SARATOGA RACING – Timeless

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

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

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

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

D. Wayne Lukas

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

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

Handicapping

From a handicapping perspective, remember Saratoga racing is as much about people and connections as it is about horses. Just as old friends gather at the racetrack once a year, certain connections aim their best efforts for Saratoga. These include James Bond, David Donk, Horacio De Paz, John Terranova, Chester Broman, Barry K. Schwartz, and Reeves Racing. 

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