Author: William G. Gotimer, Jr.

By any measure Travers Day 2024 was a success for horse racing and the New York Racing Association.  On a stellar weather day, a large crowd wagered a record amount on a 14-race program of high-class racing. Despite the length of the day the races were run with approximately 30-minute intervals between races allowing a pace that matched the excitement on the track. There were no 45-minute lags between races that too often sap the energy out of the building on big days. With good racing, good weather and a pace maintaining the excitement of the day, the NYRA was rewarded with a record all-sources betting handle exceeding $63 million dollars – easily a Travers Day record.

The race itself was a thrilling, if not artistic, event with the early pace being surprisingly slow as most jockeys reserved their mounts early in the race. These tactics perhaps revealed a lack of confidence in their mounts’ ability to get the taxing mile and one quarter distance, but it resulted in a pace less affair with Fierceness finally gaining the lead decisively at the top of the stretch. When the filly  – Thorpedo Anna – made a last second run at the leader the collective accelerating pulse of the crowd was palpable.  She steadily gained on the leader in the final 70 yards only to come up shy by a diminishing head before an enthusiastic crowd. While Fierceness held on to win, much like Zenyatta and Seattle Slew before her, Thorpedo Anna gained more respect in defeat than she had in all her previous victories. Running against colts was a sporting gesture by her connections benefitting fans and the sport and they should be applauded. 

OBSERVATIONS

One of the benefits of writing this column is having people approach me with their observations on a number of topics. This year the reviews of Travers Day by knowledgeable fans was uniformly positive. 

More than one fan welcomed the fast pace of Saturday’s card in the later afternoon, with the truncated times of approximately 30 minutes between races. A veteran attendee observed “Wow, the whole experience of going to the Travers was well beyond my expectations – big fun crowd but not too crowded -easy to get make a bet, get a drink or food and no bathroom line. The racing was fantastic on a sun splashed day – a big win for horse racing.”

The other welcome consensus was the openness of the grounds as compared to Belmont Stakes Day which had far more private areas blocking fans.  Giving fans the ability to get close to the paddock and see the horses unobstructed appears to be the number one desire of most fans. The New York Racing Association would be well served to limit the private areas around the facility and give the fans the ability to be close to the paddock and move about as they desire.  It’s hard to overestimate how important this is to the on track experience and the main thing that keeps fans coming back.

NOTE: The cordoning off of the area in the Paddock Bar adjacent to the paddock is an unwise and unwelcome recent development. It should be undone. Forcing  average fans to cram into the small area near the bathrooms to see into the paddock clearly sends the message that the most ardent fans are not fully appreciated. 

ART ROONEY 

There is nothing quite as valuable as a good reputation, particularly one which defines how you are remembered.  As a teenager on the racetrack, I was often told of the stellar reputation of Art Rooney. His accomplishments in the world racing and sports are too many to list here but a quick google search will reveal their scope. As impressive as his accomplishments were, it’s the personal aspect that is most important and lasting. In a conversation this week, with a racetrack veteran recounting a story that took place more than 60 years ago Art Rooney’s reputation of humility, generosity and kindness has clearly survived the test of time. It’s rare that someone is remembered so well so uniformly (36 years after his passing). That the stories of his character are legion and still being remembered in a personal way more than 60 years after the fact is truly remarkable and legacy and one we should all strive to attain.

Reacting to a harsh and definite weather forecast, the New York Racing Association opted for flexibility and common-sense last weekend.  In doing so it managed to salvage two important grass races for the benefit of the fans.  This innovative flexibility acknowledged the devastating impact multiple horse scratches due to changing track surfaces can have on a race card.  Both the ugly raving in such events and the associated drop in mutuel handle need to be avoided and it is hoped this type of flexibility will be employed liberally going forward. last weekend.  While there was some grumbling by the horizontal bet players (who tend to complain far more than most about most things) this was a practical decision which benefitted the sport and its fans.

