Equicurean 2023

SUMMER 2023

Marion E. Altieri, EDITORIAL DIRECTOR

WELCOME

to the 2023 edition of Equicurean, and our tribute to the singularly-talented, inimitable Champion, Secretariat.

It’s hard to believe that five decades — 50 years — have passed since Big Red won the Triple Crown, breaking speed records for all three races. During his 19 years on Earth, he raced his way into millions of hearts worldwide: America's Horse, a gift to all.

We hope you’ll enjoy our dedicated Secretariat section, and many other thoughtful articles between the covers of our unique, collectable magazine. So many engaging pieces this year! From Thoroughbreds to Harness racing, to women in the sport – there’s something for everyone. Meet historically-great Thoroughbreds, and two extraordinary Trainers of note: H. James Bond, a Saratoga favorite for 30 years, and Jena Antonucci, the first woman to train the winner of a Triple Crown race. (Arcangelo, 2023.) The National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame, and historic greats who are enshrined therein – all these pieces, between our beautiful covers.

(I suggest that you Google our Writers whose pieces you enjoy especially, to find more of their works.)

We wish you a successful, fun Saratoga meet, and invite you to join us next year, for Equicurean 2024. AND... THEY’RE OFF!

Secretariat

OWNER/PUBLISHER

Chad Beatty

EDITORIAL DIRECTOR

Marion E. Altieri

MAGAZINE DESIGNER

Kacie Cotter-Harrigan

ADVERTISING DESIGN

Kelly Schoonbeck

ADVERTISING SALES

Chris Vallone Bushee

Jim Daley

Cindy Durfey

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Marion E. Altieri

Brien Bouyea

Edward L. Bowen

William G. Gotimer, Jr.

Joe Raucci

L.A. Sokolowski

PHOTOGRAPHERS

George Adams

Susan Blackburn Photography

Brien Bouyea

Amira Chichakly

Francesco D'Amico

Nick Glasser

Gary Gold

Jessica Hallett, Saratoga Raceway

Dell Hancock

Dan Heary

Sue Kawczynski

Bob Mayberger

National Museum of Racing

NYRA

Joe Raucci

L.A. Sokolowski

Stockstudiophotography.com

Super Source Media Studios

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Equicurean® is brought to you by Saratoga TODAY, Saratoga Publishing, LLC. Saratoga Publishing shall make every effort to avoid errors and omissions but disclaims any responsibility should they occur. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means without prior written consent of the publisher. Copyright © 2023. Saratoga TODAY Newspaper.

Photo by Nick Glasser

Photo by Dan Heary

THEY 'RE OFF! And...

SARATOGA RACE COURSE'S RACING SEASON 160th

July 13 - September 4

Don't miss a thing!

Highlighted by the 154th renewal of the Grade 1, $1.25 million Travers on August 26 and the Grade 1, $1 million Whitney on August 5, the 40-day summer meet will open on Thursday, July 13 and continue through Monday, September 4.

Following the four-day opening weekend, racing will be conducted five days a week, Wednesdays through Sundays, apart from closing week, when the 2023 summer meet will conclude on Labor Day.

Saratoga Live, the television show produced by NYRA in partnership with FOX Sports, will return for its 8th season to provide on-site daily coverage of the summer meet on FOX Sports networks.

The 40-day summer meet at the historic Saratoga Race Course, will include 71 stakes worth $20.8 million in total purses!

SUMMER STAKES SUMMER STAKES

Opening Day, Thursday, July 13, kicks off the season with the Grade 3, $175,000 Schuylerville for 2-year-old fillies. The following day features the $135,000 Wilton for sophomore fillies to be contested out of the Wilson Chute and the $150,000 Coronation Cup, a turf sprint for sophomore fillies. Opening Weekend is highlighted by the first Grade 1 of the Saratoga season in the $500,000 Diana for turf fillies and mares on July 15. That day’s card will include the Grade 3, $175,000 Sanford for juveniles on dirt; and the Grade 3, $175,000 Kelso, formerly the Forbidden Apple, at one mile on turf for older horses. (The Grade 2 Kelso, which is traditionally run at one-mile on dirt during the Belmont Park fall meet, will be renamed and run on a date to be determined.)

The Grade 3, $175,000 Quick Call, presented by Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation, a sophomore turf sprint, closes out Opening Weekend on Sunday, July 16.

The following Saturday, July 22, will see the Grade 1, $500,000 Coaching Club American Oaks for sophomore fillies, headlining a card that also offers the Grade 3, $200,000 Caress, a 5 1/2-furlong turf sprint for older fillies and mares. Week 3, which offers the Grade 2, $200,000 Amsterdam for 3-year-olds at 6 1/2 furlongs on Friday, July 28 is highlighted by the traditional prep for the Travers: the Grade 2, $500,000 Jim Dandy on Saturday, July 29. It will be joined by the Grade 1, $350,000 Alfred G. Vanderbilt Handicap, a six-furlong sprint for 3-year-olds+. Closing out Jim Dandy weekend on July 30 is the Grade 2, $250,000 Bowling Green at 1 3/8 miles on the turf.

The $135,000 Fasig-Tipton De La Rose for older filly and mare turf milers is slated for Wednesday, August 2, as part of Whitney Week leading into the Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Sale and the Fasig-Tipton New York-bred Yearlings Sale.

The Grade 2, $250,000 Glens Falls for older turf is set for Thursday, August 3, before Whitney Weekend launches Friday, August 4, with the Grade 2 National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame for sophomore turf milers, which will see its purse increase to $500,000; and the Grade 3, $400,000 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Oaks Invitational at 1 3/16-miles on turf for sophomore fillies.

Whitney Day on Saturday, August 5, provides a trio of Grade 1 events, led by the Whitney at 1 1/8 miles for older horses offering an automatic berth to the Breeders' Cup Classic on November 4 at Santa Anita. The following Grade 1s will be the sevenfurlong $500,000 Test for sophomore fillies and the $600,000 Saratoga

Derby Invitational, at 1 3/16-miles on turf for sophomores. Whitney Day will also include the Grade 3, $300,000 Troy for older turf sprinters, and the restricted $135,000 Lure at 1 1/16-miles on turf for older horses. Whitney weekend concludes on Sunday, August 6, with the Grade 3, $200,000 Adirondack, a 6 1/2-furlong sprint for juvenile fillies.

The Travers Festival, which offers nine stakes including six Grade 1s from Wednesday, August 23 through Saturday, August 26, is headlined by the 154th edition of the 1 1/4-mile Travers on Saturday, August 26.

Epicenter, Winner of the 2022 Travers

The lucrative Travers Day card features five Grade 1 stakes and an automatic berth in the Breeders’ Cup to the winner of the Grade 1, $750,000 Resorts World Casino Sword Dancer (Turf) and Grade 1, $500,000 Ballerina Handicap (Filly and Mare Sprint.)

In addition to the Travers, the stacked card will also include the Grade 1, $500,000 Forego, a seven-furlong sprint for 4-year-olds+, and the Grade 1, $500,000 H. Allen Jerkens Memorial for 3-year-olds going seven furlongs.

The Travers Festival kicks off with the $135,000 John’s Call for older turf horses and continues on Thursday, August 24, with the Grade 2, $400,000 Ballston Spa at 1 1/16-miles for turf fillies and mares. The August 25 card will offer the Grade 1, $500,000 Personal Ensign at nine-furlongs for older fillies and mares along with the $150,000 Smart N Fancy for older filly and mare turf sprinters.

New York-breds will take center stage on Sunday, August 27, for New York Showcase Day, featuring six stakes for state-breds worth a combined $1.25 million.

The card is headlined by the $250,000 Albany, a ninefurlong for sophomores. Also featured are five $200,000 stakes including the Fleet Indian for sophomore fillies; the West Point Handicap presented by Trustco Bank for 3-year-olds+; and the Yaddo Handicap for fillies and mares 3-years-old+. A pair of sprints for juveniles previously offered at 6 1/2-furlongs will now both be contested at six furlongs in the Funny Cide presented by Rood and Riddle Equine Hospital for 2-year-olds; and the Seeking the Ante for juvenile fillies.

New York-breds will also be highlighted at the Spa with four handicaps each with a purse of $125,000, including the Johnstone Mile on August 9 for fillies and mares 3-yearsold+; the John Morrissey on August 10 at six furlongs for 3-year-olds+; the Evan Shipman Handicap on August 11 at one-mile for 3-year-olds+; and the six-furlong Union Avenue on August 11 for fillies and mares 3-years-old+.

Among the other Grade 1 races at the Spa will be the $150,000 A.P. Smithwick Memorial on July 19, and the $150,000 Jonathan Sheppard on August 16 for steeplechasers; the $600,000 Alabama on Saturday, August 19; and the $500,000 Fourstardave Handicap, a Breeders' Cup qualifier for the Mile, on Saturday, August 12, to be held on the same card as the Grade 2, $200,000 Saratoga Special.

Closing Weekend of the Saratoga meet begins Saturday, September 2, led by the Grade 1, $1 million Jockey Club Gold Cup (Classic) at 10 furlongs for 3-year-olds+. The card also includes the Grade 2, $500,000 Flower Bowl, an 11-furlong turf test for older fillies and mares; the Grade 2, $250,000 Prioress for sophomore filly sprinters; and the $150,000 Harvey Pack for older turf sprinters.

On Sunday, September 3, juvenile fillies will sprint seven furlongs in the Grade 1, $300,000 Spinaway as part of the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Dozen series.

Closing Day on Monday, September 4, will feature the $150,000 Bernard Baruch along with the Grade 1, $300,000 Hopeful for 2-year-olds going seven furlongs to conclude the 2023 Saratoga meet.

New! ONE-PRICE SEASON PASS Includes Admission for Travers & ALL

40 days of the Summer Meet!

Season Passes for Saratoga Race Course and NYRA Bets Gift Cards return to Stewart’s Shops

The New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA) announced that season passes for the 2023 summer meet at historic Saratoga Race Course will be available for purchase at nearly 180 Stewart’s Shops throughout the greater Capital Region.

Additionally, NYRA Bets Gift Cards are now available at Stewart’s Shops, offering fans the convenience of a trusted one-stop location for all their racing needs. For a complete list of participating shops, visit StewartsShops.com.

“We are proud to continue to partner with NYRA by offering season passes to Saratoga Race Course and NYRA Bets Gift Cards as a convenience to our loyal customers,” said Stewart’s Shops President Gary Dake. “Fans can stop by any one of our Stewart’s Shops in seven counties to get set for racing season.”

