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, January 16

Fast

Clear

28

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

40

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

44

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

38

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

28

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

37

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

54

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

53

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