Features

The annual tradition of the Fasig-Tipton Stable Tour calls for the final feature to focus on the “Little Guys,” who didn’t grab the headlines but earned recognition and respect. (Originally published in Aug. 2 issue of The Saratoga Special)

Look down the shedrow of Bruce Brown’s barn inside Horse Haven on the Oklahoma Training Track and there’s a lot of familiarity. (Originally published in Aug. 1 issue of The Saratoga Special)

Peace and quiet can be tough to find at Saratoga Race Course during training hours. A few spots offer some respite from the occasional morning madness, often in barns tucked into corners of the grounds or off the beaten path to and from the main track or Oklahoma. (Originally published in July 28 issue of The Saratoga Special)

Todd Pletcher spent a rare racing day at Saratoga Race Course without a runner Wednesday, catching up on work, phone calls, texts, emails and other business from his Oklahoma Training Track barn’s office.

David Donk takes a straightforward approach to his business, keeps his barn full of useful horses and sends a clear message to his owners. (Originally published in July 26 issue of The Saratoga Special)

Rusty Arnold is on the board. The Kentucky-based trainer won his first race of the meet when Borracho captured a tough allowance Sunday. (Originally published in July 25 issue of The Saratoga Special)

Friday morning, before the heat wave arrived, trainer Al Stall’s Saratoga barn was just chilling – a breeze fluffed in from somewhere over Greentree way, the last set cooled out, the British Open unfolded on the office television and a select group of Thoroughbreds dozed in their stalls. (Originally published in July 20 issue of The Saratoga Special)

Pillows, pillows and more pillows. Walk up Jimmy Toner’s shedrow on the main track and that’s what you’ll see. The horses in the stalls are knee deep in straw that spills out into neat pillows like all the barns did way back when. (Originally published in July 19 issue of The Saratoga Special) Old school … Read more

Rodolphe Brisset’s 2019 Saratoga string takes up nearly a full shedrow in Barn 71 on the Oklahoma Training Track. The French-born trainer went out on his own in 2017 and had a few stalls in Saratoga for the first time last summer. He started seven, placed with three and was fourth in the Grade 1 Alabama with Talk Veuve To Me. He and wife Brooke share the riding duties for the 15 horses. Brisset will manage his Saratoga string as well as taking trips to his main base in Kentucky at Keeneland and Churchill Downs. (Originally published in July 18 issue of The Saratoga Special)

Wesley Ward’s horses could be anywhere. They’ve run at 14 North American racetracks this year, and also raced in England and France. He’s got 27 stalls at Saratoga, toward the back on the main-track side with a view of the Godolphin woods. (Originally published in July 13 issue of The Saratoga Special)