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Saratoga Opens With Loaded James Marvin Field

The $100,000 Schuylerville (gr. III) for 2-year-old fillies is the feature on opening day of the 40-day Saratoga meet, but the ungraded James Marvin Stakes for older sprinters is the race that has everyone taking notice.

Saratoga Race to Honor Congresswoman Giffords

The seventh race on the July 22 opening day at Saratoga Race Course will be named in honor of Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, a Representative who is recuperating from injuries sustained when she was shot Jan. 8.

NBC Sports Saratoga Coverage Begins July 23

The NBC Sports Group's seven straight weekends of "Summer at Saratoga" coverage begins Saturday, July 23, with live coverage of the TVG Coaching Club American Oaks (gr. I).

Flay to Deliver Hall of Fame Address

Celebrity chef and racing owner Bobby Flay will deliver the keynote address at the National Museum of Racing's 2011 Hall of Fame induction ceremony Friday, Aug. 12, at the Fasig-Tipton Sales Pavilion.

Variety of Activities at Saratoga Open House

Saratoga Race Course will open its gates five days early as the Spa prepares to host its annual pre-season preview party, the 31st annual Open House.

F-T Saratoga Select Sale Has 160 Yearlings

Fasig-Tipton has cataloged 160 horses for its Saratoga select yearling sale. The number is down 20.8% from last year's total of 202. The 91st edition of the auction will be held Aug. 8 and 9 in New York.

Hayward Addresses Criticism of NYRA

The head of the New York Racing Association said he made "a mistake" by not sharing details about management pay hikes with state oversight officials, but he defended the fiscal health of the association.

Summertime Fun: Sale 2YOs and Their Names

One of the most fun things about summer racing is watching the 2-year-olds emerge, especially at Saratoga, where many well-bred youngsters start for the first time.

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Saratoga Gets Significant Purse Incentives

The New York Racing Association has announced two purse incentives for the upcoming 40-day meet at Saratoga, which begins on Friday, July 22.

NBC to Broadcast Live Coverage of Saratoga

The New York Racing Association and the NBC Sports Group May 12 announced a partnership to broadcast "Summer at Saratoga," live racing from Saratoga Springs, N.Y., over seven weekends beginning July 23.

Plum Pretty's Half Sister in Midlantic Sale

A half sister to Kentucky Oaks (gr. I) winner Plum Pretty is entered in the Fasig-Tipton Midlantic sale of 2-year-olds in training in Timonium, Md., May 23 and 24.

Pinhookers' Fortunes Improve at Keeneland

Pinhookers' 2-year-olds are more profitable because they spent less to acquire them as yearlings.

Four Graded Stakes Return to Belmont Schedule

The New York Racing Association's stakes schedule for the 2011 Belmont Park spring/summer meet includes the return of four graded stakes that were on hiatus in 2010 due to financial constraints.

Justus, Guest Services Director, Leaves NYRA

Kimberly Justus, director of guest services for the New York Racing Association, has left the company due to personal family reasons, NYRA announced Feb. 19.

Date Set for 2011 Round Table

The Jockey Club's 59th annual "Round Table Conference on Matters Pertaining to Racing" has been scheduled for Sunday, Aug. 14, 2011 at the Gideon Putnam Resort in Saratoga Springs, N.Y.

Fasig-Tipton Will Conduct 13 Sales in 2011

Auctions are scheduled for Florida, Kentucky, Maryland, New York, and Texas.

A Little Warm Injured; Likely to be Retired

A Little Warm, winner of the July 31 Jim Dandy Stakes (gr. II) at Saratoga, suffered condylar fractures to both front legs Oct. 21 and will most likely be retired from racing, his connections told the Daily Racing Form.

Discreetly Mine Injured; Out of Breeders' Cup

Discreetly Mine, winner of the Aug. 28 King's Bishop Stakes (gr. I) at Saratoga, is no longer being pointed toward the Nov. 6 Sentient Jet Breeders' Cup Sprint (gr. I) at Churchill Downs due to an injury to his left stifle.

Rachel Alexandra Turns in Bullet Work

The reigning Horse of the Year worked a bullet four furlongs at Saratoga's Oklahoma Training track.

The Filching of The Ferns

An excellent card takes the meet into waning days.

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Quality Road an Easy Woodward Winner

Quality Road got back on track in the $750,000 Woodward Stakes (gr. I), easily defeating an overmatched field under John Velazquez to earn his fourth grade I win Sept. 4 at Saratoga.

Here Comes Ben Pulls Forego Upset

In a star-studded field that included some of the biggest name sprinters on the East Coast, it was little-known Here Comes Ben that came from off the pace to spring a 9-1 upset in the $250,000 Forego Stakes (gr. I) Sept. 4.

Rail Trip Tunes Up For JC Gold Cup

Rail Trip continued his preparations for the Jockey Club Gold Cup (gr. I) at Belmont Park on Oct. 2 with a brisk six-furlong breeze on the Saratoga main track Sept. 4.

Desormeaux Out at Least Three Weeks

Kent Desormeaux was awaiting the opinion of a specialist at Albany Medical Center on Sept. 4 to determine whether an apparent vertebrae fracture was a new injury or an old one.

