From the Jersey Shore to The Spa

Looking out over the crowd near the finish line on
Haskell Day at Monmouth Park

 To most of the country, the weeks leading up to the Kentucky Derby are the biggest horse racing days of the year. Not to take anything away from the weeks that surround the Triple Crown season, but my racing calendar is a little different. My season, the few weeks I look forward to the entire rest of the year, happens at Saratoga.

This year, though, in addition to Saratoga, I was treated to a lovely girls day trip with friends to "The Shore's Greatest Stretch" also known as Monmouth Race Track. When we'd initially discussed attending The Haskell there was an abundance of equine possibilities. Union Rags, Bodemeister, Hansen were all in the mix. And it was the thought of being within a few yards of handsome and talented Union Rags that originally prompted me to even consider a drive down the Shore for Haskell day.

There's a real mid-century feel to Monmouth

 As happens in racing, though, more often than not lately, the "big" horses didn't make the trip to New Jersey. Union Rags was injured and retired, Hansen's connections decided for West Virginia (perhaps a blue-tail friendly Utopia?) and the million-dollar Haskell day was suddenly a little quieter. I'm so pleased I went to spend time with fun, horse-loving friends, see the track and just enjoy a good day of racing. With fewer big-draw type horses, the crowds were a little smaller so I was able to really walk around and see the pretty paddock and get a better feel for Monmouth. A very good day was had by all--once we finally found someone who could show us to our seats--and I'll look forward to more racing days enjoying those soothing ocean breezes.

The good and the great are represented with banners
hung under the grandstands

A classic Saratoga view

 A few short days after my Monmouth adventure, I departed for what passes for heaven for me, the horsey mecca that is Saratoga Springs, New York. The Spa.

The instantly recognizable peaks and rafters of the Saratoga
grandstand

I've waxed (repeatedly) rhapsodic on the virtues--great and small--of Saratoga, so I'll spare you that in this post. From the architecturally iconic grandstand to the beautiful white ironwork, though, it's hard not to love this place.

I love the signage, beadboard ceilings, and last century
feel that you can't help but soak up in Saratoga

And that's not even mentioning the horses. Horses, **sigh.** This summer I had promised myself that I was going to spend some time at the Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Selected Yearlings Sale. The closest I've ever been to the sales is when, at an Arabian auction, my parents very nearly bought me an expensive horse while gesturing that it was time to go. Luckily, this time I had a very skilled guide and I got the best possible introduction to the sale and process of getting yearlings ready for the sale. Seeing all the colts and fillies close up, browsing the catalog for interesting and eye-catching pedigrees was great fun. There's just nothing like being able to see the youngsters up close and really get a look at how they move, how they walk, what their bone structure is. 

The Fasig-Tipton sales area is just a block or two from the track
in Saratoga, so parking is at a premium

The beautifully bred and all-class
Bernardini colt that I fell
in love with at the Four Star Sales barn

Needless to say, I fell in love with more than one yearling in the sales barns. I'm totally on board with equine polyamory, by the way...you can't help but love more than one horse. I was like a schoolgirl meeting the classy and handsome Bernardini colt in the Four Star Sales barn. 

The other colt I fell for, hip 182

And then there was this little Arch colt. While I love a dappled grey, I'm also a sucker for a dark bay and this Arch colt just caught my eye.

I look forward to spending more time at the sales, watching and learning, and getting a firsthand look at these young horses, some of whom may be stars some day. If you're interested in any of the other photos, stop over to my flickr page right HERE.

If On a Late Summer's Day Two Travelers...

Was there anywhere I’d like to go for the day? How about a little road trip? I know just where to go and it’ll be like a tonic, I tell you, a tonic. That’s how the day had been proffered.

Donning whites, linens, and seersuckers—decked out with a hat for him, a scarf and Ray-Bans for her—our duo traveled north by way of the Taconic State Parkway’s graceful curves. North through Dutchess County’s undulating hills and farms, soon the Catskills began to appear off to west, purplish and distant, but majestic. The bright greens of high summer had already begun to give way to autumnal browns and the occasional sumac bush that was prematurely ablaze. (It should be noted here that in keeping with the spirit of the moment speed limits were casually observed—more as loose, general guidelines, less as actual posted limitations.)

Passing the capital region the air began to change, and as our travelers entered Saratoga County any stresses and cares of the day drifted away silently and swiftly like the puffy clouds in the late summer sky. This would be the day they finally added historic Saratoga Race Course to their list of us places—shared destinations where their mutual (and pari-mutuel) love of history, tradition, architecture, and atmosphere combined to create a magical day.

