Join The Saratoga Special Readers Club for exclusive access to news, swag, discounts, special events and more
Louie Olah’s uniform hangs on two hooks in the corner of the color room, hidden in the forest of colors spreading wall to wall. Navy Aqueduct shirt, red pens and his glasses in the chest pocket. Khaki pants, worn-leather belt, with an Aqueduct overnight from Thursday, Feb. 7 folded in the back pocket. A pony can of Sprite, Olah’s soda, sits chilled in the fridge.
If you could only ask the question. Either on the OTB show in the morning or on the walk back to the jocks’ room in the afternoon, it’s all questions. All day.
The last race fades to a close and fans head for the exits, thinking of winning bets, losing bets and their next libation. The few, the enterprising swim upstream heading for their day’s work. Inside the grounds, another form of life begins.
“Grandpa,” “Old Whitey,” “Mr. Old Gray,” “Old Man” and “Mr. Poppy,” are nicknames given to Evening Attire by those closest to him. To New York racing fans, Evening Attire is known as a sterling gelding with a heart of gold.
Doug Fout sat across from Carl Barnes and patiently waited to intervene. They were en route to Colonial Downs for High Action’s U.S. hurdle debut on Sunday, June 15. Fout listened, smiled, bit his tongue, and bided his time as his new owner proudly proclaimed High Action a better horse than Hirapour, the 2004 steeplechase champion Fout trained to five Grade I wins over his career.
Mimi Voss sat outside her husband’s barn at the Oklahoma annex and waited for Guelph, whom she bred, to be taken out of her stall for some early morning exercise.
Eibar Coa likes to fight, he’ll tell you that. If he wasn’t a jockey, he’d be an Ultimate Fighter, he’ll tell you that too. He rides aggressively, he’ll tell you that and you’ll see that.
Ben Walden Jr. doesn’t come to Saratoga often. When he does, trust him, he’s got the goods.
A yellow taxi drops off a could-be buyer. Leslie Deckard scans the Internet. One man crosses his leg and peruses his catalogue in the top row.
“As good as it gets.”
That’s the five-word description for Hip 80 on Barry’s Irwin’s catalogue.