Season passes will be on-sale at Stewart’s Shops for the set price of $75 through Opening Weekend of the summer meet, July 13 to 16. Season passes are available for purchase by cash only.

Season passes may also be purchased online for $75 at NYRA.com/Saratoga. Starting June 1, season passes will be $85 online and then $95 beginning July 1.

NEW THIS YEAR…

Season passes include access to both the Clubhouse and Grandstand at Saratoga Race Course. The passes cover admission for all 40 days of the season, including Travers Day, at the equivalent of less than two dollars per day.

“For the past decade, Stewart’s Shops has served as a convenient outlet for fans to secure their season pass and, more recently, NYRA Bets Gift Cards for both the Triple Crown series and Saratoga season,” said NYRA Vice President, Sales and Hospitality, Kevin Quinn.

NYRA Bets Gift Cards can be used to fund both active and new NYRA Bets accounts.

NYRA Bets Gift Cards are available in $50 denominations exclusively at Stewart’s Shops through the conclusion of the Saratoga meet (cash only). NYRA Bets is the official wagering platform of The New York Racing Association, Inc. The NYRA Bets app is available for download at NYRABets.com/App. Registering for a NYRA Bets account is free at NYRABets.com. Single-day admission to Saratoga Race Course is $7 per person when purchased at least 24 hours in advance or $10 on the day of the event.

For more information about Saratoga Race Course, visit NYRA.com/Saratoga.

Photo by Amira Chichakly, courtesy of NYRA

Photo by Stockstudiophotography.com

The

THE SARATOGA SALE

SARATOGA SPRINGS

AUGUST 7 & 8, 2023

The crown jewel of the North American yearling sales calendar is The Saratoga Sale, a selected yearling sale offering the best of the North American yearling crop for more than 100 years.

2022 RESULTS:

SOLD: 143

TOTAL: $66,955,000

AVERAGE: $468,217

MEDIAN: $375,000

NEW YORK BRED YEARLINGS

SARATOGA SPRINGS

AUGUST 13 & 14, 2023

Held the Sunday and Monday following The Saratoga Sale, the New York Bred Yearlings sale is the industry’s leading source of quality New York-bred yearlings.

2022 RESULTS:

SOLD: 188

TOTAL: $20,175,000

AVERAGE: $107,314

MEDIAN: $74,000

Held during the prestigious Saratoga race meet for 100 years, Saratoga selected yearlings regularly go on to become racing’s next superstars. In 2022, The Saratoga Sale was once again ranked #1 among North American yearling sales by percentage of Grade 1 winners sold and percentage of graded stakes winners sold.

Saratoga Sale experience is one of the most unique in the Thoroughbred world, offering a rich racing and social scene.

Yearlings catalogued in The Saratoga Sale have been selected on pedigree and physical conformation by Fasig-Tipton’s respected inspection team.

Photo by Francesco D'Amico

Photo by Francesco D'Amico

Secretariat

A HERO for the AGES

“It has been a half century since Secretariat last set foot on the racetrack, and yet it is amazing to see how his name continues to resonate – and how much love and affection he still engenders from fans. The fact that all three of his Triple Crown records still stand is a testament to his greatness, and his enduring legacy as a benchmark of excellence for the sport.”

— Leonard Lusky, Secretariat.com

Celebrating 50 years since America’s Horse’s Triple Crown

Fifty years is a long time: five decades. Half-a-century. Some people reading this weren’t born yet, when the crazily-talented equine god, Secretariat, won his Triple Crown in 1973.

Q: Why is every horse racing publication, and most Generalist newspapers, magazines and websites – bending-over-backward to celebrate the 50th anniversary of one single Thoroughbred’s recordbreaking Triple Crown?

A: Because he wasn’t “just a horse.” Secretariat was preternatural – not of this world. He rose up at an urgent time in American history, and took his own reins. He was born to do this great thing, to be a symbol of Hope at a time when Hope was in short supply.

WRITTEN BY MARION E. ALTIERI | PHOTOS COURTESY OF NYRA

Helen B. (Penny) Chenery and Eddie Sweat (Secretariat's Groom and BFF), escort the Champion.

There’s an eternal, untouchable quality, a legacy of perfection that Secretariat left when he died in 1989. His body succumbed to Laminitis – but his soul, his influence and the gauntlet he threw down have echoed for 50 years (so far). There’s no doubt, that Secretariat is the very definition of the Horse Archetype. In Celtic mythology, horses were the companions of warriors.

But what if the horse, himself, is a warrior? That warrior-horse can arise victorious from battle, thus becoming a Hero. Or, as was the case of Secretariat: there’s no doubt that he was born a Hero.

(In Greek mythology, Heroes are endowed with superhuman abilities, descended from the immortal gods, themselves. And surely, God’s Own Horse would be born with superiority in his very DNA.)

Whichever path Secretariat took to his throne in the Pantheon, he defines Greatness in all its varieties. Big Red is an eternal Hero, who was born in an era when America was desperately in need of Heroes and Healers.

The 1960s had been a time of great turmoil and unrest: the Vietnam Conflict, erupting just two years after the end of the Korean War, had raged on since 1955.

On March 30, 1970, Secretariat was born at Christopher Chenery’s Meadow Farm in Virginia. The beautiful red colt breathed his first breaths in the quiet of the rolling hills, but the rest of his nation was tired.

Just plain tired – tired of war, tired of talking about war – just, bone-weary, tired. Yet, in March of 1970, 8,000 miles away from Secretariat’s serene barn –the war showed no sign of ending anytime soon.

As we know from many sources, Heroes are often born in quiet places, unnoticed by the rest of the world. An inauspicious beginning doth not an unnoticed Life predict!

Secretariat Flying Derby — all four hooves off the ground!

Secretariat as a foal.

During the next two years, as Vietnam raged on -- Secretariat ate and ran, playing in The Meadow’s paddocks. Little Red became Big Red, and began growing into his destiny. Soon, he would be a Hero, THE Hero, on whom America (and many around the world) could hang their hopes.

In July, 1972, the colt left the serenity of his barn and the comfort of the familiar: Secretariat traveled from his lovely hills to the jarring cacophony of New York City for his veryfirst race. (What a shock that must have been!)

On July 4th, 1972, he ran in his first race: a 5 1/2Furlong Maiden Special Weight at Aqueduct. He did not fare well. But after 10 days of rest, training and acclimation to his loud surroundings, Secretariat was entered in another Maiden Special Weight, this one, 6F on July 15th. He appreciated that

little extra distance, and he won. He had the new experience of being alone at the front, and it felt good.

Secretariat’s next trip was to upstate New York, to Saratoga, where the fresh air and lush greenery was so familiar, so much like his Virginia home. Many of the people and horses at Saratoga were the same as at Aqueduct, but here they were more relaxed. Secretariat was becoming Big Red, in large measure because he was nurtured by his best friend, Eddie Sweat; his Owner, Penny Chenery and calming new surroundings.

Secretariat latched onto the talent with which he’d been born – and just discovered within himself – and used it to win his next three races. (All three, 2YO races were at Saratoga: an Allowance on July 31st, then the Sanford on August 18th, and the Hopeful, just eight days later, on the 26th.)

Photo courtesy of NYRA.

Three races in brief succession, three victories. Saratoga loved Secretariat, and now, so did the world.

As 1973 approached, the Vietnam Conflict was coming to and end: the Paris Peace Accords was signed just 27 days into the new year. Secretariat hit the track in his third year, ready to rock.

The moment Secretariat’s big hooves stepped out of the paddock at Churchill Downs in May, 1973, America was ready for their Hero. They got it: winning the Kentucky Derby, then the Preakness, Big Red had become a legend. On to the third leg of the Triple Crown, and the demigod was prepared: ready to face Big Sandy, ready to steal thunder from the gods.

When he stepped out of the tunnel at Belmont on June 9, 1973, the screams were deafening. But Secretariat just stared at the track, laser-focused on the job before him. Surely, America’s Horse would not disappoint – and he did not. In fact, as we know, he won the Belmont stakes by a resounding 31 lengths—AND he broke the track record. (31 lengths = approx. the length of a football field between the two sets of goalposts.)

In fact, he broke the records for all three Triple Crown races: To this day, Secretariat still holds the record for the fastest Derby ever run: 1:59 2/5 seconds. He holds the record for the fastest Preakness run: 1:53 flat (Which was adjusted after a teletimer error originally clocked him in 1:55 2/5.) And of course, he still holds the record for the fastest Belmont: 1 ½ mile in 2:24 flat.

“One horse holding all three records is insane,” veteran racing journalist Dick Jerardi is quoted as saying. “That can’t happen, but it did. In those five weeks, he ran faster than any horse ever has.”

Tina Turner sang that “…we don’t need another Hero,” but she must’ve forgotten about Secretariat and the turbulent era that summoned him from the heavens. America needed a Hero of otherworldly proportions, and we got that Hero, in the flesh and spirit of the “…tremendous machine,” Secretariat.

Happy 50th, Big Red – and, Thank you!

“Always eager to share Secretariat with generations of racing fans, it is no wonder that Penny Chenery has been called the “First Lady of Racing.” She was a breath of fresh air for the industry, and a true horsewoman in every sense of the word.”

— Leonard Lusky, Secretariat.com

Helen Bates

(Penny) Chenery: 1922 – 1973

WRITTEN BY MARION E. ALTIERI

What can be written about Penny Chenery, that hasn’t been written or said already? The youngest of Christopher T. Chenery and Helen Clementina Bates Chenery’s three children, Penny was born in New Rochelle, New York in 1922, and reared in nearby Pelham Manor.

Photo courtesy of NYRA.

Penny loved horses from early childhood; she learned to ride when she was five. In 1936 she was 14, and her father built The Meadow, his Thoroughbred breeding farm in Caroline County, Virginia. (Penny also shared her sire’s business acumen – an attribute she would call upon in the early 1970s.) She attended the elite Madeira School in McLean, Virginia, where she was Captain of the Equestrian Team in her Senior year. (Of course, her talent for riding was a logical and emotional response to the species – but genetics and familial predilections surely played roles, as well.) She credits her father, for she believed that she had inherited that affection.)

"My father really loved horses. I think a parent often communicates his love to a child."

From the Madeira School, she went on to Smith College, from which she graduated in 1943 with a degree in American Studies.

Graduate studies followed, then marriage to John (Jack) Tweedy; four children and eventually, a move to the Wild West: Colorado. Penny’s life took a turn in 1967, when her mother died suddenly, and her father became ill. (He entered New Rochelle Hospital in April, 1968 and remained there until he died in 1973.) The Meadow had fallen into

disrepair, and was in debt. Three of the Chenery siblings hoped to sell the farm, but The Meadow’s Board had elected Penny to be President. In 1968, she began the long and arduous journey to bring The Meadow back to her father’s vision, and profitability.

