SARATOGA SPRINGS — The Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation (TRF) has announced its 2025 Saratoga Summer Event Series lineup, which features three evenings of food and drinks that support the organization’s mission to provide lifetime care for retired thoroughbreds. More information and tickets can be found at www.trfinc.org/events.

Gumbo with Kendrick

Date: Monday, July 21 | 6 p.m. – 9 p.m.

Location: Principessa Elena Society, 13 Oak Street, Saratoga Springs

Now in its fifth year, this dinner brings jockey Kendrick Carmouche back to the kitchen to prepare his signature Louisiana gumbo. Guests can enjoy live entertainment, a cash bar, and a taste of Kendrick’s southern roots.

LALO “For Jocks & Horses”

Date: Tuesday, July 30 | 6 p.m. – 8 p.m.

Location: The Adelphi Hotel, 365 Broadway, Saratoga Springs

This cocktail-style event hosted in partnership with LALO Tequila benefits both the TRF and the Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund. It features signature drinks, small bites, and an opportunity to mingle with jockeys and horsemen.

TRF Backyard BBQ at Rood & Riddle

Date: Tuesday, August 19 | 5:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.

Location: Rood & Riddle Equine Hospital, 63 Henning Road, Saratoga Springs

The summer series concludes with the TRF Backyard BBQ, hosted by Rood & Riddle Equine Hospital. Held on the grounds of their Saratoga Springs facility, the evening will feature classic BBQ fare, a cash bar, live entertainment, a silent auction, and the chance to meet and network with equine professionals, supporters, and racing professionals.

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Like many sports in which there is a first half and second half, horse racing could be seen in a similar way, especially with 3-year-olds.

Sovereignty, who is currently stabled in Bill Mott’s barn near the Oklahoma Training Track, has established himself as one of the leading 3-year-olds coming out of the first half of the racing season by taking the Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes.

Of course, Journalism is also in that mix with his Preakness victory and being runner-up to Sovereignty in the other Triple Crown races.

Now that the Saratoga Race Course meet could be considered the second half of racing season, other 3-year-olds are looking to test their abilities in the marquee races such as the Jim Dandy on July 26 and the Travers Stakes on Aug. 23.

One of those 3-year-olds is Mo Plex, the local horse owned by longtime friends Rick Higgins of Saratoga Springs and Howard Reed of Albany with their partnership of R and H Stable and trained by Jeremiah Englehart, who has been a Schuylerville resident since 2018.

About two weeks ago, the New York-bred added another graded stakes win to his resume in taking the Grade 3 Ohio Derby by a convincing two lengths over Chunk of Gold and McAfee at Thistledown Racetrack just outside of Cleveland.

“I kind of always thought he could handle two turns,” Englehart said. “Going out there, you always have your doubts. Honestly, when I walked him to the paddock, I felt pretty confident. It was hot that day, but he was on his toes and ready for action, and he showed it.”

The Ohio Derby wasn’t the initial plan for the connections. During the Belmont Stakes Racing Festival at Saratoga, Mo Plex was entered in the Mike Lee Stakes for state-breds with the path to the New York Derby at Finger Lakes on July 14 and the Albany Stakes at Saratoga on Aug. 21. However, an illness around Englehart’s barn altered those plans as the colt was scratched from the Mike Lee.

“It’s funny how a plan gets thrown up in the air,” Englehart said. “I will never forget how I had to call Rick and Howard about scratching from the Mike Lee. They were super [supportive]. First, we wanted to get him healthy. After that, it was what do we do next. They let me roll with the Ohio Derby plan. I think it only worked timing wise. It was good. They make it easy to train Mo Plex. I’m blessed. It’s a great working relationship.”

This was the fourth stakes victory, including last year’s Grade 3 Sanford and the Funny Cide Stakes at Saratoga, for Mo Plex. In eight career starts, he has been no worse than third against state-breds and open company.

“He’s an excellent horse to train,” Englehart said. “I don’t think he has reached his peak yet. He’s a very athletic horse. He hasn’t won all of his races, but he gives 1,000 percent and he doesn’t leave the race where you are scratching your head.”

“I think he can outsprint horses going a mile,” he added. “If he is in the race early and the jockey has the horse, you’re in trouble because he will make you run every bit. Moving forward, his ability is going to tell us where he fits.”

