Displaying items by tag: saratoga springs

SARATOGA SPRINGS – The city’s history reveals itself room-by-room in the two-story building Minnie Bolster called home.

Bolster, who died last December at the age of 97, collected Saratoga Springs related memorabilia for more than a half-century. Several thousand pieces of her collection will be offered in a public sale, which begins Friday morning.

“She tried to save everything, from all the hotels and the restaurants: the menus, the keys, photographs and posters, some bottles,” says Rosemary Gold, Bolster’s niece and one of a group of a half-dozen family members coordinating the estate sale.

“I had asked her what she envisioned and we’re trying to do this the way she would have wanted,” Gold says.

The initial thought was to have everything go to one buyer. When that didn’t pan out, the family thought to offer the items individually and stage the sale of Saratoga memorabilia in Saratoga.

“There are so many things we’ve come across - all from her 50-year-plus of collecting Saratoga. She was just dedicated to Saratoga. She grew up here and she loved the city,” says Gold. A sale of some antiques was held at the end of June. “It was successful, but it was antiques. You can put a value on that. This one: how do you put a value on something where you’ve never seen another one like it?”

Bolster, whose brother-in-law was photographer and photo collector George Bolster, served as president of the city's historical society for nearly a decade, chaired the annual antique show for more than a quarter century and was the longtime secretary to the late state Supreme Court Judge Michael Sweeney.

During visits to her home, she would happily tell you she was born and raised on the city's West Side and proudly offer that she was a Saratoga Springs High School graduate of the Class of '38. With the confidence of a historian - and while flanked by drawings of bemonocled men beneath top hats and well-dressed ladies pinched at the waist - Bolster would explain how the springs originally brought visitors to the city, but it was the grand hotels and the racing that kept them coming. Bolster published a handful of books about her family and Saratoga. Her collection is so vast, researchers would visit her home to review and peruse the many pieces of the city’s past.

“She’s preserved things for the next generation, or two,” says Gold, seated in a room Bolster called her Revolutionary War room, draped with wallpaper that depicts soldiers at the Battle of Saratoga. Upstairs, in the “Saratoga Room,” vintage newspapers are collaged onto the walls. In between, there are rarely seen maps, engraved souvenir silverware, and a banister from the United States Hotel that was made into a lamp. There is a plethora of glassware, shelves lined with books, paperweights, miniature cups engraved with intricate designs and vintage chairs. There are room keys that once opened the doors inside the city’s grand hotels that are now, no longer there. There is a baton with a ribbon and accompanying dried flowers that date to the city’s floral fete in the late 19th century. And there are thousands of photographs.

The estate sale takes place 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday, Aug. 10 through Sunday, Aug. 12 at 161 Church St.

“I think we’ll probably have a long line at the door,” Gold says. “We’re hoping people turn out to get a little piece of her history.”  

Friday, August 10

Tale of the Cat
The $100,000 Tale of the Cat for sprinters is the feature in the afternoon.

Saratoga Challenge
Friday marks the first in a pair of live money challenges which will occur as two separate one-day contests. The Saratoga Challenge on Friday will guarantee a first-place payout of $15,000, as well as awarding entries to the 2019 Belmont Stakes Challenge to the top finishers and the 2019 National Handicapping Championship to the top three finishers. The challenge will consist of wagering exclusively on Saratoga races through the following pools only: Win, Place, Show, Exacta, Trifecta, Quinella and Daily Double. Friday is a $1,000 minimum buy-in. For more information about the Saratoga Challenges, visit NYRA.com/Challenge. 

Taste NY: Craft Beer
This weekly event offers guests a selection of New York craft beers available for sampling in partnership with the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets. Fans will be able to sample five craft beers for $5 at the Coca-Cola Saratoga Pavilion from noon to 5 p.m. 

Paint & Sip
Guests will be able to enjoy a beverage while they craft their own masterpiece on the grounds of Saratoga Race Course. The Paint & Sip event includes admission to the Whitney Suite, art supplies, snacks and a race day program. Those interested can purchase tickets by calling the NYRA Box Office at 844-NYRA-TIX.

The Last Race Showcase at The Stretch 
NYRA invites fans who are in attendance to experience The Stretch for free from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. The Stretch is Saratoga’s exclusive new hospitality area located in the Grandstand at the Top of the Stretch. There will be food and drink specials and live DJ entertainment. Fans can enjoy the new amenities at The Stretch, including a private bar, concessions, hi-def video screens and televisions, and dramatic views of the Stretch run. 

Community Outreach Booth
The Community Outreach Booth will host Dyer Phelps, the oldest African American ministry in Saratoga Springs, dating back to its establishment in 1862 by Miss Dyer Phelps.

Saturday, August 11

Fourstardave, Adirondack and Fasig-Tipton Lure
The headlining Grade 1, $500,000 Fourstardave will be accompanied by the Grade 2, $200,000 Adirondack. The card will also include the $100,000 Fasig-Tipton Lure rescheduled from Whitney Day.

NYRA Bets Seminar
Join host Pete Fornatale with Hall of Fame jockey Angel Cordero, Jr. and handicappers Jake Ballis and Jonathon Kinchen for a special seminar at the NYRA Bets Simulcast Center, located on the second floor of the Grandstand near The Stretch. The seminar begins at 11 a.m. 

Fourstardave Challenge
Saturday marks the second in a pair of live money challenges which will occur as two separate one-day contests. The Fourstardave Challenge on Saturday will guarantee a first-place payout of $25,000, as well as awarding the same entries as on Friday. The challenge will consist of wagering exclusively on Saratoga races through the following pools only: Win, Place, Show, Exacta, Trifecta, Quinella and Daily Double. Friday is a $2,000 minimum buy-in. For more information about the Saratoga Challenges, visit NYRA.com/Challenge. 

Saratoga Challenge
Friday marks the first in a pair of live money challenges which will occur as two separate one-day contests. The Saratoga Challenge on Friday will guarantee a first-place payout of $15,000, as well as awarding entries to the 2019 Belmont Stakes Challenge to the top finishers and the 2019 National Handicapping Championship to the top three finishers. The challenge will consist of wagering exclusively on Saratoga races through the following pools only: Win, Place, Show, Exacta, Trifecta, Quinella and Daily Double. Friday is a $1,000 minimum buy-in. For more information about the Saratoga Challenges, visit NYRA.com/Challenge. 

Fashion Saturdays
Designed to showcase the tradition of style in thoroughbred racing, Fashion Saturdays will feature women’s and men’s apparel and accessories from local retailers, as well as a selection of home décor, spa care and jewelry items at the Coca-Cola Saratoga Pavilion from 10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. 

Woodford Reserve and Jeff Brisbin at the Jim Dandy Bar
Guests are invited to the Jim Dandy Bar to sample Woodford Reserve Saratoga Personal Selection, crafted exclusively for racing fans at the Spa, from 2 to 4 p.m. 

Ketel One Saturdays at The Post
The fun will continue each Saturday of the season with the Ketel One Saturdays at The Post. Fans are invited to sample the new Ketel One Botanicals from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m.

The Last Race Showcase at The Stretch
The Stretch is Saratoga’s exclusive new hospitality area located in the Grandstand at the Top of the Stretch. There will be food and drink specials and live DJ entertainment. Fans can enjoy the new amenities at The Stretch, including a private bar, concessions, hi-def video screens and televisions, and dramatic views of the Stretch run. 

Community Outreach Booth
The Community Outreach Booth will host TAKE THE LEAD, which was launched by the New York Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association to find homes for retired racehorses. TAKE THE LEAD partners with established aftercare programs to provide rehabilitation and retraining placements for thoroughbreds retiring from competition on the New York circuit.

