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Author: William G. Gotimer, Jr.

A Champion Returns to Form and A New Track Record

Written by William G. Gotimer, Jr. on . Posted in Winner's Circle.

Photo courtesy of NYRA

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.

A Nice Start (watch, stand and cheer)

Written by William G. Gotimer, Jr. on . Posted in Winner's Circle.

Photo by Chelsea Durand

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. 

Saratoga Racing – Timeless

Written by William G. Gotimer, Jr. on . Posted in Winner's Circle.

Saratoga – to quote a song by Dolly Parton – “Here you come again”.  It seems like it was only yesterday that we were racing at Saratoga (or in this instance five weeks) but each year the Saratoga Race Course honors tradition but begins with high hopes and expectations for new excitement.  Saratoga Race Course is a paradox- constantly changing, yet timeless – living one foot in one 21st century and one in the 20th (and even adding a respectful nod to the 19th). 

However, this year is a little bit different. While it seems wildly inappropriate to suggest that the Belmont Stakes is an appetizer for other races, that observation seems appropriate this year. New York Racing Association spokesman Patrick McKenna expects that “the momentum out of an incredibly successful first Belmont Stakes at Saratoga” combined with more national television coverage on Fox than ever bodes well for the meet. While it remains to be seen whether the four-day meet surrounding the Belmont Stakes will whet or dampen the appetite of racing fans for the full meet, the particularly early start of July 11th may surprise some. The forty racing days run from July 11th through Labor Day on September 2nd.

Despite the high quality of racing at Saratoga, last year’s meet was marred by two high profile equine fatalities on marquee racing days. The memories of those tragedies have not fully faded with novice or veteran fans. It is therefore imperative that the sport improve equine and human safety to protect its social license to operate. The full-throated opposition and persistent largely unsuccessful legal challenges by the National Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association’s to the federal regulation implemented to improve safety under the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act of 2020 (“HISA”) is evidence that the magnitude of the problem is not fully appreciated by many in the industry. Whether or not HISA is the answer, maintaining the status quo is very literally gambling with the sport’s future. Let’s hope strides toward equine safety continue to be made whether under HISA or otherwise.

The current length of the meet and number of races run has inevitably led to a decline in overall racing quality and no less than top trainer Chad Brown has publicly bemoaned the number of “cheap races on the card.” Of course, this comes with the territory as there simply are not enough quality horses in enough different barns to card mostly allowance and stakes races. Those like me, who look back at the twenty-four day meets over four weeks with fondness, remember the ultra-high quality of the races every day during those times. But a limited number of races and limiting each trainer to no more than 40 stalls were the driving factor behind those cards. For better or worse neither of those conditions will return soon and there will be numerous races for lower priced horses and less grandiose connections to fill the cards.   

Attending the races live at Saratoga is an all-day event and adding to that experience are the unwavering efforts and hospitality offered by the NYRABets crew. Tina Nomikoudis and Donny Nelson for more than a dozen years have fine-tuned their efforts and improved on track amenities for NYRABets VIP bettors.  They include seats, Daily Racing Forms, special events and admission to the Curlin Room.  The NYRABets crew shows appreciation for bettor’s loyalty in numerous and sundry ways. With a membership growth effort underway this year, NYRABets will offer VIP status to any bettor meeting the criteria with other ADW providers who move to their platform. 

As horse players increasingly rely upon advanced technology to handicap races, many find it disruptive to attend live.  One accommodation that a veteran and successful horse player has suggested to me would be the availability of small lockers for personal items.  That way the tools of handicapping could be left at the track overnight allowing fans to go out directly to experience Saratoga’s restaurants and nightlife. This is a suggestion that is worth pursuing either by the NYRA or a sharp entrepreneur. 

From a handicapping perspective remember Saratoga racing is as much about people and connections as it is about horses, just as old friends gather at the racetrack once a year, certain connections aim their best efforts for Saratoga. These include James Bond, David Donk, Horacio De Paz, John Terranova, Larry Johnson, Chester and Mary Broman, Barry K. Schwartz and Reeves Racing. Among the larger outfits, the aforementioned Chad Brown is rumored to have a particularly strong cast of two-years-olds this season, Linda Rice is expected to have entries at all levels and Todd Pletcher simply said to me “We are always excited for the Saratoga Meet.”

I started the column by quoting Dolly Parton and will end by quoting my grandmother – Gertrude Donavan Gotimer – an astute handicapper in her own right, who often said, “If you are lucky enough to be in Saratoga you are lucky enough!” 

Saratoga – timeless.