NYRA handicapper Andy Serling provides daily analysis of track trends and conditions at the Big A in an attempt to share his thoughts and insights into any possible track biases. This can be a helpful resource for handicappers, as track conditions can change from one day to the next.
Belmont Park Track Trends | Saratoga Track Trends
Sunday, November 17
Fast / Firm
Clear
59
Wind 5 to 15 MPH West
The Main Track played fairly. Today was the last day of turf racing until the Spring. Both courses played fairly.
Saturday, November 16
Fast / Firm
Clear
57
Wind 15 to 25 MPH NW
There is an argument the rail was an advantage on the Main Track. Worth following. The turf courses played fairly.
Friday, November 15
Fast / Firm
Clear
55
Wind 15 to 25 MPH NW
All courses, turf and dirt, played fairly.
Thursday, November 14
Fast / Firm
Clear
49
Wind 5 to 15 MPH NE
All courses, turf and dirt, played fairly. The rails are at 36 feet on the Outer and 18 on the Inner.
Sunday, November 10
Fast / Firm
Cloudy
59
Wind 15 to 25 MPH SW
Most of the best running on the Main Track was done off the rail. The results were logical but it's worth considering being right on the rail was a hindrance. The Outer Turf played fairly while saving ground was an advantage on the Inner Turf.
Saturday, November 9
Fast / Firm
Clear
53
Wind 10 to 20 MPH NW
There were races that made inside speed look good on the Main Track, but more that played out fairly. Likely a very fair track. The rails were down to zero on the Inner Turf and saving ground may well have been an advantage. The rails were at 24 feet on the Outer Turf and the course played fairly.
Friday, November 8
Fast / Firm
Clear
65
Wind 15 to 25 MPH West
There is some evidence you were best one path or more off the rail on the Main Track, though the 2nd race would argue against this, and perhaps it was more about staying off the rail in the stretch. Could well have been a fair track but might be worth following. The turf courses played fairly.
Thursday, November 7
Fast / Firm
Clear
72
Wind 15 to 25 MPH NW
The Main Track played fairly. There were two races on the Outer Turf ( rails at 24 feet ) which played out in opposite manners. Likely it was fair. Speed held up in the only race on the Inner Turf ( 27 feet ) but it's unlikely there was any real bias.
Sunday, November 3
Fast / Firm
Clear
53
Wind 5 to 15 MPH North
The Main Track played fairly, as did the turf courses.
Saturday, November 2
Fast / Firm
Clear
57
Wind 10 to 20 MPH NW
Inside speed did very well on the Main Track and it's worth considering it an advantage. The rails were down to 9 feet on the Inner Turf, which played fairly, and remained at 12 on the Outer. The Outer was likely fair, though saving ground might have been at least somewhat of an advantage. Possibly no more than saving ground on the grass is frequently an advantage.
Friday, November 1
Fast / Firm
Clear
73
Wind 15 to 25 MPH West
The rail was good on the Main Track, but overall the track played fairly, as did both turf courses.
Thursday, October 31
Fast / Firm
Clear
72
Wind 10 to 20 MPH South
The Main Track played fairly. The rails on the Inner Turf remained out 35 feet with the Outer Turf at 12 feet. With only one race on each course, it's hard to say there were any trends.
Sunday, October 27
Fast / Firm
Clear
55
Wind 5 to 15 MPH NW
Overall, the Main Track played fairly, as did the turf courses.
Saturday, October 26
Fast / Firm
Clear
62
Wind 15 to 25 MPH NW
While inside speed could have been at least a slight advantage, enough horses made effective outside moves that the track was likely at least close to fair. The turf courses played fairly.
Friday, October 25
Fast / Firm
Clear
59
Wind 5 to 15 MPH SW
The rail was good on the Main Track but not a seeming real advantage. Overall, the Main Track played fairly as did both turf courses.
