Dry weather in the morning, with cool and dry northwest winds. I am not sure I would assume that tomorrow's turf races come off.

[Thinair]

We did get quite a bit of rain this evening, but it has been so dry I am not sure I agree with Hennig.

Dry weather in the morning, with cool and dry northwest winds. I am not sure I would assume that tomorrow's turf races come off.

I agree. I haven't talked to Glen, but at least one on each course wouldn't surprise me.

[PJMIII]

From Brisnet

The all-distaffer card at Saratoga in honor of Friday's "Fabulous Fillies Day" features a pair of stakes races. First up, unbeaten Ciao Bella (Giant's Causeway) makes her stakes debut in the $100,000 Summer Guest Stakes for three-year-old fillies at 1 1/8 miles. Trained by Todd Pletcher for Michael Tabor, the daughter of Grade 2 heroine Bella Bellucci has won her two starts by wide margins. Ciao Bella went last to first in a Gulfstream Park maiden in December, drawing off by 7 1/4 lengths, and returned from a seven-month layoff to dust entry-level allowance foes on Haskell Day at Monmouth. Pletcher will also saddle Peace Preserver (War Front), who goes turf to dirt off a troubled runner-up effort in Monmouth's July 28 Desert Vixen. Their opponents are Moment in Dixie (Dixieland Band) and Ainsley (Officer), the respective second and third from the July 15 Serena's Song at the Jersey Shore; Lady Cohiba (Broken Vow), who adds blinkers for the in-form Christophe Clement; and New York-bred stakes veterans Harbor Mist (Rockport Harbor) and Lemon Splendor (Lemon Drop Kid).

[ElPrado1]

We're all gluttons for punishment aren't we? I play pool and my back would have most people in traction. Golf players. Horse players. Forget rocking chairs, we need stretchers.