The Saratoga Special will honor the legacy of one of its most unique and beloved team members by naming its renowned editorial internship program the Terry Hill Internship starting with the 2026 summer season at Saratoga Race Course.
The summer internship, offered since the publication’s launch in 2001 but refined ever since, has produced dozens of “graduates” who have gone on to excel in careers inside and outside of racing. After sending a “cold” letter introducing himself in October 2018, Hill worked as an intern at The Special for three summers – 2019, 2020 and 2022 – after coming out of retirement as an advertising executive in his late 70s. Hill passed away in December 2025 at age 81.
Beyond The Special, Hill was a “genius – at life,” as his family put it in an obituary. He was well-read, a great writer and world traveler, with wonderful friends and a fabulous wife Miranda. A graduate of the University of Michigan, and Wayne State University Law School, Hill worked in advertising – first in Detroit, then in Toronto, New York and beyond with stops in Washington, D.C., London, and Paris. Early in his career in Canada, Hill named the original Team Canada for the legendary 1972 Canada-Russia Summit Series. His other suggestion, discarded at the time, was Dream Team. After retiring early, Hill focused on writing for himself – poetry, plays, short stories, essays and eventually a series of “Two Guys…” books with his childhood friend, Steve Chandler.
His love of Thoroughbred racing coaxed him out of retirement and that application to The Special. When no one responded to the initial letter, he sent an email. Eventually, The Special hired him or he hired The Special. Either way, he was part of the team. Self-proclaimed as “the world’s oldest intern,” he wrote columns, covered races, mentored other staff and good-naturedly tackled any assignment thrown his way including trips to Stillwater and Galway when Saratoga Race Course hosted stakes named for the towns.
“In the midst of the publishing season, we don’t always have time to appreciate the people and the moments that make The Special what it is, but looking back at Terry’s contributions will always be a source of joy,” said Joe Clancy, co-founder of The Special with his brother Sean. “Terry made an impression, on all of us. Hopefully, this small gesture helps people remember him and what he meant. We all look forward to telling future interns about Terry.”
The Special adds between three and five paid interns to its summer staff annually. Team members are tasked with everything from writing and proofreading to distribution and marketing, with plenty of other tasks thrown in during the course of the 40-day Saratoga meet.
Graduates of the program have gone on to a wide range of careers, including those in media working as writers, editors, television hosts and analysts, handicappers, bloodstock and sales representatives, advertising and marketing, track announcing, racetrack management and others.
The Special will return for its 26th season in 2026, with plans to provide the same behind-the-scenes coverage of the Saratoga season that includes the Belmont Stakes Racing Festival in June and the extended traditional meet that runs from July 3 to Sept. 7.
