Oswaldo Aranha and Eduardo Casey, the highlights of the upcoming week at La Plata

Will be run on Tuesday the 27th; on Saturday the 31st, 12 allowance races will be offered, as national racing continues to give away money that should be allocated to purses, in the face of leadership passivity...

Es Aristocrático will run in the Clásico Oswaldo Aranha / HLP

LA PLATA.— On Monday, this city’s racetrack finalized its next three programs, scheduled for Tuesday the 27th, Thursday the 29th, and Saturday the 31st of January.

Of the three stakes races originally planned for those dates, only two survived, as the Nigua was canceled. Consequently, the most important events of the period will take place on the first of those dates. On one hand, the Eduardo Casey (yes, the same name as the juvenile race at Palermo held prior to the Nacional...) will be held for horses aged 4 and up (1,100m, dirt). On the other, the Oswaldo Aranha (L) will be contested by 3-year-olds and up over one mile, both under weight-for-age conditions.

The Aranha will feature a field of just seven: Brasilero Francisco (Lizard Island), Amuni (Tetaze), Niño Samurai (Hat Ninja), El Ernesto (Señor Candy), Récord Label (Sixties Song), Norte (Leofric), and Vampiro Zen (Zensational).

Meanwhile, the lineup for the Casey will be even smaller, with six contenders, although the presence of Es Aristocrático (Angiolo) certainly provides a distinctive touch. The Stud Pauli representative will face off against: Golden Incurable (Golden Cigars), Oro Azteca (Empire Aztec), Magyar (Lenovo), Vikingo Real (Seahenge), and Redentor Scat (Knockout).

A total of 11 races are set for Tuesday the 27th, with a scheduled start at 4:00 PM and conclusion around 9:00 PM—a sound decision given the high temperatures forecasted.

On Thursday the 28th, the focus will shift to the Especial Haras Firmamento, set over 1,400 meters for horses aged 4 and up with three or more victories. Among the eight confirmed entries, the high weight of 56 kilos will be carried by Decan Dall (Victor Security), who will face: Arcanum (Horse Greeley, 54), Al Fin Llegué (Southern Cat, 54), Buen Curuzucuateño (Buen Verso, 54), Gran Positano (Tan Chemistry, 54), Talento Emergente (Equal Talent, 54), Don Saturno (Blood Money, 52), and Notable Island (Lizard Island, 54). In this instance, 12 races will be held, starting at 3:30 PM and also ending at 9:00 PM.

The Clásico Nigua was scheduled for Saturday the 31st but was canceled, leaving 12 allowance races to be run from 3:30 PM to 9:00 PM on the very date that Argentine racing generates its highest turnover. The moral of the story, once again, will be a massive loss in handle, which translates into less money available for purses. Leadership must take urgent action regarding this issue of unnecessary date swapping.