Displaying items by tag: Saratoga Race Course

With remnants of firecrackers still in the air, and Breakfast at Wimbledon very much alive, Saratoga opened to perhaps less fanfare than usual, but with its normal excitement and tradition totally intact. 

Mother Nature didn’t take long to remind us who’s in control, as she let the heavens pour down upon the Opening Day crowd, creating less than ideal conditions for the first two stakes of the meet.

Not all of the 2-year-old baby girls racing in the Grade 3 Schuylerville were thrilled with the subsequent muddy, sealed track, and first and foremost was Doug O’Neill’s even money favorite, Shippy. 

While Shippy may not have been happy, her trainer Doug O’Neill was, as his other California entry, Comical, held on to beat Todd Pletcher’s late charging Kiss the Girl by a neck.

If people were wondering who the tall, young guy in the Winner’s Circle was following Comical’s victory, it was Erik Johnson, the former #1 NHL draft pick and current Colorado Avalanche defenseman. Johnson owns Comical in partnership, and he seemed as thrilled to win the Schuylerville as he would the Stanley Cup.

In the co-feature on the Opening Day card, another Cali invader took top honors, as Reddam Racing’s and Ben Cecil’s Listing captured the Grade 3 Quick Call, a 5-1/2 furlong turf sprint. Joel Rosario guided the 3-year-old Listing over the yielding Mellon Turf Course for his third win on this sticky day.

The meet began right where it finished off last Labor Day, as Irad Ortiz, Jr. roared to a 6-1/2 length victory in the 1st Race aboard Gary Gullo’s 5-year-old gelding, Armanent.

Irad is seeking his third Angel Cordero, Jr. Jockey Award, after he ran away with last year’s title. Bro Jose interrupted his path in 2016 and 2017, but you can bet they’ll battle to the finish line once again this year for the prize.

Gary Gullo also got off to a fast start, as the longtime New York trainer pulled off an Opening Day double, when his first time starter Big Q, a 2-year-old New York-bred daughter of Big Brown, took the 5th.

There was plenty of action before this race even started, as a maiden daughter of Bayern, Aubrey Tate, got spooked in the Post Parade, dumping Irad, and got scratched. And then Helen by Night was a hellion by the gate when she flipped with Javi Castellano aboard. Fortunately, neither were injured, but surprisingly, the impetuous filly wasn’t scratched.

In Friday’s feature, the Grade 3 Forbidden Apple, Oh Canada was the theme. Mr. Havercamp, Sean and Dorothy Fitzhenry’s homebred son of Court Vision, made Ontario and Canadian trainer Catherine Day Phillips proud, as the longshot bested a stellar field that included Voodoo Song, Qurbaan and Hembree.

Junior Alvarado guided Mr. Havercamp to the half length victory in 1:37.50 for the mile stakes on the inner turf course, and he paid $29.60.

Derby Memories made you wonder where he’s been, as this lightly raced 4-year-old son of Curlin started Friday’s card off with a smashing 14-3/4 lengths victory for owner Ken Ramsey, and gave trainer Danny Gargan and jockey Kendrick Carmouche their first victories of the meet.

Two-year-old colts made their stakes debut at the Spa on Saturday in the 105th running of the Grade 3 Sanford. In a compact yet talented field, all five juvies entered had one victory under their belt coming in.

Eddie Kenneally’s classy co-second choice, By Your Side, was very impressive, as he dominated the competition under a perfect ride by Irad Ortiz, on his way to a 3 length score.

The son of Constitution made it look easy this day, as even his closest rivals, including the favorite, Cucina, who finished 4th, and the co-second choice, Raging Whiskey, who finished third, were no match.

Tomato Bill, a son of More Than Ready, and a $500K purchase at last year’s Fasig-Tipton Saratoga select yearling sale, came in 2nd.

It appears that the Irish-born, Kentucky-based Kenneally will give By Your Side a little breather before next starting him in the Grade 1 Hopeful on closing day. I relish the chance to watch these babies develop, in hopes of witnessing a future star along the Triple Crown trail next Spring.

The 81st running of the $500K Grade 1 Diana could just as easily be renamed the Chad Brown Invitational. Like the mythical goddess it was originally named after, Chad’s ever growing success in the prestigious turf race for fillies and mares 3-years-old and up is becoming mythical in stature.

Sending out a quartet of starters, with only two others brave enough to enter, Chad won his fourth straight Diana, and fifth overall, when he hit the triple with repeat winner Sistercharlie, Rushing Fall and Homerique.

With his fifth Diana triumph, Chad equaled the record of the late, great Hall of Famer, J. Elliott Burch. Chad won his first Diana with Zagora in 2011, followed by Dacita in 2016, and then won with the magnificent Lady Eli in 2017.

Sistercharlie, the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf winner, and the Eclipse champion female turf horse of 2018, showed no rust after an eight month layoff, as she recorded a 105 Beyer, while Hall of Famer Johnny Velazquez once again led her to the wire. 

With Peter Brant owning Sistercharlie, and three of Chad’s four separate starters, including the “rabbit,” Thais, oldtimers who remember the prevalence of “coupled” entries, and horse players everywhere, were heard grumbling about this ironic situation.

I could not help but notice the frustration on the faces and in the words of members of the e Five Racing family who were standing next to me at the finish line, as they watched their 4-year-old star, and former Breeders’ Cup Juvenile champ, Rushing Fall, place, with Hall of Famer Javi Castellano aboard.

Peter Brant’s Homerique and Irad Ortiz rounded out the trifecta for Chad, and it appears that this trio will battle next in the $600K, Grade 1 Beverly D, on the Arlington Million Day card on August 10.

Sistercharlie upped her bankroll to $2,850,603, while $2 bettors got more on a win ticket at $5.80 than they did on a $.50 triple at $5.65.

The final stakes of opening weekend was Sunday’s Coronation Cup for 3-year-old fillies going 5-1/2 furlongs over the Mellon turf course. Klein Racing and Brad Cox’s versatile star, Break Even, proved in her turf debut that she can handle anything her connections throw at her, as she remains undefeated at 6-6.

Break Even broke her maiden in the slop on New Year’s Day at the Fairgrounds, and romped to her second win at the same site over a fast track at the end of January.

BE moved on to Oaklawn Park at the end of March and recorded her first stakes victory, which set up her appearance on the first Saturday in May in the Grade 2, 8 Belles on the Derby Day undercard. She was never challenged, and won by 5-1/2 lengths.

In BE’s last start before Sunday, Break Even bobbled out of the gate at Belmont, but regular rider Shaun Bridgmohan steadied her, and she was able to race to her fifth straight win.

In her turf debut at the Spa, Break Even broke like a bottle rocket out of the gate, and blazed her way to a 21.03 opening quarter, and never looked back while wiring the field.

Following the race, Brad Cox stated that she’ll return to the dirt in the $250K, 6 furlong, Grade 2 Prioress on closing Saturday, and I’m sure this is a big relief for the trainers who are sending their 3-year-old fillies to the $500K, 7 furlong, Grade 1 Test on August 3.

