A GOOD WEEK ALL AROUND

By any measure Travers Day 2024 was a success for horse racing and the New York Racing Association.  On a stellar weather day, a large crowd wagered a record amount on a 14-race program of high-class racing. Despite the length of the day the races were run with approximately 30-minute intervals between races allowing a pace that matched the excitement on the track. There were no 45-minute lags between races that too often sap the energy out of the building on big days. With good racing, good weather and a pace maintaining the excitement of the day, the NYRA was rewarded with a record all-sources betting handle exceeding $63 million dollars – easily a Travers Day record.

The race itself was a thrilling, if not artistic, event with the early pace being surprisingly slow as most jockeys reserved their mounts early in the race. These tactics perhaps revealed a lack of confidence in their mounts’ ability to get the taxing mile and one quarter distance, but it resulted in a pace less affair with Fierceness finally gaining the lead decisively at the top of the stretch. When the filly  – Thorpedo Anna – made a last second run at the leader the collective accelerating pulse of the crowd was palpable.  She steadily gained on the leader in the final 70 yards only to come up shy by a diminishing head before an enthusiastic crowd. While Fierceness held on to win, much like Zenyatta and Seattle Slew before her, Thorpedo Anna gained more respect in defeat than she had in all her previous victories. Running against colts was a sporting gesture by her connections benefitting fans and the sport and they should be applauded. 

OBSERVATIONS

One of the benefits of writing this column is having people approach me with their observations on a number of topics. This year the reviews of Travers Day by knowledgeable fans was uniformly positive. 

More than one fan welcomed the fast pace of Saturday’s card in the later afternoon, with the truncated times of approximately 30 minutes between races. A veteran attendee observed “Wow, the whole experience of going to the Travers was well beyond my expectations – big fun crowd but not too crowded -easy to get make a bet, get a drink or food and no bathroom line. The racing was fantastic on a sun splashed day – a big win for horse racing.”

The other welcome consensus was the openness of the grounds as compared to Belmont Stakes Day which had far more private areas blocking fans.  Giving fans the ability to get close to the paddock and see the horses unobstructed appears to be the number one desire of most fans. The New York Racing Association would be well served to limit the private areas around the facility and give the fans the ability to be close to the paddock and move about as they desire.  It’s hard to overestimate how important this is to the on track experience and the main thing that keeps fans coming back.

NOTE: The cordoning off of the area in the Paddock Bar adjacent to the paddock is an unwise and unwelcome recent development. It should be undone. Forcing  average fans to cram into the small area near the bathrooms to see into the paddock clearly sends the message that the most ardent fans are not fully appreciated. 

ART ROONEY 

There is nothing quite as valuable as a good reputation, particularly one which defines how you are remembered.  As a teenager on the racetrack, I was often told of the stellar reputation of Art Rooney. His accomplishments in the world racing and sports are too many to list here but a quick google search will reveal their scope. As impressive as his accomplishments were, it’s the personal aspect that is most important and lasting. In a conversation this week, with a racetrack veteran recounting a story that took place more than 60 years ago Art Rooney’s reputation of humility, generosity and kindness has clearly survived the test of time. It’s rare that someone is remembered so well so uniformly (36 years after his passing). That the stories of his character are legion and still being remembered in a personal way more than 60 years after the fact is truly remarkable and legacy and one we should all strive to attain.