Shortly before Saratoga racing took its Tuesday Sabbatical, the town's preservationists gathered at the city library to hear what the locals wanted done when NYRA came into some money. Public forums like this sprout up all over town; you just have to stay alert in order to spot them. More trees, less...

Rumors abounded on Monday morning that the jockeys were planning to play a ringer in Wednesday evening's basketball game between the New York Horsemen and them. Word has it that one of the Siena College Final Four tournament team members - a 7-footer - will suit up on the side of the 5-footers. If that...

Four judges, all wearing fancy millinery, awarded prizes to contestants in three categories at the 19 th annual "Hat's Off to Saratoga" hat contest. A hat at the track is no longer the choice for many women. Yet, when dressing the part of the main attraction contributes to the whole of the afternoon...

Horses and courses, of the collegiate variety, coalesced at the Big Red Spring as Saratoga held its first-ever College Day. Karaoke began the proceedings prior to the first post at 2:30 pm. The karaoke was followed by Team Trivia and a 7 pm backyard concert. After the running of each race, the name of...

Jack Etzler waited 85 years to make his first visit to Saratoga. The dapper senior citizen spent the morning on the backside Thursday after a long day of wagering, imbibing at Siro's and dining at the Olde Bryan Inn. Despite an early wake-up call, Etzler seemed spry as a two-year-old colt. There's no...

"Run Like a Girl" is the slogan that NYRA marketing officials are using to promote Rachel Alexandra's appearance in the Woodward Stakes on Saturday. Attendance and handle are slightly down and the superstar filly represents the last hope that the track has for getting even on the year with last year...

Dawn broke murky and gray but by noon the sun had peaked out from behind the clouds and Saratoga Racecourse returned to usability. It was the second Sunday without a give-away; next Sunday prepare to line up for knit winter caps. Yet, a decent gathering pitched tents in the backyard and business carried...

The Daily Racing Form ’s David Grening, horse racing’s hardest working writer, wrote that Todd Pletcher, the trainer of Munnings, was disappointed when his colt drew the rail in Saturday’s 7-furlong King’s Bishop Stakes. As a result, The Saratogian’s perennial top handicapper, Bill Taylor, wants to set...

T he usual place on the agenda for a steeplechase is the first race. But in deference to the lofty status of the $100,000 grade 1 New York Turf Writers Cup, the jumpers were moved down the card a bit, thus moving up, in fact. The 2 3/8 mile fixture over fences went forth as the third and, wouldn't you...

Sam the Bugler played "Oh, Suzanna" as the seven fillies entered the track for the Alabama. He might as well have played "O Canada!" when they exited. Careless Jewel, the recent Delaware Oaks winner that came from Woodbine with trainer Josie Carroll and jockey Robert Landry, was a magnificent winner...