The Travers Stakes will be truly living up to its nickname of The Midsummer Derby this year. As part of a revamped Saratoga Race Course schedule, the 1 1/4-mile Travers has been moved up three weeks to an August 8th date while still retaining the one million dollar purse as an enticement to on-the-fence entrants. The Travers is usually held on the final Saturday in … Continue reading Travers Talk
Women have played key roles in horse racing since the celebrated sport’s earliest days. Yet few women – or men for that matter – at any level of the sport created a legacy that can rival the respect and importance of Marylou Whitney. Whitney, who died July 19, 2019 at age 93, did so much more than simply race in the famed Eton blue … Continue reading Marylou Is Still A Presence
There is no finer setting for thoroughbred racing than historic Saratoga Race Course. It was named one of the world’s top 10 sporting venues of the 20th century by Sports Illustrated. This year, of course, things are a little different. Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, Saratoga Race Course will begin its first-ever meet with no spectators on site, Thursday, July 16th. The 2020 summer … Continue reading Saratoga Opens
Saratoga Race Course has aptly been called The Graveyard of Champions. So if you’re going to be playing that track this summer (opening day is July 16th) you’ll be looking for a way to pick some solid long-shots. If you’re relatively new to horse race wagering, and looking for an easy way to pick some live ones, then perhaps you should consider the Turn-Back Angle. … Continue reading Turn-Back Angle Can Turn profits
Churchill Downs Racetrack announced last week that after consultation with Governor Andy Beshear and state public health officials, the 146th running of both the Kentucky Derby and Kentucky Oaks will occur with spectators under strict guidelines. The Oaks will run on Friday, September 4th and the Derby on Saturday, September 5th. Churchill Downs Racetrack President Kevin Flanery stated last week: “Our team is deeply committed … Continue reading Spectators Allowed At The Derby
Welcome to Bizarro World, Saratoga edition. The Travers Stakes will truly live up to its nickname of The Midsummer Derby this year. As part of a revamped Saratoga Race Course schedule, the 1 1/4-mile Travers has been moved up three weeks to August 8th. With a million dollar purse the race remains the centerpiece of a 71-stakes race schedule worth $14.45 million dollars for the 40-day … Continue reading Saratoga Stakes Schedule
As the founder of the Daily Racing Blog I remember it like it was yesterday. Though it was a long, long time ago. I was 16-17 and I was at the Saratoga Race Course with my Uncle Louie. And while I had been to this fabled course as a wee lad on a few occasions, I had never been given a race program. My Uncle … Continue reading Learning Curve
There are still 10 weeks before the Saratoga Race Course is scheduled to open for the season on July 16th. But New York Governor Andrew Cuomo has questioned whether the track will be open at all this year to fans. “You can’t open an attraction that could bring people from across the state to that attraction and overwhelm a region,” Cuomo said during a press … Continue reading Empty Grandstands At The Spa?
Trainer Max Hirsch was a titan in the sport of horse racing. He won the 1934 Travers Stakes with OBSERVANT. He trained BOLD VENTURE, Winner of the 1936 Kentucky Derby and Preakness. He was well on his way to a Hall of Fame career. In 1934 he had recently become the trainer for the King Ranch, which would soon be one of the most successful … Continue reading Happy Thanksgiving
It is not a new Star Wars movie. Beginning on Wednesday, August 7th at Saratoga Race Course the New York Racing Association introduced the Empire 6, a jackpot-style multi-race bet replacing the traditional Pick 6 wager. The Empire 6, featuring a .20 cent minimum bet and 20% takeout, was added to the wagering menu that day and continued through the remainder of the 2019 meet. The … Continue reading The Pick 6