Sunday, August 12

Saratoga Special and Fasig-Tipton Waya
Sunday will feature the Grade 2, $200,000 Saratoga Special, presented by Miller Lite, and the Grade 3, $200,000 Fasig-Tipton Waya rescheduled from Whitney Day.

SaraYoga
Racing fans will be able to enjoy the tranquility of SaraYoga, a one-hour yoga session, which also includes brunch, a complimentary mimosa or Bloody Mary, admission and gratuity. The yoga session will begin at 8 a.m. and yoga mat rentals will be available. Those interested can purchase tickets by calling the NYRA Box Office at 844-NYRA-TIX.

Low Roller Challenge
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. Registration begins at 11 a.m. near the Fourstardave Sports Bar.

Taste NY: Food and Artisans
Each Sunday of the season will welcome guests to a lively on-track market of numerous food and artisan vendors featuring products made exclusively in New York State. The market will be held from 10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the Coca-Cola Saratoga Pavilion.

Community Outreach Booth
The Community Outreach Booth will host The Joseph Ahmed Foundation, which aims to promote treatment and cure of Ewing’s Sarcoma and other sarcomas by funding research, promoting the development of treatments, developing awareness, and providing support for patients and their loved ones. 

Monday, August 13

Saratoga Dew (NYB)
The day’s feature is the $100,000 Saratoga Dew for New York-bred fillies and mares. 

Berkshire Bank Family Mondays
Monday will be highlighted by Berkshire Bank Family Mondays from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the Coca-Cola Saratoga Pavilion. Free Jockey Autograph Books are available for children while supplies last. All kid-friendly games and activities, including the opportunity to pet a retired thoroughbred, are free of charge, with the exception of one designated activity which carries a suggested donation to benefit a local school or PTA. This week’s beneficiary is Stevens Elementary School in Ballston Lake. Berkshire Bank Family Mondays takes place just across from the Berkshire Bank Family Zone, an interactive play area featuring games, attractions, an Adirondack-style chair and Berkshire Bank charging station. The Berkshire Bank Family Zone is open every day of racing during the Saratoga season.

Low Roller Challenge
Monday will include the continuation of 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.

Community Outreach Booth
The Community Outreach Booth will host Friends of Moreau Lake, which partners with New York State Parks to enhance the experience for every visitor with education, events, and stewardship.

Tuesday, August 14

DARK DAY, NO RACES.

Wednesday, August 15

Bolton Landing
This day’s feature is the $100,000 Bolton Landing for two-year-old Fillies.

NYRA Bets Late Pick 5
The multi-race wager covers the last five races of every card of live racing at Saratoga. It features a minimum single-ticket payout of $150,000 daily and $300,000 on Saturdays to NYRA Bets customers nationwide online and on-track in New York. The offer is only available to NYRA Bets customers. 

NYRA Bets Promotions
New customers who sign up for NYRA Bets using the promo code “SPA” will receive a $200 new member bonus. Visit NYRABets.com for details. Play the Trifecta in a selected stakes every day at Saratoga to earn a 10 percent bonus. Look for the stakes schedule on NYRABets.com.

Adirondacks Day
Saratoga Race Course will highlight the majestic Adirondacks region, including the home of the 1932 and 1980 Winter Olympics, Lake Placid. The day-long event at the Coca-Cola Saratoga Pavilion will feature activities, exhibits and entertainment which showcase the great attractions of the Adirondacks in upstate New York.

Community Outreach Booth
The Community Outreach Booth will host Center for Disability Services, which is upstate New York’s largest providers of services and programs for individuals who have disabilities.

Thursday, August 16

Union Avenue
This day’s feature is the $100,000 Union Ave. for Fillies and Mares three and up.

Taste NY: Cider, Wine & Spirits
Taste NY: Cider, Wine & Spirits offers guests a selection of spirits available for sampling in partnership with the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets. Fans will be able to sample five varietals for $5 at the Coca-Cola Saratoga Pavilion from noon to 5 p.m. 

Aperol Thursdays at The Post
Each Thursday, guests have the opportunity to sample Aperol Spritz cocktails at The Post Bar from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m.

Community Outreach Booth
The Community Outreach Booth will host K9s for Warriors, an organization dedicated to providing service canines to warriors suffering from PTSD, traumatic brain injury, and/or military sexual trauma as a result of military service post-9/11.

THE SKIES LET LOOSE overnight, pounding the dirt and turf at Saratoga before Whitney Day, but by early morning, the sun was once again shining down upon the Spa!

After several glorious hours basking in the sunshine, the 40,000+ late arriving fans were easily fooled into thinking that the bright blue sky would remain all day. Ominous storm clouds swiftly rolled in, changing their thinking, and lurked above the track just after 5:00, during the Grade 1 Test for 3-year-old fillies.

What started out as sporadic raindrops, quickly turned into a full-blown torrential downpour, and created a bizarre situation for NYRA, the TV broadcast, fans, but most importantly, for the horses and their connections already in the Paddock for the prestigious, $1.2 million Grade 1 Whitney, the day’s finale.

What was supposed to be a shortened, old school, 9-race card, after the original 10th and 11th, the Grade 3 Fasig-Tipton Waya, and the Fasig-Tipton Lure were cancelled earlier because of the soft turf, ended up being just as long of a day with the lengthy delay, as lightning strikes threatened!

Amazingly, the eight horses stranded in their claustrophobic stalls during the 44-minute delay, with full tack on before the Whitney, behaved very well, much less considering the close proximity of their human counterparts trying to take cover in their crowded space!

Trainer Rick Violette did say, however, that his star gelding, Diversify, was getting really antsy, and was trying to kick the stall walls down, so he and his longtime sssistant trainer, Melissa Cohen, and his groom, took him out in the rain, and walked him around his #6 ring to calm him down.

Diversify’s pent up energy served him well, however, as the 5-year-old NY-bred exploded out of the gate, under meet-leading jockey, Irad Ortiz, Jr., and was loose on the lead, wiring the field, while receiving another gaudy 110 Beyer, just as he did in the Suburban! The always aggressive “Juni” was the only jock to come home without a spot of mud on his white pants!

Although Chad Summers’ fellow NY-bred, fan-favorite, Mind Your Biscuits, made it a New York, New York exacta, he never really threatened Diversify, in spite of recording a fine 104 Beyer, as he just couldn’t compete with Diversify’s controlling and dominant speed.

It is to MYB’s credit, however, that he was able to prove some naysayers wrong, as he handled the two turns, in his first try, and gamely fought and held on for 2nd.

The late charging 38-1 longshot, Parx shipper Discreet Lover, tried to run MYB down for his Owner/Trainer, Uriah St. Lewis, but his gutsy attempt came up just short, for 3rd. And what a wonderful story St. Lewis’ is!

The native of Trinidad, who used to run track at a high school near Aqueduct, became enamored with the horses running close by, and would literally run to the Big A after practice. He became hooked as a gambler, but remarkably, turned this initial passion into becoming a trainer!

And what a move Uriah made when he purchased Discreet Lover for the relative pittance of $10K! His 5-year-old has now earned over $900+K, and along with his fellow 5-year olds, Diversify and Mind Your Biscuits, we are reminded of the good old days when our equine heroes stuck around past 3!

On the same day I learned about St. Lewis’ story, I also received the very sad news that a fellow native of Trinidad, NYRA’s Selma Brathwaite, had lost her battle with cancer. 

Selma, who became a racing fan when her Dad would take her to the track in Trinidad as a little girl, was with NYRA for over 32 years. I spent a summer working next to Selma in the office of Jerry Davis, the former Director of Admissions, thanks to my old friend and Selma’s old tennis buddy, Sonny Taylor, a Placing/Patrol Judge, who got me the job. Sonny has incredibly been with NYRA for over 50+ years and is showing no signs of slowing down!

