2011 Saratoga Meet

[Glimmerglass]

The heavy flooding in Vermont, the collapsed buildings in Troy, the swollen Hudson and Susquehanna Rivers … all of that is going on but so too is racing at Saratoga.

Sunday’s cancellation - just the 2nd full day to have that occur EVER in the history of the oldest sports venue in the United States - doesn’t mean Monday is cancelled too.

With racing scheduled to continue on Monday, NYRA has already made the call that there will no turf racing during the nine-race card. Races, four, six and nine will be run on the main track. The fourth race, originally carded for 1 1/16 miles on the grass, will be run at 1 1/8 miles on the dirt. The sixth and ninth races, will come

Damage on the track property was mostly downed trees on the Spa backstretch and Oklahoma Training Track and one in the infield. A tree fell near the Pletcher stables. No injuries …

By the way here is a great collection of NYRA pictures that are released by the track itself: NYRA News - Media Images - Grid Layout

[Glimmerglass]

Today’s 1st race with the place finisher one of my favs with a name: R1 8-29-11 Saratoga Shankopotamus

[Glimmerglass]

On the business side - things are still looking good for Saratoga inspite of a recession and hurricane

On track-wagering is up at Saratoga Race Course through six weeks, while attendance was down slightly, according to NYRA.

There has been one fewer day of racing because Sunday’s card was canceled due to Hurricane Irene.

NYRA Press Release Aug 29, 2011

On-track wagering at Saratoga Race Course remains positive compared to 2010 totals through week six (33 days) of the meet, despite the cancellation of racing on Sunday due to Hurricane Irene, according to The New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA).

Attendance through week six (33 days) was 733,844, down 0.8 percent from 739,623 for 34 days in 2010.

On-track handle totaled $103,165,617, up 4.3 percent from $98,900,040 last year.

Wagering at the downstate Belmont Café and Aqueduct simulcast facilities was $15,595,450, resulting in a combined on-track handle of $118,761,067, up 9.1 percent from $108,901,417 in 2010.

All-sources handle, which includes wagers on Saratoga races both on-track and from simulcast outlets nationwide, was $436,380,750, down 5.0 percent from $459,484,857 in 2010.

Average betting interests per race through 33 days of the meet were 8.1 (2,696 total) for 331 races compared to 8.3 (2,773 total) for 333 races in the 34 days of 2010. Turf races totaled 129 with 37 taken off the turf, compared to 150 on and 24 off in 2010.

Racing and activites still on tap this last week of Saratoga …

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 2

Party at the Spa, presented by Coors Light; 2:30 p.m. post time: NYRA will host the meet’s second Party at the Spa, presented by Coors Light, which features a special 2:30 p.m. first post time. The fun will continue after the races at Saratoga hot spot, The Post, adjacent to the Paddock. The after-hours party will include a mix of great food, drinks, and live music from the Sean Dolan Band.
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 3

Super Saturday at Saratoga: The Spa will celebrate the final Saturday of the 2011 meet with three Grade 1 races: the $750,000 Woodward; the $250,000 Forego; and the $300,000 Personal Ensign, which was rescheduled following its postponement on Sunday, August 28, due to Hurricane/Tropical Storm Irene.

The Woodward and Forego will be shown live on Versus from 5 to 6 p.m., marking the eighth and final “Summer at Saratoga” program broadcast nationally by the NBC Sports Group.

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 5

The final day of the 2011 meet will feature a special first post time of 12:30 p.m.

The Three Chimneys Hopeful: The traditional final feature race, the 107th running of the Grade 1, $250,000 Three Chimneys Hopeful for 2-year-olds, will afford racing fans a preview of potential standouts in next year’s Triple Crown series and Travers Stakes.

[Glimmerglass]

To the owner who yachted up the Hudson River to see the Travers Stakes - please move it Image - “Cortina” moored by flooded Dinosaur Bar-B-Que

Who owns this yacht?

The 100-foot ship tied up outside the flooded Dinosaur Bar-B-Que is generating speculation about possible owners.

Does it belong to Yankees superstar shortstop Derek Jeter? The ship was driven up the Hudson River from New York before Hurricane Irene hit Sunday. Or is it owned by billionaire financier George Soros? Soros is an investor in the popular restaurant chain. Both have been named by local officials as potential owners.

But the ship’s captain, Nick Murphy, and a broker who listed the ship for sale at $3 million in 2009, declined to reveal the owner.

The ship is registered in the Cayman Islands.