Saratoga Diary: End of Days

The party plan goes into effect to help attendance.

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Trio of Future Stars Meet in Hopeful

Three of the most impressive maiden winners this summer -- Boys At Tosconova, Stay Thirsty, and Wine Police -- headline a field of seven in the Hopeful Stakes (gr. I), the marquee event for juveniles at Saratoga.

Indicators: Handle Off $100 Million in August

Pari-mutuel handle was off by about $100 million in August compared with the same month in 2009, yet another indication any rebound will take longer than some in the industry imagined.

Saratoga Diary: Maidens No More

Four horses leave the ranks of the non-winners.

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Pletcher With Half of Spinaway Field

Todd Pletcher, who has won the Spinaway Stakes (gr. I) three times, will have a 50-50 chance at winning another when he sends out four of the eight starters in the Sept. 5 race for juvenile fillies.

Four Pick 6 Winners at Saratoga Get $377,883

Four winning tickets correctly selected the winners of each of the Pick 6 races Sept. 2 at Saratoga Race Course and were rewarded handsomely with payouts of $377,883.

Saratoga Diary: Big Zucchini

Jockeys aren't measured by how large or heavy they are, but by how well they ride.

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Godolphin Entry Has Edge in Strong Forego

The $250,000 Forego Handicap (gr. I) came up very strong, but the Godolphin coupled entry of Vineyard Haven and Girolamo will be tough to overcome.

Quality Road Looks to Bounce Back in Woodward

Quality Road will try to rebound from his narrow Whitney Handicap (gr. I) defeat last month when headlining the field in the $750,000 Woodward Stakes (gr. I) Sept. 4 at Saratoga.

Pletcher Eyes 3rd Straight With Anticipation

Todd Pletcher sent out Bittel Road and Interactif to win the With Anticipation the past two years and will have another live chance when he sends out Sensational Slam in a field of 10 and two also-eligibles.

NYRA Releases 30-Day Comparisons for Spa

On-track attendance at Saratoga has declined 5.3% and on-track wagering is down 6% for the first 30 days of the current meet, when compared with the comparable 30 days a year ago.

Beldame Next on Agenda for Persistently

Phipps Stable's Persistently appeared well the morning after her one-length upset victory over reigning Horse of the Year Rachel Alexandra in Aug. 29, grade I, $300,000 Personal Ensign Invitational.

Miner's Reserve to Miss Several Months

Trainer Nick Zito reported Aug. 30 that Miner's Reserve sustained a hairline fracture in his right knee in the Travers Stakes (gr. I) and the Mineshaft colt will be sidelined for several months.

Saratoga Diary: Ghosts in the Pine Trees

The fans' appetite for a confrontation between horse racing's stars wasn't served, but it has probably subsided.

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Pletcher: Super Saver Will Undergo Tests

Kentucky Derby Presented By! Yum Brands (gr. I) winner was 10th in the Travers (gr. I).

Miner's Reserve Exits Travers With Sore Foot

He set the pace in the "Midsummer Derby" before finishing seventh.

Plans Not Firm for Travers Winner's Next Race

Afleet Express comes out of the "Midsummer Derby" in good shape, according to trainer Jimmy Jerkens.

Handle, Attendance Rise for Travers Stakes

The attendance increased 33.7% from a year ago to 45,764.

Afleet Express Nips Fly Down in Travers

In a thrilling edition of $1 million Shadwell Travers Stakes (gr. I), Afleet Express held off Fly Down by the narrowest of margins to win the "Mid-summer Derby" Aug. 28 at Saratoga.

Discreetly Mine Rolls in King's Bishop

If there was any question about who is the top 3-year-old sprinter on the East Coast, Discreetly Mine answered it emphatically Aug. 28 at Saratoga with a wire-to-wire win in the $250,000 NetJet King's Bishop Stakes (gr. I).

Mine That Bird to Get Blinkers for Woodward

The Birdstone gelding hasn't won since scoring an upset in last year's Kentucky Derby Presented By Yum! Brands (gr. I).

Victory Ride: Rapport Runs 'Em Off Their Feet

Rapport set blazing factions and still had something left in the tank for the stretch drive, as she rolled to a dominating 3 1/2-length victory in the $100,000 Victory Ride Stakes (gr. III)Aug. 28 at Saratoga.

Dynaslew Strikes in Ballston Spa

Live Oak Plantation's Dynaslew sat off of pacesetter Silver Reunion for a mile, pulled even in mid-stretch, and inched clear for a half-length victory in the $200,000 Ballston Spa Handicap (gr. IIT) Aug. 28 at Saratoga.

Saratoga Diary: Between Beers

A hiccup by the meet's leading jockey in a stream of good races on the pre-Travers card.

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Red-Hot Get Stormy Scores Again in 'Baruch

Odds-on favorite Get Stormy took over turning for home and inched clear of pacesetter National Kid to win the $200,000 Bernard Baruch Handicap (gr. IIT) by 2 3/4 lengths Aug. 27 at Saratoga.

Saratoga Diary: Coming Together

Fans of the sport's biggest and least noticed stars express 'That's Amore.'

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