By winning the Ohio Derby, Englehart, Higgins, and Read are entertaining the idea of the Jim Dandy to see if the son of Complexity can compete at that next level. Also under consideration is the Haskell Stakes at Monmouth Park on July 19.

“When he won the Ohio Derby, we knew he was going to be a player at some level, whether he is at the top tier or bottom tier of 3-year-olds,” Englehart said. “It’s not like I want to start challenging Sovereignty, Journalism, and other horses like that. At the same time, I think he has put himself in that conversation.”

Regardless of the next start, Mo Plex is staying on his home base as part of the Oklahoma Annex on Fifth Avenue – the place where he started training after Englehart helped purchase him for $45,000 at the April Ocala Breeders’ Sale for 2-year-olds in training last year. 

Mo Plex, bred by Avram and Rhoda Freedberg of Everything’s Cricket Racing, never met the reserve bid of $27,000 at the 2023 Fasig-Tipton New York-bred sales at Saratoga. Now, he has bankrolled $745,000. 

“The owners are local and they love Saratoga,” Englehart said. “We try to map everything around our training at Saratoga. NYRA has done a phenomenal job with Saratoga and building up this place. The vibe that everyone has around here is good.”

Mo Plex is not the only horse providing momentum for Englehart and his team going into the Saratoga meet, which officially starts on July 10 after the Fourth of July Racing Festival. Other recent winners at Aqueduct include Alpine Giant, Kyle’s Mom, and Last Mango. Englehart even had three straight winners at Finger Lakes, his home track, two weeks ago with Unicorn Cake, Three Point Strut, and Rocked Out.

Right now, Englehart has about 30 horses at the annex. This includes 20 promising 2-year-olds who are part of the New York-bred program.

“I have been excited about our 2-year-olds this year,” he said. “They have a lot of potential. We have invested in a lot of the New York program. To me, it’s fun to develop young horses and establish their careers.”

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Saratoga Race Course begins yet another unique season on Thursday, July 10. This opening day follows up on the second consecutive Belmont Stakes Festival at Saratoga and the first Fourth of July Racing Festival at Saratoga, both of which were necessitated by the ongoing construction of the new Belmont Park.

Importantly, this third opening day this year is the actual start of this year‘s Saratoga racing season. All jockey, trainer, owner and earnings competitions and statistics will commence July 10. 

The Saratoga race meeting has progressively expanded from a traditional 24-day, four-week August meet, to one that begins in mid-July and ends on Labor Day. This year marks the first time there will be nine full race cards run at the venerable Union Avenue racetrack prior to the opening of the full season. Traditionalists contend that a large part of Saratoga‘s cachet was the short season jammed with racing stars both human and equine. While efforts have been made to keep the quality of racing at a very high standard, there is always a question of whether too much of a good thing remains a good thing and whether enthusiasm for the main meet will wane after the serving of these two appetizers. 

New York Racing Association Chief Executive Officer David O’Rourke told me, “New York racing is in a unique and wonderful spot, the Belmont redevelopment is well underway with the Fall of 2026 within sight. Over the years a lot of folks have asked the question would we expand the season to encompass July 4th through Labor Day. While it is definitely not the long-term plan, circumstances are giving the racing fans a chance to experience history with an Independence Day at the Spa.”

D. Wayne Lukas

The racing community lost one of its human stars this week with the passing of D. Wayne Lukas at 89 years old. Lukas was the face of the sport for parts of the past six decades. He was a star, a catalyst, an innovator, and a revolutionary. His successes and unorthodox methods quickly gained the attention of the traditionalist and staid racing fraternity. His race-like fast morning workouts, his willingness to ship all over the country at the last minute and win important races (coining the phrase “D. Wayne off the plane”) and his willingness to talk with and often spar with the press were all out of the norm. His unique ability was to convince the world and owners that racing was still a vibrant sport entitled to major media coverage and scission at a time where that was sorely needed by the game.

All those accomplishments, however, actually pale in comparison to his ability to mentor his assistants who went on to be the current leaders in the game. Listing all those who succeeded because of his tutelage would be far too long (and their legion would have me risk leaving someone out).  Suffice it to say you cannot be in racing circles for more than a minute without bumping into someone who benefited from his teaching.

Handicapping

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, Chester Broman, Barry K. Schwartz, and Reeves Racing. 