Among those are Chad Brown with his undefeated Royal Charlotte, Tom Amoss with Kentucky Oaks winner Serengeti Empress, and Simon Callaghan with Bellafina. It should be noted, however, that Brad Cox won’t be totally absent, as the up and coming star trainer will still be represented by his speedy filly Covfefe.

As we head into Week 2, another fine race for 3-year-old fillies looms, this one for those who can go 1-1/8 miles, with the Grade 1 Coaching Club American Oaks. The $500K stakes will be the Spa coming out party for Chad’s breakout star Guarana, and will act as a prep for the Grade 1 Alabama on August 17.

Also expected to start are Eddie Kenneally’s Boxwood, a daughter of English Channel, Dermot Magner’s Safta, George Weaver’s Point  of Honor, and Ian Wilkes’ Champagne Anyone.

Trainer Rick Violette’s enduring legacy will be honored on Wednesday, fittingly, with the inaugural running of a New York-bred stakes race bearing his name, for 2-year-olds going 6 furlongs.

Rick’s tireless dedication and devotion to those without a voice, both human and equine, is legendary, and will never be forgotten, nor will his work as the longtime President of NYTHA, where he fought long and hard for his fellow comrades.

With the forecast calling for downpours midweek, and unbearable temperatures and humidity over the weekend, I will pray for the horses and their fans to stay safe, and for the turf courses to remain usable!

When I think of Linda Rice I think of how badass she is. I mean, she might be the most badass trainer in all of horse racing. 

Think about it.

When you look at, say, Chad Brown, he of six million wins a year ago at Saratoga, he doesn’t get more milquetoast. Dale Romans has that jovial I’ll-dress-up-as-Santa-every-year kind of vibe. And he’s quick with a long quote. D. Wayne Lukas had the badass vibe when he was rollin’. Graham Motion is someone you want your daughter to meet. Bob Baffert 2.0, the post-heart-attack Baffert, has that I’m-just-happy-to-be-here energy that most men or women of a certain age get when they dance with the Reaper.

But Rice? She’s got those Terminator shades and I swear she’d make Joan Jett turn acoustic. 

So it is that 10 years ago Rice came to Saratoga, as she does every year, but 2009 was a special year for the XX chromosomes. Rachel Alexandra would beat the boys and become horse of the year and Rice would edge out Todd Pletcher on the final day of the meet to become the one, the only, female to be leading trainer at Saratoga. 

“It dawned on me it’s been 10 years since we won the title up there,” Rice told me, “and I was trying to think what has changed for me. I’ve changed my business plan. I stay in New York year round. I have not raced in Florida much. New York racing has been good for me overall. Since then I’ve tied for the Belmont title. I won the Aqueduct winter meet after being second five years in a row. I finally won this year. Winning at Saratoga was a springboard to bigger and greater things.”

Rice, on the back of those turf sprints and, to be fair, other races, she won the title with 20 wins from just over 70 starters. Pletcher had twice that number. She might be the only trainer in the past 10 years not named Brown or Pletcher to win 20 races or more in a single season and she did it in 36 racing days vs. the modern-day 40.

In sports, we often talk about the stars aligning to forge a new champion. Call it the “Sports Gods,” call it luck, but there was something in the air that gave Rice an edge heading into that 2009 meet.

“There were a few things that helped,” she said. “That year there were 74 races taken off the turf at Belmont Park, because there was two months of straight rain. I scratched horses out of those races. I didn’t run them on the dirt. That was a positive thing and we had great results at Saratoga. We ran a lot of two-year-olds that did well too. By the time we got to Saratoga and the skies cleared, we had great weather and my grass horses were fresh and ready to go.”

Success often comes at the intersection of preparation and luck. Rice and her team were prepared with horses with a bit more tread on their tires heading up to the Spa. The condition book played to her strengths and she capitalized the way great coaches/trainers/athletes do when the opportunity rises.

Amazingly, and perhaps unbelievably, few women trainers still crack that upper echelon in a male-dominated sport. In theory, training knows no gender. It’s not a “strength” game. It’s a knowledge game, a feel game. And yet Rice is one of the few recognizable woman conditioners in the game. There have been other glimpses of it, say when Kathy Ritvo won the Breeders’ Cup Classic with Mucho Macho Man or when Maria Borell won the Breeders’ Cup Sprint with Run Happy. Ritvo has only started 51 horses in 2019. 

I don’t know the circumstances behind that. Maybe that’s all Ritvo wants to train. But Rice has 339. In any case, there hasn’t exactly been a wave of new women trainers in the game despite Rice’s historic 2009 campaign and beyond. Maybe that says more about the prejudice among owners. 

“It’s a very trying industry in these times,” Rice said. “It’s not an industry for the faint hearted whether you’re male or female. There’s a lot of demands to run a business in New York. The last few years we’ve been inundated with the Department of Labor and compliance. The workman’s comp issue in New York is higher than most places. It’s a difficult industry to wade through for a man or woman. It’s very taxing on anyone who comes to New York, much less a woman. It comes with a lot of struggles.”

No matter for Rice, she keeps going. She keeps sharpening the saw. She compares herself only to herself. She evaluates her business and keeps on improving her own game.

“I get excited about horses that are training well, young horses, claiming horses, any horse,” she said. “At the races when horses compete well at any level, that’s always great fun for me. That’s why I do it. It’s a seven-day-a-week job, long hours, you have to enjoy the competition.”

Brendan O’Meara is a freelance writer and author of Six Weeks in Saratoga.

Friday, July 12

• MARIANO RIVERA DAY 
NYRA will host National Baseball Hall of Fame inductee and legendary NY Yankees pitcher Mariano Rivera at Saratoga as part of Opening Weekend festivities. The visit comes one week before Rivera heads to Cooperstown where he will be inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame as the first unanimous selection in history. NYRA will honor Rivera with a special ceremony in the Winner’s Circle in recognition of the all-time Major League Baseball saves leader. Secure your spot at NYRA.com/Rivera.

• TASTE NY: CRAFT BEER & CIDER
Every Friday beginning July 12
Taste NY: Craft Beer & Cider will allow guests the opportunity to sample numerous craft beers and ciders produced exclusively by New York State breweries and cideries. Live music will accompany the tasting each Friday from noon to 5 p.m. in the Coca-Cola Saratoga Pavilion. Guests will enjoy five samples for $5. Must be 21 years or older to participate.

Saturday, July 13

• SARATOGA COUNTY EOC FOOD DRIVE
NYRA will welcome the Saratoga County Economic Opportunity Council (EOC) for its annual food and essential goods drive. Fans who donate at least three non-perishable items at the Community Outreach Booth will receive a free Saratoga baseball cap, while supplies last, and will be entered to win tickets to the 150th running of the Grade 1, $1.25 million Runhappy Travers and other great prizes.

• FASHION SATURDAYS
Every Saturday beginning July 13
Designed to showcase the tradition of style in thoroughbred racing, the weekly event will feature women’s and men’s fashion apparel from local retailers such as The Pink Paddock, Miss Scarlett Boutique and The National, as well as a selection of home décor and jewelry items. The event will be held each Saturday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the Coca-Cola Saratoga Pavilion. 

