Explain this to me, please? One of the horses in my Equibase virtual stable is entered in two claiming races this week, at tracks 2+ hours apart. One race is Thursday, the next is Friday. I am a total racing neophyte, so while I’m hoping there’s an explanation, I’m curious as to what it might be. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a horse race back to back, but I’ve seen them race twice in a week or so.
Educate me?
It’s not totally unusual to see a horse cross-entered in two races. One of the races may not go if there aren’t enough entries. Or they will scratch out of one.
I have seen horses run two days in a row but not very often. Most likely the horse will be scratched from one of them.
OK. That’s kind of what I was thinking.
Are there specific reasons for running two days in a row? Conversely, what’s the reasoning behind entering two races knowing you’ll scratch out of one? (That costs the trainer/owner money, right?) I’m guessing if the tracks are only 2 hours apart, it’s not likely going to be weather-related, so is it based on who else is entered and whether your horse is likely to finish higher on the board in one versus the other?
No it doesn’t cost anything to enter but it can get you fined. They enter two races and run in whichever one ends up suiting their horse the best.
Sometimes they are looking to see who shows up where. Sometimes they get stuck on the “also eligible” list for a race that over fills and they enter back someplace else.
It’s quite common in the mid Atlantic where there are alot of tracks going all at once and trainers have access to tons of races.
Yes, sometimes you have to enter in more than one race because one or both of the 2 can get cancelled. Races only go if there are enough horses entered in them. I have never heard of a horse racing 2 days in a row - even a week is rare - normally see 10 days to 2 weeks or longer…
Barry Abrams would do it… But like the above have said, the horse will likely be scratched from one race
I think this is what happened. The horse is the first one listed as “also eligible” for the earlier of the two races. So if another horse in that first race scratched, the horse I’m watching could enter, and then would most likely be scratched from the race on the following day?
Thanks for helping out a newbie. 
Sometime the also eligible (“AE”) can get in, due to a scratch but opts out anyhow.
When I was a kid, Honky Tonk Babe won 2 races in 2 days at Yakima Meadows. Lots of horses still run as or almost as frequently at some of the short bush/fair meets.
This is kind of related, and it’s really bugging me now: There was a horse a few years back (5 or 6 maybe) that raced two days in a row and got a win and a second, or a second and a win. The horse had “Gold” or “Golden” in his name, possibly trained by Dutrow, I think it was at Monmouth…anyone have any idea who I’m thinking of?? It’s going to drive me crazy.
Golden Man.
[QUOTE=MightyBobbyMagee;6036634]
This is kind of related, and it’s really bugging me now: There was a horse a few years back (5 or 6 maybe) that raced two days in a row and got a win and a second, or a second and a win. The horse had “Gold” or “Golden” in his name, possibly trained by Dutrow, I think it was at Monmouth…anyone have any idea who I’m thinking of?? It’s going to drive me crazy.[/QUOTE]
Golden Man ran 3rd in a race at Delaware and the following day ran 2nd in a race at Monmouth. Both races were G3 stakes.
Check out Commercial Flyer, in April 2005 he ran three days in a row, winning two. He had also ran twice in the previous 9 days, winning both of those, for a total of 5 races in 11 days, winning 4 and running a total 14 miles.
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