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ST Publishing Inc.’s brother duo of Joe and Sean Clancy earned Eclipse Award honorable mention recognition for their coverage of major racing events in 2025. Both honors came in the News/Enterprise Writing Award category. Joe earned his recognition for his story titled “Journalism Writes a Masterpiece in Preakness Thriller” about the Preakness Stakes that appeared … Read more
Vincent Bracciale Jr., whose 20-year career as a Thoroughbred jockey took him to 3,545 victories, a mount in the Kentucky Derby and two rides aboard the legendary filly Ruffian, died peacefully at home in Mount Airy, Md., Dec. 15. A husband to Terri for 53 years and father of five daughters, he was 72. One … Read more
The New York Racing Association unveiled its plans Thursday for 51 days of racing in 2026 at Saratoga Race Course, including an extended one-year-only 46-day proper summer meeting. Racing in Saratoga will open with the five-day Belmont Stakes Racing Festival Wednesday, June 3 through Sunday, Sunday 7. The $2 million Belmont Stakes will be run … Read more
Terry Hill, the self-anointed “World’s Oldest Intern,” crossed paths with several classes of interns during his time at The Saratoga Special. He started in 2019 and stayed with us, even from afar, until this past summer. Terry passed away last week at the age of 81 and we wanted to hear from his former co-workers … Read more
With the retirement of American-bred stalwart Snap Decision, it’s probably fitting that a horse bred in France and imported from Ireland won the season-ending Colonial Cup Sunday. Fil Dor, part of the group brought over by Gordon Elliott for Far Hills last month, made off with the $150,000 Grade 1 at Springdale Race Course in … Read more
There are 246 days between March 22 and Nov. 23. If the horses on the National Steeplechase Association circuit were counting all this time, they haven’t let on but they’ll be happy to learn that the season ends in South Carolina this weekend with Aiken Saturday and Colonial Cup Sunday. Somebody tell them this is … Read more
No more Snap Decision days for racing fans. No pursuit of a fifth Temple Gwathmey Steeplechase win in April. No more trips to Nashville to run in the Iroquois in May. No more chasing the NSA career earnings record. Snap Decision, who carried excellence through seven seasons on the National Steeplechase Association circuit, is retired. … Read more
Can you say homestretch? The National Steeplechase Association season turns to its final two weekends with a stop at Callaway Gardens in Georgia Saturday. The southernmost stop on the circuit shifted two weeks later in the calendar and offers a runway into next weekend’s South Carolina finale at Aiken (Saturday) and Camden (Sunday). Callaway’s five-race … Read more
Leaves . . . wind . . . early sunsets . . . frost on the pumpkins . . . Thanksgiving plans . . . the end of the steeplechase season . . . Things you think about in November. And you’re on to the next round of the $20,000 Pyramid or whatever the dollar … Read more
The main event. Officially the Breeders’ Cup kicked off Friday with the 2-year-olds in the spotlight, but the O.G. of North America’s biggest weekend comes Saturday. Dubbed Championship Saturday, the nine-race extravaganza figures to go a long way toward crowning the champions of 2025. Sovereignty is absent of course, knocked out of the $7 million … Read more
