THE AUGUST PLACE TO BE

THE AUGUST PLACE TO

Wasabi

Knicks Go won the Whitney Stakes

Photo by Maureen Conroy Britell

Photo by Valerie Embrey The stillness of dawn transforms into a day of racing at “The Spa.”

Photo by Valerie Embrey

By Vicky Moon

For anyone who loves thoroughbred horse racing, it’s all about Saratoga Springs in upstate New York.

The late, great Bill Nack wrote in Sports Illustrated that fellow sportswriter Red Smith once told him how to get to this magic place: “Red Smith’s standard directions for getting to the track still work: From New York City, you drive north on the Thruway for about 175 miles, turn off at Exit 14, take Union Avenue heading west and go back about 100 years.”*

Those directions have worked for two members of the Country ZEST staff for decades. So, here we go, with apologies if you were there and we missed you.

We began at a reception for Virginia Tech’s Marion duPont Scott Equine Medical Center. Attendees included Michael Erskine, director and professor; Susie and Wayne Chatfield-Taylor; Richard Garagliano and his daughter, Laura Gargagliano Bartee, a Warrenton-based architect, horse lover and mother of upcoming equestrian Maddie; steeplechase trainer Doug Fout; Steffanie Burgevin; and, with many thanks to hostess Peggy Steinman with her 2021 Westminster Kennel Club Best in Show Champion Wasabi, a three-year-old black masked red male Pekingese who also put in an appearance at the track one day.

A bevy of beauties from Middleburg made the trek: Maureen Conroy Britell, Shannon Elaine Casey and Sabrina Moore arrived in time to see Knick’s Go, bred by Moore, win the Whitney Stakes.

Then it was on to the 100th edition of the FasigTipton Selected Yearling sales at the Humphrey S. Finney Pavilion. Out in the courtyard is the perfect place to see the horses as well as fabulous friends near the Man o’ War restaurant or the snack bar. Jane Covington was with Emily Hannum and her daughter, Chloe. And, happy to have our great pals, Robin and Gordie Keys nearby. John Stuart from “over the mountain” and wife Douglas Wise were there, too.

Add to this list trainer Jonathan Thomas, who had a gate-to-wire win for first time starter two-year old filly Benbang. Our neighbor, Jim Fitzgerald of Chilly Bleak Farm, is coordinating a weanling to yearling pin-hooking partnership. And, Woodberry Payne from Orange was doing everything, as was Gregg Ryan and Summers Thomas. And oh my, suddenly I can’t breathe, there’s ANGEL CORDERO.

Steffanie Burgevin and Sonny Via

Photo by Vicky Moon

Fauci the horse

Photo by Vicky Moon

Chris Gracie with a future auction possibility

Photo by Vicky Moon

Adam Newman and Bill Gallo on the backside one morning

Photo by Vicky Moon

Angel Cordero

Photo by Leonard Shapiro

Trainer Jonathan Thomas

Photo by Vicky Moon

On the backside, we chatted with National Steeplechase Association Director of Racing Bill Gallo and Adam Newman of Flying Elvis Stables, who owns several jumping horses trained by Neil Morris. One afternoon at the races we spotted an interesting horse named Fauci, with jockey Ricardo Santana Jr. up. They finished second, no comment.

Saratoga during sales week is all half party and half very $erious business. Before the sales began, Fasig-Tipton announced it would become the first Thoroughbred auction company to accept cryptocurrency as payment for equine purchases. Said President and Chief Executive Officer of Fasig-Tipton, Boyd Browning, “As Fasig- Tipton approaches its 100th Saratoga Sale, we’re excited to partner with Crypto.com and Swapp to offer cryptocurrency payment and rewards services at our flagship yearling sale.”

The total sales price for 135 yearlings auctioned over two evenings was $55.155 million an average of $408,556.

Another neighbor, Chris Gracie sold hip #134 by Blame. The dark bay colt had all the pedigree and physical parts. “They have to be perfect, it’s tough,” he said. For the final prep of showing to potential buyers, he took the colt right up the road to fellow neighbor Jim Fitzgerald. Gracie’s colt sold for $275,000. No word if the winning bid was in cryptocurrency.

*Bill Nack wrote those directions in Sports Illustrated to Saratoga years after Red Smith died in 1982. Some allege that Smith’s directions never appeared under his own byline and that the Thruway does not go to exit 14. That would be the Adirondack Northway and on and on. See also: https://saratogainstitute.wordpress. com/2015/06/15/going-back-100-years-red-smithand-the-saratoga-quote. Either way…head north next August. For directions, just ask Siri.