Thursday, October 24
Fast / Firm
Clear
66
Wind 15 to 25 MPH North
The rail was good on the Main Track but it played relatively fairly. Forwardly placed horses did dominate, though most were logical. Worth following. The rails were at zero on the Outer Turf but overall it seemed to play fairly, as did the Inner. The rails are at 35 feet on the Inner which means the distances are considered "about." Also, despite warm weather and no rain, the times suggested the courses were closer to Good to Yielding than Firm.
Sunday, October 20
Fast / Firm
Clear
68
Wind 5 to 10 MPH West
All courses, turf and dirt, continue to play fairly.
Saturday, October 19
Fast / Firm
Clear
66
Wind 5 to 10 MPH South
All surfaces, turf and dirt, played fairly. The rail was good on the Main Track but no seeming advantage. The rails were down to zero on the Inner Turf. They remained at 36 feet on the Outer.
Friday, October 18
Fast / Firm
Clear
64
Wind 10 to 20 MPH North
All courses, Turf and Dirt, played fairly.
Thursday, October 17
Fast / Firm
Clear
56
Wind 10 to 20 MPH North
All courses, turf and dirt, played fairly. The rails were at 18 feet on the Inner and 36 on the Outer.
Sunday, October 13
Fast / Firm
Clear
71
Wind 5 to 15 MPH SE
There were four dirt races, and there is an argument you may have been better off outside, and not on the rail. Not a lot to go on but feels worth following. The turf courses played fairly.
Saturday, October 12
Fast / Firm
Clear
71
Wind 15 to 25 MPH NW
All courses, turf and dirt, played fairly.
Thursday, October 10
Fast / Firm
Clear
60
Wind 15 to 25 MPH NW
The Main Track played fairly, as did both turf courses. The rails were at 9 feet on the Inner and 24 on the Outer.
Sunday, October 6
Fast / Firm
Clear
68
Wind 5 to 15 MPH South
The Main Track played fairly. The Outer Turf was fair as well. The rail continues to be an advantage on the Inner Turf, but less so than earlier in the week.
Saturday, October 5
Fast / Firm
Clear
72
Wind 5 to 15 MPH North
The Main Track played fairly, as did the Outer Turf. The rail remains an advantage on the Inner Turf, though possibly not quite as strong as the prior two racing days. Worth following.
Friday, October 4
Fast / Firm
Clear
70
Wind 5 to 15 MPH South
There were only three dirt races, and there is a fair argument that speed, at least towards the inside, was an advantage. Not conclusive but seems very possible. Saving ground for at least a significant portion of the races continues to be an advantage on the Inner Turf, while the Outer Turf appears at least relatively fair.
Thursday, October 3
Fast / Firm
Clear
71
Wind 5 to 15 MPH South
The Main Track played fairly. Both turf courses favored runners that were able to save ground, particularly the Inner. The rails were at zero on the Outer and 27 feet on the Inner.
Sunday, September 29
Sloppy ( sealed ) / Off
Showers
68
Wind 15 to 25 MPH East
While speed did well, enough horses made successful runs from behind to suggest the track was fair. We saw horses rally successfully on the rail.
Saturday, September 28
Good ( Harrowed ) 1; Good ( sealed ) 2-3; Muddy ( sealed ) 4-5; Sloppy ( sealed ) 7-10&12 / Yielding
Showers
71
Wind 15 to 25 MPH East
Despite the weather conditions, the Main Track appeared to play fairly, with a good mix of successful speeds and closers, and the inside was fine, but no advantage. There were two turf races, one on each course, with the rails at zero on both. Nothing to suggest the races didn't play fairly.
Friday, September 27
Fast / Firm
Cloudy
73
Wind 5 to 15 MPH East
Speed, and the inside, continue to be a significant advantage on the Main Track, making closing outside nearly impossible. The turf courses played fairly, but there is a reasonable amount of give to the ground, with the times suggesting the courses are on the Good side of Firm.