I’ll never forget Selma’s big smile and huge personality, or her lilting voice and soothing Trinidadian accent, and I’m so very happy that NYRA, most appropriately, will name a race in her honor this Fall at Belmont.

It was a very proud day for the NY breeding industry, with Diversify and Mind Your Biscuits’ one-two finish, as these two bright stars have shed much deserved light on NY’s very successful breeding program, now placing them in an even more prominent position nationally.

Diversify boosted his earnings to $1,959,425 from 10 wins and 2 seconds out of 15 career starts, and he has certainly been a much-needed elixir for Rick Violette, and for Rick’s longtime good friend and co-owner of Diversify, Ralph Evans.

Rick and Ralph are lung cancer survivors, and both underwent surgery 3 years ago. It seemed fitting that a rainbow magically appeared in the sky while Ralph’s daughter Lauren, the co-owner of Diversify with her Dad, led Diversify into the Winner’s Circle, with Rick and her Dad by her side, while the race’s namesake, 92-year-old Marylou Whitney, was seen holding the Whitney Cup to her lips, as if drinking Champagne!

Mind Your Biscuits, the 2-time winner of the rich Dubai Golden Shaheen, has now earned a whopping $4,159,286, with 7 wins, 10 seconds and 3 thirds in 23 career starts, after being purchased by Chad Summers and his family members for a mere $30K! In perhaps the most exciting finish this year, who could ever forget his amazing, come from behind thriller in the Shaheen, when he seemingly came out of nowhere from last to nip XY Jet at the wire! 

Rick Violette has stated that he will now bypass the Woodward, as Diversify will try to become a repeat winner in the Jockey Club Gold Cup next, after winning the JCGC last year, while Chad Summers’ plans for MYB are not yet set in stone. 

Chad remarked that Rick taught him a valuable lesson when he waited ‘til the morning of the Whitney Draw to enter Diversify, as Rick let his horse dictate when he was ready to run! After Diversify’s amazing breeze the Sunday before, which Chad also happened to witness, he knew Rick would have to enter him, and Chad now says he will do the same with Biscuits before the Woodward.

If MYB is not ready to go in the Woodward, it appears that he may then go in either the Grade 2 Kelso Mile at Belmont, or perhaps he’ll wait for the Grade 3 Lukas Classic at Churchill Downs, contested at 1-1/8 mile, as it could be the perfect prep for Summers’ star before the Breeders’ Cup, over the same track November 3rd.

Before Ma Nature had a chance to rain on their parade, the 3-year-old fillies in the Grade 1 Longines Test were able to strut their stuff in the 8th Race. Sent off as the 2-1 favorite, Chad Brown’s Separationofpowers, with Jose Ortiz aboard, turned back the strong challenge of Steve Asmussen’s Mia Mischief and Ricardo Santana, Jr., during a spirited stretch drive, as the daughter of Candy Ride passed the daughter of Into Mischief late for the victory.

Following her impressive 11-3/4 length maiden victory last Summer at the Spa, Seperationofpowers finished 3rd in the Grade 1 Spinaway closing weekend, before collecting her first Grade 1 victory in the Frizette at Belmont October 8th. After a fourth-place finish at Delmar in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies, it was discovered that the filly had an ankle chip that required surgery, and a subsequent 8-month layoff to rehab.

When she returned in the Grade 3 Victory Ride at Belmont July 8th, she finished fourth once again, but certainly proved she was more than ready with her victory in the Test last Saturday. With the Grade 1 Ballerina falling too soon on the schedule on Travers Day, and with the daunting task of facing division leader Monomoy Girl in the Cotillion, it seems likely that Separationofpowers may try the one turn 1-1/8-mile Beldame, and an exciting potential matchup with Bill Mott’s Elate!

One of the most entertaining events of the meet, next to the PDJF Jockeyoke, is the annual Jockey vs. Trainers Basketball Game to benefit the New York Racetrack Chaplaincy, and the wonderful services they provide for the backstretch employees. Led by Chaplain Umberto Chavez and Nick Caras, their dedication is invaluable in meeting the needs of those who are the heart and soul of the industry. 

What is usually a very close contest quickly turned into a route, as the superior speed and quickness of the jockeys was on full display! The jockeys were perhaps motivated by the special appearance of Hall of Famer and New York Knicks great, Bernard King, who served as their celebrity bench coach.

From one steal and fast break after another, and an array of long range bombs, the jocks, led from the opening tip by the very athletic Manny Franco, took off to a 24-2 lead, and never looked back in the 58-33 blowout! Manny was eventually named MVP, but he received a lot of help along the way from his close buddies, the Ortiz bros, and Luis Reyes, as the Puerto Rican National Team has nothing but height on this quartet of talented Boricuas!

On a sultry opening night of the select Saratoga Sale that had even the coolest customers sweating, the fillies reigned supreme, as they accounted for seven of the top eight purchases! 

Larry Best of OXO Equine has been one of North America’s leading buyers of late, and he let it be known early on that he was all about business! He went to $1.2 million to get Hip 26, a striking chestnut daughter of 2015 Triple Crown champion, American Pharoah, out of the multiple Grade 1 winner, Life At Ten, and later in the evening spent $950K on an Into Mischief filly.

In between these two transactions, Bob Baffert, acting as an agent for M.V. Magnier, spent a cool million on this hot night for a NY-bred son of American Pharoah, out of Mrs. Gerald A. Nielson’s NY-bred mare, Party Silks. Baffert gushed that it was “love at first sight” for the bay colt who is a half-brother to multiple Grade 1-placed graded stakes winner Upstart.

It was a good first night for Fasig-Tipton before my deadline, as they experienced an 18.5% gain in gross sales over last year, and the average price rose 7.1% to $348,976, while the median remained the same at $300K.

On top of the two American Pharoah million-dollar babies, seven yearlings went between $750K-$950K, while sixteen sold for over $500K, and 51 sold for over $250K, making it an evening as robust as the humidity.

Irad Ortiz powered his way to the top of the Jockey Standings with 23 wins after picking up three wins on Friday’s card, two stakes wins on Saturday in the Fasig-Tipton De La Rose aboard Chad Brown’s Uni and in the Grade 1 Whitney, and then closed out the 3rd week on Monday with a 4-win day, including the New York Stallion Series/Cab Calloway Division Stakes aboard Therapist for Christophe Clement. 

Juni is sitting in the driver’s seat with 16 days down and 24 to go, while unbelievably, his Eclipse Award-winning younger brother Jose sits in 8th place with 10. However, I’m sure the competition filled with brotherly love will heat up over the next 24 days!

Luis Saez continues his excellent riding, after winning the Gulfstream title this Winter, and sits in 2nd with 17 wins, followed by Javi Castellano with 16 and Ricardo Santana with 13. Johnny V, Manny Franco and Joel Rosario are tied with 12, rounding out the top seven.

In the Trainers Standings, Chad Brown sits alone at the top with 18, followed by Steve Asmussen with 11, Todd Pletcher with 10, and Bill Mott with 9, while “Big ‘Miah” Englehart and Joe Sharp are tied with 5, and Kiaran McLaughlin and Robertino Diodoro are tied with 4.

Probables for Saturday’s Grade 1 $500K Fourstardave for 3-year-old and up at a mile on the turf include Linda Rice’s Voodoo Song, who most definitely proved to be a “horse for a course” after winning 4 races at the Spa last summer, Bill Mott’s Yoshida, Todd Pletcher’s Made You Look, Jimmy Jerkens’ Delta Prince, Brian Lynch’s Heart to Heart and Kelly Rubley’s Divisidero.