• Madison VanDenburg to Perform
The 17-year-old singer from Cohoes,  who thrilled viewers nationwide with her vocal talents on the popular singing competition “American Idol,” will entertain fans at the track. VanDenburg will perform at the Don Julio stage, adjacent to guest services, following the day’s first race at approximately 1:10 p.m. Additional performances will follow throughout the afternoon.

• WOODFORD RESERVE BOURBON SATURDAYS
Every Saturday beginning July 13
Fans will be invited to enjoy specialty drinks and selections from Woodford Reserve at the Jim Dandy Bar each Saturday from 3 to 5 p.m. 

• KETEL ONE SATURDAYS
Every Saturday beginning July 13
Fans are invited to sample the new Ketel One Botanicals from 3 to 5 p.m. each Saturday outside the entrance to The Stretch. 

Sunday, July 14

• Saratoga Picnic Cooler Giveaway
Fans will enjoy the first giveaway of the 2019 season: a collapsible, red picnic cooler featuring the Saratoga logo emblazoned in white, presented by NYRA Bets. The picnic cooler is free with paid admission, while supplies last. Season pass and season ticket holders are guaranteed a Saratoga premium giveaway on the day of the giveaway so long as they are present at Saratoga Race Course and redeem the giveaway by the designated time.

• 28th ANNUAL HAT CONTEST PRESENTED BY MOET & CHANDON AND HAT SATIONA! BY DEI
Fans will compete for great prizes in the 28th annual Hat Contest which features three categories: Kreative Kids, Fashionably Saratoga and Uniquely Saratoga. Registration begins at noon under the grandstand with the contests taking place after the second, third and fourth races. 

 • BERKSHIRE BANK FAMILY SUNDAYS
Every Sunday beginning July 14
The popular kid-oriented weekly event will feature a beach theme during Opening Weekend with free activities such as a surf simulator, sand art station and hermit crab racing. The event will take place from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the Coca-Cola Saratoga Pavilion.

• Low Roller Challenge
Every Sunday beginning July 14
Every Sunday will include the Low Roller Challenge which allows aspiring handicappers the opportunity to experience the thrill of tournament play for $40, with $30 going towards live bankroll and $10 to the prize pool. Entrants will also have an opportunity to qualify for the Saratoga Challenge on Friday, August 9. Registration begins at 11 a.m. near the Fourstardave Sports Bar.

Wednesday, July 17

• Saratoga Visit Day
Experience the Spa’s best attractions during the first Saratoga Visit Day in the Coca-Cola Saratoga Pavilion. Guests can learn about the cultural attractions in Saratoga Springs to complement their visit to Saratoga Race Course. Participating organizations and attractions include: Frances Young Tang Teaching Museum and Art Gallery; National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame; Saratoga Arts District; Saratoga Automobile Museum; Saratoga Performing Arts Center; Saratoga Spa State Park; Saratoga Springs History Museum; and Yaddo Gardens.

NOTE: Dark Days are Monday and Tuesday
Season admission passes may be purchased at NYRA.com/Saratoga and at Stewart’s Shops locations. A season pass provides admission to all 40 days of racing at Saratoga Race Course. The cost for a 2019 Grandstand season pass is $50. A Clubhouse season pass is $75. Season passes do not include reserved seating. For more information visit NYRA.com/Saratoga.

Perhaps there will be no finer cure for what ails the beleaguered Sport of Kings than the eagerly anticipated opening of Saratoga this week.

In spite of one controversy after another, spanning from coast to coast this past year, the fans will once again flock to the Spa. No matter how many doomsday scenarios are written, the timeless allure of Saratoga remains untainted, and like the old grandstand and clubhouse, refuses to be tarnished.

As with the 2-year-old fillies that will grace the course Opening Day in the 6-furlong, Grade 3 Schuylerville, hope springs eternal every summer in Saratoga, when we turn back the hands of time and bow down to the honored tradition.

I’m looking forward to seeing Todd Pletcher’s classy 2-year-old filly, Kiss the Girl, a daughter of Into Mischief, out of Spin the Bottle by Hard Spun, make her debut at the Spa in the Schuylerville, as she showed impressive speed in a 5 furlong test on June 12 at Belmont, winning by 4-1/2 lengths in 58.57. She will be ridden by Johnny Velazquez.

Wesley Ward and George Bolton obviously have confidence in their 2-year-old filly, Aurelia Garland, as they cross-nominated her for both the Schuylerville and a shot at the boys in the Sanford. She’s now listed in the recently released entries for the Schuylerville and will be ridden by Jersey Joe Bravo.

Todd has also entered another juvi filly, Integral, with Luis Saez up, while Doug O’Neill has entered a pair with Shippy and Jose Ortiz, and Comical, with Javi Castellano aboard. Gary Contessa has entered Buxom Beast, in what will be her career debut, under Joel Rosario.

The Opening Day card will also feature the Grade 3 Quick Call, a 5-1/2 furlong turf sprint for 3-year-olds, while the upgraded Forbidden Apple, a mile on the turf for 4-year-olds and up, formerly run at Belmont, will now be run as a Grade 3 on Friday at the Spa.

Wesley Ward thinks highly of his 3-year-old filly Abyssinian, too, as he cross-nominated her for both the Quick Call and Sunday’s Coronation Cup, also a 5-1/2 furlong turf sprint, but for 3-year-old fillies.

Abyssinian is now entered for the Quick Call, and will be ridden by Johnny V, while Jason Servis’ and Michael Dubb’s Call Paul will have Manny Franco up, and Luis Saez will be on Todd Pletcher’s Sombeyay.

Friday’s Forbidden Apple will feature the return of Barry Schwartz and Linda Rice’s beloved 5-year-old New York-bred, Voodoo Song, going a mile on the inner turf. The son of English Channel became a part of Saratoga racing lore when he went 4-4 as a 3-year-old in 2017, capping his amazing 6-week winning streak off with a victory over future Grade 1 winners, Yoshida and Bricks and Mortar, in the closing day Grade 3 Saranac.

Voodoo Song returned last summer and proved he was truly a “horse for a course”, when he made it 5 straight at the Spa, by capturing the Grade 1 Fourstardave as a 4-year-old. His “Spa Magic” would run out, however, in the Bernard Baruch on closing day, when he finished 5th.

Voodoo Song was put on the shelf following a disappointing outing in the Shadwell Turf Mile last October at Keeneland, but hopefully he’ll be ready to go in the Forbidden Apple after a 9-month layoff. He won last year’s edition when it was still run at Belmont, but he’ll have to face stiff competition to be a repeat winner.

Six other graded stakes winners are entered, including Shadwell Farms’ and Kieran McLaughlin’s Qurbaan, Chad Brown’s pair of Offering Plan and Made You Look, and Mark Casse’s pair of March to the Arch, who recently won the Grade 2 Wise Dan, and First Premio.

The main attraction on Friday, however, will undoubtedly be Mariano Rivera, as the 13-time All Star for the Yankees will take center stage one week before his Cooperstown induction. As the very first unanimous Hall of Fame selection in history, “Mo” will certainly garner as much attention in the Winner’s Circle, as he did with first ballot voters!

