Saratoga Memories 2012

re: Saratoga Memories 2012

Slew — Tue, 25 Sep 2012 19:58:52 GMT

Wow! Thank you so much for sharing, Steve. Saratoga is my favorite venue.

re: Saratoga Memories 2012

Lise from Maine — Sun, 23 Sep 2012 17:31:55 GMT

Hi!

Love to see the "behind the scenes" photos.

Gorgeous as usual.

The horses are so beautiful.

Thanks for sharig them with us.

Lise from Maine

re: Saratoga Memories 2012

Mike Relva — Wed, 19 Sep 2012 01:44:56 GMT

Alex'sBigFan

Thanks for the kind comments. I go there as much as possible. Am nearly five hrs from Old Friends.

re: Saratoga Memories 2012

Alex'sBigFan — Tue, 18 Sep 2012 22:26:15 GMT

Mike Relva,

I am so glad you had a great time in Ky. It is so good of you to pay homage to our equine friends and stop to visit so many of them. High five, Mike!

re: Saratoga Memories 2012

Paula Higgins — Tue, 18 Sep 2012 03:27:39 GMT

Mike Relva, thanks for the update! I am so glad you got to see Rapid Redux at Old Friends, along with Michael Blowen. He does a great service for these wonderful horses. You are good soul too buddy.

re: Saratoga Memories 2012

Mike Relva — Tue, 18 Sep 2012 03:25:02 GMT

Linda

Thanks for your comment. Always enjoy reading your insight regarding racing. Yes, was a great time visiting these great horses and Michael treats everyone like he's known them forever, a class act.

re: Saratoga Memories 2012

michelee — Mon, 17 Sep 2012 23:38:39 GMT

You are a gift to us all. Wonderful photos! Where do you go next?

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Linda in Texas — Mon, 17 Sep 2012 22:25:45 GMT

LUCKY YOU MIKE RELVA. RAPID REDUX! CHEERED HIS EVERY RACE.

OOPS IN CAPS, OKAY FOR MIKE AND RAPID THEY DESERVE CAPS AS WELL AS ALL THE REST MENTIONED. AND THE SLEW'S FOR SURE!

AND ALWAYS STEVE, THANKS

linda :)

re: Saratoga Memories 2012

Fran Loszynski — Mon, 17 Sep 2012 17:37:39 GMT

Oh my gosh Steve loved the pics of the Hole In The Wall Gang! how priceless! You summed up Saratoga for us once again this year! Seabiscuit would be proud! These pics will go in my scrapbook faster than lightning. I know I write this alot and some will say "not again" but here goes. I hope you do the write-up and photos when Afleet Alex's kid wins The Triple Crown someday,....and he will. Thank you Steve for "Saratoga".

re: Saratoga Memories 2012

Mike Relva — Sun, 16 Sep 2012 21:48:19 GMT

Paula

Returned from a trip, part of it spent in Kentucky. Stopping at Old Friends to see Rapid Redux, Tinners Way and many more. Talked with Michael for a few minutes also. Visited Seattle Slew's last foal,(for the second yr in a row) Maggie Slew at Swifty Farms at IN. Got to also see Stevie Wonderboy, Slew City Slew, Haynsfield, Divine Park yesterday. A great time!

re: Saratoga Memories 2012

Paula Higgins — Sun, 16 Sep 2012 18:29:12 GMT

Barry, I hope you feel better soon and as Mike said, I hope you get your wish. I felt bad that Camelot didn't get the British Triple Crown. He is a very special horse nonetheless. Paynter continues to do well. What a story that is. Yes, Dr Drunkinbum the Encyclopedia Britannica/World Book were wonderful resources growing up. My father bought me the complete works of Shakespeare as a kid too (little blue books from Yale Press). Remember when you actually had to crack open a book to write a paper?

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77SLEW — Sun, 16 Sep 2012 02:29:49 GMT

After reading so many comments from those of you who have never been to Saratoga , I feel so blessed that I live less than 2 hrs. away and have averaged between 5 to 6 trips per year for 37 years. Make it a point in your life if but just once, you'll never regret or forget it. Thanks Steve , wonderful as ever!!!!!

re: Saratoga Memories 2012

Mike Relva — Sun, 16 Sep 2012 02:12:03 GMT

Barry

I hope you get your wish. Enjoy.

re: Saratoga Memories 2012

Dr Drunkinbum — Sun, 16 Sep 2012 01:14:35 GMT

I should say it's a well deserved rest for Jackson Bend. He should have gotten a vacation after the Met. Poor kid, 28 races since May 2009, without a break and he runs his heart out. A major gamer until recently when they ran him another two races too many. He is a champion. Alphabet Soup sure looks good. A Haskin Saratoga history complete with all of his photos is a book collection I'd like to read and own. I know he doesn't want to do anymore books but that would be a masterpiece for the ages. Probably would be like an encyclopedia collection. We had World Book growing up. That collection was our internet. Used it and read it constantly. Archwarrior and Welterweight- just like in Silver Streak, "we could even break down the whole partition." Some really great photos here. Too many to mention each one I love. Haskin- the gift that keeps giving, and giving, and giving.