She assumed breeding responsibilities, and by 1972 had a great stakes horse in her beloved Riva Ridge. Riva, as she called him, won the 1972 Kentucky Derby and the Belmont – thus, achieving Christopher Chenery’s dream of producing a truly great racehorse. The Meadow was once again viable – thriving, in fact. That same year, two-year-old Secretariat was named Champion Two-Year-Old Colt, thus foreshadowing his true greatness, and establishing his legacy.

Had not Penny insisted that The Meadow should be saved, her father’s name and passion for horses and the sport would have become an asterisk in racing history books. But Penny had the drive to do right by her sire, to give him a gift that he so-richly deserved: horse racing immortality. Only a daughter of extraordinary fire, grit, intelligence and love for family and Thoroughbreds could have given her father and the world, Riva Ridge and Secretariat – arguably, the greatest Thoroughbred, ever to live.

Penny and Big Red in a tender moment.

CONFORMATION

Secretariat: As Perfect as Possible

WRITTEN BY MARION E. ALTIERI

When buyers of Thoroughbreds consider a horse for purchase, one of the key considerations is conformation. Conformation is the way a horse is physically put together. The bones, muscles and proportions of the animal are the characteristics that ultimately prepare them for their job— that of running quickly with great efficiency. Human beauty is relative— every culture and every individual has standards of beauty that may not jive with those of anyone else. Everyone is beautiful to somebody.

This is not the case in the equine world: each breed has standards of beauty. That beauty is not superficial, but rather tied directly at the unconscious level to expectations for the jobs of horses within said breed.

Draft horses work hard for a living: they are stocky and muscular, with thick legs and strong backs. Thoroughbreds must be able to run fast, with grace – for grace of movement actually is a factor in the science of winning races. Long, elegant strides are the domain of those who win purses, while jackrabbit runners are far-less likely to take the day. This is a most egalitarian concept: a Thoroughbred doesn't win a race because s/he is liked better by the stewards or race announcer. No one votes on who should win—or the Triple Crown would be achieved every year.

A Thoroughbred must cross the finish line first to win a race. And just as Fasig-Tipton's elegant facilities are both magnificently lovely and serve a very practical purpose—the two concepts are inextricably bound up together. Concern for equine conformation also is a matter of form follows function. Whether a horse's main function is to run fast in order to win a race or to escape predators in the wild west—its form has been "fearfully and wonderfully made" to accommodate that most basic of instincts.

The machinery that gives a Thoroughbred his locomotion— the self-powered, patterned motion of limbs and other anatomical parts—is vitally essential, from the core. A horse may be appealing to the eye, but if the parts aren't hung together in a way that facilitates smooth action and a long stride, beauty means nothing.

The legs, hind end, neck, withers and abdomen all must work together like a machine, creating a rhythm that is easily maintained, right 'til the end of the race. The runners may speed up in the final stretch, but the original stride and way of moving of each horse remains essentially the same.

Many factors go into the study of conformation. Yes, it's about musculature, skeletal structure and mass. But it's the way those physical attributes come together with the spirit of the horse—that one unquantifiable factor—that determines

the horse's chances of becoming a Champion. Energy must overcome drag, inertia and gravity, and that is achieved by the mechanical workings of the biological attributes of the horse. Even the fact that horses are unguligrade—they are of a class of animals who walk and run on their toes—is a contributor to the relative perfection of the animal.

Of course, horses lacking excellent conformation have made monster names for themselves in the sport: Seabiscuit was small, somewhat boney and was over at the knees. The mighty Seattle Slew actually was slewfooted: when he walked, his right-front hoof turned out. He ran straight as a string, but as soon as he walked back off the track, that right hoof turned and faced East. Both Seabiscuit and Seattle Slew established themselves in the Pantheon of Thoroughbred racing, their conformational flaws notwithstanding.

Secretariat, the mighty warrior who won the Belmont — and therefore, the Triple Crown — by an otherworldly 31 lengths, and in record time — is considered by most to be the most perfectlyconformed Thoroughbred, ever.

(The measuring stick for conformation: a perfect square should be formed by the horse’s legs, back and distance between the hooves. A distasteful thought, but if you can envision a Thoroughbred with its head cut off at the neck—that squareness, or lack thereof, will be revealed. Secretariat formed a perfect square, to the naked eye using that yardstick.)

Indeed, Secretariat was as perfect as possible: his flawless body was built to facilitate acceleration, speed, and the ability to defy drag and gravity. These things came together in harmony with the great steed’s intelligece, focus, drive and will to win.

Secretariat’s diagrammed photo exhibits his powerful, round hind-end. (A horse’s derrière is the engine that explosively propels the equine athlete out of the gate. Races are often lost by horses who left the gate slowly.) Big Red’s long, straight legs worked together with his powerful hips, high withers (shoulders) and long, perfect neck to make a running machine that propelled him forward with record-breaking velocity, power and authority.

Conformation will be studied and respected as a key factor as long as horsepeople keep hope in their hearts, and science on their minds. Conformation is not the only determining factor, but it's the first that buyers and sellers notice — and the one that has the most clout when doing the mathematics of physics, that sweet science that aids and abets the quest to win at this sport that offers more intangible rewards than any other athletic endeavour on Earth.

Thoroughbred racing has continued during the 50 years since Secretariat’s Triple Crown. Racing will continue for eons – precisely because this is the sport in which hope springs eternal. No doubt, other horses will come along, whose conformation comes together with pedigree and attitude to create another Triple Crown winner – but there’ll never be another Secretariat, Penny Chenery’s Tremendous Machine.

Secretariat. Photo courtesy of NYRA.

Secretariat:

LARGER than LIFE

First, in the Flesh. Now, in Bronze.

WRITTEN BY MARION E. ALTIERI | PHOTOS PROVIDED

Every time Secretariat set foot onto a track, he did so with the confidence befitting a champion. Stepping into the gap, he stood, chest muscles rippling, his chestnut coat shimmering in the sun. Horses were intimidated by his commanding presence, the physical manifestation of the very essence of Plato’s horse Archetype.

Surveying the track and everyone on it, Big Red chose his moment to proceed: stepping onto the track, he started to run. Stretching out his long, perfect body, Secretariat became as one with the dirt beneath his beautiful feet at the ends of his exquisite legs. He accelerated, moving with grace, speed and authority. The sound when his hooves hit the ground sent shivers down spines, as the thunder of Thor’s Hammer announced the big horse’s superiority.

Sculptor, Joclyn Russells Secretariat: Larger than Life truly is larger than was Big Red, himself: 21’ long, the 3,800-pound artwork is a monument to equine perfection. The statue is approximately 1 1/2x Secretariat’s actual size. Like the Colossus of Rhodes, it’s impossible to stand next to the great bronze steed and not be overcome with reverence, and respect for the Colorado native who took him from clay-to metal-to Life.

Russell’s august ode to the mighty warrior horse pulses with vitality: muscles, sinew and veins came alive under her artistic vision, and she gave him the Breath of Life.

The statue is enormous, but surprisingly it’s only about 1 ½ times Secretariat’s actual size. Secretariat was one big horse: the flesh-and-blood Champion stood 16.2 hands (66”) tall – at the withers, that is, at his shoulder. To the tip of his ears, he was 7’ tall. An imposing figure, indeed.

The Artist herself has grown over decades: starting in her youth, she worked for 14 years for a veterinarian. That forged her love of animals and their anatomies; she took that passion and turned it first into painting and sculpting. She paints mostly in oils and arcylics; her works are both ethereal and lively. Her (literal) hands-on molding of animal statues ranges from miniatures to monumental, and results in sculptures that capture human hearts and souls. (She works very closely with her husband, metal artist, Michael Dubail. Michael’s work. sharp eye and deep knowledge of metal arts are integral, as the couple work together on many projects.)

Together with Allie (their adorable pup), they drove Secretariat on his flatbed, on an incredible journey from The Crucible Bronze Foundry in Norman, Oklahoma. First to Louisville (Churchill Downs). Thence to Baltimore (Pimlico), finally to New York (Belmont). Following the Belmont Stakes, the entourage packed up their gear, and trekked to Saratoga, where the monument to Penny Chenery’s Champion will be on display until just after the Whitney. (The first weekend in August.) Secretariat ultimately will be in Ashland – we’re not allowed to tell more, so please check Secretariat.com for updates!

a Toast To

SECRETARIAT

WRITTEN BY JOE RAUCCI

Secretariat and Woodford Reserve are both products of Kentucky’s fertile blue grass country. It is here that the most famous names in horse racing can trace their roots.They include Man O’ War, Count Fleet, Citation and a host of others that have made their mark on the American turf. Stories of their exploits, as breathtaking as they may be, are a subject for another day.

This year we celebrate Secretariat. His journey to immortality began with the ingredients that can only be found at the legendary horse farms of Kentucky. It is there at Claiborne Farm where Secretariat was conceived. Of note, his foaling and early training actually took place at Meadow Farm in the neighboring state of Virginia. After his brilliant racing career came to an end he would spend his remaining years as a sire at Claiborne.

The breeding of thoroughbred racehorses is not an exact science, although the combination of two proven bloodlines greatly enhance the chances for success. In Secretariat’s case the pedigrees of the great sires Bold Ruler and Princequillo would come together to produce a champion for the ages.

Photo courtesy of NYRA.

Photo by Joe Raucci

Secretariat in the winner cirlce at the 1973 Kentucky Derby

This year marks the fiftieth anniversary of Secretariat’s race to the record books. It was in 1973 that the big chestnut colt reigned as the sports story of the decade. Secretariat became only the eighth Triple Crown winner. It had been a quarter century since the feat was last accomplished by the great Citation. It’s the unparalleled fashion of his victories that stands out in the lore of the sport. Secretariat set track records in all three races that comprise the series. The culmination was at the Belmont Stakes. In this one he annihilated his opponents with a breathtaking 31 length win. His name as one of the greatest American racehorses of all time became etched in stone.

