2011 Saratoga Meet

[Glimmerglass]

Time for this thread to start. Next Sunday opens the first initial racing with their 31st annual Open House. A Saratoga tradition held prior to the start of racing season at North America’s most historic thoroughbred racetrack on Sunday, July 17th.

Amongst the many things to do next Sunday -

The National Steeplechase Association will get a jump on the racing season by presenting hurdle races. No pari-mutuel wagering is available on these races which get underway every 45 minutes beginning at 1:30 p.m.

This year’s Saratoga will feature more steeplechase racing then has been in several years. Overall, nine steeplechase races are carded for the upstate New York meeting, up from six originally scheduled in 2010. Sept 1st will have two steeplechase races on the card and both with wagering unlike the July 17th races.

Sunday, July 17: Saratoga Open House, Saratoga Springs, N.Y., $25,000 Sport of Kings maiden hurdle (four-year-olds), 2 1/16 miles; $25,000 Sport of Kings maiden hurdle, five-year-olds and older), 2 1/16 miles; $15,000 maiden filly and mare hurdle, 2 1/16 miles; training flat race, 1 1/2 miles.

Thursday, July 28: Saratoga Race Course, Saratoga Springs, N.Y., Jonathan Kiser Novice Hurdle Stakes, 2 1/16 miles.

Thursday, Aug. 4: Saratoga Race Course, Saratoga Springs, N.Y., $75,000 A. P. Smithwick Memorial Hurdle Stakes (G2), 2 1/16 miles; optional allowance, 2 1/16 miles.

Thursday, Aug. 11: Saratoga Race Course, Saratoga Springs, N.Y., Mrs. Ogden Phipps Filly and Mare Hurdle Stakes, 2 1/16 miles.

Thursday, Aug. 18: Saratoga Race Course, Saratoga Springs, N.Y., Michael G. Walsh Novice Hurdle Stakes, 2 3/8 miles; optional allowance, 2 3/8 miles.

Thursday, Aug. 25: Saratoga Race Course, Saratoga Springs, N.Y., $100,000 New York Turf Writers Cup Handicap (G1), 2 3/8 miles.

Thursday, Sept. 1: Mrs. Walter M. Jeffords Filly and Mare Hurdle Stakes, 2 1/16 miles; optional allowance, 2 1/16 miles.

(pdf) Entries for the Open House (July 17) races - decent field sizes

[Glimmerglass]

For those unable to go to the Spa this year and without HRTV or TVG you’re in luck. See below:

It does not appear that the Kings Bishop on Travers Day will be picked up live - and rumor has it that Uncle Mo is being pointed to the sprint race - however its been a few years since the Travers was aired on the major cable channel. The last time a Saratoga race was televised nationally was ESPN’s broadcast of the 2009 Travers.

2001 Saratoga racing on NBC Sports or Versus
(All Times are Eastern Standard Time)

July 23: Coaching Club American Oaks, 5-6 p.m., NBC
July 30: Diana, 5-6 p.m., Versus
Aug. 6: Whitney, 5-6 p.m., Versus
Aug. 7: Vanderbilt, 5-6 p.m., Versus
Aug. 13: Sword Dancer, 5-6 p.m., Versus
Aug. 20: Alabama, 5-6 p.m., NBC
Aug. 27: Travers, 5-6 p.m., NBC
Sept. 3: Woodward, 5-6 p.m., Versus

I’ll happily be in there in the stands for the Diana on the 30th

[foundationmare]

I would love to have a horse running this summer. You never know!

[Glimmerglass]

Celebrity chef and racehorse owner Bobby Flay will deliver the keynote address at the National Museum of Racing’s 2011 Hall of Fame induction ceremony on Aug. 12th.

The 2011 Hall of Fame ceremony begins at 10:30 a.m. EDT and is open to the public at the Fasig-Tipton sales pavilion on Union Avenue.

