The Mid-Summer Derby
This Saturday at Saratoga Race Course, the $1.25 million dollar, Grade 1 Travers Stakes will be contested for the 152nd time. Some of North America’s fastest 3-year-old Thoroughbreds will have-at-it in the Mid-Summer Derby. The Travers is typically a tough race to handicap. But delving into the recent history of the race reveals trends and tendencies that past Winners have in common. These data-driven pearls of wisdom … Continue reading The Mid-Summer Derby
Alabama Is Up For Grabs
The 3-year-old filly division will race at the classic distance of a 1 1/4 miles in the Grade 1 $600,000 Alabama Stakes at Saratoga on Saturday. All but one of this year’s field of seven are Graded-Stakes Winners. The Alabama is listed as race 10 on a card of 11 with a scheduled Post Time of 6:15. Here then is a look at this years field. 1. CRAZY … Continue reading Alabama Is Up For Grabs
NYRA Television Deal
The New York Racing Association and America’s Best Racing have announced an extension of their partnership through 2023. Accordingly, America’s Best Racing will continue as a presenting sponsor of both America’s Day at the Races and Saratoga Live. America’s Best Racing, created in 2012 as The Jockey Club’s multimedia fan-development and awareness-building platform, began its partnership with NYRA and FOX Sports in 2019. “America’s Best … Continue reading NYRA Television Deal
Sweet Home
This Saturday (August 21st) is the 141st running of the Alabama Stakes at Saratoga Racecourse. The prestigious stakes race for 3-year-old fillies is one of the oldest races for females in the United States, with its first edition taking place in 1872- Won by WOODBINE a horse owned by August Belmont. Apologies to all the Roll Tide fans, but the race was not precisely named … Continue reading Sweet Home
The Fourstardave
Just like the horse for which it’s named, the Grade 1 Fourstardave Handicap at Saratoga has come a long way since its inaugural running in 1985. Originally known as the Daryl’s Joy Stakes, the race was renamed in 1996 to honor FOURSTARDAVE, a Saratoga legend who visited the local Winner’s Circle every year from 1987 through 1994. That Winning streak earned him the nickname The Sultan … Continue reading The Fourstardave
Track Trends And Post Position Stats
As horseplayers focus on Saratoga more than any track this summer, it pays to know the different trends at every distance and surface. Also, keep in mind that Saratoga has two turf tracks, and they can play differently from one another because of their differing configurations. Main Track Is Playing To Speed Through the first 19 days of the Saratoga meet, a majority of the … Continue reading Track Trends And Post Position Stats
All-Time Top Trainer
Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen is now North America’s most Victorious trainer. In the 5th race at Saratoga on Saturday Asmussen surpassed Dale Baird’s old record of 9,445 Wins. The record, which was a foregone conclusion the past few weeks, became reality on Saturday as Asmussen climbed all the way to the top of the training mountain. The 55-year-old trainer now owns the record … Continue reading All-Time Top Trainer
Who Wins The Whitney ?
Saturday’s $1 million, Grade 1 Whitney Stakes is an annual highlight of the elite summer meet at Saratoga Race Course. The 1 1/8-mile race is rich in tradition, and named after one of the most influential families in the history of horse racing. This 98th edition of the Whitney brings together some of the best older dirt horses currently in training, with a small but elite field … Continue reading Who Wins The Whitney ?
Safer Racing In California
California horse racing experienced a 50-percent decline in equine fatalities over the last two fiscal years. This was largely due to steps taken by the California Horse Racing Board along with the entire California horse racing industry. 144 horses died in fiscal year 2018-19 from racing and/or training injuries while stabled at facilities under jurisdiction of the CHRB. That number dropped to 72 in 2020-21, … Continue reading Safer Racing In California
The Whitney Stakes
This Saturday (August 7th) at Saratoga Race Course is the 93rd running of the Whitney Stakes. This years contest will feature a surrogate Queen of Saratoga. For decades, that nickname was bestowed upon Marylou Whitney, the socialite, philanthropist and Thoroughbred breeder/owner who graced Saratoga Race Course, especially on the race day that bears her family name. Marylou died at the age of 93 in 2019, … Continue reading The Whitney Stakes
