This year’s Belmont Child Care Association party in Saratoga brings together two of my favorite things: care for the children of the backstretch workers and appreciation for those who take care of retired racehorses. This year the BCCA honors Fasig-Tipton and Blue Horse Charities. Blue Horse Charities was founded in 2001 by John Hettinger, who…
The Steve Asmussen barn kicked off the Saratoga meet in a winning way when its second starter, My Miss Aurelia, took the fifth race on opening day, a maiden special weight for two-year-old fillies. The performance earned the filly her own article on the NYRA website. But arriving at the barn after the race, Team…
Darby Dan Farm began life in Kentucky in 1949. Following the death of E.R. Bradley in 1946, his Idle Hour Farm, on Old Frankfort Pike in Lexington, was sold, and John Galbreath, who had begun Darby Dan Farm in Ohio, bought a portion of the property. Winter Memories doesn’t race in the name or the…
The first four days of the Saratoga meet saw epic heat, drenching downpours, a Pick 6 carryover, a parade of longshots, and a memorable renewal of the Coaching Club American Oaks. It also featured plenty of activity away from the racetrack, with much more to come. Here’s a look at some upcoming activities and events:…
The news last week that Governor Cuomo had vetoed a bill to extend the life of the Task Force on Retired Racehorses was met with a minor outcry by some in the racing community, cited as a sign of the governor’s opposition to racing and lack of concern about the industry in New York. The…
At dawn yesterday, Kiaran McLaughlin might have been a pretty happy man. He and his staff were trying to get their Grade 1-winning filly It’s Tricky ready to run in the Coaching Club American Oaks, trying to get her out of her stall and stalk her, but the notoriously difficult filly was having none of…
Kudos to everyone who pulled off opening day of racing at Saratoga yesterday. Despite widespread concerns about the heat, all the horses and humans came home safely, and handle and attendance were up significantly over last year’s rainy opener. Post parades were shortened to allow horses extra time in the shade in the paddock, and…
Is there anything more fun than watching Nick Zito tweak Todd Pletcher? Last night’s annual Saratoga meet preview showed the more relaxed side of the two trainers as they, along with NYRA president Charlie Hayward, racing secretary P.J. Campo, and jockey Ramon Dominguez, talked about the weather, wagering, Lasix, and the state of racing. Occasionally…
Opening day at Saratoga requires no small amount of preparation under perfect conditions: What to wear? Where to sit? What beer should stock the cooler? How many sandwiches should we bring? What’s the bankroll for the day (gotta plan for 39 more days!)? Opening day 143, though, looks like it’s going to require even more…
Four more days. Four more days! Four. More. Days. I’m sitting in the Saratoga press box on Monday morning, watching a sudden Saratoga downpour with some vintage Saratoga lightning and thunder. It’s a stark contrast to yesterday morning, which was gloriously sunny, if a little hot, for Saratoga’s annual Open House. The day offered a…
Brooklyn Backstretch 