GP Question
 

Why does Gulfstream have so few sprints?.

Tracks
 

Hi Terry

Tracks like Gulfstream in the winter attract the best jockeys and trainers
and the top barns from around the country. They want their best horses running in the warm
south rather than on frozen tracks up north.

You get a lot Turf routes at Gulfstream because again turf racing were its at for top barns Face it, there really are not that many high class dirt stakes races but there are lots a good purse turf races now and again later in the year up north,
Looking at the last few days result charts I see about a even split between sprints and routes at GP
albeit many of the sprints were turf sprints and many of the routes were
turf routes

I see it as 37 sprints and 29 routes

Now lets look at a track like Parx
They run year round, They run 6 different sprint distances.
Basically its 5 route distances but they run very few races longer than 8.5 furlongs.

The class of trainer, jockey and barn at Parx has horse flesh that probably is better suited to sprint or run no longer than 8.3 furlongs. So that is what they
run at Parx. The name of the game is to get as big a even ability field as you can.

Here is the break down of the races run at Parx since 1/1 13 till today

Its almost 2/1 sprints over routes

Attachment 36595


12

Also a factor that GP is one of the 4 primary tracks targeted for Triple Crown preps. With the Derby looming trainers will be looking to stretch out from sprints working toward classic distance.

For what it's worth, there's something about that track I just dis like. Starting with the bogus turf course that is really 2. They just change the rail distance. Total BS that they don't report it as 2 different tracks.

I personally try to stick to a track with one surface, it just eliminates one more obstacle for the capper. Right now I'm really enjoying the AQ inner, Parx and Oaklawn. All dirt and few distances to keep track of. I also prefer Tampa over GP.

Thanks everyone for the responses.

I've also noted that they have more than their fair share of MC races. Do the big guns bring out their maddens around this time as well?

Segs, there are more maidens to run due to the recent change of year on the calender. All TBreds have their birthday on Jan 1, therefore an entire "recruiting class" becomes eligible to run as maidens after that date.

Thanks Appy - I did not know that.