Thursday, September 26
Fast / Firm
Cloudy
72
Wind 15 to 25 MPH SE
The Main Track, much like 9/22, favored inside speed. One horse made a successful run from well back, but the rally was inside and she was a heavy favorite. For the most part, there was little movement from behind and outside as well. The rails are at 12 feet on the Outer and 27 on the Inner. The inside might have been a slight advantage on the Inner but overall the courses seemed fair.
Sunday, September 22
Fast / Firm
Clear
73
Wind 10 to 20 MPH NE to East
Inside speed was a big advantage on the Main Track, likely causing exaggerated results and not significant running from the back of the fields. Overall, the turf courses played fairly.
Saturday, September 21
Fast / Firm
Clear
75
Wind 10 to 20 MPH NE
The rail was fine on the Main Track but it played fairly, as did both turf courses.
Friday, September 20
Fast / Firm
Clear
78
Wind 15 to 25 MPH NE
The Main Track played fairly, with horses racing successfully inside and out. The Outer Turf was relatively fair, though the inside might still be a bit of an advantage. Not clear cut which means it was at least relatively fair. The same could be said for the Inner Turf.
Thursday, September 19
Fast / Firm
Clear
80
Wind 5 to 15 MPH NE
The Main Track played fairly. A lot of running was done off the inside, but the 2nd race winner was right on the inside, suggesting there was no path bias. There were three races on the Outer Turf, rails at 36 feet, and there are some indications even with the rail setting moved, that the inside was good, but it’s at best ambiguous. The only flat race in the Inner Turf ( rail at 18 feet ) played fairly.
Sunday, September 15
Fast / Firm
Clear
79
Wind 5 to 15 MPH SE
The Main Track played fairly but the rail was good. The rail continues to be an advantage on both turf courses, with saving ground for much of the race a significant advantage.
Saturday, September 14
Fast / Firm
Clear
81
Wind 5 to 15 MPH SE
While the Main Track played fairly, there is an argument that being inside was an advantage. However, enough horses did well making outside runs to suggest the track was fair. The rail continues to be an advantage on both turf courses, and it's worth considering that speed was also an advantage, particularly on the Inner Turf. Worth following.
Friday, September 13
Fast / Firm
Clear
79
Wind 5 to 15 MPH South
The Main Track played fairly. Enough running was done on or near the rail to suggest it was fine. The rails were out 24 feet on the Outer Turf and 9 feet on the Inner. Saving ground was a distinct advantage on both courses, and perhaps stronger on the Outer. Worth following.
Sunday, July 7
Fast / Firm
Cloudy
89
Wind 5 to 15 MPH South
There were only three dirt races and they appeared to play fairly. The turf courses played fairly as well.
Saturday, July 6
Fast / Firm
Cloudy
84
Wind 15 to 25 MPH South
All surfaces, turf and dirt, played fairly.
Friday, July 5
Fast / Firm
Clear
85
Wind 15 to 25 MPH South
The best running on the Main Track was probably a path or more off the rail. Not sure the rail was bad but could be worth following. The turf courses played fairly.
Thursday, July 4
Fast / Firm
Clear
80
Wind 15 to 25 MPH South
All surfaces, turf and dirt, appeared to play fairly. The rails were out 18 feet on the Inner Turf and 36 on the Outer.
Sunday, June 30
Fast / Firm
Cloudy
82
Wind 15 to 25 MPH SW
Another day where inside speed did well on the Main Track, and some races made it look like a bias, but other races were run fairly, with outside closers doing well, suggesting the track was fair. The turf courses likely played fairly, with dynamics and trips playing the biggest role in the results. The final race was run in a driving rain.
Saturday, June 29
Fast / Firm
Cloudy
77
Wind 15 to 25 MPH South
The rail was good on the Main Track, but how much of an advantage is debatable, as the results were dominated by short priced winners. While both Turf sprints ( on the Outer ) were won wire to wire, they were short priced horses that were able to control on the front end. In all likelihood, both turf courses played fairly.