Enter Woodford Reserve, one of Kentucky’s great names in bourbon whiskey. About an hour’s drive from Claiborne Farm, the city of Versailles is the site of the brand’s distillery. Here, in a historic brick and stone building dating back to 1838, the process of creating the bourbon takes place. Saratoga’s resident sommelier John R. Brophy has lent his expertise to explain what makes Woodford Reserve so special. John explains it this way. “The process begins with it’s ingredients. They are a proprietary blend of 72 percent corn along with lesser amounts of rye and malted barley. Their own yeast strain, along with on site natural spring water is also added. The fermented mash runs through both pot and column stills. While most distilleries opt for one or the other, Woodford Reserve combines both methods. At this point the distillate rests in new charred white oak barrels that are constructed at their cooperage. This self contained

operation permits the most creative freedom to craft a truly unique product. After aging for approximately seven years to maturity, it is ready to be bottled and savored by bourbon enthusiasts the world over.”

John can be found at Saratoga’s Purdy’s Wine and Liquor. Here his expert knowledge of wines and spirits is on display. In 2018 Woodford Reserve was designated as the official bourbon of the Kentucky Derby.

To celebrate the fiftieth anniversary of Secretariat’s magical season of 1973, the distillery engaged equine artist and Kentucky native Jaime Corum to create the artwork for the label on this years commemorative bottle.

Her painting is a classic rendition of Secretariat and his jockey Ron Turcotte in the winner’s circle after his record setting Derby performance. The distinctive bottles are individually numbered.

They make the perfect gift for the horse racing fan, the discerning collector and those who expect only the very finest in taste and quality.

Once again, the familiar words “They’re off at Saratoga” are in the air. It was here at the Spa that Secretariat showcased three of his 16 career victories. It makes for the perfect venue to raise a tumbler of Woodford Reserve and offer a toast to the immortal Secretariat. Take a sip and savor the grandeur of this time honored bourbon whiskey. It will be a moment to remember.

Lisa Palombo, AMERICAN IMPRESSIONIST

WRITTEN BY MARION E. ALTIERI | ARTWORK BY LISA PALOMBO, PHOTOS PROVIDED

Rhode Island native Lisa Palombo must’ve started painting in infancy: if not, how could she be a professional painter for 35 years? (At this writing, she looks like she’s only 35 now.)

She reports that her favorite, fun aunt, a first-grade teacher, saw something in her when Lisa was eight or nine. Growing up in a house full of academic over-achievers, Lisa was enrolled in Saturday lessons and summer art camps at the distinguished RISD (Rhode Island School of Design), arguably one of the most prestigious art schools in the world. Lisa’s RISD summers happened before children’s summer camps became commonplace; it would lead to her formal education there, years later. Sitting on the RISD beach near Providence, painting and drawing nature, Lisa Palombo fell in love. Her RISD summers gave her the tools she needed, at a tender age, to take in the world with her eyes –then to process it in her spirit and present it as art that feeds the entire being.

"The

wind of Heaven is that which blows between a horse's ears."-Bedouin Wisdom

Title: America's Horse © Lisa Palombo

"Our Golden Boy," 40x40", acrylic and gold leaf on canvas © Lisa Palombo

Since that first summer, she has taken her passion and vision, and determined always to give her art 110%.

Lisa muses, “I think most artists will tell you that as soon as they finish a piece, they can’t wait to start the next one, because they want to do better next time. And so the never-ending reach continues.”

An officially-licensed Secretariat artist, she reflects, “Secretariat reminds us to run our own races ...and when we witness perfection [such] as his race at the Belmont in 1973, well, we get a bit emotional. Many even say they cried when they saw Secretariat ...31 lengths ahead of [Twice a Prince] to cinch [sic] the Triple Crown...”

As an adult, Lisa graduated from RISD, with a diploma in Illustration. As she continued to develop her illustrating technique, she adopted a colorful, hyper-realism style. Deconstructing her process, she swung her pendulum the other way: “...Something inside me wanted to be more painterly. Instead of a hundred strokes, I wondered if I could achieve the same in 10.”

This intentional transformation into an Impressionist was challenging, but worth her efforts: “…Something inside me told me it was important for my artistic growth. I’m so glad I listened to my inner voice. I absolutely love painting plein air and impressionistically!”

Lisa’s art explodes with vibrant colors, motion and kinetic energy that leaps off the canvas. A feast for the eyes and the soul, her paintings are far-more than mere distractions: indeed, her works will convince you that Penny Chenery’s Tremendous Machine still walks the Earth…and runs the ovals, with power and authority.

LISA PALOMBO, AMERICAN IMPRESSIONIST, will be on-hand to meet-and-greet at the Opening Reception for her Secretariat show, at Spa Fine Art in Saratoga on Friday evening, August 4th. The public is cordially invited. Her Secretariat collection will be on display at Spa Fine Art through Labor Day. Spa Fine Art is located at 376 Broadway.

Secretariat portrait, 24x18" © Lisa Palombo

from History from History SNAPSHOT

THE BEST of the BEST

WRITTEN BY BRIEN BOUYEA | PHOTOS COURTESY OF NYRA (UNLESS NOTED)

Comparing the greatness of racehorses from different eras presents incredible challenges. Training methods change, track conditions vary, foal crop sizes fluctuate, and even how races are timed has evolved. How does one compare Man o’ War, who competed before the days of starting gates and digital timing, to horses from later in the 20th century or the early 21st century? It all makes for a difficult and subjective task — and a great debate.

In attempting the rank the five greatest American racehorses of all time, I put particular emphasis on the lasting legacy of the horse in addition to the accomplishments and records. The outcome, of course, is arbitrary with no right or wrong answer, but here’s where I landed...

1. MAN O’ WAR

Bred by August Belmont II and campaigned by Samuel D. Riddle, Man o’ War won 20 of his 21 starts while racing in 1919 and 1920. His victories included the Preakness Stakes, Belmont Stakes, and Travers Stakes. His record time in the 1920 Travers stood as the stakes standard for 42 years. Man o’ War carried 130 pounds or more nine times, including 138 in one race. The lone blemish on his record was the controversial 1919 Sanford Memorial Stakes at Saratoga. Man o’ War was beaten a half-length by Upset, but it was widely reported the defeat was the result of Man o’ War facing the wrong direction when the starter dropped the webbing to begin the race (prior to the starting gate). He was greatly compromised and came up just short at the finish despite a heroic effort. The BloodHorse and the Associated Press both ranked Man o’ War as the No. 1 horse of the 20th century and Sports Illustrated named him the greatest horse of all time in 1992. He set three world records, two American records, and seven track records.

2. SECRETARIAT

Fifty years after he won the Triple Crown with record-setting performances in each of the races, Secretariat still holds the fastest times in the Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes, and Belmont Stakes. His 31-length victory in the 1973 Belmont Stakes is among the finest achievements in sports history. His Belmont time of 2:24 for 1½ miles on dirt set a world record. Secretariat was a cultural phenomenon, appearing on the covers of both Time and Newsweek prior to winning the Triple Crown. Named Horse of the Year in 1972 and 1973, Secretariat won 16 of his 21 career starts.

Photo courtesy

National Museum of Racing

3. CITATION

When he became America’s eighth Triple Crown winner in 1948, Calumet Farm’s Citation enjoyed perhaps the most impressive single year of a racehorse in history, winning 19 of 20 starts, including 16 in a row. He won at nine different tracks that year at distances ranging from six to 16 furlongs and set a single-year earnings record of $709,470. Citation later became the first racehorse to earn $1 million. Overall, he won 32 races and finished worse than third only once in 45 career starts.

4. KELSO

Kelso did things on the racetrack that aren’t even imaginable in today’s era. Voted Horse of the Year five consecutive times (1960 through 1964), he set or equaled eight track records and set three American records during his career. A small dark bay gelding, Kelso won the prestigious Jockey Club Gold Cup in each of his Horse of the Year campaigns. He also won the Woodward three consecutive years (1961 through 1963) and won three editions of the Whitney at Saratoga (1961, 1963, 1965). Kelso carried 130 or more pounds 24 times, winning 13 of those races. Overall, he won 39 of his 63 races and earned $1,977,896.

Photo courtesy of National Museum of Racing

5. NATIVE DANCER

The “Gray Ghost” came up only a head short of perfection in his remarkable career. Alfred Vanderbilt’s imposing colt lost the 1953 Kentucky Derby by a head, but he won every one of his other 21 starts and became racing’s first TV superstar. After winning all nine of his starts as a 2-yearold in 1952, Native Dancer won the Preakness, Belmont, Arlington Classic, Travers, and American Derby, among others, as a sophomore. He was Horse of the Year in 1954 when he won the Metropolitan Handicap. He carried 137 pounds to victory in his final start. Native Dancer was undefeated in six starts at Saratoga.

Her TURN at the Homestretch

Lady Sheila Stable with founder Sheila Rosenblum

Women and Racing Syndicates

WRITTEN BY L.A. SOKOLOWSKI | PHOTOS PROVIDED (UNLESS NOTED)

The year was 1904; The New York City subway system opened, Teddy Roosevelt won the presidential election, and a bay colt named Elwood won the 30th Kentucky Derby by a nose.

Dubbed the “Missouri Mule,” Elwood had barely risen from the claimers before heading to Louisville, where (at 15-1 odds) he delivered one of the biggest upsets in then-Derby history on a fast track against trainer John Fay and Henry Wehmhoff’s favorite, Proceeds. But the rustle of jockey Frank Pryor’s silks in that winner’s circle were no match for the swoosh of Edwardian taffeta as racing history was further written, for Elwood was the first Kentucky Derby starter — and champion — bred, owned, and trained by women.

Elwood was bred and trained by Emma Holt Prather (Mrs. J.B. Prather) at Faustiana Horse Farm in Maryville, Missouri, and owned by Lasca (or Laska) Durnell. Durnell shrewdly entered the horse that her husband, Charles Elwood Durnell of Burlingame Stables, gifted her three years earlier as a wedding present. Without telling him.

And just like that, women’s racehorse ownership was off and running.

1904 Kentucky Derby winner Elwood. Elwood was raced in Charles Durnell's wife's name, Lasca Durnell, who entered the colt in the Kentucky Derby without her husband's knowledge. Image public domain. c. 1904, Wikipedia

Photo courtesy of NYRA.

SYNDICATION 101

What is a racehorse syndicate?

Equine Legal Solutions, PC, a well-reviewed equine law firm licensed to practice in California, New York, Oregon and Washington, states that syndicates historically have been formed to finance the cost of racehorse ownership and to spread business risk among multiple investors.

ELS points to Sackatoga Stable: 10 friends who pooled their resources to buy a promising two-year-old Thoroughbred named Funny Cide, who went on to win the 2003 Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes. Each of the

members had invested $5,000 to buy their first racehorse and after some initial success, added money to their pool to invest in a trainer (Barclay Tagg), who purchased Funny Cide for the syndicate for $75,000. Funny Cide earned over $3.5 million in a five-year, 38-start racing career that garnered 11 wins, five graded stakes titles, and enormous public appeal.

