Saturday, March 22, 2008

Closing weekend at Fair Grounds

This weekend is the final weekend of the Fair Grounds 2007-2008 meet. I think this has been one of the top two, if not the best, Fair Grounds meet that I have experienced. The racing at the top levels was outstanding, the jockey colony was the toughest I have ever seen it thanks to newcomers Bridgmohan and Leparoux, and the prominent new stables such as Larry Jones and Bill Mott were a welcome addition. Jones in particular made many of the dirt MSWs and Nw1x allowances for young horses competitive and thus, attractive betting events. While the racing at the higher claiming levels was average at best, that is mostly a reflection of the pool of available horses from which Fair Grounds draws.

I always have mixed feelings at the end of every Fair Grounds meet. It is relief to some extent because it becomes a burden to follow each day of racing at Fair Grounds. Yet, I am still sad knowing that it will be approximately eight months until horses are racing again at the Gentilly oval. The knowledge that the major 3yo preps and the Keeneland Spring meet are up ahead certainly makes things better.

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