Saratoga 141st meet concludes. That's all folks!

[colliemom]

[QUOTE=foundationmare;4266134]
Colliemom,

You REALLY want to do something ELSE besides the track while you’re in Saratoga??? OMG, that’s blasphemy!

Just kidding! (Well, not really…) I’ve spent two years away and want to be there so badly I can taste it! There’s something about that place that just grabs me and won’t let me go, although I don’t struggle much!

I envy your three days there and, if I were you, I’d wander the grounds in the morning, go to the races in the afternoon and visit every nook and cranny of the frontside. I’ve always camped out near the paddock and made “trips” to various vantage points in the grandstand, all of which are unique and fascinating. It’s a great place for people watching which, if it were a career, I would command top salary!

I’ve been fortunate to experience the Spa from a VIP POV and loved it as a run-of-the-mill plebe as well. There is no wrong way to “do” Saratoga. I love everything about it.[/QUOTE]

Yeah, I know it’s blasphemous, but since this may our only true “vacation” we want to try and get a little bit of variety if possible

We are both very much into tradition, and will enjoy “every nook and cranny” if we can. We also are both 100% Thoroughbred people for our sport (Eventing) and just love being around them.

Thanks for all the suggestions from everyone! Now, what to pack…

[Glimmerglass]

The first edition of the Steeplechase Times “Saratoga Special” 7-29-09 (pdf) - free but you have to register.

Times Union’s Saratoga Section

Per WNYT the weather could get ugly this afternoon on opening day with “showers and thunderstorms. Some of the storms later today could be strong to severe with gusty wind and heavy downpours.”

Looks like Mother Nature didn’t get comped proper tickets and ye shall incur her wrath!

[twofatponies]

@Glimmerglass;4259193

This Sunday 7-26-09 is the traditional open-house which essentially is the goodwill invitation by NYRA to come on out and see some non-wagering steeplechase jumping, check out the facilities, and be entertained with a host of activities for all ages.

Admission and parking are free at the open house. The event is from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Can anyone tell me how the steeplechase schedule goes? It says on the website that every Thursday in August is steeplechasing. I’d love to see! If it starts at 11 each Thursday, does it usually end at 4? How many races will they run in that period of time?

I don’t care about wagering - I just like seeing horses go fast and jump things, and I have been wanting to see Saratoga in general. I like people watching, too! Any tips for a “general admission” level spectator?

[Glimmerglass]

[QUOTE=twofatponies;4269856]
Can anyone tell me how the steeplechase schedule goes? It says on the website that every Thursday in August is steeplechasing. I’d love to see! If it starts at 11 each Thursday, does it usually end at 4? How many races will they run in that period of time?[/QUOTE]

Tomorrow - Thursday July 30th - is the first formal steeplechase run at Saratoga (the open house ones held Sunday were not recognized by NYRA) and it is a good example. 12 entires; 2 1/16 miles so twice around the circuit.

DRF Race 1 7-30-09 “Jonathan Kiser Novice Stakes”

Post time is 1pm Eastern.

The jumps (owned by the NSA) are removed after that race and gone before the 2nd race which goes off at 1:35pm (approx)

Saratoga is one of the scant few places (maybe last?) where NSA sanctioned races can be wagered on. Belmont used to have a steeplechase race in the fall but it may have been dropped. Philadelphia Park talked about adding one.

Don’t be shocked to see this year the same feeling in the stands of recent years: people at Spa see steeplechase as a novelty with marginal interest by flat-racing fans and even less wagering interest.

If you have TVG you can watch live the once a week chasing race at Saratoga handicapped by Jimmy Duggan. Not to be a downer but rarely have I heard from Tom Durkin a lot of enthusiasm or breathtaking calling of chase races. Tom makes it seem like you’re watching five year olds in potato sacks running for a fund rasier …

Each Thursday will start with a steeplechase race as the 1st race and only a few are graded races.