With the Arlington Million Festival of Racing always being held on the same day as the Fourstardave, a horse like Divisidero, the son of Kitten’s Joy who most recently won the Grade 3 Arlington Handicap, could opt to run there instead, and we won’t know ‘til after I go to press. Several of our top jocks will be flying to Chicago, too, giving some of the hungry jocks in the room a chance to pick up a few rare mounts, and hopefully a couple wins in their absence! 

MANUEL YCAZA passed away just a few days before the Saratoga meet began. To many he is someone that they never have heard of. To sports fans it is a name that may have sounded familiar. Then there are those of us, the racing public, who remember him. And do we ever.

Ycaza came by way of his native country Panama. It was in Mexico City where he began to rock the racing world. There he shook that racing establishment to its core. Day in and day out he thrilled the fans with his distinct, anything goes riding style. “Manny” as he was now known had conquered Mexico. Now it was the time to move north of the border to showcase his ever-growing mastery of race riding. He was going to break tradition, in a very big way.

This was another time. The jockey colony in this country was still limited very much to a white presence. This was about to change. Ycaza broke the barrier. As his successes mounted, many other Spanish speaking jockeys would make their way to the North American racing scene. Names like Beaza, Pincay, Cordero, Vasquez, Valasquez and so many more that reached the pinnacle of success in their new-found home. It didn’t take long for this tiger in the saddle to reach the dizzying heights that most can only dream of.

It was the 1960s…

Ycaza won stake races in bunches. Count the 1964 Belmont Stakes and the D.C. International three times. Here at the Spa, he nailed down the Travers Stakes twice. He took Canada’s most important event, The Queen’s Plate. To list them all would take half of this page. He wasn’t just riding high at the racetrack. He married the Miss Universe of 1960, Linda Bement. He was now a very big star. Two races stand out in his storied career. One took place here at Saratoga. It was the 1962 Travers Stakes. The race has stood the test of time as the greatest race ever held at the Spa. Ycaza had the mount on Ridan. A national institution, Bill Shoemaker was aboard Jaipur. The fans in attendance that day were treated to a horse race for the ages. On the clubhouse turn Shoemaker and Ycaza hooked up. From that point on they could not be separated. On to the backstretch and down the straightaway the battle continued. At the top of the stretch they were nose and nose. Through the stretch, they mirrored each other. They hit the finish line as one. It was a photo finish. Shoemaker and Jaipur got the call by a nostril. Ycaza had lost. At the same time, he had cemented his name in the annals of Saratoga Race Track lore.

Let’s move forward 5 years…

The place Cherry Hill, New Jersey. The track Garden State Park. It was the Jersey Derby, a Memorial Day fixture at the long-gone track. Ycaza had the mount on one of the greatest horses to ever grace the American turf, Dr Fager. It was a four-horse field and the good Doctor looked like a mortal cinch. When the bell rang Manny crossed over into the path of the rest of the field. This move would lead to the flashing lights on the tote board indicating a steward’s inquiry. Fager won the race by six open lengths, only to be disqualified. This episode showed the one crack in Ycaza’s armor. He lived by a rough riding, cowboy style. And in some cases, died by it. He found few, if any friends among the track stewards, who abhorred his in-race antics. In his twenty-year career, he spent a mind boggling twenty-four months on the sidelines, due to rough riding suspensions. It is fair to say with Manny, you got what you asked for. Owners and trainers alike knew that with his great skills, he could be lengths better than other jockeys.

On the other side of the coin, there was always the possibility that the undisciplined riding could very well cause his mounts to be disqualified.

1970 came and Ycaza’s star was about to fade. Injuries, disqualifications and suspensions had taken their toll. He retired in 1971. Six years later he was inducted into the horse racing Hall of Fame here on Union Avenue. It was a well-deserved and fitting tribute to this all-time great.

Not one to rest on his laurels, he traded in his tack for a harness sulky, where he had limited success at New York area raceway venues. Manny Ycaza was the product of his environment. He learned his trade in Latin America where cowboy style riding was considered the norm. The racetrack crowd in New York fell in love with him. He was what they wished they could be, tough, brassy, with the nerve to take chances with an all-out will to win at any cost. Sure, they knew that it could cause them to lose a bet on occasion. What mattered more, he would do everything possible with his God given talent to get his horse to the finish line in front.

Note to Saratoga fans,

Manny along with his three Whitney Stakes scores, took a total of four riding titles at the Spa.

It can be said that Manuel Ycaza did it all. And without doubt, he did it his way.

An all-time great gone at eighty.

MANY TRAINERS who come to Saratoga often become independent with a solid set of horses before the age of 30.

Thirteen-time Saratoga leading trainer Todd Pletcher was also 29 when he started his own barn in 1996 after being an assistant to Hall of Famer D. Wayne Lukas. Mechanicville native Chad Brown was also 29 when he left Hall of Famer Bobby Frankel to train his own horses in 2007. 

For Jorge Abreu, who will be 44 on Aug. 16, not only has it taken him more time to become a trainer, he has also learned how to become successful after starting with just one horse before building that into a 40-horse stable through hard work, committed owners, good help, and long hours.

“Being a trainer is not easy,” Abreu said. “You need to have a good background with a little bit of money saved, especially since everything is expensive in New York. You also need to have clients who are going to support you.”

Abreu’s journey of becoming a trainer has its roots in Saratoga for more than 20 years. Starting with the late Murray Garren, Abreu eventually migrated as an exercise rider for Billy Badgett, who is now general manager of Gulfstream Park.

Abreu then worked for John Terranova as an exercise rider and assistant, which included handling Bob Baffert’s horses when they shipped from California to New York.

After six years with Terranova, Abreu moved to Hall of Fame trainer Nick Zito’s barn for another six years as an assistant while galloping horses that included two-time Whitney Handicap winner Commentator and Bellamy Road, the Wood Memorial winner who later finished second in the
2005 Travers.

However for nine years, Abreu may have received a lot of his training skill set by working with a plethora of graded stakes winners – both turf and dirt – from the aforementioned Brown.

“I’ve worked with many people,” the Dominican Republic native said. “I really learned a lot by working with Chad. I was going to train horses on my own the year before [in 2015], but I wasn’t ready. I gave myself one more year because experience is always good.”

Before going on his own, Abreu also wanted to be fair with Brown by staying with him for one year. During that last year in 2016, Abreu trained just one horse: a then 4-year-old New York-bred filly named Woodville who graduated from the maiden ranks and won an allowance race in her first two starts at Saratoga.

“She had been training well,” Abreu said. “So I pointed her to Saratoga and she won. That kind of opened the door a little bit. My background was really good. So, I got some people to support me when I was getting ready to leave.”

One of his first supporters was Steve Weston, owner of Parkland Thoroughbreds, who had given Abreu an unraced filly named Ellie’s Honor. Just like with Woodville, Ellie’s honor won her first race in January 2017 at Gulfstream Park. Abreu’s two-horse stable, which included New York-bred All Show, quickly grew after that win.

“When I won my first race at Gulfstream Park, I got about 15 horses a week later,” Abreu said. “By the time I left Florida, I had 22 horses. Since then, everything has been going well.”

Last year at Saratoga with just 10 starters, Abreu eventually scored a winner on the turf near the end of the meet with Hope’s Roar for NY Final Furlong Racing Stable.

Abreu has been at the Oklahoma Annex barn since the beginning of May. Over the past year, Abreu’s stable continues to expand with stakes-caliber horses that include Goodthingstaketime, who finished third in the Grade 3 Lake George Stakes on Saratoga’s Opening Day card, and Pas de Soucis, who is being trained for Saturday’s Fasig-Tipton De La Rose Stakes as part of the Whitney Day undercard.

Along Pas de Soucis and Goodthingstaketime from owner Peter Bradley, Abreu has also been receiving horses high-profile owner Michael Dubb. Abreu has been surprised and grateful for being this established within three years.