She was the more experienced, Saratoga-wise at least, of our pair. Showing off a place she dearly loved to one she dearly loved was an undeniable pleasure. She realized immediately that seeing it all through his eyes—from the incredible painted white ironwork to the witches-hat peaks on the grandstand—reminded her of her own maiden voyage to The Spa only a year before. To a pair with artist’s eyes, if not their talents, the feel of the place was old world in the best of all possible ways. Winslow Homer would likely recognize the view (costume aside) as not so different from the one he immortalized in August of 1865 for Harper’s Weekly in his print, Our Watering Places—Horse Racing at Saratoga. She’d been certain her companion would love the place, but the level of his appreciation, how fully he got it, outdistanced even her lofty expectations.

They visited The Big Red Spring, the closest either cared to come to “taking the waters” on this particular day, and lunched next to the saddling paddock admiring the rippling, muscular visions of equine athleticism who were prancing and pawing in front of them. Observing the usual customs, his wagers were based on an unusual recipe of pedigree, hunch, looks, jockey and gate placement. Success is hard to quantify in cases like this (or not, perhaps) but the sheer pleasure of watching the competition and taking part in the day’s activities was more than enough of a payout. Fully immersed in everything that is Saratoga and horse racing, they reveled in each moment, smell, gaze and vista.

But as so often happens on days that you just don’t want to end, no matter how valiantly and stubbornly you may resist, they fly by like calendar pages in an old movie. Thus was to be the speed at which this day passed. Post times seemed to get closer and closer together as the day progressed and the long, late afternoon shadows reminded them that this was late summer as well.

Our happy pair of travelers lingered awhile after the 11^th race, savoring the beauty of the end of summer light that left the entire grandstand shadowed and in silhouette.  Slowly, as the crowds began to thin, they made their way under the grandstand laughing a little at the piles of torn up tickets that littered the floor like fallen autumn leaves. The gentleman feigned anger and shook his fist in solidarity with all the other losing punters. She consoled him, albeit in a slightly mocking fashion, reminding him that he was doing his bit to assist the ailing racing industry.

After a lingering, backward glance at the ironwork that had so appealed to them both, they strolled back in the general direction of the car, passing the empty silks room where only a week before the entire rainbow had been represented, row by row. On this evening, the penultimate night of the 142^nd summer meeting at Saratoga, the hooks were barren and wooden crates with bits of color spilling out were packed and ready to be shipped down to Belmont for the fall meeting. Even the cool breezes that blew through the tall pines seemed to be sighing a kind of farewell. One last drive around, she suggested, and then we’ll hit the road. They drove past the barns and Oklahoma training track, admired the incredible high-Victorian architecture of Union Avenue, saw the blue lights of Siro’s emanating from behind the trees and did their level best to firmly commit it all to memory.

Wistfulness was the prevailing emotion of the journey home; both of our travelers left to marvel privately at what a wonderful day they’d shared. So wonderful that it would compare favorably with other classics in their Pantheon of Amazing Days—an evening celebrating the Canadiens in Montreal, a day amidst the Breughels in Vienna, and numerous walks across the Brooklyn Bridge at sunset. It was one of their best days.

Homeward bound, the night sky was worthy of van Gogh with one of the dipper constellations spilling out stars in front of them. The car was filled with crisp and newly autumnal air that carried with it Bing Crosby’s melancholy rendition of I’ll Be Seeing You. Summer was over and they’d been privileged to end it with a bang and in a place that any of their forebears would have both relished and envied.

Had it been real? 

Saratoga sky

The easily recognized witches-hat peaks of the Saratoga grandstand

Underneath the grandstand at day's end, the ground littered with losing tickets

The nearly empty jockey's silks room at Saratoga

Packed and ready to ship to Belmont for the fall race meeting

Cool Saratoga Breezes

The beautiful old iron work at Saratoga

There's a change in not only temper, but in temperature once you pass Albany and head farther north on Interstate 87 toward Saratoga Springs, NY. The Spa. It is quite simple to see why people have been flocking to this town and its beautiful racecourse for well over 100 years. The breathing seems easier, the pines whisper more sweetly and even the horses are happier, I think. Despite the hustle, hype and hoopla, Saratoga gives off a vintage vibe that begs visitors to stop, look, listen, relax.

I made my first pilgrimage to Saratoga last fall to see Rachel Alexandra run in the Woodward and I had a whale of a time. (My post-Woodward blog post can be read HERE.) As much fun as I had, though, I knew I needed a slightly more relaxing day exploring Saratoga this year. My goal was to soak up the atmosphere and spend time really observing. Last year I was so nervous pre-race that I couldn't tell you what happened most of the day up until the Woodward's post time.

So on Thursday I made the short (by my standards, anyway, only about 130 miles) drive up to Saratoga via the Taconic--which was so empty as to be my own personal Autobahn--and then a few hops and skips on Interstate 87. I had no expectations of what or who to see, I just wanted to take it all in and immerse myself in the fresh, horsey air of The Spa.

