tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4684463172854959042.post3277788609165546855..comments2024-02-27T17:43:37.207-05:00Comments on View From the Racetrack Grandstand: Classified Racing ExpandingThat Blog Guyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15487597769210721585noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4684463172854959042.post-83810236781789392032010-03-27T15:20:26.558-04:002010-03-27T15:20:26.558-04:00You got your wish Pacingguy and another reason for...You got your wish Pacingguy and another reason for you to support Tioga Downs this year. I have little experience with classified racing so I don't know what to expect. <br /><br />Not much more can be said about the current system other than to say it does break down when there is a horse shortage and fields need to be filled. The secretary has no choice but to bend the conditions. It appears Tioga may be trying too much to soon. With all the changes at Tioga, it will be difficult to determine which factor i.e. the lower takeout or the classification system will make more of a impact if the handle is higher or lower. <br /><br />On my trips to NY long ago, I found the classified racing tough to get used to. I hope for your sake it works out since you've been a major proponent of this style of racing. We shall see...Pocket Upnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4684463172854959042.post-40107637077775497112010-03-27T13:41:09.385-04:002010-03-27T13:41:09.385-04:00Classified racing was the format used throughout N...Classified racing was the format used throughout New York at Roosevelt, Yonkers, Monticello and many others during the 1960s/70s. Starting with the C-3 pacers on Monday nights, you went to the B classes by midweek with the A-3/A-2/A-1 and AA/JFA/FFA pacers come Saturday night. (Remember when a B-3/C-1 handicap would mix things up?)<br /><br />Earnings based classification systems when first introduced did mix up the fields and at the time, earnings were seen as the great equalizer to balance fields. However, the promise of more even better was never achieved as often earnings from six or eight starts back penalized a horse in recent poor form.<br /><br />Unfortunately, broadened earnings brackets and bending the limits (changing a NW$12000 to NW$12250 to allow a horse to join the field) have broken down the very system it was designed to save.<br /><br />Developing mandatory promotion and relegation rules, similar to the ABCDE system in greyhound racing, might take some of the pressure off the racing office over time.Scott Jeffreysnoreply@blogger.com