Friday, June 28
Fast / Firm
Clear
76
Wind 10 to 25 MPH South
The Main Track played fairly, as did both Turf courses. The rails were out 9 feet on the Inner Turf and 24 feet on the Outer.
Thursday, June 27
Fast / Off
Clear
83
Wind 10 to 20 MPH SW
After overnight heavy rain, we were off the turf, but the Main Track was Fast. It was listed Good for the 1st race. While the rail was good, and there were a number of races that made it appear to be an inside bias, there were others that played out fairly, with outside closers fairing well. The best conclusion is that overall the track was fair.
Sunday, June 23
Fast / Firm
Cloudy
88
Wind 15 to 25 MPH South
The rail was very strong on the Main Track and seemingly a significant advantage. The Inner Turf played fairly. There is an argument that saving ground was an advantage on the Outer Turf, and speed did well, but it could have been circumstantial. Worth following.
Saturday, June 22
Fast / Firm
Clear
87
Wind 15 to 25 MPH South
There is an argument the rail was good, and an advantage, on the Main Track, but many races played out fairly. Worth following perhaps. The turf courses appeared to play fairly.
Friday, June 21
Fast / Firm
Clear
93
Wind 15 to 25 MPH South
All courses, turf and dirt, played fairly.
Thursday, June 20
Fast / Firm
Clear
87
Wind 10 to 20 MPH South
The Main Track played fairly, as did both turf courses. The rails on the Inner Turf were at zero and 12 feet on the Outer.
Sunday, June 16
Fast / Firm
Clear
76
Wind 10 to 20 MPH SE
The rail was likely an advantage on the Main Track. Worth following. The Inner Turf played fairly while it's possible the rail was at least a slight advantage on the Outer Turf.
Saturday, June 15
Fast / Good
Clear
78
Wind 10 to 20 MPH North
While much of the best running on the Main Track was done off the rail, there is no evidence the rail was dead, as otherwise the track played fairly. There were two races on each turf course and they appeared to play fairly.
Friday, June 14
Fast / Firm
Cloudy
82
Wind 10 to 20 MPH South
There were four races on the Main Track and an argument could be made that the rail was an advantage, though how significant is debatable. The rails were at zero on the Outer Turf and inside runners did well in two of the three races, though arguably they may have been best, and given the third race played out fairly, it's not clear the rail was a big advantage. Worth following. The rails were at 27 feet on the Inner Turf which likely played fairly.
Monday, May 27
Fast ( 1&4 ) Sloppy ( sealed ) 5-9 / Firm
Cloudy early, Showers/Rainy later
71
Wind 15 to 25 MPH SE
There is an argument that the rail was a real advantage in the two dry track dirt races, while speed dominated, save a 2:5 winner, after the track got sloppy. There was one race on each turf course. They both appeared to play fairly.
Sunday, May 26
Fast / Firm
Clear
76
Wind 5 to 15 MPH South
The Main Track played fairly. There's an argument that saving ground was an advantage on the Inner Turf, as all the successful horses spent much of the race inside, if not in front. Speed could have been an advantage on the Outer Turf, even though the 9th race fell apart, as despite the relatively rapid pace, the inside speed horse held on well for third. Worth following on both courses.
Saturday, May 25
Fast / Firm
Clear
77
Wind 5 to 15 MPH SE
The Main Track played fairly, as did the Inner Turf. Both races on the Outer Turf were won wire to wire, but it was likely situational, as reasonably logical horses were allowed to control, just worth pointing out.
Friday, May 24
Fast / Firm
Clear
81
Wind 5 to 15 MPH SW
Speed, and the rail, both appeared to be an advantage. How severe is debatable but it's worth following. There was one race on each turf course and they played fairly. Rails were out 18 feet on the Inner and 12 on the Outer.
Sunday, May 19
Fast / Firm
Cloudy
69
Wind 5 to 15 MPH SE
All courses, turf and dirt, played fairly.