“Michael Dubb and Peter Bradley have been very good supporters by putting good horses in our barn,” Abreu said. “Things have been going well. I never expected to have this happen so soon.”

However, one of the things that has placed a setback on Abreu has been the weather. With over three inches of rain falling in the Capital Region last week, Abreu’s horses have seen limited time in training and racing on the turf.

“I have a good mix of horses, but they are all turf horses,” Abreu said. “The weather is killing me a little bit. Been here since May and there has been a very dry spell. In Sarataoga, when it rains, it really rains. When it’s dry, it’s really dry. There is no in between.”

Abreu doesn’t let the weather discourage him from putting in a 15-hour day that starts at 4 a.m. because he knows the horses are worth it not only now, but for his career and future.

“The horses make me get up in the morning. These horses make me want to come here to see them, train them, and be around them,” Abreu said. “At the end of the day, you are only good as your horse.”

IN SPITE OF harrowing weather through Friday, Saratoga fans were blessed with a Jim Dandy Saturday, as Ma Nature cooperated once again with glorious weather over the weekend!

Finley’sluckycharm opened up this past week’s stakes action on Wednesday, by avenging her loss at the wire in last year’s Grade 2 Honorable Miss to Paulassilverlining, by dominating this year’s edition with her 2 1/4 length win over Vertical Oak.

The Twirling Candy mare has now amassed earnings of well over $900K+ for trainer Bret Calhoun, with 11 wins in 17 career starts, and her next stop should be the Grade 1 Ballerina on the Travers undercard, before prepping back home at Churchill Downs for the Breeders Cup Filly and Mare Sprint.

In Thursday’s John Morrissey, a 6 1/2-furlong sprint for NY-breds, the 8-year-old crafty veteran, Weekend Hideaway, would have made the race’s namesake, “Old Smoke”, very proud! In his first win since defeating Diversify in the Commentator at Belmont in May of 2017, the son of Speightstown withstood an objection from last year’s John Morrissey winner, Celtic Chaos, to win the race for his second time, with Luis Saez aboard for Phil Serpe.

Weekend Hideaway certainly epitomizes the moniker, “Horse for a Course”, as this indomitable NY-bred broke his maiden at the Spa, over a similarly sloppy track in 2012, and has won here every even-numbered year since and has won at least one race each year since his debut!

After breaking his maiden at Gulfstream in early March, Hofburg did not taste victory again until last Friday’s 1 1/8-mile Curlin Stakes. Following a 2nd place finish to Audible in the Florida Derby, and then a 7th in the Kentucky Derby, and a 3rd in the Belmont Stakes behind Justify, Juddmonte Farm’s homebred son of Tapit needed a confidence booster, or as his Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott was quoted to have said, “so did I”!

Although Hofburg probably wasn’t crazy about the going on the sloppy track, the lightly raced, inexperienced chestnut had no problem putting away the small and modest field and recorded a 100 Beyer with his 5-length victory, while gaining valuable experience heading into the Travers.

Hofburg’s victory was just the beginning of another fantastic Birthday weekend for Bill Mott, as he also was part of the thrilling dead heat finish in Saturday’s Grade 2 Bowling Green with his Channel Maker, and Chuck Lawrence’s longshot Glorious Empire, while also collecting a win with Satisfy in the 4th.

On his actual 65th on Sunday, the Hall of Famer’s uncanny ability to find the Winner’s Circle on his special day continued, as he brought home Glossy in the 3rd, and a longshot named Length in the 5th, who paid $28.40! Mott won nine Saratoga training titles between 1992-2007 and has now won races in 17 out of 25 years on his Birthday! A seven-year streak from 2007-2013 was actually ended by a dark day in 2014.

Mott’s biggest Birthday gift came last year in the Jim Dandy, when his Good Samaritan beat Kentucky Derby winner Always Dreaming, and Preakness winner Cloud Computing. Good Samaritan will make his return to Saratoga in this Saturday’s Whitney, which will be the Harlan’s Holiday colt’s seventh Grade 1 start of his career.

In other action on Saturday, Dale Romans helped fulfill the dreams of his longtime friend and client, local businessman Bob Baron, when Promises Fulfilled, a 3-year-old son of Shackleford, who Romans also trained, was victorious in the 6 1/2-furlong Amsterdam.

Baron, a graduate of RPI and member of their Hall of Fame as a QB, who earned Division III All-America honors his Senior year, was introduced to Romans by their mutual friend, another local businessman, Roddy Valente, some 20 years ago, and their relationship has continued to blossom.

Promises Fulfilled wired the field in the Fountain of Youth in early March but had disappointing finishes in the Florida Derby and Kentucky Derby, which is when the team decided to make him a sprinter. It seems like a great switch after his commanding 3 1/4 length victory in the Amsterdam, under meet leading jockey, Luis Saez, and we will next see him in the H. Allen Jerkens on Travers Day.

While Romans has amazingly won a race at Saratoga for 26 straight years, he was hard pressed to ever remember winning two on one card, which he and Luis Saez combined to do on Saturday, as they also won the 3rd Race with Gray Nile.

In Saturday’s lone Grade 1, the 6-furlong Alfred G. Vanderbilt, Imperial Hint, a Parx shipper, proved that you can’t judge a book by its cover, as the little horse with a whole lot of heart and speed to burn, crushed the field! Trainer Luis Carvajal, Jr., who used to work at Saratoga as a kid, had to pinch himself as he and his family entered the Saratoga Room following the race, as it was his, and his gutsy little horse’s first Grade 1 victory!  What a “feel good” story it is all around, as owner Ray Mamone, who has a body shop in Jersey, lost his wife not long ago, and horse racing has helped to fill the void in his life.

In a quirky running of the Jim Dandy, Steve Asmussen’s Tenfold was able to overcome his crazy antics down the stretch, with a final lunge at the wire, to nip Mark Casse’s Flameaway.

Tenfold ducked out twice, getting spooked, and ended up way outside the middle of the track. Per his jockey, Ricardo Santana, Jr., the son of Curlin, by Tapit, was more intent on watching the big screen infield TV after that, than running his race!

Tenfold was not the only one showing signs of quirkiness, however, as Vino Rosso, another son of Curlin, and Sporting Chance, the son of Tiznow, both had their problems, too!

Vino Rosso, who obviously did not like the going on the sealed track, refused to run early on, but came flying late, to finish a head behind the runner-up.

Last year’s Hopeful winner, Sporting Chance, who is known for his characteristic ducking out in the stretch, which got him disqualified from the Blue Grass, totally blew the turn, and was pulled up by Luis Saez, when it was apparent he could not recover.

Following this madness, I cannot wait to see what the Travers will bring, when we see this wild crew join the likes of Good Magic, Wonder Gadot, Hofburg, Catholic Boy, Bravazo and Gronkowski.

Wonder Gadot’s connections made the decision to race her against the boys once again in the Travers, following her victory over a very sloppy track in last Tuesday’s 1 3/16-mile Prince of Wales at Fort Erie, the second leg of Canada’s Triple Crown. This has complicated matters for Hall of Famer Johnny Velazquez, as he has the mount on both Wonder Gadot and Vino Rosso, and he is, of course, still first call for Todd Pletcher, which will bring loyalty into question while making this tough decision. It also will make things tricky for Mark Casse, as he trains both Wonder Gadot and Flameaway, and it seems that only the filly will go!

Good Magic cruised to an easy victory in the Haskell on Sunday, under Jose Ortiz, and stated his case for being the best 3-year-old colt left in training. The son of Curlin was never really threatened, enroute to a convincing, albeit misleading, 3 length victory over Bravazo, while Lone Sailor and Core Beliefs came in 3rd and 4th, off the pace. Good Magic has surely cemented his case to be the morning line favorite heading into the Travers with this Haskell victory.