In many ways, Saratoga is timeless – the more things change, the more they stay the same. A constant in an otherwise changing world. Each year I end my first column by quoting my grandmother – Gertrude Donovan Gotimer – an astute handicapper in her own right, who often said, “If you are lucky enough to be in Saratoga, you are lucky enough!” It’s a sentiment that seems apt each year and so it is again.

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.

Horse racing has lost one of the last remaining celebrities of the sport during it’s peak years of the 1950s through the 70s. Tommy Roberts passed away recently at the age of 96 after a fight with cancer. Tommy’s career included executive positions at both Florida and New Jersey racetracks. He was familiar to horse racing audiences with his nationally televised “The Race of the Week” from Hialeah Park, when the track was the winter palace of the “Sport of Kings.” Mr. Roberts was named “The Father of Simulcast” by BloodHorse magazine for his innovation that now brings live racing to outlets around the world.

Roberts began his career as a radio broadcaster in the Philadelphia area during the late 1940s. He had a golden voice that would have an influence on much of his spectacular career.

He brought his radio skills to war torn Korea during that brutal conflict. His radio show “The Armed Forces Korean Network” was broadcast throughout South Korea and as far away as Japan. He also produced “On Stage Korea” where he introduced Hollywood stars to the battle tested GI’s with the likes of Academy Award winner William Holden, actor Mickey Rooney and his great friend from Philadelphia, singer Eddie Fisher.

When he returned home, he was offered a job at Garden State Park, a major horse racing venue of that era. Within a short time he was named publicity director. Always the innovator, in 1960 he planned an extravagant, fan friendly day of racing for the rebirth of the Jersey Derby. The event produced a record for both attendance and pari mutuel betting for the state of New Jersey.

For years he called the feature race of the day on radio for all three of New Jersey’s racetracks. His smooth voice could be heard throughout the mid- Atlantic states, thrilling the fans with picture perfect descriptions of the ongoing races.

Another of the many faces of Tommy was his career as the play by play announcer for the NBA’S Philadelphia 76ers and his beloved Philadelphia Eagles football team. For his accomplishments, he was inducted as a proud member of the Broadcasting Pioneers of Philadelphia’s Hall of Fame.

He was also well known in the world of professional boxing. Tommy produced numerous championship fights for Madison Square Garden Productions, including the Heavyweight Championship bout between Joe Frazier and Oscar Bonevena.

South Florida was Tommy’s backyard. It was there that those of us old enough to remember had a chance to see him perform his magic with NBC’s nationally televised “The Race of the Week.” Every Saturday during Hialeah Park’s fabulous winter meeting, he could be seen in the paddock interviewing the important personalities who were involved with that day’s Stakes Race. The show was a success that lasted for 23 years. Tommy Roberts surely had more than a knack for longevity.

His success was booming. During Secretariat’s run for the record books in 1973, he called the Triple Crown events on 800 radio stations across the country.

When John Brunetti purchased Hialeah, he asked Tommy to become his right hand man as Vice-President and General Manager of the racetrack. He loved Hialeah and worked diligently on making improvements to the facility.

Tommy Roberts made his reputation in horse racing and radio. That’s a gimme. He was way more than that. Tommy was about to alter the course of the horse racing industry.

His baby was a little thing called SIMULCAST. The great innovator introduced the concept to Nevada Casinos in 1983. What started with 30 outlets blossomed into today’s worldwide industry. Mr. Roberts may well be called the savior of horse racing. The sport was on the decline as casinos offered quick action, entertainment and fine dining. Players were comped with meals and shows to entice their gambling dollar.

Racetracks were losing business faster than Seattle Slew could run six furlongs. Simulcast put live horse racing in living rooms and off track wagering facilities. Attendance on track may have declined, but the off track wagering skyrocketed. Tommy had given the sport the lifeline that it so badly needed.

Tommy was one of the last of the lions who rose to prominence in one of the greatest eras of sports. It is fitting that he would leave the scene during the Saratoga racing meet. For many years he and his wife Vicky called Saratoga Springs their summer home. Here, he could be found at his box at the racetrack nearly every day after a morning round of golf at Saratoga Golf and Polo Club.

Tommy was brilliant, articulate and serious. On the other hand, he had a quick-wit, was funny, and could light up a dark room. He also was a great story teller. The amazing thing about hearing them was that every one was true and most were hilarious.

His many friends within and outside the horse racing community will surely miss him. I know that I will.