Saturday, Mary 18
Fast / Firm
Cloudy
69
Wind 5 to 10 MPH SE
We saw speed dominate the Main Track races, but given the prices, it's arguable that it was situational and likely the track was at least close to fair. The turf courses appeared to play fairly.
Friday, May 17
Fast / Good
Cloudy
70
Wind 5 to 15 MPH SE
Speed did well on the Main Track, but it wasn't a clear advantage, as likely the track played fairly. There was one race on each turf course, and likely the Outer was close to Firm with the Inner on the Good side of Firm. Nothing to suggest any bias on either course.
Thursday, May 16
Muddy ( sealed ) / Off
Cloudy
63
Wind 15 to 25 MPH North
While speed did well, and margins were exaggerated in some races, we saw many logical results and fairly run races. A lot of the running was done off the rail but it's not clear the rail was bad. Worth following though few horses raced right down on the inside.
Sunday, May 12
Muddy ( sealed ) 1-3; Muddy ( Harrowed ) 4-6; Good 7&9 / Good ( 8 )
Showers early, cleared late
52
Wind 10 to 20 MPH SE
Arguably speed was an advantage, at least early, but given the changing track conditions it's hard to be overly confident about the track. One consistency was that the rail was good and a possible advantage. There was one race on the ( Outer ) Turf course and it likely played fairly. The pace mostly collapsed.
Saturday, May 11
Fast / Good
Clear
61
Wind 10 to 20 MPH SE
The rail was good on the Main Track but there's no real evidence it was a significant advantage, as overall the course played fairly. There were two races on each turf course, and they both appeared to play fairly. The rails were down to zero on the Inner for the first time since 4/21 but there is no evidence the course was at all biased.
Friday, May 10
Muddy ( sealed ) / Off
Showery
53
Wind 15 to 25 MPH East
While speed did fairly well, it was mostly situational with logical results, and overall the track played fairly.
Thursday, May 9
Fast / Firm
Cloudy
69
Wind 5 to 15 MPH SE
The Main Track played fairly, as did both turf courses. There was only one race on each course. The rails were out 24 feet on the Outer Turf and 27 feet on the Inner.
Sunday, May 5
Fast ( 1, 4, 5 ); Good ( sealed ) 6-8 / Firm
Showery
54
Wind 15 to 25 MPH SE
While speed did well when the track was harrowed, and the rail was good, the results were logical. It's worth considering that speed was an advantage when the track was sealed after the 5th race. There was one race on each turf course, with the race on the Inner being won wire to wire, but likely the courses continue to play fairly.
Saturday, May 4
Fast / Firm
Cloudy
62
Wind 15 to 25 MPH SE
The rail was good on the Main Track, but no apparent advantage, as the course played fairly. Both turf courses appeared to play fairly too.
Friday, May 3
Fast / Firm
Cloudy
60
Wind 15 to 25 MPH SE
The rail was good on the Main Track, but overall the track played fairly. The rails are out 12 feet on the Outer Turf and 18 on the Inner Turf. There were two races on each course and they both played fairly.
Thursday, May 2
Fast / Firm
Clear
69
Wind 5 to 15 MPH South
The Main Track played fairly. There were two turf races, both on the Outer Course with the rails out 12 feet, and they played fairly (one a sprint, one a route).
Sunday, April 28
Fast / Firm
Clear
67
Wind 10 to 20 MPH South
The rail was good on the Main Track but the track played fairly. Both turf courses played fairly as well.
Saturday, April 27
Fast / Firm
Clear
58
Wind 15 to 25 MPH South
All surfaces, turf and dirt, played fairly.
Friday, April 26
Fast / Firm
Clear
58
Wind 10 to 20 MPH South
The Main Track played fairly. There were two races on the Inner Turf and one on the Outer. Worth entertaining there was an edge to saving ground on the Inner but it also may just be due to ground loss, or lack thereof.