The first Grade 1 of the meet will take place on Saturday in the 81st running of the $500K Diana Stakes, for fillies and mares on the turf at a mile and 1/8. 

You can bet that Chad Brown will be well represented again this year, as he was last year, when he sent out a talented trio, including the eventual winner, Sistercharlie, plus A Raving Beauty and New Money Honey.

We may see a repeat winner this year, as Sistercharlie is nominated again, or perhaps Chad’s 4-year-old star, Rushing Fall, or maybe his 5-year-old mare, Rymska, will take the honors! Six of the 15 nominees’ race for Chad, as he also nominated Thais, Homerique, and Competitionofideas.

And as is always the case, Chad has other talented turf mares in his stable, too. One is Michael Dubb’s 5-year-old, Uni. Coming back after yet another 6-month layoff, Uni recorded her fifth straight victory going a mile. Under an easy hand ride by Joel Rosario, Uni took the Perfect Sting at Belmont, and is expected to next challenge the boys in the Grade 1 Fourstardave on August 10.

Another of Chad’s talented mares is the 6-year-old router, Santa Monica. Her last two outings have been victories at a mile and 3/8, in the Grade 2 Sheepshead Bay in early May at Belmont, and in the Grade 3 Orchid at Gulfstream in late March, and hopefully we’ll see her later in the meet.

There will certainly be stiff competition for turf dates, however, between Saratoga and the Arlington Million Day card on August 10, and I’ll be interested to see how it plays out. 

With his usual embarrassment of riches, Chad also boasts an amazing lineup of 3-year-old fillies, and leading the way is his breakout star, Guarana. She defeated Tom Amoss’ Kentucky Oaks winner, Serengeti Empress, by 6 lengths in the recent Grade 1 Acorn at Belmont, and the homebred daughter of Ghostzapper broke her maiden at Keeneland by 14+ lengths. The sky is surely the limit for Guarana!

Jose Ortiz not only has the luxury of riding Guarana, but he also has the mount on another star 3-year-old filly for Chad in Dunbar Road, who cruised to victory in the Grade 2 Mother Goose.

The third 3-year-old star filly in Chad’s barn is the undefeated Royal Charlotte. The daughter of Cairo Prince just won the Victory Ride at Belmont last Friday by 4 lengths under Javi Castellano, and she’d previously won the Hysterical Lady at Monmouth.

Chad has Royal Charlotte pegged as a sprinter, and she will next face a very talented field in the $500K, 7-furlong, Grade 1 Test on August 3.

Expected to run against RC in the Test are Serengeti Empress, Simon Callaghan’s Bellafina, who is also cutting back to one turn after a dismal Kentucky Oaks outing like SE, and Brad Cox’s talented pair of Covfefe and Break Even.

Covfefe served notice to her competition in the Grade 3 Miss Preakness that she’s a real fireball, when she blazed her way to a track record of 1:07.70 for the 6 furlongs, earning herself a gaudy 107 Beyer.

Guarana is slated to next run in the $500K, Grade 1 Coaching Club American Oaks on July 20, where she’ll face Ian Wilkes’ Champagne Anyone and George Weaver’s Point of Honor, in the 1-1/8-mile contest.

The CCAO will serve as a prep for Guarana’s anticipated showdown with her stablemate Dunbar Road in the $600K, Grade 1 Alabama on August 17, run at the classic 1-1/4 mile distance. Dunbar Road will train up to the Alabama, and Jose Ortiz will have a decision to make.

The 2-year-old colts will make their Saratoga debut two days after the fillies, on opening Saturday in the 6-furlong, Grade 3 Sanford Stakes. These races are the first in a series of three graded stakes, at increasing distances and purses, for the juvenile divisions throughout the meet. 

Although final entries were not yet released before my deadline, Steve Asmussen has nominated three colts for the Sanford with Basin, Memorable, and his speedy Rowdy Yates. Kathy Ritvo has nominated a pair for Reeves Thoroughbreds with Forceful One and He’s Super Lucky, while Doug O’Neill has a pair with Raging Whiskey and Scoring.

The series will continue on Sunday, August 4, when the juvi fillies will run in the 6-1/2 furlong, Grade 2 Adirondack for $200K, while the juvi colts will run the following Saturday for the same purse and at the same distance, in the Grade 2 Special.

The series will conclude closing weekend with the running of the $350K, 7-furlong, Grade 1 Spinaway for juvi fillies on Sunday, and the Grade 1 Hopeful for juvi colts on Labor Day, also with the same purse and at the same distance.

One of my favorite things about our prestigious Saratoga meet is the chance we have to witness greatness in the making, as we get our first glimpse at these regally bred babies.

Perhaps tops on my list of these babies is Chestertown, a New York-bred son of Tapit, named after the farm of his prolific breeders, Chester and Mary Broman. They retained an interest in their colt, who is the first foal out of their multiple Grade 1 sprinter/miler, Artemis Agrotera, who won the Frizette as a 2-year-old, and the Ballerina as a 3-year-old.

Chestertown, trained by Steve Asmussen, was purchased for $2 million at the OBS March Sale by the partnership of West Point Thoroughbreds, Rob Masiello and Siena Farm. He’s supposedly bigger than most Tapit babies, and with the influence on Artemis Agrotera’s side, perhaps seems best suited to follow in his Mama’s footsteps as a sprinter, and we can only hope they find a spot for him at the Spa!

Triple Crown hero, American Pharoah, sired his first Grade/Group winner, when his 2-year-old chesnut son, Maven, captured the G3 Prix du Bois June 29 at Chantilly in France. 

Although Maven broke his maiden at Aqueduct on April 19 in his first race for Wesley Ward, it appears that he will remain across the pond for another race at the end of July, sadly, bypassing Saratoga. He will return to Keeneland at a later date to prep for the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint on November 1.

With the 3-year-old male division totally muddled, following the bizarre sequence of events along the Triple Crown trail, it can be argued that now more than ever, Chad Brown’s turf star, Bricks and Mortar, is the legitimate leader in the race for not only year’s end divisional honors, but also the Eclipse for Horse of the Year.

Although it is a rare feat, most recently accomplished by one of my all-time favorites, the incomparable Wise Dan, in back-to-back years in 2012 and 2013, it is nonetheless very difficult to convince the voters to select a turf star.

With the importance of turf racing in America on the rise, however, perhaps it won’t be that hard to envision Bricks and Mortar as the HOY, any more than it was 35 years ago when the great John Henry was also crowned.

After a 15+ month layoff, B&M has come back in 2019 to capture the Grade 1 Pegasus World Cup Turf at Gulfstream, the Grade 2 Mervin Muniz, Jr. Memorial ‘Cap at the Fairgrounds, the Grade 1 Turf Classic on the Kentucky Derby Day card, and most recently, the Grade 1 Manhattan at Belmont.

With the debut of the Turf Triple Series last Saturday at Belmont, and its continuation the first weekend of August at Saratoga, the rising stature of turf racing will be further cemented, helping B&M’s cause.

