Tomorrow (Saturday) is the big Traver's stakes horse race in Saratoga, drawing punters from all over the US and internationally, as well and various minor American celebrities and the US equivilent to Lords and Ladies--the Vanderbuilt-Whitney's and other old (and new) Yankee money. It is touted at America's oldest stakes race, dating from 1864. It's not unusual to see Kentucky Derby horses--including Derby winners--racing in the Travers. (see below) Some of the greatest American thoroughbreds of all time: Baden-Baden, Whirlaway, Man O' War (the greatest American race horse of all time--even greater than Secretariat), Secretariat and Secretariat's son--General Assembly, Gallant Fox, Seabiscuit (Ironically, part of the film was shot on the very track where this great horse lost in the Travers), Native Dancer, Affirmed, Easy Goer (I was there for that one). Some won, some didn't. The trophy--donated by the wife of Man O' War's owner--Sam Riddle, dates back to the 1920's, and was made by Tiffany's. A gold-plated replica is Presented to the winner each year, by a member of Riddle family, and, while the winner is still in the winner's circle, and artist is already on the grounds, painting the wining jockey's colours on a special statue near the paddock area. There's even a quirky tradition, that the previous year's winner, get their stable colours painted on a canoe, tethered in the pond in the infield--the canoe dates back to 1926!
A party atmosphere takes over the track, and it's literally one of the biggest attractions of the summer, in all of upstate New York. Since the 1970's, it's been nationally televised by ABC (American Broadcasting company) sports, live late Saturday afternoon...the race usually runs last or near-last, around 5pm, Eastern Standard Time, or 10pm or 22:00 in the UK. In the last two decades, Cable TV sports giant, ESPN, has also televised the race.
LAST YEAR'S TRAVER'S STAKES RACE AT SARATOGA RACE COURSE (as I recall, it was pissing down rain)
THE 2006 TRAVERS STAKES