I wandered, camera and notepad in hand, amidst the picnic tables and large outdoor screens, delighting in the varied and tempting odors that wafted from the little carts and food areas. The jockey's dressing area was a constant beehive of activity as the day went on, I enjoyed seeing them coming and going in their vibrant silks and signing autographs for their young fans after the races. I watched the bettors, listened to their conversations and wagering hunches and laughed inwardly as they dissed this horse or that trainer. It was enjoyable in a totally different way from the frenzied, tension packed manic experience of last year. Sitting, scribbling away, while the breeze stirred the pines and watching one beautiful horse after another being saddled and sent off from the paddock to the track was a singular delight. That good, crisp almost Adirondack air had revitalized me--and I didn't even have to drink any of the water!

The famous Big Red Spring

And it actually got even better...

Rachel Alexandra en route to the saddling area in the paddock

A timely tweet from @francesjkaron clued me in to the fact that Rachel Alexandra would be schooling in the paddock before the 5th race. And at her suggestion, with an assist from @jenmontfort I got myself a good spot by the paddock rail and was able to see her (and her ENTIRE entourage) walk over to the stall. I didn't have a proper camera with me, but my little point-and-shoot did okay with this and I was just happy to see her looking so well and strong.

And like last year, I did come home with a little souvenir...

Rachel Alexandra runs again tomorrow in the Personal Ensign and she'll have her hands full with Life At Ten and with the 1 1/4 mile distance, I suspect. I'll be nervous and will have to listen to the race (at least until I get a feel for how she's running) from the other room, most likely. Such is the price of love. If she doesn't win will I love her any less? Nope, not a chance. As long as she comes out of the race well and sound I'll be a happy camper--and needless to say, relieved. With a little good fortune, the refreshing, pine-scented breezes of Saratoga will be as kind to Rachel Alexandra on Sunday as they were to me. 

Burgoyne Surrounded

There was a tweet earlier this morning from the American History Museum about today being the anniversary of General John Burgoyne's surrender at Saratoga in 1777. The museum was tying it to a pistol or gun they had in their collection--and I think they do a wonderful job of highlighting their collections this way--but it made me think of something entirely different: a quilt pattern called Burgoyne Surrounded.

There's a wonderful history behind most traditional quilting blocks and Burgoyne Surrounded is obviously a commemoration of his surrender at Saratoga. It's a very geometric pattern, with a sort of thin, single Irish Chain pattern running through the main blocks. It's gorgeous when done in just two colors, but I've seen some very attractive ones with more color as well. I'm particularly fond of this pattern reversed--using a dark background and having the white or muslin color be the chains and blocks.

Now, when I'm in Minnesota for more than a week or so (and sometimes even then) my mother and I have often put together a quick quilt top. I love choosing the fabrics and sewing and piecing the blocks, but I have no patience (nor any skill) for the actual quilting. That's either my mother's job or the machine quilter's, depending on size, interest, etc. (As a general rule, my mother doesn't hand quilt bed-sized quilts...only the smaller throws and wall hangings. And if she's not in love with the pattern I've chosen, she'll be sending that off to the machine quilter, too. And hey, if you're going to spend hundreds of hours on something, you should like it!!)

I'm really liking two color quilts lately, the contrast allows you to really see the great patterns. Our first two color was a very basic Ohio Star. I've said for years that I wanted a nice two color quilt, but it took us forever to just get it made. Every time we'd set out to do a two color piece, we'd find some gorgeous fabric and be distracted, in the end opting for multi-colored or richly patterned quilt.

(The pre-quilted Ohio Start top, complete with stray threads)

In the past we've made lots of star patterned quilts, but I think Burgoyne Surrounded might be a good winter project. What do you think, mom? You up for a good Burgoyne Surrounded piecing marathon? Let's go two colors, too....

Macho, Macho Man

Isn't he a beauty?? My fondness for grays is well known, but Macho Again is a pure stunner!

So after making a brilliant stretch run at Rachel Alexandra--coming from 15 lengths off the pace--and coming in second by a head, Macho Again is being pointed to the Jockey Gold Cup at Belmont Park in October. It's looking like he'd face Summer Bird and perhaps even Quality Road, so that's a lively race possibility to look forward to. (Photo by Smith for News)

While we're on things to look forward to, it sounds as though (according the the NY Daily News, at least) Rachel will be getting a well-deserved break for the remainder of the year. The lucky girl gets to bunk in at Saratoga until October and it seems unlikely that she'll race again until next year. And if anyone more than earned their keep on Labor Day Weekend, it was Rachel and her team.