Jose Ortiz had to have his spirits lifted with his excellent 4-win day at Monmouth, following his uncharacteristically slow start at the Spa, as not only did he win the Grade 1 Haskell, he also won the Grade 3 Monmouth Cup, the Grade 3 Matchmaker, and the Wolf Hill Stakes.

Saturday’s $1.2 million Grade 1 Whitney has turned into a showcase for New York-breds, with a much-anticipated matchup between Rick Violette’s Diversify and Chad Summers’ Mind Your Biscuits. Diversify was named the 7-5 morning line favorite during Tuesday’s Post Draw at Sperry’s, following his monster performance in the Suburban, that earned him a career-high 110 Beyer, and will be ridden by Irad Ortiz, Jr. Biscuits was made the 2-1 second choice, and will be ridden by Joel Rosario.

Ken and Sarah Ramsey’s Backyard Heaven, named after their 5th Avenue home here in Saratoga that overlooks the Oklahoma, was made the third choice at 9-2, and will be ridden by Javi Castellano for Chad Brown. Todd Pletcher’s Tapwrit will be ridden by Johnny Velazquez and was given 6-1 odds, while Bill Mott’s Good Samaritan will have Jose Ortiz up, at 12-1 odds. Rounding out the field will be Ian Wilkes’ McCraken at 15-1, with Brian Hernandez, Jr. up, and Dalmore with Ricardo Santana, Jr., and Discreet Lover with Manny Franco, both at 30-1.

The PDJF weekend culminated with the always hugely successful and wildly popular Jockey Karaoke at Vapor on Monday night. Veteran jockey Mike Luzzi and Phil Teator rocked the packed house with their rendition of the Kiss hit, “I Want to Rock and Roll All Night,” and with their classic black and white Kiss regalia and warpaint, were the judges choice, including a hilarious Wayne Lukas, in a spirited competition that will now have them teeing off against the California winner, Joe Talamo, in an online, YouTube and Facebook poll. Talamo performed “Play that Funky Music White Boy”, and the trash talking started soon thereafter!

Luis Saez is doing all his talking on the track, as he leads the Jockey Standings after 10 days with 13 wins! Juni Ortiz is right on his tail with 12, while wily veterans Javi C and Johnny V are tied at 10 with the hot, young Panamanian, Ricardo! Joel has 8 wins, Manny 6, and Jose Ortiz and Junior Alvarado are tied with 4.

Not surprisingly, Chad Brown leads the Trainer Standings through the first 10 days with 10 wins, while Steve Asmussen has 8, Bill Mott 7, and Todd Pletcher 6.

Stay cool on Whitney Day, but hot with your picks, ‘til we meet again, next week!

CERTAIN RACES have nostalgia baked into their conditions.

For instance, Saturday’s Grade 1 Whitney Invitational, a nine-furlong scamper, wire-to-wire, has a long history and like the Travers, reliving races of this magnitude roots you in time, for better or worse.

Ten years ago, the great New York-bred Commentator vied for his second career Whitney. He won his first in 2005, rebuffing the monstrous future Horse of the Year Saint Liam. In 2008, Commentator went straight to the front. 

“Well, I would say that was unbelievable,” Zito said. “He won in 2005. We beat the Horse of the Year. That was special. That was great. In 2008, three years later to win the Whitney, that’s a really special horse.”

There’s no denying Commentator had a certain “it” factor. All the great ones have it and for someone like Zito, a Hall of Famer and life-long horseman, to say it, you know it goes beyond mere impressionism and into something more concrete.

“We love every horse in the barn,” he said. “We love all horses, but you can tell it’s different when someone walks down the street. ‘That’s so and so. That’s this one and that’s that one.’ The presence of someone. That’s where he stood out. You could see he had a different presence to him. Obviously you can’t come back from setbacks and perform on a high level [like he did]. Nine out of 10 horses—90 out of 100 horses— don’t do that.”

The playbook for horses of this nature is alarmingly simple: go to the lead, not too fast, see what happens.

In 2008, when 24 and change went up and Commentator relaxed, you knew he had what it took to dictate the terms of the race. Turning for home, he opened up like it was nothing.

Zito, coming off an upset win in the Belmont Stakes with Da’Tara two months earlier, paraded down from box, pointed at the ABC camera, and stormed down the stairs to the winner’s circle.

It was a magical performance as Commentator thwarted popular horses like Grasshopper, the same colt who gave Street Sense all he could handle in the 2007 Travers, and Student Council. Commentator schooled them all.

When Zito speaks of Commentator, it’s always with reverence, almost like he couldn’t believe what the Distorted Humor gelding was capable of. It’s one thing to ration speed in the three or four path and let the pace setters do the heavy lifting. It’s another to take the herd to the woodshed on the lead, to be rabbit and tortoise all in one package.

Slow and steady wins the race? Say what now?

“I just think, again, his demeanor, his performances were unbelievable,” Zito said. “I remember [jockey] Johnny [Velazquez] telling me, who won the Whitney in 2008, he told me when went up to New England for the Mass Cap, [Commentator] could’ve beat anybody that day. Even though running in New England the company is not a Saratoga class or Commentator class. That day he could beat anybody. Johnny is one of the great jockeys ever. I believe him.”

In 2009, by then an eight-year-old, Commentator saddled up for the Whitney yet again. Zito figured it would be the horse’s final race, win or lose. He always noted how wonderful and patient the owners Tracy and Carol Farmer were with the horse. They trusted Zito and his team to bring the horse along. Exercise rider Maxine Correia, groom Gustavo Sanchez, the hot walkers, everyone. 

 A horse doesn’t get to the starting gate on its own. It doesn’t even get there on the skill and attention of a trainer alone. 

If Commentator had an easy lead in the 2008 Whitney, he would get no such easy pass in 2009. Pressed from the start Commentator turned for home in the lead, but Bulls Bay, a titanic long shot came flying off the turn and blew past Commentator. Macho Again, another late closer, breezed past Commentator. 

But Commentator, tired, lots of wear and tear in those old bones, settled for third.

Zito said in 2009, “Father Time catches up to everybody.”

I remember following Zito after the race as I was doing the reporting for what would become Six Weeks in Saratoga. I kept my distance by about 20 yards. Zito walked with his head low, hands in his pockets. 

Sorry to cite my own book, but here’s what I wrote:

“Zito’s chin dropped to his chest while he walked under the roof of the grandstand, weaved his way through tables, and glued his feet to the floor in front of a television. On the television streamed the replay of the Whitney. Zito stood like a sentinel, his arms folded, neck craned up at an angle. He made no sound. In this replay, Commentator still ran, still fought. There was the head-on shot, the pan shot, illustrating the many views of defeat. It was on this screen that Commentator still raced. At last Zito tore his eyes away from that screen with his head low, scuffing his feet across a worn path back to his barn.”

I remember then Zito telling me that had Commentator won that Whitney he was going to retire him that day.

And on the phone just a few days ago, reliving memories of the old war horse, he added, “Then he would’ve marched across the street right into the Hall of Fame.”

Brendan O’Meara is a freelance writer and author of Six Weeks in Saratoga. He also hosts The Creative Nonfiction Podcast.

“In a place not too far from here, something happened. It was called Woodstock.”
– Melanie, on stage at Caffé Lena Aug. 2, 2018.

SARATOGA SPRINGS - On that August evening in 1969, Melanie Safka Schekeryk sat by herself inside of a country tent, fearful about what awaited her outside.

Her new album, simply titled “Melanie,” contained the song “Beautiful People,” which had given her a modicum of success. Still, an estimated half-million people sat in an open field outside her tent in anticipation of what the 22-year-old aspiring actress-turned-singer could bring.  

