Track Trends

NYRA handicapper Andy Serling provides daily analysis of track trends and conditions at The Big A in an attempt to share his thoughts and insights into any possible track biases. This can be a helpful resource for handicappers as track conditions can change from one day to the next.

Belmont Park Track Trends Saratoga Track Trends

2022

Sunday, April 24

Fast / Firm

Clear

Wind 15 to 12 MPH NW

The rail was good on the Main Track but not the clear advantage it has been for the last two weeks. The turf courses played fairly though speed did well overall.

Saturday, April 23

Fast / Firm

Cloudy

Wind 8 MPH NNW

There is an argument the Main Track was more fair than it has been in two weeks, but ultimately the rail was an advantage, if not as strong as recent days. The turf courses played fairly.

Friday, April 22

Fast / Firm

Clear

Wind 13 to 11 MPH SE

The rail was a significant advantage, with several bigger priced horses riding it to victory, on the main track. The turf courses appeared to play fairly, with two on the Outer and one on the Inner.

Thursday, April 21

Fast / Good

Clear

Wind 17 to 14 MPH NNE

Speed and the inside were major advantages on the Main Track, particularly saving ground. There were two turf races, both sprints on the Outer course, and they appeared to play fairly but it's hard to have a definitive opinion.

Saturday, April 16

Fast / Firm

Clear

Wind 14 to 18 MPH NE

The rail was very strong on the Main Track and speed appeared to be an advantage as well. Saving ground on both turf courses also appeared to be an advantage.

Friday, April 15

Fast / Firm

Clear

Wind 10 to 14 MPH NE

The inside and speed were once again an advantage, perhaps not as strong as 4/14, but still a decided edge. Saving ground appeared to help in the turf races, on both courses, but it may have been more about logical horses getting good trips than an actual bias.

Thursday, April 14

Fast / Firm

Clear

Wind 9 to 12 MPH NNE

Inside speed was extremely good on the main track. Horses did not make up a lot of ground on the dirt. The rails were down on the Inner Turf. The two races played fairly. The rails were at 12 feet on the Outer Turf. Hard to know for sure but the course was probably fair.

Sunday, April 10

Fast / Good

Clear

Wind 16 MPH SE

The rail was an advantage, though how strong is debatable, on the Main Track. The rail continued to be an advantage on the Outer Turf. The Inner Turf appeared to play fairly.

Saturday, April 9

Fast / Good

Cloudy

Wind 14 to 8 MPH East

Forwardly placed horses dominated the dirt races, save the Wood Memorial, but there’s a reasonable argument that with mostly logical results the track was at least relatively fair. The rail was good but also not necessarily a significant advantage. Back on the turf for two races on each course. With the rails at zero on the Outer, much like other meets, it’s arguable the inside was a distinct advantage and outside movers were compromised. The rails were at 18 feet on the Inner Turf, and while saving ground was beneficial, it likely wasn’t a distinct surface bias. Worth seeing how the following day’s races play out on the grass.

Friday, April 8

Good ( 1-4 ) Fast ( 5-8 )

Clear

Wind 10 MPH NE

The rail may have been an advantage, though it was possible to make effective runs on the outside. It seems like there may have been some exaggerated performances by inside speed winners.

Thursday, April 7

Sloppy ( sealed )

Rain

Wind 16 to 18 MPH SE to WNW

Mos of the running was done well off the rail. Speed appeared to be a decided advantage, but we did see some running from behind, and the results were very logical for the most part.

Sunday, April 3

Muddy ( sealed )

Showery

Wind 7 MPH SE to NW to NE

Most of the running was done off the rail, especially in the stretch, and there may be a strong argument the rail was dead. Worth following.

Saturday, April 2

Fast

Clear

Wind 10 to 8 MPH SE to NE

While forwardly placed horses dominated, it was mostly logical results, and overall, the track played fairly.

Friday, April 1

Fast

Muddy ( Sealed 1-3, Harrowed 4-8 )

Wind 17 to 20 MPH East

Most of the running was done at least a path or two off the rail. Not clear the rail was bad as few moved inside. Worth watching going forward.

Thursday, March 31

Fast

Cloudy

Wind 17 to 20 MPH North

The track appeared to play fairly.

Sunday, March 27

Fast

Cloudy

Wind 14 to 18 MPH SE

Speed or forwardly placed horses dominated. For the most part results were at least somewhat logical. It seemed possible to close despite speed dominating. Likely fair but worth following going forward.