Several of the articles about Rachel and her trainer Steve Asmussen noted what a big weekend it was for everyone involved with her, which I thought was great. I can only imagine what a special opportunity it is to work with and have such success with an athlete--be it equine or human. All the racing public loves Rachel for her beauty and her heart and that special something that she just has. Whatever IT is, she's got IT in spades. It's nice to know that her trainers feel that way as well, though. Let's face it, racing thoroughbreds is a business, and it's about money. So it's great to be reminded that the trainers are HUGE fans of their charges as well. To see the emotional reactions of everyone after her amazing win was heartening and perfectly expressed the joy (and let's face it, RELIEF) we all felt Saturday afternoon. Was there ever a better late summer Saturday at Saratoga Springs? I'm doubting it.

If you've not seen this fantastic video by Ernie Munick, please watch it HERE. It's funny and poignant and a real joy to watch.

I was also charmed by this little piece in The Saratogian about some local children and an illustrating contest they'd entered. ThoroFan sponsored the competition to illustrate a book, Girl Power Rachel, written by Bambii Rae. According to Emily Donohue of The Saratogian, the book, with the winning illustrations, will be out this fall and the proceeds will benefit daycare for the children of backstretch workers at Belmont and Saratoga. Hearty congratulations to Anastasia Ivanova for 1st place; Courtney Lynn for 2nd, and Emma Shea for 3rd place finishes out of more than 1400 entries. Well done, girls!!

Also from The Saratogian, Mike Veitch's memories of some special moments from this season's meeting. Read HERE.

A Verse for Rachel

My father and my Grandma A were always the verse writers in the family--quick with a ditty, a limerick, recitation of The Cremation of Sam McGee or other Robert Service poem. Herewith, then, a little verse to celebrate Rachel Alexandra, courtesy of my father, and for all those boys she leaves in her wake!

To the Boys I Left Behind

With them I'd romp and play

Roaming the fields so Vast

Our Hearts Were Young and Gay

Hoping these Moments would Last.

It's off to work I must Go

Cherishing The Ties That Bind

Looking Back , as always, I Know

It's For the Boys I've Left BEHIND!

Queen of Saratoga

Rachel Alexandra

It's going to be desperately close...

It's taken me longer than I'd expected to process all the emotions and thoughts of the weekend's races. My friends and family would tell you that I am perfectly capable of over-analyzing a stick of chewing gum, so give me an historic moment and *whoa,* stand back.

I've always been a sports fan, someone who enjoyed--in the fullest sense--being part of something larger than myself. As a teenager I loved (loved isn't a strong enough word, perhaps, but you get the gist) the San Francisco 49ers, and the key object of said love was Joe Montana. I remember "the catch," Montana's lofty throw to Dwight Clark in a playoff game vs the Dallas Cowboys in 1982 as clearly as I remember anything. (Video HERE for those who aren't familiar) I was over the moon and would continue to follow the ups and downs (for downs, reference: vs Joey Browner and the Minnesota Vikings; vs Jim Burt and the NY Giants) for many years to come.

And then there were the Minnesota Twins. As a Minnesotan by birth, the Twins (who thankfully didn't parallel their football counterparts with a record number of championship failures as their calling card) were part of every summer. Herb Carneal on WCCO--games listened to on AM radio after a visit to the Dairy Queen--and the likes of Roy Smalley, Rod Carew, Ken Landreaux, John Castino...so many great memories. Fast forward to 1987. I was away at school and watching the World Series games on TV in Chicago. I was fortunate that the Twins were playing the nemesis of the Chicago Cubs in that World Series--the St. Louis Cardinals--because everyone was, in unison with me, singing "We're Gonna Win Twins" to the entirety of our little Chicago neighborhood. The Twins' 1991 World Series win was almost more meaningful to me because I was in Minnesota at the time and really got to experience all the hoopla and mayhem. It was great. I still love my Twins and watch them whenever I can, lamenting when they don't make the playoffs, and cheering when they do.

As a midwesterner who was transplanted to the East Coast, I have my New England teams, too. I love my Red Sox and Bruins and watch the New England Patriots filled with the same joy as that I felt when I watched my 49ers as a teenager.

All this by way of saying that I love a good sporting contest. Whether it's Rafa Nadal vs Roger Federer at Roland Garos or Smarty Jones at Belmont, I love the attempts at greatness. Even when they fall short, that level of effort and commitment to a goal is inspiring, and when the underdog wins it usually is all the better. History, however, is written by the victors.