[Glimmerglass]

JT at the Spa? You never know

Tweet 8-30-11 from sportswriter Claire Novak

fascinating fact of the morning: apparently @jtimberlake owns part of a cpl racehorses in training with James Bond here in #Saratoga

[Glimmerglass]

Thursday (September 1) will be the final steeplechase race of the meet - (pdf) $56,000 The Ninepins Hurdle with a healthy field 12-entries including Lonesome Nun and a seemingly rare South Carolina-bred runner with Saluda Sam

Before I depart on vacation it’s worth reiterating to set those DVRs for Saturday’s racing at Saratoga with Versus having live 2-big graded affairs at 5pm - 6pm EST.

Havre de Grace up against the boys in the Grade 1 $750,000 Woodward (at 1 1/8 miles - well in her sweet spot!) trying to pull off what only Rachel Alexandra did. And the Grade 1 $250,000 Forego Stakes.

Due to just the 1-hour of air time Versus will not broadcast live the rescheduled Personal Ensign (Grade 1) however it would be logical if they did air that $300,000 race. Expect Bobby Flay’s Super Espresso (last seem taking 2nd in the Ruffian) to do rather well in this race.

For those interested in the future of the race course and complex you might want to see what the plans are with expected capital investments into Saratoga:

Charlie Hayward, president and CEO of NYRA, and Paul Roberts, director and consultant of Turnberry Consulting, will unveil the capital improvement projects during a formal presentation for media and horsemen at 11 a.m. Thursday (9/1) in the Fasig-Tipton Sales Pavilion at East and Madison avenues.

A community forum with public comment will then be held at 6:30 p.m. Thursday in the Saratoga Springs City Center.

Funding for the projects will come from revenue generated by 4,500 video lottery terminal (VLT) machines and 500 electronic table games at Aqueduct Racetrack.

According to statute, NYRA will receive four percent of revenues from these VLTs for capital improvements – or an estimated $27.6 million annually – based on figures provided by the VLT operator, Genting New York LLC.

An extensive historical analysis and studies of the backstretch and frontside of Saratoga Race Course were recently completed by the Saratoga Springs Preservation Foundation, with assistance from NYRA and Turnberry Consulting US, Inc., of London. The potential projects presented by NYRA are the results of those studies and analysis.

[Glimmerglass]

Some really fine shots (as per usual) from Barbara of the subtle and often unseen color that is Saratoga’s working gears:

http://www.drf.com/blogs/saratoga-scenes-more-spa

[CVPeg]

[QUOTE=Glimmerglass;5811178]
Some really fine shots (as per usual) from Barbara of the subtle and often unseen color that is Saratoga’s working gears:

http://www.drf.com/blogs/saratoga-scenes-more-spa[/QUOTE]

As always, these are exceptional - great way to start the morning. Thanks for the link.

[Iride]

@Glimmerglass;5811178

Some really fine shots (as per usual) from Barbara of the subtle and often unseen color that is Saratoga’s working gears:

http://www.drf.com/blogs/saratoga-scenes-more-spa

Fantastic. Agree with CVPeg

[sportinghorsepolo]

I’m going to Saratoga for the races tomorrow, and would like to watch the morning workouts beforehand. Any hints/tips, and what time should I get there to watch (figure 5:30-6?)?
TIA:yes:

[Madeline]

@sportinghorsepolo;5811656

I’m going to Saratoga for the races tomorrow, and would like to watch the morning workouts beforehand. Any hints/tips, and what time should I get there to watch (figure 5:30-6?)?
TIA:yes:

Buy breakfast and bring it in. If you eat at the fancy restaurant, you cannot hear Mary Ryan’s commentary, and you can’t see as much. Go to MCDonalds and sit in MAryLou Whitney’s box. The free backstretch tour is fun, watch gate training from the backstretch. Escape at the end of the tour and go across the street and up a bit and watch horses swim. See a few harness horses train. Maybe even polo ponies. Don’t miss the Racing Museum and Hall of Fame. Bet on winners. Have fun.

[CVPeg]

Congratulations to Terri Pompay for Currency Swap’s win in the Grade 1 Hopeful today. Terri is from Saratoga, and was a junior rider at a barn I was at a long time ago, then started exercising horses at Saratoga. She is a trainer at Monmouth and Gulfstream. This is her first Grade 1 win. Loads of prestige, let alone a “Win and You’re In” for the Breeders Cup Juvenile - and who knows what next year?:yes:

And Havre de Grace’s win Saturday in the Woodward was fantastic. The race was so thrilling, and the crowd so enthusiastic. A great finish to the meet.

Swear I’m going to buy a shack in town one of these days - not only for the races, but to roll out of bed and watch the works.