Thursday, April 25
Fast / Firm
Clear
55
Wind 10 to 20 MPH SE
While speed did well on the Main Track, overall the track likely played fairly. The rails were out 9 feet on the Inner Turf and 36 feet on the Outer. With one race on each course, it’s hard to say there were any trends and likely they played fairly.
Sunday, April 21
Fast / Firm
Cloudy
53
Wind 10 to 20 MPH West
While forward horses dominated the five dirt races, the results were fairly logical, and likely the track played fairly. There were two races on the Outer Turf and one on the Inner. There did not appear to be any noticeable biases.
Saturday, April 20
Fast / Good
Clear
60
Wind 10 to 20 MPH SW
While a lot of the best running was done outside on the Main Track, it was likely situational, as the dirt appeared to play fairly. There was a race on each turf course, the 9th was taken off the turf after some light rain in the morning, and with logical results there is no real way to determine any bias. Likely the courses were fair. They were labelled "good" but likely were Firm.
Friday, April 19
Fast
Clear
56
Wind 15 to 25 MPH SE
Speed did well but likely the track played fairly.
Thursday, April 18
Fast
Cloudy
48
Wind 15 to 25 MPH NE
While much of the effective running was done at least a little off the rail, there is no argument the rail was dead, and likely the track played fairly.
Sunday, April 14
Fast
Cloudy
66
Wind 10 to 20 MPH South
The rail was good, though not a clear advantage, as the track played fairly.
Saturday, April 13
Fast
Cloudy
53
Wind 15 to 25 MPH West
Speed did well, but with mostly logical results, the track was likely at least reasonably fair.
Friday, April 12
Sloppy ( sealed ) 1-5; Muddy ( sealed ) 6-8
Early showers/cloudy later
59
Wind 15 to 25 MPH SW
Speed appeared to be dominant early in the card, but the track got fairer as the day wore on. Not clear it was a strong bias early but worth considering.
Thursday, April 11
Fast
Cloudy
59
Wind 15 to 25 MPH SE
The track played fairly.
Sunday, April 7
Fast
Clear
53
Wind 15 to 25 MPH North
The rail was a distinct advantage.
Saturday, April 6
Fast
Clear
48
Wind 15 to 25 MPH North
There is an argument that the rail was an advantage, perhaps it abated during the day, with the track playing at least relatively fairly as the day wore on.
Friday, April 5
Fast
Cloudy
47
Wind 15 to 25 MPH West
While speed did well in many races, the track likely played fairly.
Thursday, April 4
Good ( 1-2 ); Fast ( 3-8 )
Cloudy
46
Wind 15 to 25 MPH NW
The track played fairly.
Saturday, March 30
Fast
Clear
56
Wind 15 to 25 MPH West
While the rail was good today, and at least some kind of advantage, it was mostly an extreme speed bias as making up ground was pretty much non-existent throughout the day.
Friday, March 29
Good ( 1); Fast ( 2-8 )
Clear
54
Wind 15 to 25 MPH NW
The track played fairly, though most of the running was done at least one path off the rail. No definitive proof the rail was bad.
Thursday, March 28
Sloppy ( sealed )
Rainy
51
Wind 15 to 25 MPH North
Speed dominated throughout the day, though with many logical results it’s hard to be certain it was a strong bias, though few horses made significant closes. While much of the best running was done outside, we saw horses make effective runs inside.
Sunday, March 24
Fast
Clear
45
Wind 15 to 25 MPH North
The track played fairly. The rail was good but no clear advantage.
Friday, March 22
Fast
Clear
53
Wind 10 to 20 MPH South
The track played fairly.
Thursday, March 21
Fast
Clear
42
Wind 15 to 25 MPH NW
The rail was good but overall the track played fairly
Sunday, March 17
Fast
Clear
60
Wind 15 to 25 MPH West
The rail was good, if not an advantage, and the track played fairly.
Saturday, March 16
Fast
Clear
56
Wind 15 to 25 MPH South
The track played fairly.
Friday, March 15
Fast
Cloudy
68
Wind 15 to 25 MPH NW
While speed seemed to do well, they were mostly logical results, as overall the track played fairly.
