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La Plata has canceled the Criadores, and the two-year-old selection process got off to a bad start

Writer's picture: Turf DiarioTurf Diario

After a 2024 in which the two-year-olds endured constant reschedulings, this year's opening race will not take place on its scheduled day


Sapporo is one of the confirmed runners for the Novara / HLP
Sapporo is one of the confirmed runners for the Novara / HLP

LA PLATA.- The self-destructive power of La Plata’s turf is undeniable. In 2024, the two-year-old selection process unraveled in a haphazard fashion—with a slew of races being rescheduled and even the Provincia de Buenos Aires (G2) running after the Dardo Rocha (G1)—ruining any chance of a Triple Crown.

This season appears to be following a similar trajectory. The Clásico Criadores Argentinos del Sangre Pura de Carrera (Listed), slated to run over 1,000 meters on Tuesday, February 11—paving the hierarchical path for two-year-olds—has been canceled.

With a paltry purse and scheduled merely one week after Palermo’s Guillermo Kemmis (G3)—a race in which only six horses participated—the event had attracted 10 entries. Naturally, it’s unclear how many were ultimately confirmed, as La Plata doesn’t provide that information (unlike Palermo or San Isidro). The bottom line is that the race will be rescheduled, disrupting the logical progression of the calendar.

La Plata has long been mishandling everything, despite having the state’s power and resources (if only the repair fund were to arrive, of course…) to transform it into the world’s premier racecourse. Instead, the decision seems to have been to destroy it.

By placing individuals in administration and on the racing committee who may have all the goodwill in the world—but no idea what turf racing is all about—the downfall is steep in every sense, and the future looks bleak.

With just two planning meetings, a mere 20 races (10 per day) were organized. A dismal outlook indeed looms.

Meanwhile, on Thursday the 13th, the Clásico Fortunato Novara (G3) will run over one mile on dirt for horses aged three and older under a weight-for-age scale.

Of the 28 entries, only 8 were confirmed, with standouts including Es Aristocrático (Angiolo), Sapporo (Japan), and Storm Sound (Hi Happy).

Also in the mix are: D'Or Van (Van Nistelrooy), Don Taimado (Il Campione), Gritalo Carlitos (Malenchini), Hilando Fino (Safety Check), and Torreón del Monje (Angiolo).

La Plata’s course has long been lost, and there seems to be no clear plan to right it. Nothing is being rethought—mistakes are being repeated, and, worse yet, they’re deepening.

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