Many years I’ve been disappointed when the Eclipse has automatically gone to those who win the Breeders’ Cup, ignoring others’ yearlong body of work. It is also very frustrating when over and over again it is run at Santa Anita, giving a clear edge to west coast connections.

It is presumed that Bricks and Mortar’s next start will be in the Arlington Million, but with Chad Brown stating that his star’s preferred distance is 10 furlongs or less, the ultimate question is where will he place him after the Million?!

Most of the big turf races in the early Fall stretch out to longer distances, so if Chad insists on the shorter distances, will the Breeders’ Cup Mile be his target?

If he’s not thrilled with the prospect of meeting the top Euro stars in the Breeders’ Cup Turf, however, maybe he will go for the gusto, and follow in the footsteps of his sire, Giant’s Causeway, and enter the Breeders’ Cup Classic.

This could settle the question for the voters, but if he takes a less standard “route”, what will the outcome be?

Maximum Security, the DQ’ed Kentucky Derby winner, will next go in the Haskell on July 20th. With its date pushed up a week this year, and on a Saturday instead of a Sunday, trainer Jason Servis and owners Gary and Mary West will now have a full 5 weeks to decide if they’ll also enter the Travers, as will all the other connections.

Although Maximum Security placed his last time out in the Grade 3 Pegasus at Monmouth on June 16, he is still considered the leader of the pack, albeit a weakened one, based on his undefeated record leading up to the Derby.

Trainer Mark Casse has stated that he will consider entering his Preakness winner, War of Will, in the $600K, Grade 2 Jim Dandy on July 27, as his prep for the Travers.

WOW has been at Keeneland since his dull showing in the Belmont, but is scheduled to have one work at Churchill Downs before shipping to Saratoga. Casse will then decide if he should just train up to the Travers, after his grueling TC run, or if WOW will be ready for the Jim Dandy.

Trainer Bill Mott will follow the same scenario with Tacitus, Juddmonte’s homebred son of Tapit, as Casse will with WOW. ‘Tho Bill was disappointed after his heralded pupil was 2nd in the Belmont, his hopes remain high, as Tacitus still ran well, in spite of a really wide trip.

After winning the Tampa Bay Derby and the Wood Memorial, Tacitus was moved up to 3rd in the Kentucky Derby, when Mott’s 65-1 longshot, Country House, ironically gave him his first Kentucky Derby victory, over his more well-regarded stablemate.

As has been the trend in recent years, there will be new faces reaching for the top of the 3-year-old male division from now until the Breeders’ Cup, and Shug Mcgaughey’s Code of Honor seems primed to do so.

Code of Honor was destined for glory along the TC trail after he took the Fountain of Youth at Gulfstream, but like Maximum Security, was spooked in the Kentucky Derby. He was, however, moved up to 2nd after the DQ.

Following his dominant performance at Belmont in last Saturday’s Dwyer, Code of Honor is definitely back. In spite of Johnny V losing his crop at the 16th pole, Code of Honor won with ease, and a hand ride was all that was needed. He’s ready to tackle his next mission at the Spa, where he broke his maiden last summer, and we’ll presumably see him next in the Travers.

It’s been a tough couple of months in California for Hall of Famers Richard Mandella and Jerry Hollendorfer, who are both widely regarded as not only great horsemen, but also gentlemen.

The always classy Mandella was dealt a stinging blow when his regal son of War Front, Omaha Beach, had to scratch out of the Kentucky Derby, as the morning line favorite. It was discovered that he had an entrapped epiglottis which required surgery, and it has had him sidelined since.

Although I had hoped to see OB in the Travers, per the Daily Racing Form’s Steve Anderson, it is more likely that Mandella will keep OB home to race in the non-graded $100K, 1 Mile Shared Belief at Delmar on August 25. 

In a change of strategy, Mandella has also listed the 7 furlong, $500K, Grade 1 H. Allen Jerkens on Travers Day as a possibility, but it appears unlikely. It’s obvious, however, after OB captured the Grade 1 Arkansas Derby and the Grade 2 Rebel Stakes, also at Oaklawn, that a turn back seems to be in his cards.

It’s hard not to believe the widely claimed theory that Jerry Hollendorfer was just made the scapegoat by the Stronach Group, and in particular, Belinda, amidst the tragic backdrop that has been Santa Anita the past 6 months.

Everyone in the tightly knit horseracing community is devastated by each and every horrible accident, but to pinpoint a vast problem, and try to disgrace a Hall of Fame trainer in the process by suspending him, is unacceptable, imho!

Hall of Famer Steve Asmussen has a couple Eclipse contenders in his barn that I can’t wait to see run, with his magnificent 4-year-old filly, Midnight Bisou, and with his extremely talented sprinter, 4-year-old Mitole.

Midnight Bisou returned to the Spa for the summer, in anticipation of her start in the Personal Ensign on the Travers Day card. Following her resounding victory in the Grade 1 Ogden Phipps on the Belmont Stakes card, she pushed her career earnings to over $2.7 million, and is an obvious favorite for her division’s Eclipse. 

Mitole has established himself as a premier sprinter, and although he defeated a stellar field in the Met Mile, earning a 108 Beyer for his impressive victory over Bob Baffert’s McKinzie, it appears that he’ll cut back, and next go in the Grade 1 Alfred G. Vanderbilt on July 27th, going 6 furlongs. 

Another excellent sprinter is the versatile World of Trouble, who has won on both the turf and dirt for Jason Servis and Michael Dubb. He won on the turf in the Grade 1 Jaipur in his last outing, but what a showdown it could be if he went back to dirt to face Mitole in the Vanderbilt.

Concrete Rose is another 3-year-old filly star I look forward to seeing. The impressive winner of the Belmont Oaks, during last Saturday’s Stars & Stripes Festival at Big Sandy, broke her maiden last August at the Spa, and other than a setback in the BC Juvi Fillies Turf, has been undefeated. Trainer Rusty Arnold says he’s looking forward to the second leg of the Turf Tiara August 2nd and is pointing his star filly toward the third leg at Belmont September 7th, before heading back to Keeneland for the QEII, which will be her final prep before the Breeders’ Cup.

Dale Romans won the John Nerud on last Saturday’s Stars & Stripes card with his star sprinter, Promises Fulfilled, and he was one of several winners that day that we should keep on our Spa radar.

Mike Maker, with Nolan Ramsey assisting, pulled off the upset in the headlining Belmont Derby with Henley’s Joy, a horse bred by Nolan’s grandparents, Ken and Sarah Ramsey. You can expect to see Henley’s Joy along the Turf Trinity trail, per an enthusiastic Ken Ramsey.

Jockey Jose Lezcano, who just beat out Luis Saez and the Ortiz Bros for the Belmont Spring/Summer Jockey Title, was aboard Henley’s Joy. Long revered as an elite turf rider, it was nice to see Jose break through the logjam at the top.