Even though the two races in question – The Fourstardave Handicap and the awfully-named Saratoga Derby, had already been pushed back a week due to wet grass conditions, the New York Racing Association employed the maxim “better late than never” and pushed both races back another 24 hours in order to allow both fields to run on a safe grass course.  The result was two quality competitive grass races that benefitted the on-track crowd who opted to stay for the late Sunday post times and the racing fans viewing off track. While this was a win for the sport in general, it was a particular win for West Point Thoroughbreds who again sprung a Saratoga grass stakes upset when Carson’s Run ran down the favored Legend of Time inside the final furlong to win going away. Owned in partnership with Steven Bouchey, Carson’s Run was purchased for the reasonable sum of $170,000 at auction. He is targeting the lucrative Nashville Derby next at Kentucky Downs with the longer-term chance of travelling down under to Australia for the large purse offered in the Cox Plate in late October.

Westpoint Thoroughbreds’ win in Saratoga Derby continued a huge meet for the high-end partnership stable. The continued success of West Point Thoroughbreds for decades, in the difficult business of purchasing and running horses is remarkable given the vicissitudes of racing. Their presence in graded stakes races has continued to expand in recent years and they have a nationwide presence. On the same day their Carson’s Run eclipsed the Grade I Saratoga Derby they ran second in the reconstituted Arlington Million, (now run at Colonial Downs), in Virginia with their colt Integration. Looking towards the future, earlier in the day on the Sunday Saratoga card they unveiled a sharp maiden winner – Sandman – who as a high-priced son of top sire Tapit only figures to get better as the races get longer.  

The win by Carson’s Run represented hot-riding jockey Dylan Davis’s first Grade I win at his home track of Saratoga. He is having a tremendous meet and is consistently making the right choice in both dirt and turf races. He is riding with confidence and has become a “go to” rider for a number of stables.  Earlier on the card Davis won the listed Mahony Stakes aboard Fandom with a persistent ride on the front end.

The aforementioned Fourstardave Handicap was won by Carl Spackler who benefited from a perfect trip under rider Tyler Gaffalione (riding for his father-in-law) to give trainer Chad Brown his first win in the event.   

The Saratoga meet once again experienced good weather last weekend allowing another fine weekend of racing. There were two highlights of the week – the Jim Dandy Stakes as a prep race for the Travers Stakes and the Bowling Green run on the grass.

Saturday the Jim Dandy saw a matchup of two-year-old champion Fierceness and Preakness winner Seize the Grey but the betting favorite was a third entrant – Sierra Leone, who just missed winning the Kentucky Derby and was a formidable third in the Belmont Stakes. The bettors felt that an equipment change would correct the erratic running style which had hampered his late run in both those races.  While Sierra Leone did in fact keep a straighter course it was not enough as Fierceness had other plans.  Under a heady ride by Hall of Fame veteran rider John Velazquez the former two year old champion held Sierra Leone at bay to easily win the race. Seize the Grey, perhaps showing the effects of a tough recent campaign, was never a factor.

While the Jim Dandy had the horses with name recognition, perhaps the most impressive performance of the week was that of Silver Knott on Sunday in the Bowling Green Stakes. The Godolphin owned, Charlie Appleby trained, runner continued his winning ways by wiring the field at the elongated distance of a mile and three-eighths on the inner grass course. Silver Knott set a new course record in the process and is still improving. Expect him to be a factor in the year end championship grass races. Notably horses trained by Charlie Appleby continue their successful invasion from across the Atlantic Ocean besting US-based grass runners time and again – they simply cannot be ignored.

This year’s Saratoga racing has continued to be competitive with a nice balance of longshots and favorites and racing fans were treated to competitive races all week. 

For many fans the beginning of August signifies the true start of top-class spa racing and this week’s Whitney Stakes card is indeed stellar. The highlighted Whitney Stakes will be contested on Saturday August 3rd with a full, if not overly accomplished, field of 12 horses.  It figures to be an excellent betting affair and the undercard is loaded with other quality and competitive races. 

Meanwhile it was announced this week by Trainer Ken McPeek that it is indeed their intention to run the filly Thorpedo Anna against the colts in the Travers Stakes. The aforementioned, Fierceness and Sierra Leone, are both pointing to the same race as is Dornoch and any combination of those horses would produce a very competitive field.

Laid back Sundays

A fan pattern has emerged over the past few seasons with Saturday crowds consisting of young partying fans and sophisticated bettors. In contrast the Sunday cards produce a more laid-back fan base. Both the grandstand and clubhouse are filled on Saturdays with stylishly dressed or attention-seeking young people in a partying mood or veteran horse players enjoying the quality of racing.  The Sunday crowd tends to produce more of a country fair atmosphere. 