Now, anyone who reads my blog or my tweets knows I love horses, period. From the Shetland pony up to the Clydesdale...I love them all. And when it comes to thoroughbreds, while I'm partial to grays generally, I am compelled by great stories and horses who outrun their pedigrees. I've had the chance to see some wonderful races in person--Smarty Jones and Funny Cide at Belmont--both heartbreakers (which made that long train ride back to Manhattan even longer.) And Afleet Alex also at Belmont, showing his superior athleticism and heart with his inspired victory. And then there's Barbaro. Another heartbreaker who captured all of our hearts with his courage and will to carry on. His heart, while maybe not technically the size of Secretariat's, was gigantic in all the best ways.

Heart. The heart of a champion. And this all brings me to Rachel Alexandra on Saturday at Saratoga. I've watched all her races--traveled to Belmont for the Mother Goose and saw the others on TV--and with each victory, the hold she had on my heart grew. While I'm a cynic about so many things, I'm a sentimentalist when it comes to horses. I was enthralled with her Kentucky Oaks victory. Her Preakness run was stunning and scary. The romp in the Mother Goose was great fun, but I was edgy all day before the Haskell. Each time she raised the bar, exceeded expectations and rose above and beyond her competitors. When the opportunity to watch Rachel run--and potentially make history--at Saratoga arose, it was a no brainer. Of course I had to go.

Even though I had grandstand seats, I got to the track about 7:30 am and camped out along the rail near the 1/8th pole. I figured I could always go up later in the day, depending on the crowd. (Which, I have to say, for more than 31,000 people, didn't seem so overwhelming.) It was an absolutely glorious day. The sun was out, the morning was chilly, and there was a faint smell of autumn in the air. I got to watch several horses during their morning works and it was fascinating to really watch how different all of their running styles were. The day's races were all enjoyable and Tom Durkin on the Tannoy is always something special. He is so passionate and so well informed, his presence is such a great part of NY racing, whether it's Belmont, Aqueduct, or Saratoga.

By the time we were getting to about the 8th race, I was getting antsy, jittery. And unfortunately, some of my compatriots in the surrounding seats had overindulged a little bit so that made me a bit more out of sorts. There was a very well meaning--and generally pleasant--older couple next to me. Both clearly knew a fair amount about wagering, but not a lot about specific horses. The female half of this couple was lecturing a neophyte wagering couple on who Rachel Alexandra was and how they should bet the race. Now let me just say that while I'd had an incredible day, I'd been listening to the malapropisms and general misinformation all day long so I wasn't as patient as I should/might have been and when added to my anxiety over the coming race...well, my last nerve was being frayed. I tried to put it out of my mind though, knowing that I want to be fully present for The Woodward.

It's now time for the post parade for the 10th race, The Woodward. We all watched Calvin and Rachel in the paddock on the trackside jumbo-trons and the crowd started to cheer raucously. By that point the place is HEAVING with fans and the air is electric with cheers and applause. Any of you who have read all the fabulous pieces on Bloodhorse.com or in the Albany Times Union (www.timesunion.com) know that en route to the starting gate on the track, Rachel was feeling her oats, so to speak, and tossed Calvin Borel from her back. I could feel my heart literally SINK in my chest.

For the record, I have to say that I'm not terribly brave when it comes to watching my teams/horses compete. I pace, I leave the room and turn up the TV or radio, it's sometimes just better to hear it than see it. (During the Haskell I listened from the kitchen until I about 1/4 mile to go.) So sue me, I'm a coward!

All this said, no one will be surprised that after Rachel tossed Calvin to the ground, I gave up my prime trackside seat for a spot in front of one of the simulcast TVs underneath the clubhouse. It is much easier to pace in that area, that I can tell you. It just seemed utterly impossible. When a baseball player fouls off a long fly, he rarely hits a home run in that same at bat; quarterbacks don't often throw a completed touchdown pass after a long incompletion, it just doesn't happen that often. It doesn't, unless you are one of the great ones. Think Joe Montana with 2 minutes to go in any game (from Notre Dame to the 49ers) or the late, great Kirby Puckett in nearly any Twins World Series game. And of course, Rachel. As I stood in front of the televisions, with about 12 or 15 others, I paced and found myself mindlessly chewing the sleeve of my cardigan. When I heard Tom Durkin announce the split for the first 1/4, I shook my head--punishing was the word Durkin used. She was running her heart out. The split for 1/2 was a little better, but still, breakneck. (Insert more sleeve chewing and head shaking on my part) It all happened so fast, and the excitement in Tom Durkin's voice continued to build, as did a kind of panic, almost. As the field turned for home, with Rachel in the lead Durkin commented that "A dramatic stretch drive awaits...and Calvin Borel imploring his filly for more," and I chewed harder on my sleeve and paced more. I could literally feel my eyes becoming hot with tears. It was impossible not to hear the roar of the crowd and feel the clubhouse and grandstand shake as the horses thundered down the last 1/8 mile. I watched how bravely Rachel battled on and saw the amazing surge by Macho Again (and I must say, under any other circumstances, I'd have been cheering him on--he's wonderful and ran an incredible race!) and find my brain flashed back to that 'suicidal' opening 1/4 split. How could you expect a filly, a 3-year-old filly no less, to power through that kind of a challenge? And just as Tom Durkin announced that "It's going to be desperately close..." everyone in the stands, everyone outside, and people watching on TVG from home realized that Rachel might actually do it. The sound surge as she crossed the line was deafening. And even after she was called as the winner, I think everyone just wanted to see her number go up--to be sure that we'd actually seen her win, not just willed it to be so.

