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Our recap of the action on- and off-track to give you a flavor of the premiere race meet in America

Saratoga Racing Season 2003

Week Four

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Week One ** Week Two ** Week Three ** Week Four ** Week Five ** Week Six

Wed 8/13

The Big Red Spring is located near the paddock in the far corner of the backyard. The spring water that bubbles forth is some of the elixir upon which Saratoga Springs gained its reputation. If you stand near the spring you're sure to see at least one or two folks getting an eye-watering surprise as they gulp down the sulphury liquid while in anticipation of a cool drink of water!

Wed 8/13
Attendance: 22580
Weather: Downpour about an hour an a half before post time. Some sun. Another shower before the feature.
Highlights: *** Fans lined the paddock area about an hour before the first race -- in the rain -- to catch a glimpse of Funny Cide schooling in the paddock. It was Funny Cide Day at the track with a poster giveaway, autograph session, and a proclamation by the mayor of Saratoga Springs.
*** Cuvee loved the slop and ran away to win by seven under Mr Bailey in the G2 $150K Saratoga Special.

Thurs 8/14

Trainer Todd Pletcher breaks an almost 50-year-old record for wins by a trainer during the traditional 24-day period.

Thurs 8/14
Attendance: 21670
Weather: Sunny, warm.
Highlights: *** The Blackout of 2003 hit the racecourse just prior to the 7th race. The riders dismounted and the horses were walked behind the starting gate for about ten minutes. Eventually it was decided that the race would be run -- and as they were loading the power came back on. NYRA generators kicked in and allowed enough power that the final three races were run without mishap, although much of upstate NY was without power well into the evening.
*** Trainer Todd Pletcher break the record for wins by a trainer during the traditional 24-day period -- set in 1954 by trainer Syl Veitch. The mark was 24 wins, Pletcher scored number 25 with Irish Road in the 8th, "I wanted to get it out of the way and go on with business as usual."

Fri 8/15

Left, the jockeys make their way to the paddock prior to the sixth race. And then the horses make their way from the paddock to the track.

Fri 8/15
Attendance: 24147
Weather: Nice.
Highlights: *** Racing goes on without a hitch one day after the Blackout of 2003. The Daily Racing Form puts out an abbreviated 'Blackout Edition' for Saturday with past performances but no editorial content.
*** The featured Yaddo on the grass for NY-bred F/Ms is run in two divisions. Dynamic Lisa takes the first and Wake Up Kiss scores in the second.

Sat 8/16

Jockeys Jorge Chavez (front) and Mike Luzzi in the paddock before the running of the Saratoga Breeders Cup. Trainer Todd Pletcher saddles Harlan's Holiday for probably the last time (the horse came out of the race with a strain and will likely be retired).

Saratoga BC favorite Volponi walks in the paddock. "The Giant Killer" Allen Jerkens exits the winners circle after watching his Puzzlement upset the stake.

Left, Spoken Fur and Jerry Bailey head to the track for the Alabama in pursuit of the $2 million bonus for the NY filly Triple Tiara. Right, the Kentucky Oaks winner, Marylou Whitney's Birdtown and Edgar Prado.

The trophy makes its way to the winners circle.

Island Fashion (left) on her way to upsetting the Alabama. Her trainer Barclay Tagg enjoys the moment in a post-race interview with Jan Rushton.

Sat 8/16
Attendance: 36137
Weather: A brief shower early but overall it was comfortable.
Highlights: *** Barclay Tagg wins the Alabama with 8-1 Island Fashion, spoiling Bobby Frankel's attempt at the $2 mil filly Triple Tiara bonus with Spoken Fur. That one finished third. Marylou Whitney's Birdtown, the Kentucky Oaks winner, was a disappointing fifth.
*** The Giant Killer strikes! Trainer Allen Jerkens upsets the Saratoga Breeders Cup with Puzzlement. Volponi is a bridesmaid again -- even after the much bally-hoo'd jock switch to Bailey.
*** Marylou Whitney was joined in her box by former NYC mayor Rudy Giuliani. Also spotted on-track was St Johns basketball coach (and NYRA board member) Mike Jarvis.
*** The Daily Racing Form which published an abbreviated edition for races Saturday -- due to Thursday's blackout -- is MIA with an edition for Sunday.

Sun 8/17

Kids make their way to the railing along the path from the paddock to the track and get a chance to pet a pony. Right, eventual winner Sand Springs heads to the track for the Lake George with jockey Mark Guidry.

With a threat of showers overnight Sunday-Monday, the tractors came out to 'seal' the track after the 7th, the final dirt race of the afternoon. The process of 'sealing' the track is simply having the tractors drag a heavy sled which compresses the track surface, making rainfall more likely to runoff rather than soak in.

Sun 8/17
Attendance: 71337. A new record. "Spinner"-inflated, Saratoga clock giveaway.
Weather: Sunny, less humid. Became overcast as afternoon wore on. Brief sprinkle prior to the sixth.
Highlights: *** Jockey John Velasquez wins the second race aboard Read The Footnotes for his 42nd win. He did it one Day 23 of the meet -- thereby besting the previous 24-day meet record of 41 wins set by Manny Ycaza in 1959. Velasquez also won two more during Sunday's card.
*** Finger Lakes based Top Shoter proves to be the ultimate horse-for-the-course. In 2002 he started his career with two daylight wins at Saratoga. In three subsequent starts he failed to hit the board. Off since February the Charlton Baker trainee was guided by F'Lakes jock Paul Nicol to another facile Spa victory in the first race of the day.
*** In the featured Lake George for 3YO fillies on the grass, favored Sand Springs set some honest early fractions and then still had enough in the lane to get the "W".
*** The day ended with a scary spill as promising apprentice Pablo Fragoso was perhaps on his way to surprising the field aboard 57-1 Bon Lil. Leading into the lane, and seemingly with something still left in the tank, Bon Lil suddenly ducked into the inside rail, dumping Fragoso hard. The filly kept on running and later reports said she had suffered some abrasions but nothing serious. Fragoso was -- amazingly -- on his feet quickly and returned to ride on Monday.

Mon 8/18

Just inside the main gate on Union Avenue you'll find vendors tents offering a variety of racing related art for sale. There are original paintings. Photographs. And autographed collectibles.

Mon 8/18
Attendance: 21116
Weather: Sunny and warm.
Highlights: *** Jockey John Velasquez wins the fifth race to set a new 24-day record for wins with a total of 45 wins from 147 mounts.

Week One ** Week Two ** Week Three ** Week Four ** Week Five ** Week Six

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