Thursday, March 14
Fast
Clear
66
Wind 5 to 10 MPH South
Most of the best running was done at least a path or two off the rail, but there is no clear evidence the rail was bad, though it might be worth following. Likely the track played fairly.
Sunday, March 10
Muddy ( sealed )
Cloudy
50
Wind 15 to 25 MPH West
Most of the best running in the stretch was done well off the rail. Whether or not the rail was bad is hard to know as a lot of successful runners stayed at least close to the inside prior to the stretch. Speed and closers were effective during the day suggesting the track was fair from that standpoint.
Saturday, March 9
Fast 1-4; Fast ( Sealed ) 5-6; Good ( sealed ) 7; Muddy ( sealed ) 8-9
Rainy
44
Wind 15 to 25 MPH East
Hard to make trends as the track changed quite a bit during the day. Speed could have been an advantage early, but likely the track was playing fairly. A case could be made that as the track got wetter, particularly for the 8th and 9th races, the outside paths were the place to be. However, race dynamics likely played a strong role in closers dominating the second half of the card.
Friday, March 8
Fast
Clear
52
Wind 5 to 15 MPH East
Much of the better running seemed to be done off the inside but there is no clear evidence the rail was bad, especially as the day wore on. While it was possible to close, speed was a distinct advantage.
Thursday, March 7
Muddy ( sealed )
Cloudy
52
Wind 15 to 25 MPH North
Speed was dominant throughout the day with the best running being done off the inside. Possible the rail was bad. Worth following.
Sunday, March 3
Muddy ( sealed )
Clear
62
Wind 5 to 10 MPH NW
The track played fairly.
Saturday, March 2
Sloppy ( sealed )
Rainy
50
Wind 15 to 25 MPH East
Riders stayed well clear of the inside, more so as the day wore on, and it's reasonable to question the inside. Horses ran well at least close to the inside in the 4th and 5th races, but given the rain, it's hard to say the track was consistent throughout the day. We did see speed and closers fair well, though speed could have been an edge in the second half of the card. Not clear however.
Friday, March 1
Fast
Clear
43
Wind 10 to 20 MPH South
Much like 2/29, the rail was likely not the best place to be, and the track played with an outside flow.
Thursday, February 29
Fast
Cloudy
40
Wind 15 to 25 MPH West
While the rail likely wasn’t dead, the track did have a significant outside flow, and moving in the middle of the track was likely beneficial.
Sunday, February 25
Fast
Clear
36
Wind 5 to 10 MPH South
Despite riders staying away from the rail for the most part, there is no evidence the rail was bad, and the track played fairly.
Saturday, February 24
Fast
Clear
43
Wind 15 to 25 MPH North
The rail was good but not an apparent advantage as overall the track played fairly.
Friday, February 23
Fast
Cloudy
47
Wind 5 to 10 MPH North
There is an argument the track had a bit of an outside flow, but it may also have a bit circumstantial, as there is no real evidence the rail was bad. Mostly just a fair track.
Monday, February 19
Fast
Clear
40
Wind 10 to 20 MPH NW
Speed did well but the track likely played fairly.
Sunday, February 18
Fast
Clear
38
Wind 15 to 25 MPH West
The track played fairly.
Saturday, February 17
Good
Cloudy/Flurries
37
Wind 15 to 25 MPH NW
The riders mostly stayed off the inside, with pretty much all the effective running done well off the rail, but whether the rail was bad is debatable. In the 4th race the runner up battled back down on the rail which lends at least some ambiguity to things. Probably worth following.
Friday, February 16
Fast
Clear
41
Wind 15 to 25 MPH NW
The track played fairly.
Sunday, February 11
Fast
Cloudy
48
Wind 5 to 15 MPH NW
The track played fairly.
Saturday, February 10
Fast
Cloudy
55
Wind 5 to 15 MPH WSW
The rail was good but not a clear advantage as the track played fairly.