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Love 'em all — Sat, 15 Sep 2012 17:51:18 GMT

These pics are a treat like no other, Mr. Haskin. Especially fond of "Oklahoma morning", since I'm an early riser and love a pretty sunrise. My father always told me the early part of a day was the very best. He was right, but it took me over forty years to realize that. Horses have known that for centuries!

Glad you included one of my very favs, Jackson Bend. Hope to see him back to his old self ... and enjoys his time off the track. Thanks so much for providing the spa tour ..... beautiful place.

Oh, Alphabet Soup's daughter, Egg Drop, got her daddy's good looks! That is a pretty horse.

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Brown brother — Sat, 15 Sep 2012 08:14:07 GMT

Great photos Steve. I went for the first time this year after being a thoroughhbred fan for 30 years and was lucky enough to see questing's Alabama. Tte way she took off in the stretch after setting that grueling pace is a performance for the ages. So are your photos. Point of entry is a mighty looking beast!

re: Saratoga Memories 2012

Paula Higgins — Sat, 15 Sep 2012 05:48:05 GMT

It is 1:35 a.m. and I thought I would see if there was a new blog up. WOW STEVE! These pictures are just gorgeous. I have always thought that there is nothing more beautiful on the planet than a horse and your pictures pretty much prove that. But I will say this, your beautiful daughter could disprove that theory. Saratoga is pretty spectacular looking. I had no idea it was so lovely. You know, you have had a very rich life Steve.

On another note, I would also love to see a posting on Camelot. I hope he can do it. Also, I am really happy that Paynter is doing so well. He is a valiant horse with a loving family and a superb vet.

My final comment is that I always knew Lenny Shulman was a good guy. Have to love his three Labs playing in the water.

re: Saratoga Memories 2012

Cassandra.Says — Sat, 15 Sep 2012 05:20:06 GMT

The Conversation:

"Does Chantix help or is it best to go cold turkey? I've got to quit cribbing."

A question for the Master: I'm sure you have the occasional shot that hits the waste basket, but you've published so many from so many angles and the horses always looking beautifully assembled. The studs in the Register, on the other hand, make me think "Two good ends, too far apart." Is it an artefact of the wide-angled lens that most of them look long and loose-coupled?"

re: Saratoga Memories 2012

Greg R — Sat, 15 Sep 2012 03:51:23 GMT

That's more than I've ever seen of Saratoga backside. Feel like I've just had a wonderful visit there - from 2,000 miles away. This page is one to hang onto!

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barryaksarben — Sat, 15 Sep 2012 02:51:03 GMT

Im old and sick and it is on my bucket list to see the ponies run at the SPA

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Ranagulzion — Sat, 15 Sep 2012 02:39:50 GMT

Looking forward to it Steve. Thanks.

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Steve Haskin — Sat, 15 Sep 2012 02:23:06 GMT

Mary Jo, Thank you very much for this: "I did want to say that I saw you in the paddock the day of the Woodward and you are even better looking in person!" But are you sure it was me you were looking at?

Ranagulzion, that is my next column.

re: Saratoga Memories 2012

duchess — Sat, 15 Sep 2012 02:17:50 GMT

What lovely pictures! Thank you so much for sharing them!

Saratoga looks like heaven on Earth for horses and horse lovers.

re: Saratoga Memories 2012

Ranagulzion — Sat, 15 Sep 2012 01:04:20 GMT

Steve,

We need a blog article about Camelot on here? Its unbelievable that history is about to be made, generating so many questions such as who will win European HOTY (Camelot or Frankel)? Also, can Camelot do what Nijinsky failed to do ...win the Triple Crown and Arc D'Triomphe? And how about a shot at the Breeder's Cup Turf? This is quite an event and all we get here is deafening silence? Wow!!!

re: Saratoga Memories 2012

Katherine — Sat, 15 Sep 2012 00:29:26 GMT

I've never been to Saratoga so your photo gallery was a real treat. You showed us things the average fan would never be able to access. Thank you so much. You are a more than able photograhper! I can't select a favorite I loved all of them!