As for the race day the last race, the 10th, goes off with a post time of 6:04 pm EST

[Glimmerglass]

Steeplechase dates (all will be the first race of the day) during this meet …

SARATOGA, Thursday, July 30: Jonathan Kiser Novice Stakes
SARATOGA, Thursday, August 6: A.P. Smithwick Memorial (NSA-G2)
SARATOGA, Thursday, August 13: $75,000 Ben Nevis Stakes*
SARATOGA, Thursday, August 20: $70,000 Mickey Walsh Stakes
SARATOGA, Thursday, August 27 New York Turf Writers Cup (NSA-G1).
SARATOGA, Thursday, September 3: $75,000 Paul R. Fout Stakes

• in honor of 2009 Hall of Fame inductee, Ben Nevis II (GB), who won the 1980 Grand National

[Barnfairy]

Well well well, look who literally came out of nowhere in the third today…it was Pyro!

After trailing the field for much of the race, he nearly took it. Gold Trippi caught him before the wire, but it was a pretty solid second for P considering the traffic along the way (as Tom Durkin put it, he was getting knocked around like a pinball).

[Glimmerglass]

[QUOTE=Barnfairy;4270384]
Well well well, look who literally came out of nowhere in the third today…it was Pyro!

After trailing the field for much of the race, he nearly took it. Gold Trippi caught him before the wire, but it was a pretty solid second for P considering the traffic along the way (as Tom Durkin put it, he was getting knocked around like a pinball).[/QUOTE]

One word: robbed!

IMHO Gold Trippi should’ve been dropped a spot as he knocked into Pyro at the top of the stretch taking him off his game. No idea why the punters made Riley Tucker the even money favorite. He runs on the lead like a fiend and with company such as late-runner Pyro that formula just doesn’t work

[Barnfairy]

Absolutely.

Note to self: play off the troubled trip angle on Pyro’s next start.

[Glimmerglass]

It is looking rather ominous there now … dark skies … could be rather sloppy for the Schuylerville Stakes at 5:30 EST. In that race D. Wayne with Julien up should have a very good chance to take the win with the promising filly Decelerator. All bets are off with an off-track though.

[Glimmerglass]

[QUOTE=Glimmerglass;4270503]
… could be rather sloppy for the Schuylerville Stakes at 5:30 EST. In that race D. Wayne with Julien up should have a very good chance to take the win with the promising filly Decelerator. [/QUOTE]

It would’ve helped if she didn’t blow the turn Ok it wasn’t terrible but she clearly didn’t stick with the pack and lost all chances at the turn.

Per NYRA today was - even with the weather woes - for opening day a big success:

A crowd of 25,444 ushered in the 141st season, an increase of 40 percent over last year’s crowd of 18,127. The ontrack crowd wagered $3,651,221, an increase of 30 percent over last year’s $2,813,982. All-sources handle was $14,216,133, an increase of 24 percent over last year’s $11,431,845.

There were 96 betting interests on Wednesday’s card, compared with 69 betting interests last year when the races were run over a sloppy main track and all five turf races were moved to the main track. Wednesday, only the nightcap was moved from the turf to the dirt because of rain.

“It was a great day all around,” said Charles Hayward, the New York Racing Association’s president and chief executive officer.

The big race of the day - the Grade 3, $111,000 Schuylerville Stakes for juvenile fillies - was won rather impressively under the circumstances by Hot Dixie Chick by 6 1/4 -lengths over Beautician who seperated herself at the wire by 6 3/4-lengths over Cowgirl Mally.

Chef Bobby Flay’s Stormandaprayer looked like she was going to upset the field but faded in the end.