Jimmy Jerkens pulled off another upset on the Stars & Stripes card when he captured his third Suburban. Following back-to-back wins with Effinex a few years ago, Jimmy tied his Dad, The Chief, for the record, when his Preservationist took this year’s Suburban. While it was a somewhat disappointing loss for the favorite, last year’s Travers’ hero Catholic Boy, he still recorded a fine 102 Beyer in defeat to Preservationist’s 108. 

‘Tho I still believe Catholic Boy is best suited for the turf and had hoped this defeat would’ve nudged his connections back in that direction, trainer Jonathan Thomas has stated that the Woodward is his “major target”. This will hopefully set up a rematch with Preservationist, and maybe the cut back to 9 furlongs will benefit Catholic Boy.

It will also be interesting to see where the other talented older dirt males are spotted, including Thunder Snow, Seeking the Soul, Gunnevera, Gift Box, Coal Front and Quip.

I’m most interested, however, to see if the revitalized Vino Rosso will go in the Whitney for Mike Repole, Todd Pletcher and Johnny V, after his victory in the Santa Anita Gold Cup. Repole loves to win at the Spa, so it seems to be a logical spot for Vino Rosso.

The Pacific Classic could be an option for Thunder Snow and some of the others, too, and we’ll soon know where they’re heading.

With so many horses and matchups to ponder, and with too little time and space before my weekly deadline, I shall bid farewell for now, but hope to see many old friends at the Flagpole or by the Winner’s Circle on Opening Day and over the weekend!

Summer starts early at Saratoga this year.

Saratoga also gets a five-day work week for the first time in like ever. In any case, this meet will likely have the usual flare of Chad Brown dominance.

What made 2018 so freaky was the abject way Brown mopped the floor with the competition. He won 46 races. If the people behind Makers Mark bourbon are smart—and they are—they need to make a limited batch of their Makers Mark 46 in honor of Brown. I mean, he averaged more than a win a day over the 40-race meet.

Coming in second place nearly 30 wins behind Brown was the old saw Todd A. Pletcher, who had 19 shiners. There was a time when 19 wins was kickin’ ass and takin’ names, but now 19 wins is what Brown calls July. 

But on Father’s Day, down on the Jersey Shore, Pletcher showed some life with a three-year-old colt that might put some sugar in his coffee. King for a Day defeated Maximum Security, the pseudo-winner of the Kentucky Derby. Now, Maximum Security had an excuse. He stumbled coming out of the gate. Few horses can overcome a stumble no matter how classy they are. So Pletcher’s horse re-ignited the barn.

Saratoga isn’t the same without Pletcher in the picture. For as long as I’ve been following horse racing —and certainly as long as I’ve been writing about it—Pletcher has been a Category 5 hurricane at the Spa. On the back of brilliant two-year-olds, talented Triple Crown runners and a few older horses and mares, Pletcher and his call-me-maybe jockey John Velazquez did special things. There’s Montana and Rice, Brady and Belichick, Jordan and Pippen and Johnny V. and Toddy P. 

Now, despite getting dusted like Thanos, Pletcher did win nearly $2 million purses at Saratoga last year, so let’s not feel too bad for the guy, but still. Brown won $4.43 million from 171 starts. He won 27% of the time and was in the money 64% of the time. The only thing more predictable is tides.

Frankly, Saratoga is more interesting when Pletcher is on his game. Saratoga has never been a one-horse race, though the past few it has been more of a match race between Pletcher and Brown, with the apex of that competition coming in 2017 when Pletcher nosed Brown 40 wins to 39 wins. Rounding out the trifecta was Bill Mott with 13 wins.

How long can a trainer truly be dominant? Was Pletcher’s run from say, 2006-2017 the greatest stretch for any trainer in the history of the sport? It could be that he was the logical conclusion to what his mentor D. Wayne Lukas started back in the 80s. Put ’Em on a Plane Dwayne built a national empire, franchising out his name from coast to coast. 

Pletcher took the concept and further perfected it. And fewer and fewer horses going to fewer and fewer trainers, it was inevitable that fewer than 10 trainers would train the bulk of the graded stakes winners over the last 15 years or so.

The usual suspects are Steve Asmussen, Pletcher, Bob Baffert, Chad Brown and maybe Kieran McLaughlin in North America. In 2004, Pletcher led the country in earnings, but Baffert and Asmussen were right there.

Ok, so according to Equibase.com, Pletcher was leading trainer in money in 2005, 2006, 2007, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2015. In 2008, 2009, 2016 and 2017 he was second. But in 2018 he was third. Call the fire department, hit the panic button.

But wasn’t that the case for this year’s Kentucky Derby? Pletcher, he of routinely saddling 20-25% of the Kentucky Derby field had only two starters. They were by far some of the weakest he had ever brought to the Derby. Brown, for all his Mothra-like torching of the earth, didn’t have a Triple Crown horse worth your breath. 

It all had the feeling of Pletcher losing his fastball, but he admitted that his crew at the Pletcher-verse didn’t evaluate talent quite as well and if you miss a season or two in terms of scouting, it’s not like you can go out and sign a free agent to turn the franchise around. You miss a season, it takes a full calendar year to reboot.

So, yes, we might not see a great Saratoga out of Pletcher. And maybe Brown runs away with the meet again on the strength of his turf campaigns, but if King for a Day is any indication of what might be lurking in the bushes back there on the Oklahoma Training side of Union Avenue, this could be the dogfight of 2017 all over again.

And it’ll be the greatest of all things to look up your entries and see what Pletcher has in store. Say what you will, the guy rarely disappoints. 

Brendan O’Meara is a freelance writer and author of Six Weeks in Saratoga.

Thursday, July 11 

• OPENING DAY! SEASON PASS HOLDER GIVEAWAY
The 2019 summer meet will kick-off with the traditional Grade 3, $150,000 Schuylerville for 2-year-old fillies. All season pass and season ticket holders in attendance will receive an exclusive giveaway: a white cooling towel featuring the red Saratoga logo. Available while supplies last on a first-come, first-served basis. 

• TASTE NY: WINE & SPIRITS
Every Thursday beginning July 11
Taste NY: Wine & Spirits will allow fans the opportunity to sample varietals of wine and spirits from numerous New York State wineries and distilleries. Live music will accompany the tasting each Thursday from noon to 5 p.m. in the Coca-Cola Saratoga Pavilion. Guests will enjoy five samples for $5. Must be 21 years or older to participate.

• LOW ROLLER CHALLENGE
Every Thursday and Sunday beginning July 11 & 14 
Thursdays and Sundays will include the Low Roller Challenge which allows aspiring handicappers the opportunity to experience the thrill of tournament play for $40, with $30 going towards live bankroll and $10 to the prize pool. Registration begins at 11 a.m. near the Fourstardave Sports Bar.

• DON JULIO THURSDAYS
Every Thursday beginning July 11 
Fans are invited to sample drinks featuring Don Julio tequila each Thursday from 3 to 5 p.m. outside the entrance to The Stretch.

Friday, July 12

• MARIANO RIVERA DAY 
NYRA will host National Baseball Hall of Fame inductee and legendary NY Yankees pitcher Mariano Rivera at Saratoga as part of Opening Weekend festivities. The visit comes one week before Rivera heads to Cooperstown where he will be inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame as the first unanimous selection in history. NYRA will honor Rivera with a special ceremony in the Winner’s Circle in recognition of the all-time Major League Baseball saves leader. Secure your spot at NYRA.com/Rivera.