There are different kinds of syndicates, but the basic principle is that those who buy in become co-owners of fractional interests in the racehorse. Syndication helps share the expense, not only of the purchase of a horse, but also its upkeep and training.

SPORT OF QUEENS

Mrs. Durnell was hardly the only woman to fancy owning a racehorse, if not a Derby contender, although it would take another 20 years before Mrs. R.M. Hoots had her Kentucky champion in Black Gold, followed by Mrs. John D. Hertz (1928, Reigh Count) and Mrs. Payne Whitney (1931, Twenty Grand).

By the 1940s, women owners were not uncommon and by 1942, four of the top eight finishers in the Kentucky Derby were women-owned (With Regards/Mrs. Ted D. Grimes, First Fiddle/Mrs. Edward L. Mulrenan, Fair Call/Josephine Douglas, Dogpatch/Ethel Veronica (nee Healy) Mars).

Three decades later, Columbia Business School-educated Penny Chenery revived Meadow Stable and produced Secretariat, the first Triple Crown winner since 1948 and that heyday of owners on the distaff side. Her achievement would add Chenery, with Martha Gerry and Allaire DuPont, to the list of the first women members admitted into The Jockey Club.

Closer to home, the Queen of Saratoga, Marylou Whitney, was the first woman in 80 years to breed and own a Kentucky Oaks winner (2003, Bird Town) and the following year, she had the winner of the Grade 1 Belmont Stakes and Travers Stakes in homebred, Birdstone.

TAKING OWNERSHIP

“I’ve been told by a number of partners that they wanted their own horses, their own voices, their own K-1’s (end of year tax statement),” says Maude Walsh, who started her career as a NYRA hospitality manager, paddock host at Breakfast at Belmont, and color commentator for morning workouts at Saratoga before managing partners at America’s Pastime Stables approached her last spring with their idea for “a ladies division.”

“I thought it was a great plan,” she says and, in keeping with the partners’ baseball theme, a women’s racing syndicate, A League of Their Own Racing Stable, was formed in 2022. “We are a group of 20 ladies with five horses in partnership. While the number fluctuates in the claiming game, we expect a stable of that size this season, and are partnering with breeding programs at America’s Pastime and McMahon Thoroughbreds.

“One of the first things I explain to women interested in our syndicate is that becoming a Thoroughbred horse owner is a lifestyle choice that provides unique thrills, so invest at a comfortable level, because the rewards are so much more than monetary!” Walsh says.

“Racing is a thrilling sport that has provided me with a great deal of personal enjoyment,” says Sheila Rosenblum, CEO and founder of Lady Sheila Stable, whose Thoroughbreds have earned over $6.1 million in purses, and produced 2015 Eclipse Award winner, La Verdad.

Lady Sheila Stable developed from Rosenblum’s desire to share her own passion for horses and the sport with friends, and to offer a guiding hand to others interested in buying into the experience. The kind of guidance, she confesses, she could have used in 2011 when she purchased her first yearlings and did “everything wrong.” Then she found the right trainer. “I’m a hands-on owner,” the Royal Ballet School-trained dancer and former model for Ford and Wilhelmina says. “Ballet taught me that the things that are worthwhile are worth taking time.”

In Linda Rice, Lady Sheila Stable found a trainer who devoted as much time and attention to young racehorses as she would to their green owners. Rice was the first woman to win a trainer’s title at a major U.S. racing circuit (Saratoga, 2009), with 75 starters compared to second-place Todd Pletcher’s 135, and with well over 2,000 wins at Aqueduct, is still one of the top female trainers in the sport. “That’s when my idea of offering syndication became reality. The second we met, Linda and I clicked. She showed an incredible work ethic and welcomed me, and the owners to come out in the mornings to watch our horses work, and we love doing that!”

Brown Road Racing jockey.

Photo by LA Sokolowski

“I strongly believe that increasing interest in the sport among women is crucial to the long term vitality of the industry.” Her focus on all-female syndications -- Lady Sheila Stable Two, Lady Sheila Stable III, Triumphant Trio – bring women along on the journey into what it takes to make a racehorse.

“Women, often mothers, see how they can be a part of growing with an animal. I like knowing my friends and I can watch our horses train. Linda loves the nurturing and talking with the new women coming in.”

Becoming part of a syndicated racehorse’s life includes responsibility for its aftercare. “Our breeding program is a natural extension of owning talented young horses and getting them to the race track, and then on to second careers,” Rosenblum says. Some become broodmares, while others find roles through numerous aftercare and retirement programs, including the New Vocations Racehorse Adoption Program, the oldest and largest racehorse adoption program in the country.

Michelle Cuozzo Borisenok, of Old Tavern Farm in Stillwater, also sees syndication as offering women a chance to engage in a horse’s journey and not just its arrival in a winner’s circle. The entrepreneur and philanthropist underwrote renovation of the site of the Women’s Leadership Institute BOLD Women’s Leadership Network Scholars at The College of Saint Rose in Albany, one of a half dozen northeast institutes of higher education where BOLD centers “cultivate courageous leadership.”

After her own less-than-rewarding experiences with male partners, where she felt “left out of a lot of the decision making,” Borisenok took the reins in 2018 and launched Brown Road Racing LLC, a boutique Thoroughbred racing organization geared to female racing enthusiasts, and connecting women who want to learn more about racing while enjoying the camaraderie of a racehorse partnership. “It’s not so much about winning,” she says. “It’s about education and experience. It’s about the journey.”

For the summer racing set, it’s also about a certain jockey outside the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame. In August 2022, the coterie of statues along the Union Avenue entrance gained an historic, head-turning addition by Saratoga Jockey Painter and artist, Robin Schumacher: The Brown Road Racing jockey sports blue-striped racing silks and… a long blond braid over her right shoulder.

“When I would look around the backstretch, what I saw missing were women and families,” says Borisenok. Adding a feminine touch, to syndicates and statues, is a start. “I’d like to be that connection. There are so many things under the umbrella of horse racing that we can learn from each other.”

The Brown Road Racing syndicate spurs involvement by guiding partners through the steps to obtain their owner’s licenses and go behind the scenes: “As a group of women on the backstretch, we used to be approached by Security to ask if we were ‘lost.’ So now we just show them our licenses.”

LADIES FIRST

“The horse comes first. From a mare delivering her foal to a yearling preparing to go into the sale, or a two year-old going into training, we follow a horse to retirement. Being a partner means visiting babies on the farm and seeing them progress through different stages,” says Borisenok, whose first racehorse, Gotta B Bold, was a New York-bred yearling (Freud x Chamonix) she bought for $35,000 with a partner at the 2018 Fasig-Tipton sale and is now a broodmare at Old Tavern Farm.

“We have a ‘baby B,’ she says, referring to the farm’s next generation and her mare’s first colt, sired by Central Banker. “We look forward to following his journey!”

For Rosenblum, some of her “highest highs and lowest lows” came with the late, great New York-bred, La Verdad, trained by Linda Rice to 16 wins in 25 starts and 2015 Eclipse Award winner as American Champion Female Sprint Horse of the Year. She delivered three fillies (by Medaglia D’Oro, Tapit, and Curlin) before passing in May 2020 from complications after foaling her first colt, by Grade I winner Into Mischief. “I lost her on Mother’s Day. La Verdad was like my third child.”

Emotions are part of racing, she muses, and emotions ran high for all the right reasons when Lady Sheila Stable had its second Bouwerie Stakes winner at Belmont on Memorial Day in Downtown Mischief, with Jose Lezcano in the irons (who also rode winner Holiday Disguise for Rosenblum in 2017).

The only misassumption Walsh has found regarding women’s syndicates is, “People assume we only race fillies, work with female trainers, and ask female jockeys to ride. While that would be awesome, I think misperceptions about the abilities and talents of females in racing are decreasing as the number of women, in a variety of roles, continues to rise.

“I foresee a strengthening of women partnerships in the coming decade,” she continues, “parallel to the growth of Thoroughbred racing, and directly related to educating and including women partners and providing real opportunities to actively participate.”

Join the club...

Want to join a women’s racehorse syndicate?

Here’s a few more to check out.

• Celtic Magic Thoroughbreds

Dana Schaefer, managing partner Celticmagicthoroughbreds.com

• League of Their Own Racing Stable Maude Walsh, managing partner MaudeCWalsh@gmail.com

• StarLadies Racing

Donna Brothers, partnership inquiries StarlightRacing.com

“We can enjoy this sport as much as any man,” adds Rosenblum. She sees women’s syndicates as, “A whole package of happiness that we share together. I’ve watched women come in not knowing much about horses, who get engaged and, before you know it, they’re bragging about ‘Everyone’s Horse!’

“It’s time to bring more women into this sport. I’ve attached myself to women – female syndicates, agent and trainer -and that strategy has worked for me. I’m in the money probably 60% of the time, and have also had better success with fillies. Next,” she winks, “it’s time to win the Derby.”

Mrs. Durnell might agree. Only this time, maybe give the husbands a heads-up.

Photo by Super Source Media Studios

Photo by Susan Blackburn Photography

Photo by Super Source Media Studios

a Saratoga Sure Thing...

THE BONDS

WRITTEN BY WILLIAM G. GOTIMER, JR. PHOTOS PROVIDED

No one wants their name bandied about in the same conversation or sentence as death and taxes -- but when it comes to sure things, counting on H. James Bond-trained horses running well and winning at Saratoga fits the bill. The locally-based conditioner routinely saddles winners during the Spa meet, and it’s no accident. Bond-trained runners have visited the winner’s circle at Saratoga virtually every year in the past three decades.

Bond is a multiple Grade 1-winning trainer and a fixture on the New York Racing Association (NYRA) circuit. Born in Rochester, New York, Bond began galloping horses at age 11 before taking out his trainer's license at 16.

Fittingly, the Bond operation is a local and family affair. Bond, along with his wife, Tina and sons Kevin and Ryan, operate and own a 100-acre farm, Song Hill Thoroughbreds in Stillwater, New York. While their operation competes year-round in New York, the Saratoga meet is where their hard work comes to fruition. The focus on New York State comes naturally for the Rochester natives, who have solid connections to upstate New York and horse racing.

Bond’s roots run deep in the Thoroughbred game; his father, Harold Bond, trained horses at Finger Lakes in the 1970s and ‘80s. In a foreshadowing of his son’s prominence in New York racing and involvement with horse breeding in New York, the elder Bond won the very first pari-mutuel race restricted to New York-breds when his Pride of Erin scored at Finger Lakes in 1973.