Inductees this year are Thoroughbreds Duke of Magenta, Open Mind, Safely Kept, and Sky Beauty; jockey Shelby “Pike” Barnes; and trainers Matthew Byrnes and Jerry Hollendorfer.

Duke of Magenta (I had to look him up) died in 1899 after retiring to a farm outside of Boston (Brookline, shockingly) but during his racing days won the Preakness Stakes, the Withers Stakes, the Belmont Stakes, and the Travers Stakes. He was sold at the conclusion of his 3-year-old season by George Lorillard to his brother, Pierre Lorillard. Both were tobacco heirs and Pierre perhaps best known for creating the first gated and uber elite community in the US - Tuxedo Park, NY. Pierre sent him to race in England, but those plans never came to fruition. Duke of Magenta became ill on the voyage and was sent home retired.

[WhiteCamry]

@Glimmerglass;5716995

Duke of Magenta … during his racing days won the Preakness Stakes, the Withers Stakes, the Belmont Stakes, and the Travers Stakes …

When you substitute the Travers for the Kentucky Derby, a Preakness-Belmont-Travers triple makes for as interesting a short list as does the regular TC:

2001 - Point Given
1967 - Damascus
1953 - Native Dancer
1941 - Whirlaway
1920 - Man o’ War
1880 - Grenada
1878 - Duke of Magenta

[CVPeg]

[QUOTE=WhiteCamry;5719270]
When you substitute the Travers for the Kentucky Derby, a Preakness-Belmont-Travers triple makes for as interesting a short list as does the regular TC:

2001 - Point Given
1967 - Damascus
1953 - Native Dancer
1941 - Whirlaway
1920 - Man o’ War
1880 - Grenada
1878 - Duke of Magenta[/QUOTE]

That makes Whirlaway the only TC winner who also won The Travers…

[WhiteCamry]

@CVPeg;5719507

That makes Whirlaway the only TC winner who also won The Travers…

It also highlights the odd (as in “I never heard a good reason why”) coincidence of Man o’ War not running in the KD and Secretariat not running in the TS.

[CVPeg]

[QUOTE=WhiteCamry;5719626]
It also highlights the odd (as in “I never heard a good reason why”) coincidence of Man o’ War not running in the KD and Secretariat not running in the TS.[/QUOTE]

DRF’s Champions states Secretariat’s loss to Onion in the Whitney was due to a temperature. Maybe he still needed to recoup afterwards?

No explanation there about MOW’s missed Derby - the Preakness was his first race as a 3 year old. Wasn’t the TC created years later? …although the KD was still considered the race to run in, one would think…

[Glimmerglass]

[QUOTE=CVPeg;5720018]
No explanation there about MOW’s missed Derby - the Preakness was his first race as a 3 year old. Wasn’t the TC created years later? …although the KD was still considered the race to run in, one would think…[/QUOTE]

Actually it well documented that Riddle was steadfastly against MOW racing in the Kentucky Derby. Sam believed it was too early in the year for a young thoroughbred to go 1¼ miles - “still too soft with the bones”.

In the Travers he set the stakes record and tied the track record, which wasn’t broken until 42 years later. Interesting the Travers Stakes in 1920 was the 4th race on the card out of just 6 races held that day, including a steeplechase (race 2, The Beverwyck Steeplechase Handicap) and the Grand Union Hotel Stakes.

(pdf) The New York Times Aug 22, 1920: Man o’War Beats Grier with Ease. Peerless Three-Year-Old Races Whitney Colt Into Submission at Saratoga. All Attendance Records for Grounds Shattered.

Not only were the stands packed as usual, but the crowd stretched for a quarter of a mile along the rail in a dense mass of humanity stretching from the rail back to the stands. The crowd was so large that before the running of The Travers Stakes an announcement was made that the infield would be thrown open to the public so that all present might have a chance to see the race, which many had come to witness.