Friday, February 9
Fast
Clear
50
Wind 10 to 25 MPH South
The rail was likely an advantage, but as the day wore on, the track appeared to be playing fairly.
Sunday, February 4
Good
Clear
43
Wind 5 to 15 MPH NW
The rail continues to be a significant advantage. While we saw some horses close effectively outside, saving ground at some point helped, to say the least.
Saturday, February 3
Muddy ( sealed )
Clear
40
Wind 10 to 20 MPH North
The rail was very good and a significant advantage. We saw some aberrational performances where horses were effective closing outside, but being inside was very helpful.
Friday, February 2
Sloppy ( sealed )
Showers
43
Wind 15 to 25 MPH North
Speed did well but we saw plenty of horses run effectively from behind depending on race dynamics. The rail was subtly an advantage, though runners did well wide, and the riders seemed to stay away from the inside much of the day.
Sloppy ( sealed )
Showers
40
Wind 15 to 25 MPH NE
All the effective running was done well out into the track. Some closers were effective but it may have helped to be forward.
Muddy ( sealed )
Cloudy
46
Wind 5 to 15 MPH North
Another day where the majority of the running was done well out into the track but there were horses than ran effectively at least close to the rail. Closers and speed horses were effective throughout the day. Likely a reasonably fair track.
Friday, January 26
Sloppy ( sealed )
Cloudy
46
Wind 5 to 15 MPH North
While a lot of runners stayed clear of the rail, we saw horses do well, even rally, near the inside. Overall, the track played fairly.
Friday, January 19
Fast
Snowing
30
Wind 15 to 25 MPH NE
While we saw some effective closers, and outside moves, the rail continues to be an advantage. The track, for the second day in a row, produced especially slow times. There were larger than normal gaps between finishers in many of the races.
Thursday, January 18
Fast
Cloudy
32
Wind 10 to 20 MPH West
While we saw some effective running off the rail, the inside/rail was a significant advantage.
Sunday, January 14
Fast
Clear
40
Wind 15 to 25 MPH West
The track played fairly.
Saturday, January 13
Sloppy ( sealed )
Cloudy
45
Wind 15 to 25 MPH West
While riders mostly stayed away from the rail early, and all the best running was done wide, it's arguable that changed as the day wore on and the inside, at least the two path, was OK. Worth following but not a clear bad inside.
Friday, January 12
Fast
Clear
47
Wind 10 to 20 MPH SE
The track was playing much quicker but the rail continues to be dead.
Thursday, January 11
Fast
Clear
46
Wind 15 to 25 MPH West
All the effective running was done well off the rail and there is a strong argument that the rail was dead. Worth following.
Sunday, January 7
Sloppy ( sealed )
Showery
36
Wind 15 to 25 MPH NW
The track was sloppy from heavy overnight rains. Most of the effective running was done well off the rail. It seemed like the inside few paths were bad, at least early, but as the day wore on there's some question of whether or not the inside was bad. Still, likely best wide, often the wider the better, and worth following horses that ran inside.
Saturday, January 6
Fast
Cloudy
34
Wind 15 to 25 MPH East
The rail was good, if not an advantage, and the track played fairly.
Friday, January 5
Fast
37
Wind 10 to 20 MPH West
The track played fairly and the rail was good.
Thursday, January 4
Fast
Clear
44
Wind 15 to 25 MPH NW
The track played fairly though there is an argument that the rail was an advantage. Worth following.
Monday, January 1
Fast
Cloudy
44
Wind 5 to 15 MPH North
The track played fairly, but there is a reasonable argument that the rail was an advantage.
Download previous years' track trends below:
Gambling Problems? The New York Racing Association encourages responsible wagering. If gambling is a problem for you or someone you care about, help is available 24 hours a day. Scan here to talk with someone now about your gambling. Or call toll-free 1-877-8-HOPE-NY.
Privacy Policy | Ethics | About NYRA | Careers | Do Not Sell My Information