It’s been a good couple of days for favorites here in Saratoga—especially because they’ve come in at nice prices. In the second race on opening day, Kathern’s Kitten braved the rain to win a maiden special weight by a length, paying $17.20. She made her first start on dirt at Churchill Downs, finishing fourth “with…
When I visited Old Friends at Cabin Creek last November, only one horse—a weanling—was on the grounds, living in the only paddock. Mark Pepper, who manages the farm with his wife JoAnn, was on his tractor, clearing land. It was cold and deserted. It was a place of promise, but promise only. Arriving yesterday for…
Members of the media (I can barely write that with a straight face) were invited yesterday to a preview of the two new culinary splashes at the track this year, Danny Meyer’s Blue Smoke and Shake Shack. Both have been firmly entrenched on the New York gastronomical landscape for several years, and when Citi Field…
August 5, 1910: “Olambala the Victor” (New-York Daily Tribune) “An important meeting of the stewards of the Jockey Club will be held at the track to-morrow to settle definitely the much mooted question of fall racing. It is said that James R. Keene is working hard for a change in the plans which would bring…
To get to Saratoga, Red Smith famously said, “From New York City you drive north for about 175 miles, turn left on Union Avenue and go back 100 years.” So I did. And here’s what was going on in the run-up to the 1910 Saratoga meeting. The more things change… July 24, 1910: “Hotels and…
So we have meandered our way through the 2010 Jockey Club Welfare and Safety Summit, picking our way through the panels, unhurriedly observing what various elements of the racing industry think about the issues facing the sport. And, finally, we arrive at the last panel, at which the members reported on their recommendations and goals.…
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,…
Three more racing days at Belmont, before the racing action moves upstate. The transition will take place next week, after Belmont ends its spring/summer meet on Sunday; Saratoga opens one week from today. Though the racing action will shift locations, life on the Belmont backstretch will, of course, continue; a large community of horses will…
Moderated by Mike Ziegler, executive director of the NTRA Safety and Integrity Alliance, this panel offered several retirement organizations the opportunity to share the details of their work and inform the audience about the various models of Thoroughbred retirement currently available. Kim Smith, executive direction of the Louisville-based Second Stride, said that her organization is…
This session began with a video of a training center in Japan; horses there train over multiple surfaces and over courses of different lengths, and all training is monitored by Japan Racing Association officials. The process is “highly regulated,” and riders are identified by the colors of their helmet. The color of the saddlecloth indicates…
Brooklyn Backstretch 