As a result, 5,000 persons crossed the track and saw the race from the infield, stretching along the rail almost to the head of the stretch, with groups scattered across the back stretch. … No race in many years has awakened such interest as did this one today because it brought Man o’War once more into competition John P. Grier.

[Glimmerglass]

The Travers record time for Man o’War was 2.01 4/5 on a track listed as fast.

The current Travers Stakes record remains from 1979 and held by Secretariat’s son (race video from 1979 - General Assembly) - it’s also the track record for the distance. The fastest time recorded in the Travers Stakes since 1979 was 2:00.80. Spa is no rock-hard landing strip like Santa Anita

Spectacular Bid did not race at Spa at 3-yrs old as he was still viewed as ‘on the mend’ from the hoof injury with the Belmont Stakes.

The connections instead shipped him to Delaware Park for an allowance race on August 26, 1979, so around the same time as the Travers. With Willie Shoemaker in the irons for the first time, he won by 17 lengths and set the track record of 1:41 3/5 for a mile and a sixteenth, which stood for nearly 20 years. So I’m sure Bert Firestone (General Assembly’s owner) was happy they could enjoy their big trophy with Bid staying away from Spa

[camfella]

I don’t get Saratoga. Old facility, poor seating choices unless you ooze $$'s, and crappy NY bred races. Add to that, overpriced rooms, and why do people even bother? Ego??

[CVPeg]

[QUOTE=Glimmerglass;5720271]
Actually it well documented that Riddle was steadfastly against MOW racing in the Kentucky Derby. Sam believed it was too early in the year for a young thoroughbred to go 1¼ miles - “still too soft with the bones”.

In the Travers he set the stakes record and tied the track record, which wasn’t broken until 42 years later. Interesting the Travers Stakes in 1920 was the 4th race on the card out of just 6 races held that day, including a steeplechase (race 2, The Beverwyck Steeplechase Handicap) and the Grand Union Hotel Stakes.

(pdf) The New York Times Aug 22, 1920: Man o’War Beats Grier with Ease. Peerless Three-Year-Old Races Whitney Colt Into Submission at Saratoga. All Attendance Records for Grounds Shattered.[/QUOTE]
Interesting that he ran several times as a 2yo, but the KD was too early for a 3yo…
And I was born in the wrong era - I would have loved to have been in the middle of that!

[QUOTE=Glimmerglass;5720285]The Travers record time for Man o’War was 2.01 4/5 on a track listed as fast.

The current Travers Stakes record remains from 1979 and held by Secretariat’s son (race video from 1979 - General Assembly) - it’s also the track record for the distance. The fastest time recorded in the Travers Stakes since 1979 was 2:00.80. Spa is no rock-hard landing strip like Santa Anita

[/QUOTE] I DID get to see that Travers - a huge wet, sloppy mess! We were in awful seats at the far turn, but it was thrilling to see General Assembly’s romp.

@camfella;5721987

I don’t get Saratoga. Old facility, poor seating choices unless you ooze $$'s, and crappy NY bred races. Add to that, overpriced rooms, and why do people even bother? Ego??

I’d guess: 1) history and tradition, 2)that it is a respite for thousands of NYCers, 3)it’s not just “crappy New York breds” (which by the way, doesn’t have the connotation of yesteryear) but so many train just for this meet - so it’s interesting to see who brought whom out of the barn just for this, and 4) the social aspect, seeing old friends, same faces, good people. Although I have to say the most annoying part are those who don’t “get racing” - you know the ones who stand up and turn around to wave to their friends coming in behind them - just as the horses are nearing the finish?!?:mad:

I’m lucky enough to live within 90 minutes of the track, but the few times I’ve stayed, I spent less by schlepping down to Albany - last year the Americana had great prices on the weekends since they specialize in corporate affairs during the week.

[SteeleRdr]

Looks as though leading owner, Irv Naylor, has come through for the sport of steeplechasing again. According to the NSA, all races from today at the Open House at Saratoga will be available for live streaming!!

http://www.nationalsteeplechase.com/news-cat/steeplechasing-kicks-off-saratoga-season-at-open-house/#more-2958

Kudos to Irv!