This week one anonymous, yet sage, observer, who goes by the monicker Spa Infield Goose @SaratogaGoose on Twitter, commented about Sunday “it’s a weird over 60-(year-old) scene at the track today”. I take no umbrage at the knock on my generation as weirdness does seem to be growing in my demographic especially since the fowl-named commenter is, as usual, correct. The Sunday crowd in general appears far less knowledgeable about racing than their Saturday or midweek counterparts.  For many this is a less intimidating atmosphere and hopefully will grow the sport, but it is shame that veteran racegoers seem to have abandoned the day and the later races on the Sunday card are contested in front of largely empty stands.

This Sunday constituency may be explained by a lack of racing on Mondays. Fans coming to town for the weekend might be enticed to stay for quality Sunday racing if there were racing on Mondays or at minimum the races were carded to end earlier. While I am told there are structural impediments to running Mondays with a dark day on Wednesday, I continue to be approached by people who express their desire to see that change made. It should be fully explored in future years.

Boosted by good weather and competitive quality racing Saratoga Race Course opened its season successfully with increases in both attendance and handle.  Racing fans did not let the recent Belmont Stakes meet dampen their enthusiasm for the beginning of the longer stint. From here the racing kicks into high gear in the coming weeks with Breeders’ Cup Win and You’re In races expected to draw some of the biggest names in racing.  

The first four days of racing were won by a wide array of trainers and jockeys unlike previous years when top riders and trainers dominated most days. The races featured several long-priced horses and truly was reminiscent of Saratoga Meets of years gone by.

While I am not privy to concession information, it appeared to me that the crowds have largely abandoned most concession offerings at the course.  Whether it be due to high prices or the move to card purchase only, or a combination thereof, the concession stands appeared devoid of traffic. For people of a certain age the “Maytag Repairman” comes to mind.

One notable change from recent years was the decision in the stewards’ stand to disqualify a winner on Sunday for herding the competition.  While the runner-up was interfered with, recent history would dictate that there would not have been a disqualification.  This may portend a stricter interpretation of racing rules by the current slate of stewards. 

The length of the racing day continues to be too long with most fans attending only part of the day rather than the full card.  While this makes full use of the facility, it can make it seem somewhat empty by the end of the day, sometimes even for the most prestigious races.  The grandstand seats appear to be half empty which of course lessons the excitement of the live event.  Consideration should be given (at least on weekdays) to shortening the time of the card to encourage and permit fans to attend each and every Saratoga race without it being an eight-hour day 

Saratoga racing’s spot on the calendar typically places it in opposition to several national and international events. This year the Paris Olympics and Presidential political conventions will vie for attention just as Saratoga racing will have more television exposure than ever before. this year through its agreement with Fox TV than ever before.  The ongoing efforts to have racing available on television with commentary designed for the everyday player has been a welcome evolution and one has made racing more mainstream than in prior decades. All involved should be commended for the effort and the consistent expansion of televised races on numerous outlets.

Watching races live, I sometimes feel like a dinosaur when I watch the races with my binoculars. This of course was de rigueur before large screen televisions were installed. Binoculars with a wide vision can allow you to watch the entire field from a good vantage point. However, over the years the sight lines at various race tracks have changed dramatically with more and more viewers and fans relying upon large screen televisions. The televisions allow casual fans and people uncomfortable with binoculars to follow the race as if they were watching it at home. The downside, however, is the large screen along with the board and other objects in the infield tend to obstruct the view of watching the race live. There was a time when fans could easily see the races with their naked eyes or through binoculars. That has changed.

What has also changed sadly, and which takes away some of the excitement and the races are the fans that sit motionless in the grandstand or clubhouse seats. With the reliance now on televisions people simply sit and stare. It’s not a welcome development. 

An incident between me and an unhinged patron last weekend brought this to my attention. I was criticized and cursed profusely for daring to stand up during the stretch run of the Sanford Stakes. He was irate that people would stand during a race and wished my immediate and untimely death upon me. While his profanity and threats brought the Pinkertons, it made me realize that somehow live racing has changed from a participant sport to a polite viewing, eating and drinking experience. I would hope fans would find it in themselves to stand a few times a day when the races are run, view it live and cheer a little. Try binoculars – you may like it.