• TASTE NY: CRAFT BEER & CIDER
Every Friday beginning July 12
Taste NY: Craft Beer & Cider will allow guests the opportunity to sample numerous craft beers and ciders produced exclusively by New York State breweries and cideries. Live music will accompany the tasting each Friday from noon to 5 p.m. in the Coca-Cola Saratoga Pavilion. Guests will enjoy five samples for $5. Must be 21 years or older to participate.

Saturday, July 13

• SARATOGA COUNTY EOC FOOD DRIVE
NYRA will welcome the Saratoga County Economic Opportunity Council (EOC) for its annual food and essential goods drive. Fans who donate at least three non-perishable items at the Community Outreach Booth will receive a free Saratoga baseball cap, while supplies last, and will be entered to win tickets to the 150th running of the Grade 1, $1.25 million Runhappy Travers and other great prizes.

• FASHION SATURDAYS
Every Saturday beginning July 13
Designed to showcase the tradition of style in thoroughbred racing, the weekly event will feature women’s and men’s fashion apparel from local retailers such as The Pink Paddock, Miss Scarlett Boutique and The National, as well as a selection of home décor and jewelry items. The event will be held each Saturday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the Coca-Cola Saratoga Pavilion. 

• WOODFORD RESERVE BOURBON SATURDAYS
Every Saturday beginning July 13
Fans will be invited to enjoy specialty drinks and selections from Woodford Reserve at the Jim Dandy Bar each Saturday from 3 to 5 p.m. 

• KETEL ONE SATURDAYS
Every Saturday beginning July 13
Fans are invited to sample the new Ketel One Botanicals from 3 to 5 p.m. each Saturday outside the entrance to The Stretch. 

Sunday, July 14

• 28th ANNUAL HAT CONTEST PRESENTED BY MOET & CHANDON AND HAT SATIONA! BY DEI
Fans will compete for great prizes in the 28th annual Hat Contest which features three categories: Kreative Kids, Fashionably Saratoga and Uniquely Saratoga. Registration begins at noon under the grandstand with the contests taking place after the second, third and fourth races. 

 • BERKSHIRE BANK FAMILY SUNDAYS
Every Sunday beginning July 14
Berkshire Bank Family Sundays will feature a wide variety of free family-friendly activities, games, attractions and educational activities each Sunday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the Coca-Cola Saratoga Pavilion.

Season ticket plans, weekly ticket plans, reserved seats, reserved tables in the Miller Lite Picnic Paddock and the Fourstardave Sports Bar, dining and group hospitality are currently on sale and available for purchase at NYRA.com/Saratoga. Season admission passes may be purchased online at NYRA.com/Saratoga and in-person at nearly 150 Stewart’s Shops locations throughout the Capital Region. A season pass provides fans with admission to all 40 days of world-class thoroughbred racing at Saratoga Race Course. The cost for a 2019 Grandstand season pass is $50. A Clubhouse season pass is $75. Season passes do not include reserved seating.

Following Opening Weekend, racing will be conducted five days a week: Wednesdays - Sundays. 

SARATOGA SPRINGS — The New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA) announced its lineup of four premium giveaways for the 2019 meet at Saratoga Race Course. All giveaways are free with paid admission, while supplies last. Additionally, NYRA will offer an exclusive giveaway for season pass and season ticket holders who are in attendance on Opening Day, Thursday, July 11: a white cooling towel featuring the red Saratoga logo, available while supplies last. Gates open at 11 a.m. each day, including weekends, with the exception of Travers Day, Saturday, August 24.

SARATOGA PICNIC COOLER: 
Sunday, July 14
The first giveaway of the 2019 season will provide fans with an easy and convenient way to tote their food and beverage spread: a collapsible, red picnic cooler featuring the Saratoga logo emblazoned in white, presented by NYRA Bets. In addition to the Saratoga picnic cooler giveaway, the day's festivities will include the 28th annual Hat Contest, presented by Moet & Chandon and Hat Sationa! By DEI.

SARATOGA BASEBALL CAP: 
Wednesday, August 7
Guests will take home the second giveaway of the 2019 meet: the Saratoga baseball cap, presented by Saratoga Casino Hotel. This season's edition of the annual giveaway item features the Saratoga logo against the backdrop of a red, black and gray camouflage print. The giveaway corresponds with First Responders Day at Saratoga, during which all first responders will receive free Grandstand admission with proper ID. 

SARATOGA BEACH TOWEL: 
Wednesday, August 21
The season's third premium giveaway - a Saratoga beach towel, presented by Upstate Ford Dealers - will kick off the countdown to the 150th running of the Grade 1, $1.25 million Runhappy Travers. The circular beach towel is a colorful rendering of a thoroughbred and jockey charging down the main track with the iconic Saratoga grandstand in the background. 

SARATOGA ZIP-UP SWEATSHIRT: 
Sunday, September 1                 
Fans will celebrate closing weekend of the 2019 Saratoga meet with the final giveaway of the season - a Saratoga sweatshirt, presented by Lia Infiniti. The gray hooded, zip-up sweatshirt is adorned with the red Saratoga logo. 

Season pass and season ticket holders are guaranteed a Saratoga premium giveaway on the day of the giveaway so long as they are present at Saratoga Race Course and redeem the giveaway by the designated time.

Season admission passes may be purchased online at NYRA.com/Saratoga and in-person at nearly 150 Stewart's Shops locations throughout the Capital Region. A season pass provides fans with admission to all 40 days of world-class thoroughbred racing at Saratoga Race Course. The cost for a 2019 Grandstand season pass is $50. A Clubhouse season pass is $75. Season passes do not include reserved seating.

Following Opening Weekend, Thursday, July 11 through Sunday, July 14, racing at Saratoga will be conducted five days a week, Wednesdays through Sundays. Closing week will run Wednesday, August 28 through Labor Day, Monday, September 2. 

SARATOGA SPRINGS - The New York Racing Association, Inc. will host a two-day job fair on Friday, June 14 and Saturday, June 15 for those interested in working at Saratoga Race Course during the 2019 summer meet.

 The job fair will be held for the second consecutive year at the Embassy Suites at 86 Congress Street in downtown Saratoga Springs. Interviews will be conducted from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Friday and from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday.

 The annual meet at Saratoga supports the employment of approximately 2,350 full-time, part-time and seasonal workers.

Opportunities at this year's job fair will include: hospitality ambassadors; hosts/hostesses; guest services; cashiers; parking attendants; Bets Squad representatives; white caps/ushers; box office; betting clerks; turf work/general labor; security guards; porters; cooks; waitstaff; bussers; merchandise clerks; concessions supervisors and cashiers; cleaners; and warehouse workers. Positions are available with NYRA, Integrated Staffing, Centerplate, American Maintenance and Union Square Events.

