Saratoga earned its “Graveyard of Favorites” nickname on Sunday, with winners coming in at $61 (Moon Raven, 2nd), $44.80 (Who’s Willie Fitz, 3rd), $19.20 (Fancy Fiona, 5th), $69 (Marvel Gaye, 7th), and $45.80 (Wishingonadream, 10th). I started out at this meet doing reasonably well in my $2 bet, $1 exacta box kind of way; I…
Katy Perry would have loved Friday’s Racing Hall of Fame induction ceremony, if, of course, she thinks that West Coast boys are as unforgettable as the girls. Five of this year’s seven inductees had racing roots in California: trainer M.E. “Buster” Millerick; jockey Don Pierce; and horses Azeri, Best Pal, and Point Given. The West…
I wrote recently in the Saratogian about the multitude of charitable opportunities that the racing season in Saratoga offers; nearly every night, we can choose an event to attend, a way to contribute, a charity to support. Among those charities are those that support New York racing all year round, some of which pack up…
Taking a few minutes on this dark day to pass on some recent news, from Saratoga and beyond. Hello Race Fans!, the fan education site for which I am a contributing editor, announced this morning that it’s acquired Raceday360, the racing news aggregator created by Jessica Chapel of Railbird. HRF’s press release provides more information,…
Following a terrific weekend of racing, we get this: #EastCoastHorseRacingIndustry cheated greatest race mare in history outta #HOY. She shd run where she is loved. And this: Racing tweeps jumped the proverbial shark this weekend. We’re all now just a non-stop cliche squaking cliche box. Ish is faded. Break time. And this: “What is it? Everybody’s afraid…
On a spectacularly beautiful Saratoga morning, hundreds of racing fans turned out to support New York backstretch charities and get a little exercise in this morning’s Fasig-Tipton 5k to benefit the Belmont Child Care Association, the Backstretch Education Fund, Backstretch Employees Service Team, and the Racetrack Chaplaincy. I went into this morning’s race with no hope of matching…
She is a rugged, strong filly, with big joints and a good frame, very much of the type usually with a *Challenger II. Her head is very good and her expression feminine, but otherwise she is a rather masculine type of filly. Thus Joe Palmer described Gallorette, champion handicap mare of 1946 and the mare…
I was quick to criticize the stewards’ report of July 29 for its rather mind-numbing obviousness, so here is their next foray, from August 1: RACE 4 – Steward’s Inquiry into the stretch run, involving #7 Six Flings (V. Santiago) and #3 Mine Over Matter (K. Desormeaux). In the judgment of the stewards, the contact…
Quality Road made a special guest appearance on Monday morning at Saratoga. After the track was closed for training and the grounds cleared at 10 a.m., the starting gate was moved to near the finish line so that the likely Whitney favorite could school a bit before this weekend’s start. Todd Pletcher, when asked why…
Racing abounds with contests named after equine royalty: The Personal Ensign. The Ruffian. The Shuvee. The Vagrancy. Their names evoke speed and strength and superiority. To win them is, in some small part, to be linked to them. But then there’s the Diana. The Diana. Not just royalty, but a goddess. The chaste and fleet…
Brooklyn Backstretch 