The Last One Out, Turn Off the Lights: La Plata Called for 50 Alternative Categories in July

In another controversial decision, the Buenos Aires racetrack will venture into a territory it had stayed away from for 20 years, in a clear sign of having lost its way and a move that will strip quality from its races

The Argentinian turf seems to be navigating a crisis with no end in sight. It is a crisis that does not respond solely to economic or circumstantial issues, but also to a succession of managerial decisions that, far from correcting the course, seem to deepen the problems of an activity that once experienced decades of splendor and today struggles to sustain part of its identity.

Last week, La Plata racetrack was in the news for worrying reasons. Its next two meetings were comprised of just 8 and 9 races, respectively, unprecedentedly low numbers for a venue with such tradition. Added to this was the decision to maintain races over 1200 meters with up to 20 participants, while other confirmed runners were left out instead of proceeding with divisions that would allow the programming to expand.

Now, another piece of data has emerged that generates concern: starting in July, the Bosque will begin to fully involve itself in a terrain from which it had remained relatively on the margins during the last two decades—that of alternative category races.

And it will do so with intensity. According to the scheduled programming for the seventh month of the season, there will be no fewer than 50 CA competitions, a figure that considerably modifies the profile of the meetings. There are even particularly striking cases. For example, all races for 3-year-old products scheduled for July will belong to the alternative category, while other segments of the equine population will also have an almost exclusive presence within that scheme.

The history of these competitions dates back to the incorporation of index systems inspired by the Chilean model, a tool that San Isidro racetrack adopted years ago and that later evolved through different regulatory variations.

With the passage of time, those categories expanded their reach under the premise of generating greater competitive opportunities for different runners. However, for many actors in the activity, the model drifted into a tool that ended up prioritizing prize money savings over sporting quality.

In the case of La Plata, the debate acquires a special dimension. The purses at the La Plata venue are already among the lowest in the country for high-level races, and there is concern that the expansion of alternative competitions could deepen that gap even further if schemes similar to those used at other racetracks are replicated, where those events receive considerably lower allocations.

The prevailing feeling among many protagonists is that, instead of competing to raise standards, the main Argentinian venues have ended up progressively incorporating those measures that contribute the least to the appeal of the show. In this context, the great days end up functioning as exceptions within the calendar. Meetings such as those of the Gran Premio República Argentina or Gran Premio 25 de Mayo keep intact the capacity to showcase the best version of national racing, though increasingly as isolated oases within a much more complex reality.

The criticisms are not directed solely at the racetrack administrations. They also reach a good portion of the numerous associations linked to the activity, questioned for their scarce public participation in the face of decisions that directly impact owners, professionals, and workers.

Meanwhile, the debate remains open. What seems indisputable is that the activity is going through a delicate moment and that every new measure is observed under an increasingly demanding magnifying glass by those who fear that the deterioration will continue to advance over one of the most traditional sporting expressions in Argentina.