With apologies to Charlotte Bronte and Jane Eyre, reader, she won. (Incidentally, she won the race in a full second less than her future "soul-mate" Curlin did. Maybe nice girls do finish first...) And while it is literally yesterday's news, it's still BIG news. We all love heroes and heroines who prove their mettle when tested. And in the end, that's what I love about sports. The effort, the attempt to do something great, to beat the odds, to make a lasting impression. While Rachel didn't necessarily beat the odds (she was the favorite), no one would have faulted her for a second or third place finish within that field--particularly after the incident in the post parade. In every instance since last November, Rachel Alexandra has risen to, met, and exceeded the challenges presented her. For that, my sincere admiration. And for all the joy and excitement she's given racing fans, my sincere gratitude.

Needless to say, I literally floated back to Connecticut. The moon was full, the Catskills and Adirondacks were blue shadows beside and behind me (respectively) and for a couple of hours all was very right with world.

Oh, and for a little Kirby Puckett trip down memory lane...tune in HERE. And for a fun montage of Herb Carneal's great game calling for the Minnesota Twins, click HERE. And I know you've seen Rachel's great race already, but watch it once more HERE...you'll be glad you did.

The Rachel Alexandra Show

A few more snaps from my trip to Saratoga Springs, henceforth known as "The Place I'd like to spend every August for the rest of my existence!"

I'm still kind of processing the moments on Friday and Saturday, so blog to follow, but here are some of the pics, anyway. The poster with Rachel's blaze that's an advert for The Woodward somehow came off the wall at the racetrack and made it into my tote and home with me. *Yes, I'll be going to confession this week...but it will have a VERY good home!*

Enjoy the pics...I surely had a good time taking them!

A Place For Us

There was a great Oprah episode where they were discussing what the beauty standards were in countries all over the world. A particularly out-going woman (I apologize that I don't recall which African nation she represented) was interviewed in her home country and reported that more zaftig women were considered to be the most beautiful. Oprah began singing "A place for us...Somewhere there's a place for us..."



I had a kind of similar feeling upon arriving in Saratoga Springs, NY, earlier today. (And it was Oprah's singing that echoed through my head!) Driving around town to find my way to the racetrack I was immediately struck by the architectural variety. Incredible. Amazing Victorians (Queen Anne, Shingle...); Classical and Greek Revivals; and brick everywhere. I knew I couldn't pass up the opportunity to wander around town and enjoy the views, so instead of heading straight to the racetrack, I took a little 'Tyger Tour' and spent the day feasting on the architectural sights and wonderful old downtown. Nothing like stepping back in time a century or so, but still having Starbucks and Dunkins to provide coffee!!



It's pretty clear why visitors have been flocking here for over 100 years. Not only is a beautiful area (just south of the Adirondacks) but it's just far enough away from NY, Boston, or Montreal to be a vacation without being too far afield. The complex of the old baths and spas on the southern end of town is gorgeous. So many wonderful brick buildings--Classical Revival--and long expanses of green lawn. A wedding was being held in one of the porticos at about sunset and it looked perfect.



A late lunch at a creperie called Ravenous--which I highly recommend, by the way--was the perfect culmination to my first trip to The Spa.



I'm all set for a long day at the races tomorrow and can't wait.



More in the morning, then, time for a little dinner and a pint at The Parting Glass Pub.



Signed, Saratoga's newest fan who already is looking forward to another trip up here!!

Sent via BlackBerry from T-Mobile

My Kingdom for a Horse

So many horses, so little time!

It's been a great racing summer at Saratoga, judging by all I've read. Great horses, exciting races and budding rivalries...just what it ought to be.

I'd intended to get up to The Spa earlier in the season, but I'm thrilled to say I'll be there on Saturday for the day and I couldn't be more excited. I'll try to post pics here, but I'll surely be posting them to my Twitter feed--ThePaperTyger--so follow my day there, too, for all the sights and sounds. (And no doubt crowds, too. It's going to be a gorgeous late summer day in upstate NY and I expect everyone will be out!)

