The last time a horse won the Triple Crown, cable television didn’t exist, much less social media like Twitter and Facebook. When Affirmed won the Kentucky Derby, the Preakness, and the Belmont Stakesin 1978, he was the third horse to do so in six years. Secretariat had broken the 25-year drought in 1973, and Seattle…
Four years ago August 4, David Jacobson claimed a horse at Saratoga. Nothing terribly unusual about that, nor about the fact that Jacobson ran the horse, who had finished fifth, back 21 days later, nor that the trainer bumped the bay gelding way up in class for that next start, nor that Jacobson won with…
Possibly the busiest week of the meet, with multiple fund-raising, education, and historical opportunities abounding as we head to the sales next week. Highlights including an Allen Jerkens tribute evening on Thursday, the Hall of Fame induction ceremony on Friday, and this weekend’s terrific slate of racing, including a Whitney for the ages, its 10…
On Saturday morning during training hours, Jackson N Leonard broke down during a breeze on the main track. Vanned off and later euthanized, he was one of three fatalities at Saratoga that day, two during training, one during racing, the first ones of this year’s racing meeting. New York Racing Association staff, the horse’s trainer…
On the first really hot day of the summer, Arch Kingsley had wrapped up morning training and chores a little before noon at his barn near the old Sanford complex, across Nelson Avenue from Clare Court. After a few months stabled at the main track before the meet opened, Kingsley and his 19 horses moved…
In the weeks leading up to the opening of this year’s Saratoga meeting, the New York Racing Association endured diatribes from all directions as the changes to this year’s season were gradually rolled out. Payment for picnic tables and the Carousel came in for particular criticism, along with new policies for paying admission prices and…
The first “week” of Saratoga Race Course ends today, but even on dark days, there’s plenty to do in Saratoga. Highlights this week include a focus on taking care of disabled jockeys; the return of WMHT’s terrific documentary on the history of Saratoga Race Course; and one of the few graded stakes races that will…
Saratoga Race Course opens on Friday for its 147th racing season. Arguably the finest meet in the country, attracting top horses, trainers, and jockeys from across the country, its location in a beautiful, vibrant upstate New York resort town draws not only horse racing hardcores, but also families and casual fans who come to Saratoga Springs…
Two days before the opening of a Saratoga Race Course meet that will see a number of changes from previous years, a near-capacity crowd at the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame had plenty of questions for New York Racing Association president Christopher Kay. The Hall of Fame hosted its annual meet preview…
Customers at Saratoga Race Course this summer will find the signature of its current leadership boldly on the historic track’s 147th race meet, which begins July 24. At a press conference in Saratoga Springs, N.Y., on June 22, New York Racing Association executives previewed this year’s meet, with an emphasis on hospitality and big-event racing.…
Brooklyn Backstretch 