Page 15 - The Game September 2006

Your Thoroughbred Racing Community Newspaper The Game, September 2006 15
Friday 7 am:
We drive over to George’s house. He’s a fine host. The guy has a thousand stories, most about heavy drinking and shaved eyebrows. Four years ago he met a woman who loves fishing and horses. That’s why he’s here. We take the bucolic stroll to the backstretch. It’s like that scene in Field of Dreams.
“Is this Heaven?”
“No it’s the Saratoga backstretch.” George seems to know everyone. He’s the
definitive guide.
“There’s Barclay Tagg,” he says, pointing
at a gaunt, intense man.
“The trainer of Funny Cide,” I comment,
proving I’m in the loop.
“Come here,” gestures George, and in a
moment we’re at the Barclay Tagg Stables and a handsome horse is sticking his curious head out of his stall. It actually is Funny Cide. He poses for a picture.
“There’s Allan Jerkens,” George points at an elegant man on a horse. Jerkens’ filly Swap Fliparoo will win Saturday’s $250,000 Grade 1 Test Stakes.
On the track, the image of dozens of horses and riders working out is breathtaking. The energy in the air is practically palpable.
Saratoga in August. A chance to win at the Spa.
“Saratoga is mystical,” says George, “If you’ve got a shot at winning, this is where you want to win. Birds fly to Capistrano. Canadians, horse lovers go to Saratoga.”
George poses with his horse Seaside Salute, which is entered in an optional claiming race on Sunday. George doesn’t think he will win. He introduces to me to his trainer William Turner.
“He trained Seattle Slew,” impresses George, “That makes him the only living Triple Crown trainer on the planet.
Turner is a tall, kind-looking man, now in his 66th year and with more than four decades at Saratoga
“The first year I came up here was 1960,” he says, “I was an apprentice steeplechase rider. Everyone in racing knows that if you haven’t done it at Saratoga, you haven’t done it at all.”
Friday 3:25pm:
McKenny is staring at the Monmouth results overhead on a screen.
“Look at those,” he says.
The winner paid $22.00, the place horse paid $37.00.
McKenny shows me his tickets. He has the tri. He has the exactor twice. He cashes for over $1400.
He pays for dinner. Indian. It was fabulous.
Saturday 12:59:
George gets us into the back- stretch.
Invasor runs an awesome race in the Whitney Handicap Grade One Stakes, outlasting Sun King by half a nose. Teenaged jockey Fernando Jara continues to prove his brilliant ride on Jazil in the Belmont Stakes was no fluke.
Sunday 11:59 am:
I encourage McKenny that we should be at the track early, because Monmouth has a noon post-time on Haskell Day. I’m very optimistic about the horses I’ve chosen in the double. Except NYRA rules do not allow betting until the National Anthem is sung. The Home of The Brave is warbled until 11:59 and I get shut out.
Both my horses win.
George’s horse Seaside Salute comes fourth in his race. Castle Village Farm will get a cheque for $2550.
My funds are quickly dwindling, I decide to take a stand against Artie Schiller, the overwhelming favourite in Saratoga’s feature, The Four Star Dave. Artie Schiller goes off at 3-5 in the five-horse race and
stumbles in fourth.
I’m alive on four horses in
the late double, but McKenny is anxious to start the drive home. Twenty minutes later I call my son who turns on HPI and there I am, halfway to the interstate, 15 miles southwest of Saratoga, listening to the 10th race from my television in Toronto.
None of my horses hit the board.
Monday 1:03 am:
McKenny drops me off. It’s
been four days and 21 hours
since the trip started. It felt like five minutes. I start to count down to next year.
Morning rush hour at Saratoga
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