Will Rachel prevail? Who can say. I think I'm right in saying this will be the toughest test--by a long shot, actually--that she's faced yet. Cool Coal Man, another Bird horse, Macho Again, and the big and bullish Bullsbay all want to keep the filly at heel, so it should be exciting. If she wins, all issues about HOY should be put to rest, I think. These are big boys and they have more experience than Rachel does and I'm sure they'd like to give her a little schooling :) Steve Haskins from Bloodhorse.com has a very subjective analysis of Rachel's chances HERE, and his look at what might be next for Rachel & Co is HERE. There is talk of Rachel and Zenyatta both running in the Beldame at Belmont on October 3, 2009. So much to look forward to as we ramp up to the Breeders Cup races in November.

One other note, you may have noticed that the Boston Mounted Unit was utterly missing from Senator Kennedy's funeral procession. Their disbanding earlier this year for what were termed "budgetary reasons" left a real gap in the procession for we horse people. Chris Matthews even commented on the lack of horses then basically saying that motorcades these days are all cars and motorcycles. I did yell at the TV, but I'm pretty sure that neither Chris Matthews or Keith Olbermann heard me. The missing horse presence had nothing to do with the march of progress or "the times," it was about a ridiculous budget cut that's not saving the City of Boston very much money. Caparisoned horses and riderless horses are traditional to honor the fallen--whether it is a President, a Senator or any hero--and history is rich with these memorable horses. (In the US Military the caparisoned horse is formally part of the military honors given to an Army or Marine Corps officer who was a colonel or above; this includes the President, by virtue of having been the nation's military commander in chief and the Secretary of Defense, having overseen the armed forces.) From Black Jack who was so graceful in President John F. Kennedy's funeral procession to Sergeant York who was kitted out with Ronald Reagan's own riding boots--facing backward in the stirrups to denote the fallen leader--these beautiful animals have imprinted on our collective memory. I fully appreciate that protocol may not have allowed for the full equestrian treatment in Washington, but even a small presence of the Historic Boston Mounted Unit would have been most memorable, I'm certain.

Photo at the top is of Sergeant York --the Standardbred "Allaboard Jules" in his previous life!

Storm Cat progeny takes F-T by storm!!

Outlasting a serious challenge from D. Wayne Lukas, Sheikh Mohammed won the day (and paid nearly $3 million) with this Onaga-Storm Cat colt. I've seen him called On a Storm as well as just plain old Hip 204. He's a beauty, that's for certain--and at $2.8 million he's got a lot to live up to.

Here are the full articles at Thoroughbredtimes.com and Bloodhorse.com.

Christmas comes early at Saratoga!!

Hips 34 & 88

Just looking through some of the gorgeous horses selling at the F-T Saratoga sales. One that was on the "hot list" was Hip No. 88 (photo below by Skip Dickstein/Bloodhorse.com) and if she's not a beauty...WOW. She sold for $1.5 million though I'm not certain to whom at the moment. Hip No. 34, a Bernardini offspring brought a cool $1.2 million from Sheikh Mohammed (who was at the sale for the first time in several years, apparently.) This is one handsome yearling! Good piece on the auction, via thoroughbredtimes.com, HERE. And Stonewall Farm Stallions page on Hip No. 88 is HERE.

And here's what Bloodhorse.com had to say about No. 88: Hip No. 88, a filly by Medaglia d'Oro – Cat Dancer, by Storm Cat. Consigned by Taylor Made Sales Agency, agent. “We all know what Medaglia d’Oro has done; he’s one of the hottest sires in the country,” said Taylor Made’s Mark Taylor of the dark bay or brown yearling, whose winning dam is a full sister to grade II winner Magic Storm. “This filly is just a great example of what he can get you. She’s got a long, beautiful neck, a sloping shoulder, and great balance. When you see her walk, she’s so light on her feet; it’s like poetry in motion. She’s one of the best fillies I’ve seen all year, regardless of pedigree or sale or anything else. She’s just a really exceptional horse.”

Let's face it, I'm a sucker for the progeny of Storm Cat!!

Monday Mixed Bag

From Arlington Park, to the Meadowlands and the Spa, it was a very big day for horse racing enthusiasts. Muscle Man made winning the Hambletonian look like just another day at the races. His driver, Brian Sears also won the Hambletonian Oaks making him the first driver ever to win both races on the same day. Every time I watch harness racing I find myself really enjoying it. The gaits they must keep, the very orderly way the numbers sit on little tiara-like headpieces. It's a very stylish sport and it was wonderful that NBC covered both the Hambletonian and Oaks races today.