Saturday, March 26

Fast ( 1-3 ); Good ( sealed ) 4-10

Cloudy

Wind 9 to 13 MPH NE

There were brief showers between the 3^rd and 4^th races. The track was sealed for the remainder of the card with the track listed as good. While a lot of the running was done on outside paths, horses ran fine on the rail, and the track appeared to play fairly overall with a considerable amount of logical results.

Friday, March 25

Good

Cloudy

Wind 9 to 15 MPH NE

The track played fairly

Sunday, March 20

Fast

Cloudy

Wind 15 MPH ESE

There is an argument that the rail was dead. Most of the running was done at least a path or more off the inside. Worth following. Unlike the prior day, 3/19, speed did not appear to be a distinct advantage.

Saturday, March 19

Fast

Cloudy

Wind 7 to 13 MPH NW

Forwardly placed horses dominated the races with very few horses making up significant and/or meaningful ground.

Friday, March 18

Fast

Clear

Wind 5 to 9 MPH NE to NW

The track was fair.

Sunday, March 13

Fast

Clear

Wind 14 to 16 MPH NE

While most of the running was done outside, and it’s possible the rail was not the best place to be, there is some evidence to suggest otherwise. Worth following going forward. Speed and closers did well throughout the day.

Friday, March 11

Good ( 1-2 ) Fast ( 3-9 )

Clear

Wind 9 to 11 MPH NW

A very tricky day to judge. There are races, particularly the 1st, 2nd, 5th, 6th, and even the 7th, where a solid case can be made the rail was a significant advantage, with outside runners compromised. However, the 3rd, and particularly the 4th, would argue otherwise. While it seems unlikely a track would change like that, it's worth following the horses from these races going forward.

Sunday, March 6

Fast

Cloudy

Wind 11 to 14 MPH NE

While much of the running was done at least a little bit off the inside there is no evidence the rail was bad. Overall, the track appeared to play fairly.

Saturday, March 5

Fast

Cloudy

Wind 7 to 11 MPH North to NNW

Overall, the track played fairly with logical results for the most part.

Friday, March 4

Fast

Clear

Wind 9 to 11 MPH NE

While the rail was good, and speed did well, it likely wasn't an advantage as the races seemed to play out logically and fairly.

Sunday, February 27

Fast

Clear

Wind 16 MPH ENE

The rail was good though not a clear advantage as the track appeared to play fairly throughout the day.

Saturday, February 26

Good ( 1-5 ) / Fast ( 6-9 )

Clear

Wind 7 to 10 MPH SE to ENE

The rail was good, but not clearly a big advantage, as for the most part the track played fairly, though speed did well.

Friday, February 25

Sloppy ( sealed )

Cloudy

Wind 8 to 16 MPH SE

Most of the running was done off the rail, some of it well clear. Hard to know if the rail was bad as some horses did OK that were at least close to the inside. Other than that, speed and closers did well throughout the day.

Thursday, February 24

Fast

Cloudy

Wind 7 to 5 MPH SW to West

The track appeared to play fairly through the first six races. The track appeared to speed up quite a bit for the last two races, both of which were won wire to wire, one by a longshot. It's possible the track changed. Worth keeping an eye on.

Monday, February 21

Fast

Clear

Wind 8 MPH NE to North

The track played fairly. The rail was good but not a clear advantage.

Sunday, February 20

Fast

Clear

Wind 9 to 14 MPH NE

There is a strong argument the rail was a decided edge at least for the last three races, and perhaps throughout the day. Horses did OK outside over the first six races, but there is evidence the inside was a strong advantage at least late in the card. Worth following.

Saturday, February 19

Fast

Cloudy

Wind 16 to 20 MPH NE to East

The track appears to have played fairly throughout the day

Friday, February 18

Muddy ( Harrowed )

Clear

Wind 19 to 17 MPH SE

The track appeared to play fairly throughout the day

Sunday, February 13

Sloppy ( sealed )

Snowing

Wind 7 to 9 MPH SW

Most of the running was down off the rail, and perhaps inside was not the place to be, but there were enough horses that ran respectably inside to suggest it wasn't a dead rail. Worth following.

Saturday, February 12

Fast

Clear

Wind 12 to 14 MPH East

While much of the running was done off the inside, horses seemed to run OK towards the rail suggesting that, overall, the track was fair.

Friday, February 11

Fast

Clear

Wind 10 to 13 MPH North

Another day where it could appear that the track changed, as the first half of the card was dominated by outside movers and the second half of the card, three of the four races were wired inside. I am skeptical that the track changed and think it may have been more a case of race dynamics and fairly logical results throughout the day.

