Track Trends

NYRA handicapper Andy Serling provides daily analysis of track trends and conditions at beautiful Belmont Park 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.

Saratoga Track Trends | Aqueduct Track Trends

Thursday, June 1

Fast / Firm

Clear

81

Wind 10 to 20 MPH South

All courses, turf and dirt, played fairly.

Monday, May 29

Fast / Firm

Clear

77

Wind 15 to 25 MPH East

While most of the running on the Main Track was, once again, done off the inside, there is no evidence the rail was bad. In fact, based on the 9^th race, the rail was likely just fine. The turf courses continue to play fairly.

Sunday, May 28

Fast / Firm

Clear

75

Wind 10 to 20 MPH South

While arguably the Main Track had a bit of an outside flow, and it may have, the winner of the 1^st rode the rail, and given most riders stayed off the inside, it's hard to say the rail was bad. The turf courses continue to play fairly.

Saturday, May 27

Fast / Firm

Clear

76

Wind 5 to 10 MPH South

With logical results throughout the day, and a mix of running styles, it's fair to say all surfaces, dirt and turf, played fairly.

Friday, May 26

Fast / Firm

Clear

73

Wind 5 to 10 MPH South

There were only three dirt races and likely the Main Track played fairly though most of the running was done off the rail. The turf courses played fairly though forwardly placed horses dominated the mostly logical results.

Sunday, May 21

Good ( 1-4 ), Fast ( 5-9 )

Clear

72

Wind 15 to 25 MPH NW

Off the Turf after Saturday's rain. Almost all the running on the Main Track was done reasonably far off the rail. There is a fair argument that the rail was dead. Worth following.

Saturday, May 20

Sloppy ( sealed ) / Yielding ( 2^nd )

Rain

64

Wind 15 to 25 MPH East

It rained throughout the day with only the 2^nd remaining on the grass. There is an argument that speed was an advantage with few horses making up significant ground. Most riders avoided inside paths when possible. With one turf race there is no way to detect trends.

Friday, May 19

Fast / Firm

Clear

66

Wind 15 to 25 MPH South

All courses, turf and dirt, played fairly.

Thursday, May 18

Fast / Firm

Clear

56

Wind 10 to 20 MPH SE

Most of the running on the Main Track was done off the rail, but some effective running was done inside ( 1^st race ), which suggests the track was fair. The rails were out 18 feet on the Inner and 9 feet on the Widener and both courses appeared to play fairly.

Sunday, May 14

Fast / Firm

Clear

65

Wind 5 to 15 MPH North

The main track played fairly, as did the turf courses. Outside closers were effective on the Widener, but it didn't appear to be a prevailing bias.

Saturday, May 13

Fast / Firm

Cloudy

80

Wind 5 to 15 MPH SW

The Main Track played fairly. There is an argument that closers had an edge on the Turf, especially the Widener, but it may have had much more to do with race dynamics, and who the horses were, than any bias. Still, perhaps some food for thought.

Friday, May 12

Fast / Firm

Clear

72

Wind 15 to 25 MPH SW

All surfaces, turf and dirt, played fairly.

Thursday, May 11

Fast / Firm

Clear

77

Wind 10 to 20 MPH SW

The Main track played fairly though it's possible the best running was done at least a little off the rail. Might be worth following. Not a Dead Rail situation. The rails were out 9 feet on the Inner and 27 on the Widener. Both courses appeared to play fairly.

Sunday, May 7

Fast / Firm

Clear

72

Wind 5 to 10 MPH West shifting the 10 to 20 MPH SW

All courses, dirt and turf, appeared to play fairly.

Saturday, May 6

Fast / Firm

Clear

71

Wind 5 to 10 MPH West

The Main Track continues to play fairly with riders seemingly staying at least a little off the rail, though there isn't evidence the rail was bad. The turf courses, listed as firm for the first time, seemed to play fairly.

Friday, May 5

Fast / Good

Clear

60

Wind 5 to 15 MPH South

While most of the best running was done a path or two off the main track, horses once again ran well enough inside to suggest the track was fair. One turf race, again on each course, and they seemed to play fairly but it's hard to really know.

Thursday, May 4

Muddy ( sealed ) / Good

Cloudy

55

Wind 5 to 15 MPH NE

The Main Track appeared to play relatively fairly. Speed and closers did fine, and while runners seemed to stay a little off the rail, enough ran decently inside to suggest the inside was fine. There was one race on each turf course, making it hard to suggest any biases or trends. With the rails out 35 feet all week on the Inner Turf, the distances are considered "about" and the fractions should be taken with a grain of salt.

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