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.
We’ve all heard the echo. Like clockwork, everyday following the playing of the national anthem, the chant would begin. Sar-a-tog-a! Sar-a-tog-a! Clips of some of the meet’s greatest races and calls would soon follow. As frequent track attendees, we heard the promo so many times that the featured calls became engrained in our heads. It’s one of those featured calls–which we still associate with the jingle–that narrated our favorite Travers of all time. In the late 1990′s, as the final Sar-a-tog-a rang through the speakers, you’d hear Tom Durkin yelling–”Coronado’s Quest, Victory Gallop, and Raffie’s Majesty….”. It gives chills every time.
We kick off Travers Week by looking back on one of the most “dramatic renewals of the Travers” in the race’s 146 year history.
The 1998 Travers featured Victory Gallop, the 1998 Belmont winner and spoiler of Real Quiet’s Triple Crown bid, Coronado’s Quest and longshot Raffie’s Majesty. Coronado’s Quest came into the race off four straight graded stakes scores, including the Dwyer and the Haskell Invitational. He was known for his difficult temperament, which had earned him the nickname “The Bad Boy of Racing.” Coronado’s Quest’s sire, Forty Niner, had also been a Travers winner, prevailing over Seeking the Gold (this Thorobro’s all time favorite horse) and Brian’s Time in a close three-way finish in 1988. Raffie’s Majesty, my sleeper pick that day, was an outsider in the race, having been beaten by others in the race in both the Belmont and the Jim Dandy. He and Chop Chop Chavez would relish his role as spoiler, however, and would nearly get the job done.
The race, which was won by Coronado’s Quest, piloted by Hall of Famer Mike Smith, in a three-way photo finish by the slimmest of margins, was perfectly narrated by the legendary Tom Durkin. His call, like the jingle, was pitch-perfect, rising in a crescendo as Victory Gallop summoned one more bid and Raffie’s Majesty closed from far back on the outside. The call culminated with an iconic proclamation: “Coronado’s Quest, Victory Gallop, and Raffie’s Majesty, three noses on the line in a dramatic renewal of the Travers!”
With the Triple Crown Champ signed on for this year’s Travers, a three way photo may be out of the question. But this is Saratoga, and it’s reputation, as well as Baffert’s recent struggles here, are well known. So maybe American Pharoah will be in for a dramatic renewal as well? Either way, we’re confident Larry Collmus will be ready.
