Tom Law

Bob Ribaudo was half-joking, half-serious when discussing the chances of Quezon in today’s $100,000 Union Avenue Stakes for older New York-bred fillies and mares.

Ben Colebrook may or may not get what he’s been thinking about for a long time for China Grove in today’s $100,000 Bolton Landing Stakes at Saratoga Race Course.

Owning a Thoroughbred racehorse is an electrifying, difficult and frequently expensive endeavor. Churchill Downs launched a new program this spring to clear some of those hurdles and allow people to enjoy the experience of ownership with minimal risk and expense. 

As the final horses were led from their stalls to the walking ring the crew from Hurstland Farm gathered around the stall of Hip 248, waiting for the call over the public address system.

The opportunity to buy into a filly from a well-raised, productive and active family nurtured by one of the world’s most successful breeders for nearly a half-century doesn’t come around often. When it does, and all the right players take interest and dig deep, the rewards are plentiful.

Alfred Nuckols walked with purpose behind the first of his four yearlings slated to sell during Monday’s opening session of the Fasig-Tipton Saratoga sale of selected yearlings, watched the Bernardini colt walk into the electrified atmosphere of the back walking ring like he’s been doing it his whole life and breathed a sigh of relief. 

One certainty in the microcosm of the boutique auction world is its uncertainty.

The uncertainty is frequently disguised as optimism in the weeks and days leading up to a major sale. A fair share of both existed on the Fasig-Tipton grounds as the Saratoga sale of selected yearlings got underway Monday night.

There’s buzz in the air and the buyers are out. 

It’s 8:30 Sunday morning and the foot traffic around Fasig-Tipton’s Humphrey S. Finney Pavilion is starting to pick up. 

Paul Shanahan and Justin Casse chat at a high-top table near the snack bar. 

Others that will remain nameless are in line looking for a cure to the repercussions of a big night of celebration following the five-stakes card of Whitney Day.