Thursday, February 10

Good

Clear

Wind 15 to 11 MPH NE to ENE

No strong evidence there was any real bias. Likely the track was fair.

Sunday, February 6

Good

Clear

Wind 6 MPH NW

Tough day as it began looking like the rail continued to be dead ( like the previous three days of racing ) though it may have been a case of riders mostly staying away from the inside. There were some hints it wasn't bad, then starting with the 6^th race, it was arguably a very strong inside. Seemingly, this wasn't the case in the 9^th race. As you can see, some apparent ambiguities. Probably worth monitoring going forward.

Saturday, February 5

Muddy ( Harrowed )

Clear

Wind 18 to 16 MPH SE

The rail was dead for the 3^rd day in a row. The track remained wet, but unlike the prior two days, it was harrowed. Speed did fine as long as you were off the rail.

Friday, February 4

Sloppy ( sealed )

Rainy

Wind 10 to 13 MPH SSE

The rail was once again dead on much of the most effective running was done well off the inside. Forwardly placed horses did well but it was possible to come from well back.

Thursday, February 3

Good ( sealed )

Foggy

Wind 4 MPH NW

The rail was pretty clearly not the place to be. Much of the best running was done well out into the track. You could be successful being forwardly placed as long as you were off the inside. The fog got particularly thick late in the day causing the cancellation of the last race.

Friday, January 28

Fast

Flurries

Wind 3 to 6 MPH SE to SW

Another day where the first four races appeared to be a clear inside advantage with the final five races appearing to play out fairly.

Thursday, January 27

Fast

Clear

Wind 8 to 10 MPH NNE

Lots of ambiguities to today's racetrack. Some races, like the first half of the card, made it seem like a strong inside. However, even in there we saw some horses over perform with outside trips ( the third finisher in the 2^nd race ). A longshot won the 6^th with a three wide trip. The rail was likely a good place to be, but perhaps not the advantage we have seen for much of the prior four weeks. Worth following.

Sunday, January 23

Fast

Clear

Wind 9 MPH NE

Once again, the rail was a significant advantage. It wasn't speed as much as saving ground that was essential.

Saturday, January 22

Fast

Clear

Wind 6 to 3 MPH SW to ESE

The rail was extremely strong and as significant an advantage as any day this meet. You didn't have to be speed as long as you spent the majority of the race inside.

Thursday, January 20

Sloppy ( sealed )

Cloudy

Wind 14 MPH SE

Speed was pretty dominant during the day but it may be more a case of the rail being an advantage.

Sunday, January 16

Fast

Clear

Wind 8 to 13 MPH SW

The rail was a distinct advantage. Subsequently speed did well but it likely had more to do with the rail being strong.

Friday, January 14

Fast

Clear

Wind 21 MPH South

There was a strong headwind down the backstretch, which likely contributed to the slower fractions, and the track overall produced slow final times. The races played out fairly with race dynamics the biggest factor to race flows.

Thursday, January 13

Fast

Clear

Wind 4 MPH SE to SW/WSW

The rail was a gigantic advantage through the first half of the card. It likely began to mitigate around the 5 ^th or 6^th race, whereupon it may have been a slight advantage but not like the first four races. Unusual day.

Sunday, January 9

Fast

Cloudy

Wind 16 to 13 MPH NE

The track appeared to play fairly. The rail was good but not a clear advantage.

Saturday, January 8

Fast

Clear

Wind 8 to 2 MPH SE to East

Some confusing signs, as there were times when speed seemed like a distinct advantage, but ultimately there were too many closers that did well enough, at least, to say the track was strongly biased. Probably a fair track but also worth following going forward.

Thursday, January 6

Good ( harrowed )

Cloudy

Wind 11 to 9 MPH East

The track played fairly. It was labelled Good but there did not appear to be a lot of moisture in the track. The wind may have contributed to fast early paces in many races relative to the slow final fractions.

Sunday, January 2

Muddy ( sealed )

Cloudy

Wind 10 to 8 MPH ENE to SE

Speed did well, but not as well as the prior days, and it appeared that it was more about the rail than speed. The horses that closed, or overachieved, rode the rail for the better part of the race.

Saturday, January 1

Sloppy ( sealed )

Showers

Wind 7 to 4 MPH NNE to NNW

The track was extremely kind to speed and, outside of the last winner, closing any significant ground was very difficult. The rail was also an advantage.

Download previous years' track trends below:

2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016