Features

Editor’s note: Terry Hill, who brought unique life experience, talent and style to his spot on The Saratoga Special editorial team last summer, was among the crowd at Woodbine for two-time Horse of the Year Secretariat’s final start in the Canadian International Stakes 46 years ago today, Oct. 28, 1973. Hill, 75, wrote the following piece last spring when we asked for a sample of his work. Enjoy.   

The one you have been waiting for, the one we have been waiting for, the Bill Mott Stable Tour. In an annual tradition, Sean Clancy walked with the Hall of Famer, opening up screens, leaning over runners to meet Mott’s 30 horses stabled on the Oklahoma training track Friday morning. (Originally published in Aug. 31 digital issue of The Saratoga Special)

Robin Smullen answered with the perfect two-word reply.

Phil Bauer is winding down his third summer in upstate New York before he heads back to Churchill Downs. A former assistant to Ken McPeek, Bauer is the private trainer for Richard and Tammy Rigney’s Rigney Racing. (Originally published in Aug. 29 digital issue of The Saratoga Special)

Pick a dark day, that’s what we’ve learned. It’s the best time to ask Jimmy Jerkens for a Stable Tour. Hands-on like his Hall of Fame father, Allen, Jerkens will take his time if there is time, that goes for the tour and for his training. (Originally published in Aug. 25 issue of The Saratoga Special)

There is nothing like doing a Stable Tour with Shug McGaughey. The Hall of Famer mentions a horse’s name and might follow that with another name and another name and another name, spilling out blue-blood runners who dance off any pedigree page. (Originally published in Aug. 24 issue of The Saratoga Special)

Ken McPeek did his best Babe Ruth, or better yet Joe Namath, behind the desk of his office when asked what he thought of the new restricted auction races in the condition book at this year’s Saratoga Race Course meeting. (Originally published in Aug. 23 issue of The Saratoga Special)

Jim Bond likes to stick to the advice given by his father many years ago. (Originally published in Aug. 22 issue of The Saratoga Special)

With a dozen racing days remaining, the race for second in the Saratoga Race Course trainers’ standings looks like it could be fun as seven trainers were within three victories of each other while at least 10 back of leader Chad Brown through Saturday. With 10 wins, Christophe Clement has already more than doubled his total from the past two seasons and could be in line for more with a strong hand on Saratoga Showcase Day Aug. 23 and some others still to race. (Originally published in Aug. 18 issue of The Saratoga Special)

George Weaver can usually be counted on to have a handful of winners at Saratoga, but this year’s meet hasn’t necessarily followed that pattern. With just one victory, he’s a long way off last year’s total of six, but that hasn’t affected the trainer’s dry sense of humor. (Originally published in Aug. 17 issue of The Saratoga Special)