Hot Dixie Chick is owned by Jess Jackson’s wife Barbara Banke and races under her “Grace Stables”. She now is 3 for 3 including a track record at Churchill Downs set June 13, 2009. (In that race she went 56.48 seconds for five furlongs)

I dare Sheik Mo to make a mega offer to Barbara for Hot Dixie Chick

[Glimmerglass]

Who are we going to see in the near future at Spa? Well several bigger names

Vineyard Haven, last year’s Hopeful winner, reaffirmed his fondness for Saratoga’s main track Wednesday morning as he drilled a half-mile in 46.88 seconds, the fastest of 51 works at the distance. Afterward, his connections declared him “ahead of schedule” and said he could possibly return in the Grade 1 King’s Bishop on Aug. 29.

Quality Road finished his major preparations for his much anticipated return in Monday’s Grade 2 Amsterdam when working five furlongs in 59.38 seconds along with stablemate Senor Fuego on Wednesday. Jockey John Velazquez was aboard Quality Road, who posted splits of 12.12, 24.34, 35.47, and 46.73 before galloping out six furlongs in 1:12.29 while in hand much of the way.

Forever Together in the Saturday’s Grade 1 Diana Handicap. She drew post 10 for the Diana. She’ll carry high weight of 123 pounds, with regular rider Julien Leparoux aboard.

Also in the interest of fairness with citing the injuries of the West Coast tracks, Wed morning (7-29) there was an injury at Spa: “… [training was] delayed more than 20 minutes while the horse ambulance attended to, and ultimately vanned off, a member of trainer George Weaver’s stable who had been injured during a workout over the Oklahoma turf course.” The horse was not identified and no status has been provided.

[Barnfairy]

Glimmerglass, you have another PM.

[kcmel]

Colliemon, the card is likely to be weakest on Monday (although Quality Road is racing in the Amsterdam), so that is probably the best date to miss. We may be there Fri-Sun, depending on the weather. Saturday’s card looks excellent!

[Linny]

@Glimmerglass;4270421

One word: robbed!

IMHO Gold Trippi should’ve been dropped a spot as he knocked into Pyro at the top of the stretch taking him off his game. No idea why the punters made Riley Tucker the even money favorite. He runs on the lead like a fiend and with company such as late-runner Pyro that formula just doesn’t work

Gold Trippi had a path and several lined up inmside of him tried to shove him wider still. He held firm and when Pyro slowed noticeably after getting the lead Gold Trippi continued to persevere. It was a fine race by the winner.

[Glimmerglass]

From the July 30th edition of the Saratoga Special - a great photo (p2) by Todd Marks of Tom Voss trained “Mischief” in the saddling paddock. Also this amusing quip as overheard:

“Buddy Delp left it there.”
-Kip Elser to Rick Violette after picking up an open safety pin from the horsepath Tuesday morning

[Barnfairy]

That’s a classic comment.

And might I suggest a little gastroguard for Mischief?

Looks like they’re still winnin’ in the rain at the SPA today.

That third was devastated with scratches coming off the turf, but still noteworthy if only for something that you just don’t see every day: the winner Birdrun was the 4X horse, as there were four coupled entries.

[mroades]

anybody know why my stayawaystella horse was scratched from the 4th today at the SPA?

[Linny]

The race was taken of the turf and her trainer feels she’s better on turf.

[foundationmare]

Mischief indeed!

Glimmerglass, thanks for posting that URL. I enjoyed every page and want to be there soooooooooooo baaaaaaaaad (she says in a whiny voice).

That shot of Mischief is incredible! Not difficult to figure out why he was being saddled in the stall and not in “the yard”. I’ve always been nervous about the paddock - anywhere - because absolutely anything can happen and these hotblooded racehorses are just full of surprises and stunning agility!

[inmotion]

I was there thursday the 30th

It was a beautiful day, we started with watching You The Man…my husband (non horsie) made his first 2$ bet on Awakino Cat…and we watched the exciting Sanford Stakes. Backtalk made it a leaping heart, screaming and jumping ending…He reminded me of watching his little daddy run…

Saratoga is a track everyone should see…just wonderful…I can’t wait to go back.