Track officials knew that the first day of the new
Fasig-Tipton Festival of Racing would be a big day when the NYRA parking lots
were full by the second race. Gauging
attendance is possible by looking at how populated the last two sections of the
grandstand are or by walking through the picnic grounds and seeing how many
times you have to alter course to get from one point to another. But when cars flood the area next to the Oklahoma training track,
that's when the signs of a sellout are assured.
Good weather prompted the huge turnout. Nearly 40,000 fans paid their way through the
turnstiles. Over $5.2 million was
wagered on-track. The crowd was given
three stakes at Saratoga
to bet on. Of the three, the $750,000
grade I Whitney Handicap had the most hallowed reputation. Of the other two, the $300,000 grade I Test
had the longer history.
Tracy Farmer's Commentator, an 8-year-old New York-bred gelding
that won the Whitney twice before, went to the post as this year's Whitney favorite. His quick turn of foot served him well, as he
scampered ahead of the pack easily. Then
he started to fade at the top of the stretch, relinquishing the lead to the
19-1 winner Bullsbay. West Point
Thoroughbreds' Macho Again made a threatening move, although couldn't close
fast enough.
As for the Test, it too was won by a horse that slipped the
analytic grasp of many astute gamblers.
Flashing, owned by Godolphin Stable, paid $11.60 to win. Saratoga's sole air-conditioned
suite with an unobstructed view of the track was prepared to host Sheikh
Mohammed. But the ruler of Dubai, like the seven
other fillies his Flashing faced, was a no-show. It's too bad because NYRA went out and rented
furniture to spruce up his spot regally.
Ordinary fans were treated like kings in other ways. For many in the crowd, three televised grade
I races from Arlington
Park were part of the
fun. Gio Ponti proved again he's the
best older turf horse by taking the Arlington Million. Dynaforce won the $750,000 Beverly D.
Stakes. Take the Points won the $400,000
Secretariat.
Take the Point's victory was especially satisfying because
one of his owners is Donnie Lucarelli, a Schenectady,
New York native. Lucarelli is a
partner with Jack and Laurie Wolf in Starlight Racing. Wolf regrets that
Starlight's horse isn't eligible for a Breeders' Cup race. The way the gray son of Even the Score out-gamed
Black Bear Island
proves indeed that he's qualified.
Despite such a glorious day of racing, what might have made
Fasig-Tipton's festival sponsorship significant was a seminar called "From the
Farm to the Finish Line." It drew 400
fans. That's about one-third the number of
folks that gathered in the backyard of Siro's once the racing was over. The Siro's crowd included Bennie L. "Chip"
Woolley, Jr. and Jack Knowlton. You
remember them from last Saratoga Diary, don't you?
