JC / Railbird

Saratoga Archive

Nearing the Start …

I was in Saratoga this weekend and spent more than an hour wandering over the grandstand and backstretch. The place was buzzing with preparations — groundskeepers touching up paint, workers moving massive piles of United Tote boxes, newly-hired mutuel tellers training. In the barn area, I saw the new security accomodations. Fencing, screened on the front to block sight of the track, was up around a couple of barns and the tents that will be used to hold horses on race day. When I read about these tents, I was skeptical, but I have to say they looked solid, with steel frames and heavy covering. I’d guess that after a week, horses and horsemen alike will be used to the compound.

Posted in Saratoga on July 18, 2005

12 Days and Counting …

Only 12 days to go until Saratoga opens! In about half an hour, I’ll be on the Mass Pike heading west for the weekend on a little exploratory pre-opening trip. I’ll be back on Sunday with a report on the track and some thoughts on the upcoming season. For now, check out John Pricci’s handicapping tips for the meet (MSNBC) and Paul Daley’s guide to betting two-year-olds (Lowell Sun).

Posted in Saratoga on July 15, 2005

Back to Belmont

More than half the 1800 horses stabled at Saratoga have moved back to Belmont Park, where racing begins on Friday, leaving the backside looking like a ghost town and some trainers feeling blue. “As far as I’m concerned [Saratoga] is the last remaining treasure in racing … Belmont Park is a thing of beauty but other than days like the Belmont Stakes or a nice fall day of racing, nothing is happening down there. It is always happening up here. Every day is a party,” Nick Zito tells the Times Union.

Posted in Saratoga on September 8, 2004

A Cold Season?

“There was a chill in the air Monday morning in the backstretch at Saratoga Race Course, perhaps as much a metaphor of the mood of this meeting as a herald of the change of seasons. People working on the inside and fans alike just didn’t seem to warm up to this six-week session as they usually do. I can’t put my finger on all of it, but there was a negative buzz surrounding this Saratoga session,” writes Matt Graves. Hm … perhaps it was all the Getnick & Getnick Integrity Hotline signs plastered everywhere. (Times Union)

Posted in Saratoga on September 7, 2004