JC / Railbird

New York

A Worthy Experiment

Select 2YOs from trainer Kiaran McLaughlin’s barn are running Lasix-free:

“There’s so much talk of no Lasix, we decided not to run them on it until they need it,” McLaughlin said Monday at [Saratoga]. “No one told me I had to do this, I decided it.”

Good for him.

9/15/11 Addendum: Jeff Scott looks closer: “Lest anyone get the impression that McLaughlin’s four juveniles were the only 2-year-old starters not running on Lasix at the Spa, Equibase charts show there were 60 altogether, and they came from the barns of 25 different trainers.”

Posted in Racing on September 6, 2011 / Tagged Darley, Drugs in Racing, International, Kiaran McLaughlin, Lasix, New York, Trainers

Shuttered

Almost 10 months after NYC OTB closed its doors for good, the New York Times visits the defunct betting parlors, finding most remain empty and unmourned by neighbors. (“Thank God they’re gone,” says one.) There’s a slideshow, unlikely to induce nostalgia (even in me, quoted as an occasional former patron, pro-OTB community), except possibly for retro signage.

Posted in Industry on August 29, 2011 / Tagged New York, New York Times, Not-stalgia, NYC OTB, NYC Real Estate, OTB Parlors

A Moment

… for the crumbling, charmless Aqueduct Racetrack subway stop, set to close on Saturday in advance of renovation for anticipated casino patrons.

The old station won’t be missed, but I get a real pang looking at pictures of the demolished outdoor grandstand seating and thinking about the loss of the unobstructed view afforded by the third floor seats overlooking the finish line.

The field for the 2010 Wood heading into the clubhouse turn.

4/8/11 Addendum: Week-by-week photos of the construction work at Aqueduct by Brooklyn Backstretch. Stunning, how much demolition is involved.

Posted in Miscellany on April 7, 2011 / Tagged A Train, Aqueduct, Casino Renovations, Lost View, New York, Subway Stops