Vic Zast Saratoga Diary - All Comments

re: Burials

equinefriend — Wed, 04 Sep 2013 20:59:42 GMT

You can finally rest in peace Saginaw. You are a great horse.

re: Last Gasp

arlingtonfan — Wed, 04 Sep 2013 18:46:15 GMT

Love the reference to the Black Stallion novels. Thanks for that, and for bringing a little taste of Saratoga to those of us who can't attend.

re: Last Gasp

JIMF552 — Wed, 04 Sep 2013 03:16:22 GMT

Vic,

Loved the daily updates and thank you for covering the Saratoga scene aside from the race track.

re: Last Gasp

Stephie Clare — Tue, 03 Sep 2013 20:28:53 GMT

Come back next year Vic! I love to read your Diary.

re: Last Gasp

Profileman — Tue, 03 Sep 2013 15:13:24 GMT

Thanks for the memories Vic, and thanks for posting Saratoga Diary every race day. Good job.

re: Last Gasp

Walt Gekko — Tue, 03 Sep 2013 14:23:50 GMT

At the time the decision was made to move everything to the main track on Monday, the turf at Saratoga looked waterlogged from photos I saw AND there was 100% chance of rain according to Weather.com around the time the Glens Falls was scheduled (around 4:15 PM ET). While The Weather Channel site only had .07" of rain listed (and at the end, officially .45" of rain as the final number for Monday), it looked like Saratoga had more like 2-3" of rain during Sunday night into Monday morning based on what was said previously and what I saw on the radar early Monday. Some of the trainers I believe had to ship from Fair Hill for the Glens Falls, and I'm sure the last thing NYRA wanted was a trainer shipping a horse from Maryland all the way up to Saratoga (a six-hour+ drive) only to have the race taken off the turf half an hour or so before the race was scheduled to be run because the jockeys refuse to ride over the turf OR the rain that WAS FORECAST hit and made the turf unsafe.

What happens if say NYRA "caves in" to those who feel NYRA has to run on the turf no matter what on closing day and a horse or two break down or worse happens? How would that have looked.

In the end, what NYRA should have done in my view would have been to have carded an extra race on dirt that only would have been used to be substituted for the Glens Falls in the eighth race spot (as I believe due to the tote upgrade, NYRA could only run 10 on Monday as I believe they had to finish the card by 5:30 PM ET so there was a half-hour before everything was shut down at 6:00 PM for people to cash tickets), with it as soon as it was realized the Glens Falls would have to be taken off the turf, the substitute race inserted into that spot. If that could not have been done, I would have simply cancelled the race (that I also would have carded as the 6th, between the two pick-fours) and declared that event an ALL race for Pick Six and other multi-race purposes and re-scheduled the Glens Falls for this coming Sunday at Belmont Park (and if I were at NYRA, I would ask the Graded Stakes Committee to consider the Saratoga race an overnight stakes and NOT the actual running with the race run again this coming Sunday at Belmont and THAT considered the official running of the race so trainers who had to scratch because of off-the-turf being able to run in the race, even if it is a week late).

That to me would have been the best way of handling a bad situation like what happened Monday at Saratoga.

re: What Was and Could Have Been

Vic Zast — Tue, 03 Sep 2013 01:03:18 GMT

Photo shoot wasn't held, toga. Piece went in before I could learn that someone chickened out or the public didn't show enough interest or, heavens forbid, that there was money to be made with a 12th race and none to be made in honoring the fans.

re: What Was and Could Have Been

Warlaine — Mon, 02 Sep 2013 18:03:43 GMT

Thank you Vic for all your insight and wonderful diary entries. I will probably never make it to the spa but thanks to you I feel like I am there. Hope to see you again next year!

re: What Was and Could Have Been

toga — Mon, 02 Sep 2013 15:26:54 GMT

Vic -

The photo shoot was held ?

Dennis Yusko reported, "The idea was scrapped “due to the addition of a 12th race and the resulting late post-time at the conclusion of the day’s racing program,” a NYRA spokesman said in a statement.""

I was told by a NYRA spokesperson that it due to the current (sloppy) track conditions.

Oh well...

The Floral Fete was not originally approved by the Saratoga 150th committee until some people directly approached Mary Lou and it was suddenly sanctioned.

