The Saratoga Special Stakes

The Saratoga Special Stakes for juvenile colts and fillies will be run on Saturday, August 1, and dates back to 1901. The race was conceived by William C. Whitney in the first year his consortium operated the Spa track. Mr. Whitney was fond of a fast horse and was proud to own a colt or filly that he deemed worthy of special appreciation and admiration, backing that up with a $500 subscription fee for the race.

What made it “Special” is the purse was “winner-takes-all,” a truly sporting gesture, which stated you believed your 2-year-old was the best of the best. Mr. Whitney’s bay colt, Goldsmith, won the initial running of the Saratoga Special with Hall of Fame jockey Nash Turner in the saddle.

A fine tradition and exclusive event that went along with the race was the Saratoga Association President hosting a dinner party on the eve of the running, for all those that had subscribed to the Saratoga Special.

Man o’ War’s trainer, Louis Feustel, had forgotten to pay the subscription, which left Big Red out of the “Special.”  Other famous horses have won the Saratoga Special, such as Irish Lad, Sysonby, Roamer, Regret, Sun Briar, Morvich, Whirlaway, Native Dancer, Bold Forbes and Summer Squall. The sporting “winner-takes-all” purse structure was discontinued following the 1958 running.