It might be summer vacation, but horses don’t take the summer off and neither do their grooms, riders, and hot walkers—and neither does Anna House. In June we (I am a member of the BCCA board) celebrated the graduation of the class of 2015, who accepted their diplomas from Belmont Child Care Association board president…
I’m a little late in wishing Evening Attire a happy 17th birthday–the big day was Valentine’s Day, two days before his namesake race was scheduled to be run. Bad weather scuttled that, so the Evening Attire–formerly the Aqueduct Handicap, which this guy won in 2002–is being run today. And in his honor, his retirement home,…
The New York Race Track Chaplaincy, which is based at Belmont Park and provides a variety of services to the backstretch workers of Belmont, Aqueduct, and Saratoga, is once again offering its “Adopt A Family” Program for Christmas. Last month, the Chaplaincy provided turkeys and other supplies so that backstretch workers could prepare Thanksgiving dinner;…
Tomorrow’s weather for Big Apple Showcase Day might not scream “summer!” (mid 70s, partly cloudy, occasional shower, if you were wondering), but thanks to Frost Giant and the good folks at Sunrise Stables, kids under 12 will be treated to free ice cream from Mister Softee in the backyard at Belmont Park. Sunrise Stables, partners…
While the opening of the Oklahoma training facility in April is usually greeted with enthusiasm, there’s at least one person and a lot of felines who mark the return of the horses and the humans with mixed feelings. In the off-season, the barns belong to the cats of the three colonies who call the Oklahoma…
It’s late afternoon on a February Saturday in Saratoga, and the sun is low in the sky; the temperature hovers just above freezing, and a chilling wind sweeps through the deserted shedrows of the Oklahoma training facility. There’s not a horse or a human in sight. Describing the scene as “desolate” would be charitable. But…
Well, sort of, in a limited sort of pre-meet way. On Sunday, Saratoga Race Course opened to the public for its annual open house; geared towards families, the day featured face painting, pony rides, and inflatables for the kids, while adults could partake of a variety of local food products. Musicians performed throughout the day,…
On Monday, Anna House held its 2010 graduation; its seventh graduating class celebrated and looked with anticipation at heading to kindergarten in the fall. Because of the Belmont Child Care Association, the ten graduates are beginning readers and writers, and they are fluent in English, ready to take on the challenges of their kindergarten classrooms…
Today’s post is a series of public service announcements of one form or another, catching up with racing charities and other news. Still waiting to hear from Bourbon Bliss Barn, the winner of the 2010 Road to the Roses Brooklyn Backstretch charity league. It’s been a week, so Bourbon Bliss, unless I hear from you…
So here we are, April 29th. Two days to the Kentucky Derby; two days to the end of the Road to the Roses Backstretch Charity League; two days until the end of the Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation hay drive. Our league table is posted below, and it appears that HoosYourDaddy is going to wire the field…
Brooklyn Backstretch 