Opinion

They’ve ridden the best horses in the game, won the biggest races around the world. Two veteran Hall of Fame jockeys Mike Smith and John Velazquez will take you on the road to the Breeders’ Cup. Read Smith’s journal to the Breeders’ Cup here. Read Velazquez’s journal to the Breeders’ Cup here.

Sitting in a hotel in Naas, Ireland. It’s lashing rain. One of those long, pummeling rains that remind you of a boxing match, jab, jab, jab, slam. Then it stops, then it starts. Jab, jab, jab, slam. Then it stops, then it starts. Jab, jab, jab, slam.

What do I miss the most about Saratoga? The conversations. The simple, enlightening, engaging conversations with owners, trainers, jockeys, grooms, fans…all the conversations. Here’s a conversation with Hall of Fame jockey Gary Stevens about his Saturday rides at Santa Anita. Phone conversation, never the same, but still a conversation. Talk about rides. Stevens will partner … Read more

A few days from our belated honeymoon to Ireland provided a true taste of the world, right from the comforts of the home office.

Slowly but surely getting adjusted to LAS – Life After Saratoga – and the news this morning brought me back to a couple mornings spent at the Oklahoma Training Track and other mornings and afternoons from years gone by that seem a lot more recent than they are.

You know it’s time to go when you pick up your dry cleaning without dropping any off. You know it’s time to go when you see NYRA crates stacked at the doorways. You know it’s time to go when your brother buys the half-priced donuts from Stewart’s. You know it’s time to go when the … Read more

I played tour guide more often this year. I’m not sure why. Did I miss the meeting? Just seemed like I got volunteered more this year than in past years. You always get calls when you’re in Saratoga for the summer. I’ve provided floors and couches to kings and queens, tours to friends and fools. … Read more

Wise Dan should run on the dirt. Royal Delta should run against males in the Breeders’ Cup Classic. Cross Traffic should run in the Woodward. Racehorses are meant to be challenged. A tough campaign is the mark of a good horse. A good horse can run on anything. 

And on and on and on.

The next time somebody tries to opine about things like that, tell him about Saginaw. Tell her about Kris Royal. Tell him about Sarava’s Dancer. Tell anybody that will listen about Live Lively. Tell them about the horses who died trying. Tell them how difficult it is to be responsible for the well-being of an athlete that can’t talk, can’t read, can’t do math, can’t understand what you say. 

It started out as a lark, and has grown into a tradition. Time for the annual I’ll miss it, I won’t miss it… I’ll miss turf works. I won’t miss the sirens. I’ll miss the Morning Line Kitchen girls. I won’t miss the Morning Line Kitchen bees. I’ll miss the jumpers. I won’t miss the … Read more

Ken Ramsey set the record for most wins at a Saratoga meet when Granny Mc’s Kitten won the P.G. Johnson Wednesday. After the stakes, Ramsey signed autographs, posed for photos, handed out buttons and shook hands like a politician on Election Day. Ramsey wins owner’s titles like a kid collects scrapes. He breeds, claims and … Read more