Posted on 04/30/2020 5:09:48 PM PDT by Libloather
The two divisions of the May 2 Arkansas Derby (G1) at Oaklawn Park continue to lose starters. Originally drawn with 11 horses apiece, they have nine-horse fields as of April 30.
The connections of four horses - Shooters Shoot and Wrecking Crew (first division) and Saratogian and Fast Enough (second division) - have informed the Oaklawn racing department they will be scratched. According to a news release issued by Oaklawn Park publicity, official scratch cards for Shooters Shoot and Wrecking Crew had already been submitted. Cards for Saratogian and Fast Enough are expected to be submitted Friday.
**SNIP**
If the race had not been split, some horses with modest earnings, potentially the lightly raced Charlatan, could have been excluded from an oversubscribed field limited to 14.
(Excerpt) Read more at bloodhorse.com ...
They should ESAD. They have no business scheduling their Derby in the midst of other tracks' racing calendars.
ML/NJ
There is no other 3yr old derby racing going on. There are only 4 active tracks in the country. The Kentucky Derby has been rescheduled for Labor Day.
But for the sport of horse racing, which is still operating in some places around the country in a fan-free capacity, having a Kentucky Derby rescheduled for Sept. 5 presented a unique challenge for the owners and trainers who think they can win it: Where do you run your horse in the meantime?
With limited opportunities for top 3-year-olds to race during this odd period where the Triple Crown has been delayed and racetracks in California, Kentucky and New York are closed, the eyes of the sport this weekend will be trained on Oaklawn Park in Hot Springs, Arkansas.
Taking advantage of the fact that Churchill Downs is still closed, Oaklawn moved its signature race for 3-year olds, the Arkansas Derby, from April 11 to this Saturday and had so much interest from owners that they’re going to run it twice.
Bob Baffert has another brilliant 3 year old named CHARLATAN...he runs Saturday in the first division Arkansas Derby...
You are clueless. The Travers is scheduled for the week before. The PA Derby usually runs, I think, on Labor Day.
ML / NJ
Did you hear about the pandemic? What’s below clueless?
https://www.cnn.com/2020/03/16/us/kentucky-derby-postponed/index.html
What’s the point? If you can’t go live in person, it ain’t the same.
We have reservations in Saratoga for the last week in July. Cuomo said forget it. No Saratoga’s this year. Good grief.
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