“I listened to Richie Havens in his 50th minute of ‘Freedom (Motherless Child),’ and I heard Ravi Shankar. Then Wavy Gravy went on and announced that his collective was passing out candles and that everyone should light their candles, because it had started to rain,” Melanie explained to a sold-out house at Caffe Lena last week.    

“I was in such terror that as I walked out onto the field, walked over that rope bridge – it was like a plank - I was (sure I was) walking to my certain doom. How can I possibly entertain 500,000 people with three chords, and my one song?”

Fair or not, she is often linked to her performance at the Woodstock music festival. Many have taken to tagging her as “the voice of her generation.”

“I was walking and walking and… I left my body,” she continued. “I watched myself take the stage. I hovered over my shoulder. I watched myself sit down and when I started singing ‘Beautiful People,’ I came back. I had this real-life experience. At that moment 500,000 people granted me beingness, granted me who I was. And I reciprocated. It wasn’t a musical moment, it was a spiritual moment. And it was real. I can’t tell you how life-altering that moment was,” she explained, before launching in to “Lay Down (Candles in the Rain)” – which anthemically captures her Woodstock moment – mated with an appropriately collaborative medley with a rendition of the John Lennon song, “Give Peace A Chance.”

At Caffé Lena, Melanie performed two sold out shows accompanied on vocals, guitar and occasional cello by her son, Beau Jared Schekeryk. Collectively, the evening featured 3-1/2 hours of music that covered a half-century of songwriting.

“I was just here - but somehow you all look different,” she quipped, acknowledging the café audience when taking the stage for the evening’s late show. The second set featured 14 songs which included “Animal Crackers” - dating to her 1968 debut, her love-‘em-and-leave-‘em ode “Any Guy” - released in 1969, and songs from the early ‘70s (“Babe Rainbow,” “Someday I’ll Be A Farmer”) to the 1990s (“Under Cool Cover of Night).”

Affected perhaps by the back-to-back sets, her voice wore rough early on, but when tackling “Ruby Tuesday,” any hoarseness majestically dissolved and the power of simple acoustic guitars and THOSE VOCALS were on full-on display.

“Ruby Tuesday” signaled one of three Rolling Stones songs performed during the night; a tasteful instrumental rendition of “Paint it Black,” and a version of “Wild Horses” – “we should do this because this is Saratoga Springs, it’s all about the horses,” she announced – were the others.

Melanie alternated between English, French, German, and Korean during the choruses of “Look What They’ve Done to My Song Ma,” inspired an audience sing-a-long on her Freudian ditty “Psychotherapy,” and delivered convincing performances of her songs “Beautiful People,” “Angel Watching Over You,” and her biggest chart-topping hit, “Brand New Key” – a song she admits she hated for a long time.

”When it became a hit, I went from playing nice, small cuddly places to big stadiums, where people wanted to hear 90 minutes of "Hump, Ha-HA, Hump, Ha-Ha,” she explained, pointing the song’s background chorus. “Here’s the clincher, all these years later, I’m OK with the whole song,” she admitted. “It’s a damn cute song.”

Friday, August 3

Shine Again
The day’s feature race is the $100,000 Shine Again for fillies and mares.

First Responders Appreciation Day,
presented by Brookview Village
NYRA will honor police officers, firefighters, EMTs and paramedics during First Responders Appreciation Day. The day will feature free grandstand admission for all first responders with proper identification. Numerous local police, fire and emergency service departments will host activities and demonstrations at the Coca-Cola Saratoga Pavilion. Guests can take advantage of child’s safety seat demonstrations and fittings for free children’s bicycle helmets, while supplies last (limit two per family). A variety of emergency service vehicles and equipment will be on display in and around the Coca-Cola Saratoga Pavilion. Young fans will enjoy face painting and caricature drawings.

Community Outreach Booth
The Community Outreach Booth will host Gallop NYC, a non-profit organization based in New York City that offers therapeutic horsemanship programs to children and adults with disabilities.

Taste NY: Craft Beer
This weekly event offers guests a selection of New York craft beers available for sampling in partnership with the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets. Fans will be able to sample five craft beers for $5 at the Coca-Cola Saratoga Pavilion from noon to 5 p.m.

Woodford Reserve Bourbon Fridays at The Post
Guests will be invited to sample bourbon cocktails starting at 6 p.m. and stay on-track after the day’s final race to enjoy DJ set and dancing plus trivia to win special prizes from Woodford Reserve at The Post Bar.

Saturday, August 4

Whitney Day & Fasig-Tipton Festival of Racing
The 91st running of the prestigious 1 1/8-mile Whitney will top a blockbuster day of racing that includes five stakes as part of the Fasig-Tipton Festival of Racing. The Whitney will pair with the Grade 1, $500,000 Longines Test for 3-year-old fillies, and the Grade 3, $200,000 Fasig-Tipton Waya for turf fillies and mares. Also Saturday are two additional turf stakes: the $100,000 Fasig-Tipton Lure and the $100,000 Fasig-Tipton De La Rose for fillies and mares.The Whitney will go to post as race number 9 at 5:46 p.m. preceded by the Longines Test. Both the Whitney and Longines Test will be broadcast live on NBCSN. A special edition of Saratoga Live will air on FS2 beginning at 2:30 p.m. Guests are strongly advised to allot additional time for arrival on Whitney Day due to enhanced screening.

Taste NY: Cider, Wine & Spirits
Taste NY: Cider, Wine & Spirits offers guests a selection of cider, wine and spirits available for sampling each Thursday of the meet in partnership with the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets. Fans will be able to sample five varietals for $5 at the Coca-Cola Saratoga Pavilion from noon to 5 p.m. 

Community Outreach Booth
The Community Outreach Booth will host the Yaddo Garden Association, which is dedicated to the restoration and preservation of the Gardens at Yaddo, including the marble and terra cotta features.

Fashion Saturdays
Designed to showcase the tradition of style in thoroughbred racing, Fashion Saturdays will feature women’s and men’s apparel and accessories from local retailers, as well as a selection of home décor, spa care and jewelry items at the Coca-Cola Saratoga Pavilion from 10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Fashion Saturdays is sponsored by: Bumble B Boutique, Caroline and Main, Complexions Day Spa, EMBRACE THE RACE®, Lifestyles, Miss Scarlett Boutique, The National and TOGA Heritage.

Woodford Reserve and Jeff Brisbin at the Jim Dandy Bar
Guests are invited to the Jim Dandy Bar to sample Woodford Reserve Saratoga Personal Selection, crafted exclusively for racing fans at the Spa, from 2 to 4 p.m. Guitarist Jeff Brisbin will play acoustic favorites from noon to 4 p.m.

Ketel One Saturdays at The Post
The fun will continue each Saturday of the season with the Ketel One Saturdays at The Post. Fans are invited to sample the new Ketel One Botanicals from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. and enjoy music from a live DJ and dancing under the stars following the day’s final race.

The Last Race Showcase at The Stretch
NYRA invites fans who are in attendance on Whitney Day to experience The Stretch for free from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. The Stretch is Saratoga’s exclusive new hospitality area located in the Grandstand at the Top of the Stretch. There will be food and drink specials and live DJ entertainment. Fans can enjoy the new amenities at The Stretch, including a private bar, concessions, hi-def video screens and televisions, and dramatic views of the Stretch run. 

Community Outreach Booth
The Community Outreach Booth will host the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame, which aims to preserve the history and foster understanding of thoroughbred racing in America by providing public access to equine art, artifacts, memorabilia, film, video, books, and historical archives.

Sunday, August 5

Troy Handicap and Alydar
Sunday’s card offers two stakes - the $200,000 Troy Handicap on the turf and the $100,000 Alydar. 

