From Mary Lou to Tom; Jim Dandy to Fourstardave; Siro’s to backyard tailgating; and morning workouts to give aways; Saratoga has a cast of heroes, customs, and institutions which make it, in our opinion, the most unique sporting venue on Earth. Over the next 40 Days, we will profile 40 of these legends and traditions, adding our own memories and experiences from 30 plus years of summering at the Spa. It’s our Salute to Saratoga. We hope you enjoy following along.

I heard about the 1962 Travers long before I actually saw the replay. In fact, I remember vividly the first time I was told about what many consider to be the greatest race ever run at Saratoga. I was 12 years old and standing behind Section C in the Saratoga Club House, talking with a fellow track rat.

“I was watching this movie on Saratoga” the kid started, “and they showed a Travers from a long time ago where two horses were never more than a nose apart the entire way around the track. They even set a track record. It was awesome.”

Continue reading 40 Days: A Salute to Saratoga–The Greatest Race →

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From Mary Lou to Tom; Jim Dandy to Fourstardave; Siro’s to backyard tailgating; and morning workouts to give aways; Saratoga has a cast of heroes, customs, and institutions which make it, in our opinion, the most unique sporting venue on Earth. Over the next 40 Days, we will profile 40 of these legends and traditions, adding our own memories and experiences from 30 plus years of summering at the Spa. It’s our Salute to Saratoga. We hope you enjoy following along.

Winning the Triple Crown is one of the most difficult and unique accomplishments in all of sports.  In the lengthy history of the Kentucky Derby, Preakness and Belmont Stakes (the youngest of those races is 140 years old), there have only been 12 Triple Crown winners.  Those horses represent the most exclusive club of horses in North American racing:  Sir Barton, Gallant Fox, Omaha, War Admiral, Whirlaway, Count Fleet, Assault, Citation, Secretariat, Seattle Slew, Affirmed and, now, American Pharoah.  Within that most exclusive club of horses in the history of North American racing, however, there is a VIP section.  And right now, that VIP section consists of just one horse — surrounded by velvet ropes and enjoying his bottle of Grey Goose over some ice cold rocks.

Continue reading 40 Days: A Salute to Saratoga–The Superfecta of Horse Racing →

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From Mary Lou to Tom; Jim Dandy to Fourstardave; Siro’s to backyard tailgating; and morning workouts to give aways; Saratoga has a cast of heroes, customs, and institutions which make it, in our opinion, the most unique sporting venue on Earth. Over the next 40 Days, we will profile 40 of these legends and traditions, adding our own memories and experiences from 30 plus years of summering at the Spa. It’s our Salute to Saratoga. We hope you enjoy following along.

If Saratoga belonged to Angel Cordero in the late-’70s and 80s, then ownership changed to Jerry Bailey in the ’90s.  Bailey was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1995 — and then he won each and every one of his record 7 Eclipse Awards as champion jockey.  He won two personal “Triple Crown,” capturing the Derby on Sea Hero in ’93 and Grindstone in ’96,  the Preakness on Hansel in ’91 and Red Bullet in 2000, and the Belmont on Hansel in ’91 and Empire Maker in 2003.  He won 15 Breeders’ Cup races, including four Classics (Black Tie Affair, Arcangues, Concern and Cigar).  But beyond his general excellence as a jockey, Bailey absolutely dominated at Saratoga.

Continue reading 40 Days: A Salute to Saratoga — Jerry D. Bailey →

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From Mary Lou to Tom; Jim Dandy to Fourstardave; Siro’s to backyard tailgating; and morning workouts to give aways; Saratoga has a cast of heroes, customs, and institutions which make it, in our opinion, the most unique sporting venue on Earth. Over the next 40 Days, we will profile 40 of these legends and traditions, adding our own memories and experiences from 30 plus years of summering at the Spa. It’s our Salute to Saratoga. We hope you enjoy following along.

It is often said that every night is a party in Saratoga. There is always something exciting going on, whether it’s Saturday Night at 11pm or Tuesday at 7:30. A perfect example of that is one of the biggest and most high-profile events during the Saratoga season was this past Monday and Tuesday evening: The Fasig-Tipton Select Yearlings Sales.

Continue reading 40 Days: A Salute to Saratoga – Fasig Tipton Sales →

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From Mary Lou to Tom; Jim Dandy to Fourstardave; Siro’s to backyard tailgating; and morning workouts to give aways; Saratoga has a cast of heroes, customs, and institutions which make it, in our opinion, the most unique sporting venue on Earth. Over the next 40 Days, we will profile 40 of these legends and traditions, adding our own memories and experiences from 30 plus years of summering at the Spa. It’s our Salute to Saratoga. We hope you enjoy following along.

A Saratoga institution.  That much is not in dispute.  Here is how the current Siro’s website describes it:  “[t]he origin of the restaraunt’s name dates back to 1945 when Jimmy Siro, maitre d’ at the Waldorf Astoria, purchased the Lincoln Avenue eatery that was known as The Maranese Restaurant.  And it was off to the races [Ed. Note: nice double entendre] for this trackside restaurant.  A Saratoga institution, the original Siro’s has been a staple on the upstate social circuit since it opened. ”

Continue reading 40 Days: A Salute to Saratoga – Siro’s →

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From Mary Lou to Tom; Jim Dandy to Fourstardave; Siro’s to backyard tailgating; and morning workouts to give aways; Saratoga has a cast of heroes, customs, and institutions which make it, in our opinion, the most unique sporting venue on Earth. Over the next 40 Days, we will profile 40 of these legends and traditions, adding our own memories and experiences from 30 plus years of summering at the Spa. It’s our Salute to Saratoga. We hope you enjoy following along.

Its unavoidable.  No matter what entrance you go in, its intertwined with the fabric of the Saratoga experience.  The Wizard, The Pink Sheet, The Saratoga Advantage, The Lady.  You are going to have tip sheets thrust into your face as you try to make your way to the entrance.  Chances are this will be equal parts amusement, annoyance, and appreciation for the tradition, as you press forward to the gate trying to balance your past performances, phone in your bet for the first race (inevitably, you are arriving at 12:58 no matter when you set out for the track), and negotiate the rigorous security “check” of your cooler full of beer and sandwiches.  But Saratoga simply wouldn’t be Saratoga if you didn’t approach the gates surrounded by the cacophony of touts yelling “5 winners yesterday!”  WE HAD 6 WINNERS YESTERDAY!” “$500 Pick 3 yesterday!” “Had the Pick 4 last three days in a row!”  Its the sound of the track welcoming you back.

Continue reading 40 Days: A Salute to Saratoga–Tip Sheets →

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Old money. Like founding-of-the-republic old money. The Whitneys have had money since before the United States of America was born during that hot summer in Philadelphia in 1776. They have all of the trappings of old money too – Yale (too many Yale degrees to count), prep school, big industry, philanthropy, you name it. They are the bluest of the blue-bloods.

Continue reading 40 Days: A Salute to Saratoga–The Whitneys →

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