Tina Bond is the managing partner of Bond Racing Stable, which attracts partners, both experienced and inexperienced. The Bonds retains the majority ownership of every horse, which allows an easy entry point for owners new to the sport. She further advances the sport by acting as 2nd Vice President of NYTHA, the New York Thoroughbred Horseman’s Association. She serves on NYTHA’s committee overseeing the active backstretch programs and safety nets at New York’s racetracks.

Tina Bond’s previous business experience outside the Thoroughbred industry, as well as their sons’ formal education, have allowed the operation to continue unabated over the years as a public stable serving both wealthy, established owners and racing newcomers, alike. The Bonds’ business model revolves around breeding, purchasing and developing horses for productive racing careers.

With the extensive historical and current dedication to New York racing and breeding, it is no surprise that this familyrun local training operation makes the Saratoga meet its centerpiece. Each year Bond-trained horses outperform their odds with a high percentage of horses running in the money at generous prices.

Over the years Bond-trained horses have consistenly excelled in the Spa’s marquee events:

Will’s Way won the 1996 Travers for longtime clients Rudlein Stable and William L. Clifton Jr., after prepping with a secondplace finish in the Jim Dandy and returning to the Spa in ‘97 to take the Whitney Handicap by a nose. Fifteen years later, Tizway won the 2011 Whitney for long-time client, William L. Clifton, Jr.

A New York-bred colt, L’Carriere, owned by Virginia Kraft Payson, won the Saratoga Cup in successive years (1995, ’96), and took the Bond family to Dubai where he ran in the Inaugural Dubai World Cup.

Perhaps the most memorable Bond runner at Saratoga, ironically, was Behrens. An accomplished racer, he took the Bond family to Dubai for the Dubai World Cup twice – but Behrens never won at Saratoga, despite impressive efforts. He suffered by-a-nose defeats in both the 1997 Travers and 1999 Whitney, on his way to a then astounding $4.5 million in total career earnings. To paraphrase Robert Burn “…the best laid plans … often go awry.”

Most recently, Rinaldi, a Bond barn favorite won at Saratoga four times, including stakes three years in a row (2019-’21) for the Tina Bond-managed Bond Racing Stable. As a New York-bred, Rinaldi won the New York Stallion Stakes in 2019; the West Point Stakes in 2020 (in front of eerily-empty grandstand during the Covid pandemic) and the Forbidden Apple Stakes in 2021.

Bond Racing Stable showed its discerning eye for young horses when it purchased Rinaldi for a mere $5,000 at the Fasig-Tipton auction in 2016. From his five lifetime wins to date, Rinaldi has earned more than $450,000. He’s recently returned to the races, and is a likely runner for the upcoming 2023 Saratoga meet.

To date, Bond Racing Stable has enjoyed a healthy return on investment, and years of racing experiences.

The horse which is most emblematic of the full range of Bond family expertise is Giacosa. This daughter of the aforementioned Tizway was bred, foaled, raised and raced by the Bond operation. Three of her five lifetime wins came at Saratoga in successive years (2020, ’21), including the black-type Yaddo Stakes, named after Saratoga’s famous writer’s retreat. Giacosa retired with more than $350,000 lifetime earnings. Giacosa is currently in foal to Grass Sprint Champion Golden Pal. Whether it is with long-time clients or those new to the game, the Bond family operation consistently puts forth winners and competitive runners each and every Saratoga meet.

In a fast-changing world, it is comforting to know that some things (other than the death and taxes cited by Benjamin Franklin) are certain – James Bond trained horses winning at Saratoga.

Giacosa in the Winner's Circle at Sararoga after winning The Yaddo 2021 stakes. Photo courtesy of NYRA.

National Museum of Racing

WHERE RACING HISTORY Comes to Life

WRITTEN BY EDWARD L. BOWEN | PHOTO BY BRIEN BOUYEA (UNLESS NOTED)

Since 1950, the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame has chronicled, honored, and promoted the sport of American thoroughbred racing in innovative ways

LOCATION & HOURS

191 Union Avenue, Saratoga Springs

518-584-0400

Open Monday – Sunday

9-5 p.m. racingmuseum.org

& Hall of Fame

Led by Cornelius Vanderbilt Whitney, a group of people prominent within the sport of thoroughbred racing founded the National Museum of Racing in 1950. The Museum’s location of Saratoga Springs, New York, home of the oldest thoroughbred racetrack in America, proved to be an ideal setting. On Aug. 6, 1951, amid a great deal of fanfare, the Museum made its public debut in a temporary location at the Canfield Casino in Congress Park.

“The long-range purpose,” Whitney said at the opening in the famous old casino, originally opened by Saratoga racing founder John Morrissey in 1870, “is to build a permanent home for the important memorabilia for the sport whose beginnings in this country antedate by 100 years or more the United States of America.”

The first gift for the Museum project was $5,000 from the Saratoga Association, which owned and operated Saratoga Race Course. Harold O. Vosburgh, a steward for the Saratoga Association, donated the first piece of memorabilia, a shoe from the legendary horse Lexington.

The Museum has evolved with the times while staying true to its core concepts — preserving and promoting the history of thoroughbred racing in America and honoring its most accomplished participants with induction into the Hall of Fame. A major project was completed in 2020, when a dynamic new Hall of Fame and Race Day Gallery opened to the public. The new Hall of Fame includes the immersive signature film “What It Takes: Journey to the Hall of Fame,” which is narrated by iconic broadcaster Bob Costas.

“The new Hall of Fame experience, which we will continually update, is a true game-changer for the Museum. Our sport deserves the best and I believe we now have the greatest sports Hall of Fame in the country,” said John Hendrickson, the Museum’s chairman. After a few years in Congress Park, the Museum moved to a newly constructed facility at 191 Union Avenue, directly across the street from the historic track, in 1955. The Museum now occupies a sprawling building with some 45,000 square feet of space.

The Museum was popular from the beginning. During its first year of operation at the Canfield Casino in 1951, the Museum attracted more than 8,000 visitors. At the end of 1952, the register showed 11,500 names. Ground was broken for the Museum’s permanent home during the final week of November 1954. The cornerstone was laid the following April and New York Gov. W. Averell Harriman presided over the formal dedication during the 1955 Saratoga racing season.

Between 1999 and 2000, a major renovation and a 10,000 square-foot expansion of the physical plant costing $18 million improved collections storage and created a changing exhibition space, a curatorial workroom, and a children’s gallery.

There has been tremendous change in all areas of Museum operations in the 21st century. The unique horse racing simulator was developed and opened to the public in 2006; a new interactive Steeplechase Gallery opened in 2012; the Museum celebrated 150 years of racing at Saratoga with a two-year exhibit that opened in June 2013; in 2016, the Museum opened the Edward P. Evans Gallery, which displays some of the most coveted and prestigious trophies in the history of American racing; in 2018, the Museum unveiled its renovated interior courtyard, named in honor of C. V. Whitney; and in 2023, the Museum will celebrate the 50th anniversary of Secretariat’s Triple Crown sweep with both traveling and on-site exhibitions. Now in its eighth decade — with a new state-of-the-art Hall of Fame experience to inspire current racing fans and cultivate new ones — the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame continues to thrive as a dynamic and integral part of the sport it celebrates.

Hall of Fame theater. Photo by Gary Gold

Museum interior.

Photo by Bob Mayberger

Museum anatomy gallery.

A Tremendous Machine:

National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame Celebrates the 50th Anniversary of Secretariat’s Triple Crown

WRITTEN BY BRIEN BOUYEA

To commemorate the 50th anniversary of Secretariat’s historic 1973 Triple Crown sweep, the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame is presenting traveling and onsite exhibitions from May through October, honoring the accomplishments and enduring legacy of the famed Meadow Stable colt.

A Tremendous Machine: Celebrating the 50th Anniversary of Secretariat’s Triple Crown recently journeyed the same path Secretariat did to become America’s ninth Triple Crown winner. The unique traveling exhibit was on display at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky., for Kentucky Derby week May 3-6; advanced to Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore for Preakness Stakes festivities May 1820; and concluded its Triple Crown tour at the Belmont Stakes in Elmont, N.Y., June 8-11.

With its Triple Crown travels complete, a more comprehensive exhibition of A Tremendous Machine opened to the public July 13 at the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame, coinciding with opening day at Saratoga Race Course. At the conclusion of the Saratoga racing season, A Tremendous Machine will travel to Colonial Downs in Secretariat’s home state of Virginia for closing weekend at the New Kent-based track Sept. 7-9. The onsite exhibition at the Museum will remain on view through Oct. 29.

A video component of the exhibition takes fans through Secretariat’s unique journey in which he set speed records in each of the Triple Crown races. It also tells the stories of the people who guided the horse through his remarkable career.

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TRF at 40:

STILL SAVING HORSES AND CHANGING LIVES

WRITTEN BY L.A. SOKOLOWSKI | PHOTOS PROVIDED

Do a good deed and throw it in the river and one day, said the 13th century poet Rumi, it will come back to you in the desert.

“Throwing pebbles” is exactly how Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation (TRF) current and former executive directors Kelly Armer and Pat Stickney, and director of major gifts and planned giving, Kim Weir, liken the 40-year mission of good deeds behind the oldest Thoroughbred racehorse rescue and retraining program in America.

From its national headquarters in Saratoga on Spring Street, good deeds and second chances have been cast like pebbles into water and its unique vocational programs have slaked the hopeful thirst of horses and humans who have found themselves in the desert at the most vulnerable point in their lives.

A NEW YORK STATE OF MIND

Since 1983, the mission of the TRF has been to save retired racehorses who are no longer able to compete on the racetrack from possible abuse, neglect, and slaughter. Spurred by her own concern over their fate, New Jersey advertising executive Monique Koehler envisioned an aftercare organization that would be a safety net for racehorses with nowhere else to go.

“It all began with a bay Thoroughbred from humble beginnings named Promised Road, who never rose above the claiming ranks in his own 64-start career. His legacy wasn’t made on the racetrack but it has lived on for four decades in the TRF,” says Stickney, who began as a TRF volunteer in 2006.

Promised Road became the first hooved teacher and pioneered the flagship TRF Second Chances Vocational Training Program launched in 1984 in cooperation with Wallkill Correctional Facility.

Today, the TRF Program provides vocational training in equine care and management to incarcerated men, women and youth, with eight programs (and growing) around the country guiding the care and handling of roughly 165 Thoroughbreds in the hands of about the same number of inmates.

The rigorous inmates training program includes teaching horse anatomy, nutrition, and how to care for injuries. Graduates receive certification, based on the level of skillsets mastered and, after release, TRF cites graduates as going on to careers as farriers, vet assistants, and caretakers.

