The Whitney…Marylou

This Saturday the Saratoga Race Course will host the 91st running of the Whitney Stakes.  The Daily Racing Blog would be remiss if we didn’t talk about the Queen of Saratoga– Marylou Whitney, who passed away July 19th, at the age of 93. For seven decades, Mrs. Whitney was among the most successful owners in thoroughbred racing. In 1958 she married Cornelius Vanderbilt “Sonny” Whitney, one of … Continue reading The Whitney…Marylou

The Jim Dandy Stakes

The 55th running of the Jim Dandy Stakes (G2) is Saturday at Saratoga.  It is the traditional prep-race for the Travers’ Stakes (G1), which is August 24th this year.  The Jim Dandy is a race for 3-year-olds, contested at 1 1/8 miles on the dirt, with a purse of $600,000 dollars. Here is a brief look at the field for this years contest. #1  LAUGHING FOX  [ML 12-1]  … Continue reading The Jim Dandy Stakes

Key-Race Longshot Angle

You will occasionally catch trainers or turf writers referring to a big race as a key race in a horse’s preparation for an upcoming race. This usually means that the race was essential to the trainer’s plan for that horse, a race that meant a lot for the horse’s development. But when you hear handicappers and horse-players using the term key race, they usually mean … Continue reading Key-Race Longshot Angle

Too Hot. No Handle.

The last time the New York Racing Association cancelled a card at Saratoga due to expected excessive heat was thirteen years ago.  That streak is over.  Saturday’s racing at Saratoga has been cancelled for just that reason. Local forecasters are predicting the heat index will be near or over 100 degrees at times on Saturday, with extremely hot temperatures Friday throughout Sunday. The last time an entire … Continue reading Too Hot. No Handle.

Opening Weekend Numbers

The first four days of the revamped Saratoga Race Course meet have come and gone, and the new president and CEO of the New York Racing Association David O’Rourke seems happy with it. This years meet opened one weekend earlier than in past years.  In regard to that O’Rourke said; “We’re not hiding from the fact that this is ‘The August Place to Be,’ but it’s … Continue reading Opening Weekend Numbers