Todd Pletcher has a Big Day, John Velazquez Hits a Milestone, Travers Stakes Finds Two Starters 

And then the rains came. Saratoga Race Course saw a rare cancellation last week as the area saw a near biblical rainstorm that made racing impossible early in the week. The New York Racing Association called several common-sense audibles and saved the affected races by altering their running dates and the weekend racing proved a large success. 

The week again saw human and equine stars shine with Todd Pletcher winning five races on Saturday including, the featured Jim Dandy with his stretch running colt – Renegade. Pletcher is honing in on 6,000 lifetime wins and his five victories proved popular with the huge entourage accompanying Renegade part-owner Mike Repole (who, for good measure, won a few other races on the Saturday undercard). It appears Renegade will move onto the Travers Stakes on August 29th as will Sea Strike who won the junior Travers prep – the Curlin Stakes – on Sunday. Both looked good in victory and figure to bolster the Travers field.

For those that appreciate turning back time two decades or so, it was a familiar feeling on Friday when Todd Pletcher and John Velazquez teamed up to score with front running Local Knowledge in the Amsterdam Stakes.  The victory was notable as it was Velazquez’s 800th Graded Stakes win, a remarkable accomplishment combining talent and longevity. Congratulations. 

Strange Doings

Saturday’s card saw jockey Edgard Zayas suffer an injury late in the card forcing him off his remaining mounts. It was reported that this resulted in a late scratch in the final race of the card when a substitute rider could not be found for his mount  Serenique.   In the past The New York Racing Association would guard against this situation by employing a “house rider” to act as an “understudy” (to use a Broadway term) ready and willing to ride, if needed, allowing the field to remain intact. The rider would be paid the minimum jockey fee ($125) for the availability. I seem to remember riders Lee Moon and Filiberto Leon acting in this capacity at times. The expense involved with such a practice would seem small compared to the lost mutuel handle and owner/trainer inconvenience prevented and is a practice that should again be discussed between management and the NYTHA. 

Sound

Effort needs to be put into the on-track audio feed which has become disjointed. Two adjustments would be helpful – limiting the television feed audio to the paddock analysis and greatly reducing or eliminating the volume of the race call when the race replays are shown. The audio situation needs to be uniform rather than distracting

Other

Sunday marked the 40th Anniversary of the infamous Allemeuse disqualification at Saratoga. If you were there you know – if you were there and still in the game – be grateful. Time flies. 

Mike Venezia Memorial Award- Nick Sanatagata.

The 2026 Mike Venezia Memorial Award was presented to this year’s recipient, former rider and current jockey’s valet Nick Sanatgata on Sunday. The award is named in honor of jockey Mike Venezia who tragically succumbed to injuries suffered in a spill at Belmont Park in 1988. 

Each year the award is presented to a jockey who evidences the sportsmanship and citizenship that personified Mike Venezia. The award honors Venezia’s legacy of charitable works and accomplishments off the track in supporting those in need. He is widely remembered as a mentor to younger riders while serving as the President of the Jockeys’ Guild.

The Venezia family has remained active in racing (his daughter Alison McGowan and her husband Jim run Ternary Farm in Cambridge, New York) and they turned out in force to mark the occasion. Venezia’s wife Helena presented the award to Santagata emphasizing how Santagata’s efforts in mentoring younger riders were particularly emblematic of her late husband’s caring and helpful nature towards other riders and those in need.  The Venezia family has always been proud of the late Venezia’s work and efforts with other riders and Santagata, as a continuing presence in that room for multiple decades, makes him a most worthy recipient. Santagata, for his part, humbly emphasized that the day was about Venezia and his legacy, not him, but he was clearly touched by the recognition of his impact on the industry. 

The winner’s circle ceremony was jammed with friends, family and the current jockey colony and Richard Migliore’s understated and respectful introduction let the dignified nature of the event speak for itself. I have been to enough awards ceremonies, in racing and elsewhere, to clearly recognize when an award recipient is celebrated as worthy by his peers and students. This was most definitely the case on Sunday. Venezia and Santagata, both from Brooklyn, New York, represent the best of New York’s most storied borough and now are linked through the award.

Live music in Saratoga- Kiah Saxe

Top line professional music fills the Saratoga Performing Arts Center each year but live music in bars and downtown clubs has been a staple of the racing season for a century. The quality varies (which is what makes it fun). 

One high-energy crowd-pleasing band is The Hey Nows. The Hudson Valley-based band led by vocalist Paul Serrao returns to Saratoga again this year with their extraordinary young female vocalist – Kiah Saxe from New Paltz.   While the young crowd at The Ice House, in the Saratoga “Gut”, appreciates their energetic performances and Ms. Saxe’s powerful voice the older generation(s) is/are welcome as well. They appear Whitney Weekend August 7th and 8th.