“I believe in and love the TRF Second Chances Program because it is literally that: It is a second chance for our equine athletes. Their days at the track are over but for these individuals, it gives them a second chance at life,” says NMR Hall of Fame jockey, Ramon Dominguez.

“Since that one horse and one dream,” Armer says, “we have grown to an official 2023 ‘herd count’ of 425 retired racehorses at 18 farms nationwide. Many of whom are changing lives through TRF Second Chances Programs from coast to coast.”

“While the TRF Second Chances Program began as vocational education,” says Stickney, who last accepted the position of TRF executive director in 2019 before stepping down in 2023 to resume a part-time role as its chief financial officer, “it wasn’t long before other benefits were realized; inmates not only learned viable skills but gained confidence and empathy. Studies have shown a reduction in recidivism rates at facilities that host the program.”

A grant from the Thoroughbred Equine Research Foundation helped TRF enhance learning experiences in the program through the purchase of teaching aids and equipment and in 2022, an expansion opportunity made possible through collaboration with the New York State of Corrections and Community Supervision (NYDOCCS) and a matching grant from Business for Good, as well as “many, many donors,”

expanded the TRF Second Chances Program into Wyoming County Correctional Facility in Attica, where a restored and repurposed dairy barn welcomed the first six horses in October 2022 .

“With opportunity,” says Weir, “for further growth up to 25 retired racehorses.”

Promised Road became the first hooved teacher and pioneered the flagship TRF Second Chances Vocational Training Program launched in 1984 in cooperation with Wallkill Correctional Facility. Shown visiting is TRF founder and New Jersey advertising executive Monique Koehler.

SAVING HORSES AND CHANGING LIVES

A tenet of horsemanship is that the horse is the great equalizer. It will not judge its rider’s age or gender or origin, and that natural equanimity is reflected in the TRF Second Chances Program at the largest prison for women in the United States: Lowell Correctional Institution in Ocala, Florida, housing female offenders at all security levels.

One such graduate of the TRF Second Chances Program at Lowell, who credits its horses with helping turn her life around, is Lauren Vannucci: “On August 19, 2012, drinking and recklessness caught up with me.” Instead of finishing community college to get a nursing degree, she served five years in prison on DUI charges that left a 52 year-old motorcyclist a quadriplegic.

“Going to prison is humbling. The first day that we were transported to the farm and I saw the horses, I was overwhelmed. It brought tears to my eyes and I felt hopeful.” The work included feeding and grooming, riding lessons with Ocala trainer Carol Fletcher for those interested and with it, a chance to retrain retired racehorses that could be adopted out.

Lauren became one of the farm’s best riders, earning its program certification and, as a model inmate, found her sentence reduced and she was released in 2017.

A month later, she was working for consignor Niall Brennan Stables and today, is a digital media professional in the Thoroughbred industry. She knows she got a second chance and promises, “I’m making the most of it.”

“We don’t really change people’s lives, the horses do. But there is satisfaction in seeing these girls succeed,” said John Evans, former equine program director for the TRF Second Chances Program at Lowell Correctional Institution and, for his two decades of work with TRF, first recipient of the Thoroughbred Charities of America Award of Merit.

“Was this the most gratifying job that I had in racing?” asks Evans, who also had a role in the superstar career of graded stakes winner and Florida Horse of the Year, Forbidden Apple. “It was. There’s no question about it.”

What spells success are lower recidivism rates than at nonTRF prisons. “Hardly any of our inmates come back,” Evans says. Estimating 65% of Lowell’s incarcerated women are also mothers, horses are a “big factor” in helping women, through working with these forgiving creatures, to be more nurturing with themselves.

“One of the biggest things [female inmates] gain,” Lowell assistant warden Stacey Tosi said, “is confidence. They learn more about themselves. What they are capable of. Things that they never thought they could do.”

John Evans, former equine program director for the TRF Second Chances Program at Lowell Correctional Institution and, for his two decades of work with TRF, first recipient of the Thoroughbred Charities of America Award of Merit. One such graduate of the TRF Second Chances Program at Lowell, who credits its horses with helping turn her life around, is Lauren Vannucci .

Jade Master is now thriving in his third career as a teacher in the TRF Second Chances Juvenile Program.

TRF SECOND CHANCES JUVENILE PROGRAM

The transformational power of what Weir likes to call “these magical beings” was brought for the first time to incarcerated youth in a 2021 partnership, between TRF and the Florida Department of Juvenile Justice, called the TRF Second Chances Juvenile Program at CSI-Ocala. Serving young men ages 12-18, it is adjacent to the TRF Second Chances Farm at Lowell Correctional Institution.

The inaugural program’s livestreamed opener (catch the replay here https://www.trfinc.org/ juvenile-at-csi-ocala/) included a tour of the new equine facility built at the Center for Success and Independence (CSI), the juvenile residential commitment program operated by Youth Opportunity Investments in Ocala; remarks from Eric Hall, Ed.D., Secretary of the Florida Department of Juvenile Justice; and an introduction to its program teachers: TRF retired racehorses Fifth Angel, Hurricane Sergio, and Jade Master.

The Florida Department of Juvenile Justice saw a unique vocational training opportunity through the TRF partnership and they were right.

“The equine program provides an opportunity to gain hands-on training while receiving the benefits of animal-assisted therapy,” said Juvenile Justice Acting Secretary Josie Tamayo. Hands-on horse work helps young people grow and build skills they never knew they were capable of while empowering better transitions back into their home communities.

At the same time, TRF was helping racehorses like Jade Master make their own transition home. The chestnut gelding’s off-track journey began three years earlier in Puerto Rico, where the graded stakes winner had earned over $200,000 the hard way (19 wins/43 starts).

Jade Master came to Caribbean Thoroughbred Aftercare in 2020 where, after steady rehabilitation for racing injuries, he found a second career at a riding school. His unwavering kindness made him a lesson favorite with kids, but his soundness wasn’t as steady as his disposition. He was simply unable, physically, to hold up to the rigors of the riding program.

“Aftercare takes a village,” Weir says. “TRF has been happy to open its doors to several horses from this organization and provide a soft landing for the remainder of their lives. Jade Master is now thriving in his third career as a teacher in the TRF Second Chances Juvenile Program.”

TRF SUMMER NIGHT BBQ AT THE BARN

This year’s BBQ at the Barn, Tuesday, August 22, starting at 5 p.m. at The Saratoga Winery, is extra special as the Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation turns 40 with (IYKYK) a spiffy new event tent to scoff at raindrops. Always a sell-out night of food, drinks, raffles and silent auction during Travers Week, do good, have fun and get your tickets at donorbox.org/events/418503.

THE NEXT 40

“The TRF Second Chances Program represents the American dream to me,” says Tyler Frame (then-Tyler William Murray), who spent almost nine years at the Central Maryland Correctional Facility on second-degree arson charges before making the most of his second chance through his work at a stable he helped place on the Maryland Department of Agriculture network of Horse Discovery Centers, and championing a bill to enforce anti-bullying regulations.

Now it’s his turn to try and better life for others. “If that’s not living the American dream,” Frame says, “then I don’t know what is.”

A dream – and blessing -- is how Julianne ‘Jules’ Stowell, who also completed the TRF Second Chances Program at Lowell, sees the way TRF saves horses and changes lives. The Port Canaveral, Florida “beach girl” says life took a wrong turn with a wrong relationship, adding up to six years incarceration on theft and probation violation charges.

“But God has a sense of humor. When I was little, I went to Disney World and fell in love with a pony that, of course, we couldn’t bring home. So instead I go to prison and wind up with 50 horses. Then I work for Niall [Brennan Stable] and now I’m up to 200 horses a day!” Stowell’s responsibilities include building daily training and breezing lists, updating the website, and client relations like escorting owners coming to the stable to see their horses train.

“I owe it all to TRF. Incarceration makes you more afraid of loss and of taking chances. But their program was the best thing I could have done.”

Armer and the TRF team look forward to 40 more years of casting good deeds like these into the river: “This is a good story and only getting better.”

TRF Chairman Ramon Dominguez with the writer, L.A. Sokolowski, at the 2019 Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame inductions.

Arcangelo's Trainer, Jena Antonucci celebrates winning the Belmont Stakes with Jockey Javier Castellano, June 10th, 2023.

Photo by Sue Kawczynski

jena ANTONUCCI and ARCANGELO:

MAKING Her - STORY AT BELMONT

WRITTEN BY MARION E. ALTIERI

The homepage of Trainer Jena Antonucci’s Website reads in bold, straightforward lettering – and centered:

JENA ANTONUCCI

Female Thoroughbred Trainer

The font chosen is block, straight up-and-down. No italics, no flowery font. Right out-of-the-gate, this bold declaration stands, hands-on-hips, in the center of the page.

Jena Antonucci IS a Female, and she IS a Trainer of Thoroughbreds. (There are several talented women who train Thoroughbreds in the U.S., but not nearly as many as those who train Arabians or other breeds.)

Antonucci’s gutsy proclamation should not be misunderstood as being confrontational; it’s merely a confirmation, of her confidence in herself and her God-given talents.

(A horse Trainer who lacks confidence won’t win many races. Worse-yet, horses or jockeys can be injured because the Trainer fails to give clear, definite direction.)

Antonucci’s statement gives insight into the mind and workings of the Trainer who threw American Thoroughbred racing on its ear on June 10th, 2023 at Belmont. She wasn’t expected to win. She was a novelty. She was, OMG, a woman. (For some reason, American women are not encouraged to train Thoroughbreds. And most of the few who are encouraged, by-and-large, are mentored by males.)

ARCANGELO WINS THE 2023 BELMONT STAKES

Photo by Sue Kawczynski

Left to right: Hit Show, National Treasure and Arcangelo racing around the final turn at the 2023 Belmont. Photo by Dan Heary

THE BUILDING OF A WINNING TRAINER

Jena grew up riding horses from age three, then began competing and training show horses throughout her childhood – into her teens, thence, early adulthood. Her quest, to better understand horses from the soul, out, and the training process inspired her to flip her script: she seized an opportunity presented to her at one of the best Thoroughbred breaking and training centers. This new adventure took her to her new home, Ocala, Florida.

There’s no doubt that Hall of Fame Trainer D. Wayne Lukas is one of the most accomplished Trainers in the history of Thoroughbred racing. He’s won multiple Eclipse Awards, and is also enshrined in the American Quarter Horse Hall of Fame.

Lukas has has forgotten more about horses than most people will ever know.