NBC's coverage was happily followed by ESPN's coverage of the Arlington Million races. Gio Ponti looked glorious winning the Million itself and Take the Points, (one of my favorite grays despite his last place finish in The Preakness) loved the turf in the Secretariat. Dynaforce, a talented daughter of prolific sire Dynaformer, took the Beverly D. And last, but certainly not least, was the Whitney Hcp at Saratoga, won in upset fashion by Bullsbay over Commentator who was attempting to win his 3rd Whitney. Commentator is legendary, he's had a brilliant career and as Nick Zito said after the race, he deserves to be retired and given a chance to get a little old and a little fat eating carrots, apples, and peppermints.

Sunday night I nearly forgot to tune in to Zenyatta's race (the Clement L. Hirsch from Del Mar)...but I managed to in the nick of time. What a performance. She was literally loping along at the back of the pack for most of the race, just biding her time. When Mike Smith did ask her (I thought it was a little late, but he's Mike Smith, and well, I'm not) she turned it on and came down the home stretch about 6 wide. She ran a long race but managed to win, but a little more than a nose in a photo finish. There were audible gasps from the crowd as it was absolutely too close to call. As several of the turf writers have noted, the great ones find a way to win and Zenyatta is great. She's 12-0. Undefeated and still absolutely gorgeous. What a treat to watch her run, whether she wins by a nose or a furlong, she's the epitome of grace and power combined. Watch Zenyatta edge out her competitors HERE.

I had a few hiccups in getting this written over the weekend, and now I'm happy to report that Commentator is indeed getting to head down the happy trail to retirement. He's earned it at the ripe old age of 8!

A very disturbing trend, the most recent example brought to my attention by a friend of mine, involving slaughter of horses--though not at an abattoir, right in the pasture. The article from CNN is HERE. While some of it seems to be at least tangentially related to the economy (some of these poor creatures being slaughtered for meat), a good deal of it just appears to be cruelty (just murdered and left in the paddocks). As is noted in the CNN piece, 19 horses have been killed in 2 Florida counties since January. Horse owners are understandably very nervous. Horse meat is (sadly) a delicacy in many cultures, even though horse slaughter is outlawed here in the US. It's important to note that criminals who do horrible things to animals often start there before moving on to doing horrible things to people, so it is imperative that these killers are caught before they commit any more crimes.

So as not to end Monday on such a decidedly sad note, here's a wonderfully written entry from bloodhorse.com's Steve Haskins on Rachel and Zenyatta. Read the whole piece HERE, and enjoy! Happy Monday, y'all!

Lucky 13?

It's a big racing weekend on the East Coast and unfortunately, the weather is not being as cooperative as one might like. Which means that as per usual this "summer" (and I use that term lightly) it's rather drippy at both Saratoga and Monmouth.

Rachel Alexandra competes against some very classy boys this afternoon in the 13th race at Monmouth (The Haskell), so it'll be interesting to see how she fares. Belmont winning Summer Bird will be running as well Papa Clem who beat Summer Bird in the Arkansas Derby. I'm also interested in Iowa Derby winning Duke of Mischief...he's one to watch, I think. Munnings has put up some fantastic numbers and might just create a pace that is really not to Rachel and/or Calvin's liking, but I don't know if he can handle the distance. The sloppy track doesn't look to be much of an issue, Rachel won the KY Oaks in the slop and Munnings and Duke of Mischief don't seem to be bothered by it either. Let's just hope they all make it home soundly...that's always the biggest wish.

I'll be curious to see what the attendance/handle numbers are for Monmouth with Rachel being such a star attraction. The weather will likely be a factor, but when it's rainy at the Jersey Shore there's not much to do, so heading out to the races isn't a bad idea.

With Rachel heading back to The Spa tonight and Mine That Bird now headed there as well, the mind practically reels with possibilities! The Travers could shape up to be something really special.

Here's to all our favorites (and the longshots, too!!) crossing the line safe and sound today and giving us some great racing moments to boot.

More later post-race...

"Preserving Our Past" at Saratoga Springs NMR

I'm crazy about museums, as you'll no doubt glean from my posts. Anyway, a very cool new exhibit opens in Saratoga Springs at the National Museum of Racing. It runs until the end of the year, but if you're headed to The Spa for the Shadwell Travers or any racing weekend, you'll want to take this in.

They've taken what is now becoming the usual approach to fundraising and brought it straight to the public. The exhibit, entitled "Preserving Our Past" is made up of items in the NMR's collection that are in need of conservation. Within each little exhibit is the cost of what it would take to properly save and conserve the object on display. Curator Beth Sheffer says that she was inspired in 2006 to mount this kind of display and it makes complete sense. Show the visitors what is in the collection, let them be inspired and sometimes saddened about the condition of an artifact, and hope they'll step up to help sponsor it. It really brings the issues front and center to visitors and asks for their help in conserving the various pieces.