With all the reported carryover money that the 150th committee has - let's see what they might do for the possible 1864 150th .....

re: What Was and Could Have Been

loughmad — Mon, 02 Sep 2013 14:33:24 GMT

Thank you Vic for another year of fun and information. Here's to another 49.

re: What Was and Could Have Been

Sandy in Lexington — Mon, 02 Sep 2013 12:25:02 GMT

What a wonderful article! 50 CONSECUTIVE Years is a longtime commitment...You need to make it extra special, Vic Zast! Always enjoy your articles!

re: Twice Upon a Time

Birks Goldens — Sun, 01 Sep 2013 21:58:12 GMT

Oh the memories...what a season at the spa!

re: Cut from the Same Cloth

JIMF552 — Sat, 31 Aug 2013 00:56:09 GMT

Great job Vic, keep up the good work!

re: Cut from the Same Cloth

Sea Hero — Fri, 30 Aug 2013 14:31:58 GMT

Victor,

In your usual rush to judgment concerning your comments on Christopher Kay, you have forgotten that NYRA must please a hostile Governor by making sure NYRA makes a profit. If Mr. Kay's efforts to lure New York City area residents back to Belmont and Aqueduct, which I believe will be futile, then Saratoga Race Course must be milked for every cent it can get. If nobody at NYRA counts beans, then in three years Saratoga will be governed by Frank Stronach or, heaven forbid, Churchill Downs Inc. I predict that if NYRA is taken over by CDI you will be pleading for Christopher Kay to come back. CDI, and to a much lesser extent, Frank Stronach, will make Christopher Kay look like the most benevolent bean counter that ever existed. To make Christopher Kay the object of your usual ill-considered sarcasm is not warranted after Mr. Kay has been on the job for only six weeks. Luckily, I don't think many people pay any attention to you.

re: Newsmaker of the Meet

Pedigree Ann — Fri, 30 Aug 2013 05:30:57 GMT

And because there has been little rain, the turf course is worn down to the soil in places. Not just firm but hard. And a front-runners' dream.

re: Newsmaker of the Meet

Fran Loszynski — Fri, 30 Aug 2013 01:53:26 GMT

Thank you for bringing up the Berkshires and my awesome Mohawk Trail! Where I grew up. Your articles about Saratoga reminds me of the ride up the Hudson to attend the Turf Writers Awards when A fleet Alex was champion and still is!!!

re: Veteran Days

toga — Thu, 29 Aug 2013 14:36:54 GMT

Doesn't NYRA lease the ferns ? Could be a cost saving measure to help cut the 10 million dollar lost from last year :)

re: Cajuns and Mohicans

toga — Tue, 27 Aug 2013 15:23:35 GMT

Is that Rita Nash (trainer) in the winners circle ? For a few years, a sure bet was on the 'Mohicans' horse, Rover Boy.... Cheers to the Turf & Field boys !

re: Transformation

mj — Mon, 26 Aug 2013 18:02:03 GMT

I think Steve Crist at DRF deserves a big thanks for giving me Will Take Charge for the Travers. I combined him with the name of the new boyfriend of my friend's daughter, and that was my exacta. I love racing.

re: University of Lukas

JIMF552 — Mon, 26 Aug 2013 01:22:06 GMT

Best comment yet for Sam's absence.

Your picture clearly shows the beginning of Palace Malice's nightmare trip.

Great recap as usual!

re: University of Lukas

christopherlally — Sun, 25 Aug 2013 15:37:42 GMT

You are hilarious.

re: Tough to Take

Stephie Clare — Mon, 19 Aug 2013 22:42:45 GMT

I don't think I'll ever get to Saratoga in my life but your column is almost like being there! Thanks so much Vic!

re: Tough to Take

JIMF552 — Mon, 19 Aug 2013 10:57:31 GMT

Vic,

Certainly agree with your assessment of the giveaways, it should stick to it's original intention as a marketing tool.

Very unfortunate for out of town connections in the feature race again this Sunday.

Love the blog!

re: Tough to Take

hbc — Mon, 19 Aug 2013 10:23:26 GMT

the call against nellie chapman was total bull___! she was taken down because she shipped in for small connections. They were going to make sure locals won! now i know that saratoga is no better than evangeline or louisana downs. i am done with this corrupt sport! never had a winning bet taken back at a casino!

re: Photo Finishes

Profileman — Sat, 17 Aug 2013 13:14:19 GMT

Let's hope today produces a shower of winning tickets.