Jena became a protégé of Lukas’ program at Padua Stables, she worked breaking and training Thoroughbreds. She states that the knowledge she gained there allowed her training skillset to evolve further. Following her time with Lukas, she worked for four-and-a-half years as an equine veterinary assistant. (This experience, alone, sets her apart from most Trainers: how many others can claim to have such medical insights?) She opened her own business, Bella Inizio Farm, where initially she cared for broodmares, foals, weanlings and yearlings. Bella Inizio gave her the place and tools to shift gears, and move the farm into a place of healing, of rehabilitation for Thoroughbreds, then return them, healthy and strong, to their racing careers.

National Treasure (left) and Arcangelo (right) duke it out at the 2023 Belmont.

Photo by Dan Heary

HORSEOLOGY: WOMEN, HOLDING THE REINS

This passion for horses led her to create HorseOlogy, a minority- and women-owned, full-cycle Thoroughbred training and ownership organization. Founded, owned, and operated by Katie Miranda and Jena Antonucci, horseOlogy is passionate about everything Ology for horses.

Ocala, Florida is the home of horseOlogy conducts all facets of Thoroughbred raising, training and racing. The umbrella organization advises on bloodstock, micro-investing, pinhooking and and more. The Team is serious about horse business, but wants also to soften the stoicism of business. With humor and grace, they strive to bring good-natured camaraderie back into the sport of horseracing, to make it relatable to the next generation of enthusiasts – while respecting the long-steeped traditions.

ONE-ON-ONE

This Writer had the privilege of video interviewing Antonucci for TalkoftheTrack.com during her second Summer at Saratoga. She was lively, engaging, sweet and eager to talk about her relationship with horses:

“You know, my biggest goal is to get them out of their skin, to trust us…I feel that that’s the gift that I was given, how I connect with the horse, and communicate with them…”

As she wrote on her website, “The answer is already within every horse; it’s up to us to listen.”

This Interviewer enthusiastically concluded the video piece thus: “Jena Antonucci is a wonderful Trainer; she has wonderful horses who trust her – and that’s how races are won. Mark my words: she will be inducted into the Hall of Fame one day.”

Anyone who knows anything about horses knows that, if a horse trusts you – that horse will do anything for you. Arcangelo trusts his Trainer; he knows that he’s not just a client, he’s part of her family. He ran his heart out for her at Belmont, and that trust paid off in spades – and, that day, in carnations. Her HERstory-making Belmont put her into history tomes, never to be bested by anyone. Eventually, another woman will win a Triple Crown race – but Jena Antonucci’s name will be etched in the books – and in the hearts of starry-eyed little girls – forever.

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518-587-1935

saratogaautomuseum.org

Saratoga

AUTOMOBILE MUSEUM

Don’t Miss… BOND IN MOTION

The Official Collection of Original James Bond Vehicles Exhibit on display through January 31, 2024

Includes the following on-screen used vehicles, plus many more:

• 1964 Aston Martin DB5Used in GoldenEye (1995), Tomorrow Never Dies (1997), Skyfall (2012), Spectre (2015), and No Time To Die (2021)

• 1977 Lotus Esprit “Wet Nellie”Used in The Spy Who Loved Me (1977)

The Saratoga Automobile Museum was chartered in 1999 and officially opened to the public in June 2002. The Museum’s mission is to preserve, interpret and exhibit automobiles and automotive artifacts. So before you leave town, stop by and check out one-of-a-kind automobiles, their current exhibits, and the Museum Gift Shop where you can browse through posters, books, and so much more. Children will love the store's activities and gifts for kids, including a wide range of model cars and books.

• 1999 BMW Z8Used in The World is Not Enough (1999)

• 2002 Aston Martin V12 VanquishUsed in Die Another Day (2002)

• 2006 Aston Martin DBSUsed in Casino Royale (2006)

• 2015 Aston Martin DB10Used in Spectre (2015)

PHOTOS PROVIDED

PLAY IT AGAIN, SAM!

Sam the Bugler: Back at Belmont.

Once more, with Feeling

WRITTEN BY MARION E. ALTIERI

Fans of horse racing who attended this year’s Belmont Stakes found many things familiar and comforting. At Beautiful Belmont Park, Canada geese still soar the skies, landing on their Infield Pond with ballet-like beauty and grace. The neighing of thousands of horses in the barns greet fans as they arrive, soothing with their ancient song. Race fans, especially New Yorkers, are particularly proud of Big Sandy, Belmont’s magnificent dirt track. The Infield Pond is enormous: large enough to land a 747. The track itself is deeper than most tracks, due to NYRA’s proprietary recipe: more sand in its mix (with clay and silt) than other tracks = more of a challenge to runners. That recipe makes Big Sandy deep-enough to unnerve horses and jockeys who’ve never experienced it before.

The legendary Sam Grossman – Sam the Bugler.

Photo courtesy of NYRA.

Big Sandy is the quicksand over which Secretariat flew with otherworldly speed, 50 years ago. Big Red, stared Big Sandy in the eye and didn’t blink.

At this year’s Belmont Stakes, held on June 10th, the legendary Sam Grossman – Sam the Bugler – graced the Belmont winner’s circle once again.

In 2022, he stepped back a bit to tend to personal matters. These days, he’s channeling his tremendous talents and energies into teaching music in a public school, north of Miami – sharing his wealth of knowledge and passion with a new generation of young musicians. (Sam’s fans won’t be surprised by this information; he has a long reputation for generosity of spirit.)

Grossman doesn’t dismiss the idea of playing occasionally at Saratoga, of course, and he'll play other NYRA special occasions.

On June 10th, race fans witnessed the master’s joyous return to his home turf, playing his song to those ontrack, and to the millions worldwide who viewed the race on their TVs, computers and smartphones.

And – bonus! – this year, Sam played First Call (Call to the Post) with his twin brother, Irv Grossman and his close friend, Bethann Dixon. The dynamic trio brings special magic to those 34 notes, notes that have set hearts and imaginations afire at tracks all over the world.

Left the right: Irv Grossman, Bethann Dixon and Sam Grossman at the 2023 Belmont Stakes. Photo by George Adams

TheOtherSide of NELSON...

WRITTEN BY MARION E. ALTIERI | PHOTOS BY JESSICA HALLETT, SARATOGA RACEWAY

Saratoga Raceway Carries Historic Traditions into the 21st Century

The concept of harness racing has been around at least since Roman Centurions stood in Chariots, and challenged each other during their down-time from pillaging Etruscan villages.

Someplace along the line, someone placed a friendly wager on their favorite Centurion and his steed. Thus began the beautiful science and sport of Harness Racing. There are basically three types of horse-racing Fans:

1. Fans of horse racing who may limit their affection and “donations” (bets) to the north side of Nelson Avenue at the Saratoga Race Course, where powerful Thoroughbreds have touched their golden hooves on sacred dirt since 1863.

2. The hearts of others thrill to the sight of sulkies and gutsy Standardbreds, modern chariots doing battle on the stone dust surface at Saratoga Raceway on the south side of the street.

3. Then there’s the third type of horse-loving race fan: those smart folks (like this Writer) who just-plain love horses, and enjoy both sports. Those Fans drive across the Nelson from the Thoroughbred course at day’s end, to catch some night action at the Raceway.

An interesting observation: Thoroughbred fans (like this Writer) may not know how to handicap harness races—but it sure is fun. And it levels the playing field, when none of your friends know any more about it than you do. (That’s when this Writer sticks to the knowledge that Hanover is an old, established Standardbred pedigree. I’ll take my finder’s fee in small bills when you win.) :)

Looks like a Triple Dead-Heat!

Abigail Adsit, whose parents Eric and Jean have trained harness horses for 30+ years.

Unfortunately, harness racing in America—well, OK, in Saratoga—has been relegated to the role of Red-HeadedStepchild. The billionaires who fly into Saratoga County Airport on their private jets – the captains of industry, the Sheikhs – generally own and breed Thoroughbreds and Arabians. The nickname, The Sport of Kings, perpetuates the myth, that only patricians can stand in the winner’s circle. (The reality is, that anyone – “average” people, who don’t own oil derricks or penthouses on Park Avenue – can own Thoroughbreds through partnerships. One need not have deep pockets in order to enjoy the thrill of horse ownership. But that topic is covered elsewhere in this Equicurean. See page 36.)

Fast-forwarding to the New World, and harness racing. Interestingly-enough, Saratoga Springs, New York was the site of "trials of speed and exhibition of horses" at county fairs as early as 1822. In 1838 (185 years ago!), the oldest continuous harness track in America was built in Goshen, New York.

Then,1847 marked the year that Saratoga hosted the New York State Fair. With an eye to the future, and prepping for the Fair in September, two local entrepreneurs – Alfonso Patten and James M. Colethe –built the Saratoga Trotting Course. The Course, just south of what we now call The Oklahoma (Training Track) was the site of the first harness race on August 15th, 1947. Today that area is called, Horse Haven. (The sign that marks the spot is directly across the driveway from the NYRA Guard House. People walk past that sign every day, and have no idea about the historic importance.)

(N.B., On August 3, 1863, casino operator and future congressman John Morrissey organized the first Thoroughbred race card, and held the races on the Saratoga Trotting Course. After that first meet, Morrissey purchased 125 acres of land across Union Avenue; built a new grandstand, and named it, Saratoga Race Course. Contributing to the creation of the new Race Course were John Hunter (later the first Chairman of The Jockey Club), William R. Travers, John Morrissey, and Leonard Jerome.)

This brief history of the connection between harness and Thoroughbred racing in Saratoga shows clearly, that the two sports are really two siblings in the same family. No stepchildren here, red-headed or otherwise.

Moving into the 20th Century, harness racing professionals and fans, on June 26th, 1941, the Saratoga Raceway. It was the first pari-mutuel track to be constructed in the United States, for the specific purpose of harness racing. The track as we know it has gone through many changes and owners over the years. Now the property is known as, Saratoga Gaming and Raceway.

But whether you choose to call it by its legal moniker, or affectionately say simply, “the harness track,” it all boils down to the same thing: the sport of harness racing is alive and well, and thriving on Nelson Avenue in Saratoga.

Young people like Abigail Adsit are the future of the sport: like many others, Abigail grew up in harness racing. She’s carrying on the legacy of her parents, Eric and Jean Adsit –who’ve trained and harness-raced for over 40 years. Abigail grew up in the sport, and, as she studies for her Trainer’s License – she has one hoof on the north side of Nelson, where she exercise-rides Thoroughbreds for a Trainer. One species, two breeds, one love. One harness track, in the home of American racing.