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.

Yes this is a Salute to Saratoga, but the traditions and institutions that make this place great are not limited the confines of the track. It is often said, to achieve greatness you have to be willing to go the extra mile. If you are looking to fill your belly and still have enough money to bet the pick six, that extra mile will lead you outside the Nelson Avenue entrance to place tucked under a pair of oak trees, which we lovingly call the “Grease Shack”.

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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.

In all sports, greatness is honored. Heroes are vaulted to a level of immortality by placing them in household names like Cooperstown and Canton. Thoroughbred horse racing is no different, and it makes sense that this sports history is honored in the town where it has been supported continuously for over 150 years. The National Racing Museum and Hall of Fame in Saratoga Springs pays homage to the heroes and figures who made this great sport what it is.

Continue reading 40 Days: A Salute to Saratoga–National Racing Museum and Hall of Fame →

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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.

To kick off Whitney week, we decided it would be most appropriate to reminisce on our old friend, and two time Whitney winner, Commentator.  A gelded son of Distorted Humor, Commentator was one of the fastest horses to ever take the track, and his front running style often led to open-length wins, oftentimes by double digit margins.  His two most significant wins, however, were undoutedly the 2005 and 2008 Whitney Handicaps.

Continue reading 40 Days: A Salute to Saratoga — Commentator →

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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.

Tradition, legend, hero. All of these words conjure up the past, times gone bye and stories of “the good old days”. As we have discussed in prior posts, traditions and respect for the past are things that make Saratoga special. There are many things that are done at Saratoga “the old way”. It’s throw-back operation, where the past is honored.

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

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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.

Today is Jim Dandy day at Saratoga.  There also happens to be a $309,000 carryover in the Pick 6.   Also, I am at a wedding on the West Coast, so Saratoga starts at 10:00 am.  Is this the best day ever?  Probably.  Regardless, in today’s 40 Days, we celebrate all things Jim Dandy – the race, the horse and the bar.

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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.

Day 5:  Rachel Alexandra and the “Raising of the Rafters”

What would Salute to Saratoga be without some of the incredible horses who have made this place special over the years. There is a litany of Champions to choose from who raced at Saratoga to add to this list.  However, there are fewer who made their Championship-defining performances on the hallowed grounds of Saratoga race Course. In honor of #FillyFriday, and her offspring Rachel’s Valentina making her first start of her career on Sunday, today we salute Rachel Alexandra. A filly who captivated the Saratoga public for an entire 2009 season, and capped it off with a gritty, unparalleled performance to close out the meet in the Woodward.

Continue reading 40 Days: A Salute to Saratoga–Rachel Alexandra →

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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.

Todd Freakin’ Pletcher.  The guy is an unstoppable force.  Especially at Saratoga, where he has won with 100% of his two year old first time starters over the past decade (all numbers approximate).  He has won 7 Eclipse Awards as outstanding trainer.  He’s won 11 total Saratoga training titles, including the last 5.  He’s absolutely automatic at the Spa.

Continue reading 40 Days: A Salute to Saratoga–Todd Pletcher →

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