Some people require more than one monument to do justice to the lives they led, and John Hettinger may be one of them. Hettinger himself was a monument in New York racing. He raced and bred horses in New York; he owned Akindale Farm in Pawling, New York; and according to his 2008 obituary in…
Beautiful Belmont Park lived up to its name on Saturday—absolutely gorgeous late summer weather here, and while the sun-deprived apron and seats were chilly, the backyard and paddock areas were bathed in sunshine and plenty warm enough. We added layers to watch the races, and shed them to go to the paddock. Race 4 was…
Race 7: $23,000 claimer for 3-year-olds and up at 1 1/8 miles on the inner turf (N2L). 1. Live On The Edge: Seems like the logical next step for a runner that just broke his maiden over claimers at the Spa. Faces a much tougher group today, but several in here have shown they aren’t…
On opening weekend of Saratoga, I engaged in a Backstretch family tradition during morning workouts: breakfast with the nephews. Not the buffet breakfast on the ground floor of the clubhouse, but bagels and coffee upstairs in the boxes. Part of the tradition is a wander out to the clubhouse entrance, where a circle of jockeys…
As first reported to me by a West Point Thoroughbreds owner and then reported by David Grening in the Daily Racing Form, Kiaran McLaughlin will no longer be training for that ownership partnership, so that he is able to concentrate on the increased number of number of horses in his care owned by Darley and…
Question: How did you get interested in racing? Nearly everyone I know answers this question the same way: Answer: My parents/uncle/grandmother took me to the track when I was a kid. These early experiences instilled in them an enthusiasm for the game, one that carried into adulthood and that they now pass on to their…
Thirteen days ago, Swift Temper finished thirteen and a half lengths behind Icon Project in the Grade I Personal Ensign at Saratoga. Following that race, trainer Dale Romans said, “She ran good. We’re happy with the way she ran. Of course, we’re disappointed that she didn’t win.” Thirteen days later, he didn’t need to be…
Mea culpa, mea culpa, mea maxima culpa. And profuse thanks to reader BrooklynSaint, who pointed out two unforgivable omissions in my wrap-up post from yesterday. Brian Nadeau: thank you! Brian started writing Derby preps last winter, and he continued handicapping through the end of the Saratoga meet, focusing on the Saturday Pick 4’s. His work…
On Friday, August 14th, steeplechase trainer Janet Elliott became the first woman trainer elected to the National Museum of Racing’s Hall of Fame. On Saturday, September 5th, Rachel Alexandra became the first filly or mare to win the Woodward. And on Monday, September 7th, Linda Rice became the first woman to win the Saratoga training…
Labor Day is Backstretch family day at Saratoga; members of the extended clan head to the track, armed with coolers and sandwiches and cans of beer, to spend closing day at the races, unencumbered by any obligations other than those of betting, eating, drinking, and enjoying. The day starts at 7:00 a.m., when the table…
Brooklyn Backstretch 