TheOtherSide of NELSON...

WRITTEN BY MARION E. ALTIERI |

HALLETT,

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.) :)

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.