 Applicants must be at least 15 years of age with New York State Certified Working Papers; prospective security guards, cashiers and betting clerks must be at least 18 years of age to apply. Security guards must have a high school degree or GED to apply. All applicants must bring a photo ID and social security card or I-9 alternative.

 The 2019 Saratoga meet begins on Thursday, July 11 and runs through Labor Day, Monday, September 2.

For more information about Saratoga Race Course, visit NYRA.com/Saratoga.

SARATOGA SPRINGS – This week, city Accounts Commissioner John Franck announced a minor track exemption would be in effect this summer aimed at “offering entrepreneurial opportunities to the youth of our community,” by allowing kids to continue the longtime practice of selling bottles of water and pencils outside Saratoga Race Course.     

“We’re continuing what we started last year, to encourage minors to become entrepreneurs,” explained Franck, who during his childhood years had sold pencils outside of the racecourse.

The prevailing practice of kids selling water for a buck-a-bottle to patrons outside the entry gates of the Saratoga Race Course faced elimination at the close of the 2017 summer season when the city’s then-Public Safety Commissioner Chris Mathiesen said he has fielded numerous complaints connected with the issue. Code Enforcement officer Jack Donnelly supplied a letter that cited numerous complaints involving kids obstructing traffic, older folks – not just kids – selling and refilling multiple coolers of water, and families arguing with one another about their “spot,” to the point where the police had to intervene.

The act was never legal to begin with, with no sales tax charted, and no licensing involved. Vendors are typically required to obtain a license to sell their wares in Saratoga Springs. A 1934 ordinance exempts from the city’s licensing ordinance only the sale of milk, periodicals and newspapers.

“Unless the City Council acts otherwise, this illegal activity is not going to take place in 2018,” Mathiesen said, in late 2017.

A few months later, the council, led by Accounts Commissioner John Franck, worked on a proposal that delivered a compromise to allow the kids to sell water, but prohibit certain areas -  such as the publicly congested sidewalk near the main gates on Union Avenue – where they may do so. Prior to the start of the 2018 meet, the City Council passed a resolution to allow a minor track exemption as part of the city's Peddling and Vending ordinance.

The exemptions specify designated areas and times where water and pencils may be sold and parents or guardians must file an application with the city’s Department of Accounts to register. The city will subsequently issue an ID badge, which must be worn by the minor at all times. For more information on how to do so, visit the city’s offices at 15 Vanderbilt Ave., call 518-587-3550, or go to: saratoga-springs.org.

SARATOGA SPRINGS – The Saratoga racing season, which typically runs from late July until Labor Day weekend will be extended by an additional week this summer.   

The New York Racing Association has set this year’s opening day as Thursday, July 11 - eight days before its previously assumed opening date of July 19.

The extending of the summer meet by eight calendar days will not translate to additional races, however, maintaining its 40-Saratoga-racing-days status quo. Previously, races had been staged six days per week with Tuesdays being a no-race or “dark” day. The lengthier 2019 calendar season, should it be approved, will be compensated for by the addition of no-race Mondays - with the exception of Labor Day - resulting in five days of races per week. The meet will conclude on Labor Day, Monday, Sept. 2.

The ramifications for both year-round residents and summer visitors could be huge.

The earlier start in 2019 will overlap with a pair of perennially busy weekend dates by Dave Matthews Band at Saratoga Performing Arts Center on July 12-13, as well as the summer staging by the New York City Ballet at SPAC July 16-20.  Elizabeth Sobol, president & CEO of Saratoga Performing Arts Center, said having the track open a week earlier gives us the opportunity to cross-promote the New York City Ballet summer residency at SPAC.

City Finance Michele Madigan Commissioner says the summer racing season is among the largest drivers regarding sales tax for the local economy and that despite losing one racing day per week, the addition of a week could be a boost for the local economy.

"We will work with NYRA to ensure the safety of our horses and riders and to do all we can to protect the thousands of jobs in our backstretch community as we navigate this challenging time,” NYTHA President Joe Appelbaum said in a statement.  “NYTHA supports the interim solution NYRA has worked out for summer racing dates. While it presents certain complications, we all get to spend five extra days a year in Saratoga - which is always good for the soul."

 "The new schedule will bring both anticipated and unanticipated benefits to our summer racing season, and we will use the City's resources to make it even more successful than ever,” added city Mayor Meg Kelly.

The schedule change is related to the upcoming construction of a new hockey arena, which would shorten the length of the racing season at NYRA’s Belmont Park.

In December 2017, Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced that the New York Islanders hockey team and their partnership group were selected as winning bidders of a state issued Request for Proposals aimed at strengthening Belmont Park as a world-class sports and entertainment destination. The goal is to construct an arena by the start of the 2021 hockey season. It is unclear whether that would subsequently translate to an additional extended Saratoga season in 2020 and/or 2021. 

The construction timeline indicates work on the new arena at Belmont Park could begin as early as the second quarter of 2019, leading to potential disruption during morning training and afternoon racing. The Belmont Park spring/summer meet will feature a revised 48-day calendar to commence on Friday, April 26 and run through Sunday, July 7.

The new year has brought an unsettling start to 2019 for the New York Racing Association. President and CEO Chris Kay resigned his position in January. According to published reports, Kay allegedly used employees to conduct work at his Saratoga Springs home, and last week it was announced a 25-year partnership between NYRA and Saratoga Race Course food services provider Centerplate will not be renewed. The end of the contract will leave hundreds of people at the Saratoga Race Course without jobs, according to the independent news and information platform Patch.com.  It is not known whether a yet-to-be-named new vendor to manage food and beverage concessions will hire those who were previously employed at the racecourse.  

Todd Shimkus, president of the Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce, says the county’s tourism promotion agency will “pull out all the stops to bring as many people here as possible.  I think the hospitality sector likes the idea of an extra weekend and many of the folks in the horse racing industry like the idea of two (dark) days for a variety of reasons,” Shimkus said. “We’ve also heard from residents who are not necessarily thrilled with the idea of having their meet extended and their city taken over by visitors - but from an economic perspective this extra weekend helps us attract even more people who shop and dine and stay here; The hospitality sector is going to be able to grow.”   

Ariane Fuller is the owner/real estate broker at Racing City Realty – in its 17th year of serving the track rental needs for both homeowners and renters

“I do believe the extra days will be a boost for the community with more time to explore all that Saratoga Springs and the surrounding areas have to offer. Overall, the consensus seems to be that homeowners are excited at the opportunity to rent an additional week.   We will make adjustments as needed. We will take this in stride - my goal is to work hard and make this transition a smooth process for both homeowners and renters.”

A decade ago, the length of the Saratoga season was extended from 36 race days to 40. The Spa staged its first organized thoroughbred racing meet in 1863, which took place over four days in August, as Saratoga began to earn its nickname as “the August place to be.” A century after its founding, the meet was extended to 24 days, then to 30 days by the 1990s.

The 2019 spring/summer racing calendar at Saratoga will be highlighted by the Grade 1 Belmont Stakes on Saturday, June 8; the Grade 1 Whitney on Saturday, Aug. 3; and the 150th anniversary running of the Grade 1 Runhappy Travers on Saturday, Aug. 24.