SPA Opening Day 7/10/25

[Papillon]

Thx Papillon, did not know that. So only half as cool. Two years in the History of those two tracks
is still pretty rare. That must be an amazing make-over that Belmont is getting.

they have already torn down the massive old grandstand and will re-fit ... for maybe 50k max for The Belmont days

also--since Breeders Cup will be there in the fall of 2026 after The Spa ends their season-there is a sense of urgency to complete this in the next 13 months or so--i am not looking forward to the Tapeta track they are installing

the track is adjacent to where the Islanders play and I believe there is a soccer stadium in that complex

I have been to about 7 or 8 Belmonts and maybe 15x at the old track overall--when Birdstone beat Smarty Jones there was a reported 121k fans on site--i didn't notice I had box seats--i think after that they capped the crowd for obvious reasons

[Calhoun]

they have already torn down the massive old grandstand and will re-fit ... for maybe 50k max for The Belmont days

also--since Breeders Cup will be there in the fall of 2026 after The Spa ends their season-there is a sense of urgency to complete this in the next 13 months or so--i am not looking forward to the Tapeta track they are installing

the track is adjacent to where the Islanders play and I believe there is a soccer stadium in that complex

I have been to about 7 or 8 Belmonts and maybe 15x at the old track overall--when Birdstone beat Smarty Jones there was a reported 121k fans on site--i didn't notice I had box seats--i think after that they capped the crowd for obvious reasons

I was there the day Seattle Slew beat Affirmed in 1978. The grandstand shook.

Been to old Belmont about 20 times. What a great place.

I am not looking forward to the Synthetic either. I think sprints on the Synth will max out at 5.5 Furlongs. We'll probably see a lot of these all winter.

[Papillon]

I was there the day Seattle Slew beat Affirmed in 1978. The grandstand shook.

Been to old Belmont about 20 times. What a great place.

I am not looking forward to the Synthetic either. I think sprints on the Synth will max out at 5.5 Furlongs. We'll probably see a lot of these all winter.

NYRA has announced that all winter racing will be conducted on Tapeta--i would assume after the Cigar Mile weekend in November

one would imagine the rest of the year all races rained off the turf will be on Tapeta to avoid mass scratches

Gulfstream said the same--then they intentionally carded races on Tapeta whatever the weather was

trainers like Linda Rice and Rudy Rod and a few others have told NYRA they probably will race elsewhere in the winter

I will need another circuit to follow in 14 months

[Trigger]

NYRA has announced that all winter racing will be conducted on Tapeta--i would assume after the Cigar Mile weekend in November

one would imagine the rest of the year all races rained off the turf will be on Tapeta to avoid mass scratches

Gulfstream said the same--then they intentionally carded races on Tapeta whatever the weather was

trainers like Linda Rice and Rudy Rod and a few others have told NYRA they probably will race elsewhere in the winter

I will need another circuit to follow in 14 months

Winter racing for Woodbine.

[Papillon]

Winter racing for Woodbine.

I was following Woodbine until they put in a synthetic surface

[Trigger]

I was following Woodbine until they put in a synthetic surface

It's an abomination. 

They fuck tradition and history in the ass. 

Useless cunts!