Jockey Legends Day,
presented by Fasig-Tipton Festival of Racing

Some of the greatest riders in the history of thoroughbred racing will gather at Saratoga Race Course for the fourth annual Jockey Legends Day. The day’s activities will feature special appearances by some of the Spa’s most accomplished riders and autograph signings on the Jockey Silks Porch from noon to 1 p.m. There will be a special trackside presentation after the fifth race.

Fasig-Tipton Festival of Racing
The Fasig-Tipton Festival of Racing will continue with Sunday’s edition of the “Best Turned Out Horse” award, during which Fasig-Tipton will recognize the hard work that goes into daily grooming with a special prize for the groom of the best-turned-out horse participating in the Alydar. The award will be presented to the winning groom in the winner’s circle prior to the race.

Low Roller Challenge
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. Registration begins at 11 a.m. near the Fourstardave Sports Bar.

Taste NY: Food and Artisans
Each Sunday of the season will welcome guests to a lively on-track market of numerous food and artisan vendors featuring products made exclusively in New York State. The market will be held from 10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the Coca-Cola Saratoga Pavilion.

Community Outreach Booth
The Community Outreach Booth will host the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance, a non-profit organization that accredits, inspects and awards grants to approved aftercare organizations to retire, retrain and rehome thoroughbreds using industry-wide funding. 

Monday, August 6

NYSS Cab Calloway
Monday features the $100,000 Cab Calloway for 3-year-old New York-breds on the turf.

Saratoga Umbrella Giveaway
Racing fans will take home the second giveaway of the 2018 meet, the fan-favorite Saratoga invertible umbrella. The umbrella features the Saratoga Race Course logo etched in white against a black exterior with a red interior lining. All giveaways are free with paid admission, while supplies last. Saratoga season pass or season ticket plan holders are guaranteed to receive a premium Saratoga giveaway item based on the following guidelines: Season pass or season ticket holders must be present at Saratoga Race Course on the day of the giveaway; enter through the designated season ticket holder lines; and redeem the giveaway by no later than 3 p.m. Redemptions will begin when gates open to the general public at 11 a.m.

Berkshire Bank Family Mondays
Monday will be highlighted by Berkshire Bank Family Mondays from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the Coca-Cola Saratoga Pavilion. Free Jockey Autograph Books are available for children while supplies last. All kid-friendly games and activities, including the opportunity to pet a retired thoroughbred, are free of charge. Berkshire Bank Family Mondays takes place just across from the Berkshire Bank Family Zone, an interactive play area featuring games, attractions, an Adirondack-style chair and Berkshire Bank charging station. The Berkshire Bank Family Zone is open every day of racing during the Saratoga season.

Low Roller Challenge
Monday will include the continuation of 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.

Community Outreach Booth
The Community Outreach Booth will host The Orchard Project, which is based in Saratoga Springs and is one of the preeminent theatre laboratories in the United States.

Tuesday, August 7

DARK DAY, NO RACES.

Wednesday, August 8

Quick Call
Wednesday features the $100,000 Quick Call for 3-year-olds on turf.

Italian-American Day presented by Aperol Spritz
The day-long celebration of Italian culture and heritage will feature traditional Italian music, dance, food, entertainment and games at the Coca-Cola Saratoga Pavilion from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. The afternoon will also include an Aperol Spritz tasting at The Stretch, located inside the Grandstand at the Top of the Stretch.

Community Outreach Booth
The Community Outreach Booth will host The Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation, which helps retired horses in need.

Thursday, August 9

NYSS Statue of Liberty Division
Thursday features the $100,000 NYSS Statue of Liberty Division for 3-year-old fillies on turf.

Fabulous Fillies Day
Saratoga Race Course will celebrate women and their contributions to the thoroughbred industry while raising funds to support The Breast Cancer Research Foundation on Fabulous Fillies Day. This year’s event will for the first-time honor local breast cancer survivors during special winner’s circle presentations throughout the afternoon in partnership with To Life! The day will also feature the return of the Best in Pink fashion contest for women and men, sponsored by vineyard vines and Moet & Chandon. A highlight of the day will be the Sizzling Hot Pink Saratoga Hat Luncheon, presented by vineyard vines and Moet & Chandon, along with Saratoga Living. This year’s luncheon will honor Vivien Malloy, owner of Edition Farm and secretary and treasurer of the New York Thoroughbred Breeders.

Aperol Thursdays at the Post
Each Thursday, guests will have the opportunity to sample Aperol Spritz cocktails at The Post Bar from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. Fans are also invited to stay on-track after racing to enjoy music from a live DJ and dancing under the stars.

Community Outreach Booth
The Community Outreach Booth will host Floyd Warriors, an organization that seeks to link all available help with families newly diagnosed to help them through the first months of cancer diagnosis and treatment.

SARATOGA SPRINGS - In the age of social platforms, event hashtags and electronic invites, it was a dinosaur. Suddenly one recent weekday morning, it was no more. 

The Caroline Street Register stood fixed to a building on the south side of Caroline Street for approximately a half-century – the notice board a tapestry of flyers and posters and postcard-size bulletins that for several decades freely publicized city staged events. An adjacent plank which runs along the billboard’s left side lists 20 different businesses – and alongside, each business’ motto - a heavy plank reminder of the city’s funkier and hands-on, do-it-yourself past.

When the building was undergoing an exterior paint job recently, workers removed the large sign, apparently targeted for the trash pile. Local resident Stephen Smigielski was working at a nearby eatery at the time.

“I saw it sitting against the lamppost, just waiting for the dumpster,” Smigielski says. “The garbage truck was pulling up and I was like, whoa, whoa…”

Jim Stanley, who runs the Tin & Lint located a few yards from the board’s long-standing position, estimates the register has clung to the Caroline Street wall since probably the early 1970s. The business listings had been updated and repainted at least twice since that time, he added.

“I grew up in the ‘70s in Saratoga Springs,” Smigielski explained. “I remember a lot of the places being boarded up when the town was not as booming as it is now. That sign was always there. It was there when we were teenagers. I didn’t want it to hit the bonfire.”

Smigielski rescued the sign and placed it in a toolshed for safekeeping. Beneath a stencil burgundy-fade that reads “notices,” it remains as it was, festooned with staples and push-pins and swatches of flyers that existed the day the board came down.  The “register” position holds a listing of businesses that date to the 1970s - some which continue to exist to the present day, others not as fortunate and obliterated by time.

Desperate Annie’s – with its’ motto “Lively Libations,” the Tin & Lint - “an American Bar,” Gaffney’s, Sperry’s, and the Vault – “coin shop and baseball cards,” maintain their respective businesses on Caroline Street.     

Some have been replaced by other businesses:   E.H. Holland (“70 years of Service”) most recently was the site of One Caroline Street Bistro; Boyce & Drake plumbing and heating currently sites Hamlet & Ghost; Madame Jumel’s “dining emporium” has been transformed into Dango’s pub; Aiko’s is today the Spa City Tap and Barrel, and Side St. Saloon (“Drinks Galore”) morphed into Clancy’s Tavern. 

Gone are the Coronet Press (“Printers Extraordinaire”), Ambience Unlimited (custom audio environments), Jah Skates and Reggae Shop, Esthetiques (European nail and skin care center), Duval’s (games of chance), Hal Bigelow (custom cabinetry), Kitsch (non-essentials), Northwind Graphics (silkscreen prints), The Sideline (food emporium) and Discline – whose motto was “CD’s Forever.” 

Some of the businesses existed in the late ‘80s and early ‘90s, which suggests that may have been the last time the registry was updated.

Preserving the sign was Smigielski’s main purpose. He has no specific plans regarding its future destination, other than it should be somewhere where people can see it and where it will continue to be preserved.   

“I’m not looking for financial gain, but I am looking for it to find a home,” he says. “Even if it sits in a shed for the rest of its life, my first thought was: let’s save this.”