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Editor’s Note: Saratoga Race Course hosted the first edition of the Leo O’Brien Stakes Sunday, July 5. One of the last times someone from The Special interviewed him, he talked about what it was like to gallop champion 2-year-old of 1970 Hoist The Flag. From the Aug. 6, 2019 edition of The Saratoga Special. It’s … Read more
Time for the weekend. The second Friday of the 2025 Saratoga Race Course meeting features a 10-race card topped by a strong renewal of the Grade 2 Shuvee for older fillies and mares on the main track. Raging Sea puts her strong Saratoga record on the line in the 9-furlong Shuvee, which goes as the … Read more
The second week of the 2025 Saratoga Race Course meeting rolls along Thursday with New. York Thoroughbred Aftercare Day and a 10-race card featuring the $150,000 Rick Violette Stakes for 3-year-old New York-breds. The Rick Violette, named for the late trainer and fierce horsemen’s advocate, goes as the third race with post time of 2:21 … Read more
Four race days down, 36 to go. Week two starts here. The Fasig-Tipton Tour showcases David Duggan and his burgeoning stable. Far Bridge added another stakes score in the Bowling Green, Excellent Truth dethroned She Feels Pretty in the Diana and Governor Sam trounced five rivals in the Quick Call. China Beach tries to make … Read more
The opening week of the 2025 Saratoga Race Course meeting comes to a close Sunday with a 10-race card topped by the Grade 3 Quick Call Stakes for 3-year-olds sprinting on the grass. A field of eight entered the 5 ½-furlong Quick Call presented by the Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation, including Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint … Read more
Sam Hall found himself at a crossroads after Jet Sweep Joe finished a close second in last summer’s Skidmore Stakes at Saratoga Race Course. Would he sell the horse to help his small racing operation stay afloat, or would he keep his promising son of Frosted and continue to watch him race? The decision was … Read more
The Saratoga Special rolls into the first Saturday of the meet with Issue 2 of Saratoga’s racing newspaper. The Fasig-Tipton Stable Tour features Jeremiah Englehart and his thoughts on Mo Plex potentially clashing with Sovereignty in the Jim Dandy. We featured 2-year-old colt Dr. Agne in the first edition, and again in this one, as … Read more
The Saratoga Special returns for its 25th season with Issue 1 of Saratoga’s racing newspaper in time for Opening Day. The first edition includes Todd Pletcher discussing Mindframe, Fierceness and the rest of his stars in the Fasig-Tipton Stable Tour, Heredia looking strong in the first division of the De La Rose and Spinning Colors … Read more
The July 4 Racing Festival comes to a close Sunday at Saratoga Race Course with a 10-race card without a stakes but plenty of opportunities for horseplayers and horsemen. The festival, which also caps the Belmont at the Big A spring-summer meeting, continues to generate interest from gamblers as total handle exceeded $26 million Saturday. … Read more
The July 4 Racing Festival rolls on with a 12-race card Saturday at Saratoga Race Course featuring three stakes. The final Saturday of the Belmont at the Big A spring meeting – which doubles as the unofficial first Saturday of the Saratoga summer season, not including the traditional 40-day stand – features the Grade 3 … Read more
Testing, testing, testing, is this thing on? Technical difficulties. This is a test of the emergency handicapping system. At the tone . . . Had this been a real emergency, you would have been instructed to try the harness track. Happy Independence Day to you and yours. Team Special wound up a little too dependent … Read more
