New Horse Format Doesn’t Draw Raves

Bring back the consensus! Bob Mieszerski is a good handicapper, but one needs to have comparisons, and the type is so small you need a magnifying glass to see the comments. The Racing Form is too expensive and all those 1-900 numbers out of the question for the casual horse player. Your consensus of all the handicappers is why I buy the L.A. Times.

CAROL GUSTAFSON

Los Angeles

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I am writing to strongly protest the change of your horse racing coverage. To reduce your coverage from the opinions of three handicappers plus the combined opinions of all the Daily Racing Form handicappers, to the opinions of one person and having the affront to call it “expanded coverage” is an insult to my intelligence and I would hope to all your other readers as well. As much as I respect Mr. Mieszerski for his knowledge and talent I still feel you are doing a great disservice to your readers. I guess I am just sick and tired of being given less and less for my money and having someone try to tell me it’s more.

GERALD GRADY

Downey

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Who wants only Mieszerski’s opinion? If he were that good, he would only be at the track betting, not working for you. The other handicappers are just as good.

JASON RICHTER

Los Angeles

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Not that we don’t love Bob, but some crucial things are now missing, including the chart number of the last race, with parentheses denoting a winner.

Please reconsider. Bob’s new format is fine, it just isn’t enough.

JAN and ERNIE STOLL

Big Bear Lake

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You’re cutting costs the wrong way. Eliminate Bill Christine (the local handicapper has no interest in national horse racing) and keep the consensus box. The Times is cutting back too much, and if it continues, its customers will be “cutting out” too.

S. MEYER

San Juan Capistrano

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You went from a Grade I stakes to a $5,000 claimer.

PAUL CLUCKEY

Ventura

Editor’s note: The change in horse race coverage format, being done on a trial basis, is an attempt to both try a new approach and consolidate space in the sports section.