A Brighter Week

My column last week was admittedly somewhat grim, so for a change of pace and in honor of Travers Week, this week’s column will be decidedly upbeat. The Travers will have a small field as Sovereignty’s dominance, freshness, and home court advantage chased most challengers away. This race has always been the target for his connections and while it appears more of a coronation than a race, Saratoga Race Course is known as a spot where champions are upset. We shall see. 

Last week’s running of the Alabama Stakes saw Nitrogen, a filly that heretofore had excelled on grass, master the mile and a quarter distance on the dirt in a handy, if not pretty, victory.  Entered exclusively in grass races, Nitrogen tried the dirt course earlier in the meet when rains forced her race off the grass. She excelled in that effort, convincing trainer Mark Casse to try the Alabama Stakes—and he was rewarded.  Having proven her effectiveness on dirt, Nitrogen will now aim for the Breeders’ Cup Distaff to seek the three-year-old filly of the year title. A quirky set of circumstances leads to a Grade 1 victory.

Jockeys – Tough as Nails

Jockey Luis Rivera suffered a serious spill earlier in the week and left the course on a stretcher with a ride to the hospital. In a show of determination, grit, and physical toughness, he returned the next morning for a workout of champion Thorpedo Anna and fulfilled his mounts later that afternoon.

In shows of mental toughness, both Katie Davis and Lane Luzzi found themselves winless for the meet going into Saturday’s card. Perseverance paid off as fan favorite Katie Davis won the final race on the Saturday card to “get off the duck,” which is racetrack parlance for getting your first win. When congratulated earlier the next beautiful morning by me and a friend, Katie Davis, always pleasant and always personal, reminded me to mention that her friend Lane Luzzi also “got off the duck” on the same card via disqualification. Congratulations to all three.

Friends

That interaction and much of the weekend reminded me again that Saratoga in August is truly about seeing friends, new and old, with the racing as a backdrop. It’s simply special.

Disqualifications 

As predicted by this column a few weeks ago, disqualifications have become far more frequent in the past weeks (at least partially due to the use of drone cameras). A number of those disqualifications caused heartburn for horse players, as in some instances, it appeared that the disqualified horse would have prevailed despite the foul.  An astute horse player and longtime fan has suggested a new bifurcated process where the betting results stand yet the purse is redistributed. It would be a break of longstanding tradition but there are instances when the betting and purse results are divorced from each other and it’s a proposal worth considering.

Mike Venezia Memorial Award- Irad Ortiz Jr.

The 2025 Mike Venezia Memorial Award will be presented to this year’s recipient Irad Ortiz, Jr. on Friday Aug. 22. The award is named in honor of jockey Mike Venezia who tragically succumbed to injuries suffered in a spill at Belmont Park in 1988. 

Each year the award is presented to a jockey who evidences the sportsmanship and citizenship that personified Mike Venezia. The award honors Venezia’s legacy of charitable works and accomplishments off the track in supporting those in need. He is widely remembered as a mentor to younger riders and served as the President of the Jockeys’ Guild.

The Venezia family has remained active in racing and his daughter Alison McGowan told me, “We thank NYRA, as well as Richie Migliore, for continuing to acknowledge my father for his kindness to others. Our family is proud to present this award each year and heartily congratulate this year’s recipient, Irad Ortiz, Jr.”

Ali McGowan and her husband Jim—who run Ternary Farm in Cambridge, New York—have another rider in the family in their daughter (Venezia’s granddaughter), Helena, who is an accomplished equestrian at a young age. 

Helena McGowan competes in equestrian events through the Battenkill Pony Club. The club, which currently has 15 members aged 8-21, just celebrated its 25th anniversary under founder and mentor Denise Film, and educates and instructs young riders in all equestrian disciplines. Most of its members, including Helena McGowan, actively compete in riding events throughout the country.

Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation 

The Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation held a barbeque at Rood & Riddle Equine Hospital this week and highlighted its TRF Second Chances Program where incarcerated individuals build life skills participating in a vocational training program providing supervised care to retired racehorses. The program offers participants, human and equine, a second chance to advance after an initial stumble. It’s a worthwhile and unique program. Contact Meredith Woolford, the head of donor engagement, to lend your support.