[Glimmerglass]

[QUOTE=SteeleRdr;5723888]
Looks as though leading owner, Irv Naylor, has come through for the sport of steeplechasing again. According to the NSA, all races from today at the Open House at Saratoga will be available for live streaming!!

Kudos to Irv![/QUOTE]

Sensational! Thanks to Mr. Naylor and SteeleRdr for passing this along.

[Glimmerglass]

The Times Union has 200 historical photos of Saratoga Springs (the city and track) on-line for viewing …

http://www.timesunion.com/sports/article/Historical-photos-Saratoga-Springs-through-the-1469618.php

How things haven’t changed much at all: backstretch at Saratoga Race Course July 26, 1920

But they have with the advent of horse trailers and the demise of shipping horses up to Saratoga via train. Still this is a great one too - to think Man o’War and Exterminator both were walked up the street Image - horses walk to track from D&H station:

Horses are led up Circular Street (past the Batcheller Mansion) to the track on July 15, 1934. There were no horse vans back then … all the horses came up from New York via train and then walked up to the track.

[SteeleRdr]

Anyone trying to watch the live feed?? I can’t seem to get it to work on my computer for some reason. Just a black screen with a blue “Minolta” looking trademark symbol in the bottom right of the screen. Bummed I missed the first, and now the second!

[Hilldale]

We’ve been trying to get it too and only have the black screen - wanted to see the 2nd. ST Publishing is tweeting but only the winners so far.

[Glimmerglass]

Ditto - never getting anything but the black image and logo bottom right

As cited (spoilers) ST Times tweets from Spa for the races

[Glimmerglass]

The feed is up now but a bit late in the game …

[Glimmerglass]

Least anyone forgets NBC Sports this Saturday (7/23) will be airing live from Saratoga the Grade 1 TVG Coaching Club American Oaks, for 3-yr old fillies at 1 1/8 mi:

In that contest, Grade 1 Mother Goose winner Buster’s Ready is expected to square off against Grade 1 Acorn heroine It’s Tricky. Also likely are Black-Eyed Susan victress Royal Delta, Mother Goose runner-up Joyful Victory, and recent allowance winner Marvel Gaye. Possible for the race according to NYRA stakes coordinator Andrew Byrnes are Little Miss Holly and Hearts On Fire, 1-2 finishers in the Grade 3 Iowa Oaks.

Other races in the near future will feature some of the old timers with household names:

On Monday, July 25th, older New York-breds will battle in the $75,000, 1 1/8-mile Evan Shipman. Probable for that race, according to Byrnes, are Ibboyee, Icabad Crane, Johannesburg Smile, Mine Over Matter, Naughty New Yorker, and Slevin. Most Happy Fella and Stormy’s Majesty were listed as possible entrants.

As for the closure of the Belmont meet (ended July 17th): Linda Rice took not only her 1,000th victory but also co-champion trainer title. That is a first for a woman at Belmont. (She previously won Saratoga outright and tied in spring 2011 for an Aqueduct title with David Jacobson). Rice finished the Belmont spring/summer meet tied with Todd Pletcher atop the trainer standings with 25 wins.

The victory appropriately came with Sextant, a 6-year-old mare owned by her father, Clyde Rice, a former trainer.

Via a quirk with her name she actually has more than 1,000 TB victories:

It should also be noted that training under the name of Linda Rice-Appleby, she compiled a record of 21 wins, 12 seconds, 15 thirds, and earnings of $433,967 from 102 starts during 1988-89. All together, she currently has 1,021 wins, according to statistics provided by Equibase Company.

Rice joins an elite group of female trainers to have reached the 1,000 win milestone, including Stephanie Beattie, Christine Janks, Barbara McBride, and Kathleen O’Connell.