Letter to the Editor: Davant Latham

I did not read T.D. Thornton's story on the decline of Memorial Day racing until Tuesday, as I was traveling yesterday. However it was a topic my traveling companion and I were discussing as we drove. The tracks have piled all the major stakes into “Big Day cards” and the drawing power of such cards is significant. However Belmont's decision to move the Met Mile to Belmont Saturday puzzles me. Would a significant Memorial Day card not act as a good feeder for Belmont Day five days later?

We were remembering that amazing “Belmont Week” when Woody Stephens led Conquistador Cielo over to defeat older horses in the Met Mile and five days later brought him back to win the Belmont! An historic feat that, at the time, was known to be unlikely to ever be repeated, and with the current scheduling will never be repeated.

I believe a big Memorial Day card headed by the Met Mile could kick off a series of Big Belmont Week events that would lead to more interest and bigger crowds on Belmont Day. As fewer Derby starters seem to compete in the Belmont every year, perhaps some intrepid trainer with a talented 3-year-old that missed the Derby, would “old school” that colt into an attempt at the Met Mile/Belmont Double!

Sincerely, Davant Latham

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