Saratoga Presents: Pillars of the Turf

James E. Tedd Bassett, III is a 2019 Pillar of the Turf inductee.
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James E. Tedd Bassett, III is a 2019 Pillar of the Turf inductee.
James E. Tedd Bassett, III is a 2019 Pillar of the Turf inductee.

Saratoga Springs Race Track is “The Summer Place!” This weekend and into the next week, Saratoga is sensational with stakes, sales and ceremony. Racing at Saratoga boasts the second leg of each division of the new Turf Triple Series as well as Marylou Whitney Day and many other graded stakes. Fasig-Tipton will host “The Crown Jewel of North American Yearling Sales”, The Saratoga Sale. Moreover, the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame inducted the class of 2019!

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A Trio for Travers Day

Saratoga is happy to tie in Runhappy with the Travers and H. Allen Jerkens Stakes!

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Saratoga is happy to tie in Runhappy with the Travers and H. Allen Jerkens Stakes!

Saratoga is happy to tie in Runhappy with the Travers and H. Allen Jerkens Stakes!

  1. Saturday at Saratoga serves up several stakes!  The Midsummer Derby is only one of seven graded stakes on the day’s card of a lucky 13 races.  Five of the stakes offer an automatic berth in the Breeders’ Cup!  ‎Three stakes will be covered by NBC.  Who will win the Forego, the Sword Dancer or the Travers Stakes?

 

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Fame isn’t Fast

Affirmed, triple crown winner and U.S Racing Hall of Fame thoroughbred won many awards and his Hall of Fame plaque.

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Affirmed, triple crown winner and U.S Racing Hall of Fame thoroughbred won many awards and his Hall of Fame plaque.
Affirmed, triple crown winner and U.S Racing Hall of Fame thoroughbred won many awards and his Hall of Fame plaque.

Fame does not come fast, not even for Thoroughbreds who sweep the triple crown at the young age of three.  An induction into the Official National Thoroughbred Racing Hall of Fame is something one achieves many years into or even after their outstanding career in horse racing.  Friday, finally finalized the fame of a few favorites.

 

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Triple Crown Trends

American Pharoah wins the one and only Grand Slam!

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Justify, our 13th Triple Crown winner!
Justify, our 13th Triple Crown winner!

This week brought the disappointing news that no one wanted but many had already suspected.  Our 13th Triple Crown winner, Justify, retired from racing.  Justify achieved more than I ever would have expected but his 111 day racing career ended sooner than I anticipated.  There are several more races I would have enjoyed seeing him participate in but tragically that won’t happen now.  This got me to thinking,  what are our assumptions about a triple crown winner?  Thus, I set out to examine the triple crown trends.

 

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Jumping for Joy over Justify

Justify races for home in the Belmont Stakes to the 13th Triple Crown victory!

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Justify comes into view as the clear leader of the Belmont Stakes!
Justify comes into view as the clear leader of the Belmont Stakes!

I waited most of my life to witness a Triple Crown victory.  Seattle Slew and Affirmed did it back to back when I was a toddler and the great Secretariat won shortly prior to my birth.  I was raised on the stories but I did not know what it was like to see it with my own eyes.  After following the career of champion California Chrome, I wasn’t sure if I would ever see a Triple Crown winner race.  Then, in 2015, my dream came true.  American Pharoah won after a 37 year drought.  It was emotional and something I knew would always stick with me.  I also thought it may never happen again in my lifetime.  Then, to my surprise a great horse won the Kentucky Derby and once again there was hope for another Triple Crown winner, the hope was in Justify and he did not disappoint.  Justify left me jumping for joy with his win in the Belmont Stakes, our lucky 13th Triple Crown winner!

 

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Baking for the Belmont

Baking for the Belmont? Make this easy cheesecake with home cooking by Horseradish!

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Baking for the Belmont? Make this easy cheesecake with home cooking by Horseradish! This recipe is to cheesecake as Secretariat is to the Belmont Stakes, real fast!
Baking for the Belmont? Make this easy cheesecake with home cooking by Horseradish!  This recipe is to cheesecake as Secretariat is to the Belmont Stakes, real fast!

Are you planning on doing a little baking for the Belmont?  Check out Chef Horseradish’s home cooking to find the race recipe that is right for you.  This weekend’s big races are at Belmont Park in Elmont, NY.  When Horseradish thinks of New York, he thinks of Thoroughbred racing and cheesecake.  He also thinks he needs his time for handicapping and his money for wagering.  Horseradish has his spin on the classic desert that will leave you with time and money.

 

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Basics of the Belmont

Free Drop Billy and Blended Citizen raced in the Blue Grass Stakes at Keeneland!

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Free Drop Billy and Blended Citizen raced in the Blue Grass Stakes at Keeneland!
Free Drop Billy and Blended Citizen raced in the Blue Grass Stakes at Keeneland!

It seems like everyone has their own opinion on this year’s Belmont Stakes and I could not be happier to read and learn about all of the varied perspectives on this race.  There is a wealth of information available if you have the time or the interest.  For those craving a refresher or the simple facts ahead of this weekend’s race, here are the basics of the Belmont Stakes.

 

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Praise for Penny

A Celebration of Life for Penny Chenery

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Penny Chenery, A Celebration of Life
Penny Chenery, A Celebration of Life

Today, I attended A Celebration of Life for the late, great, Penny Chenery.  Helen Bates “Penny” Chenery Tweady entered the world on 1/27/1922.  Though she lived a full 95 years, she left too soon when she passed last month on 9/16/2017.  Gone but never to be forgotten, the legends Penny and her horses like Secretariat and Riva Ridge blazed will last eternally.

 

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Bassett the Benefactress

Titled, in the paddock at Belterra Park

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Titled, racing at Belterra Park
Titled, racing at Belterra Park

This week started with some sad news.  Social media was on fire with reports that Helen “Penny” Chenery, owner of the great Secretariat had died Saturday, 9/16/17, following a stroke.  There have been countless stories and posts on her passing.  It is wonderful to have this opportunity to reminisce about all the great things Penny did for Thoroughbred racing.  It is equally fascinating that the passing of Penny has created an increased focus on women in racing.  I am really enjoying all of the focus pieces on unique “Queens” that are important to “The Sport of Kings”.  I want to share a bit on the legacy of Lucy Gay Bassett.

 

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My Old Kentucky Home-The Race is On!

My Old Kentucky Home

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The 143rd Kentucky Derby took place a week ago today!  It was every bit as surprising and thrilling as I had imagined.  The race dates back to 1875 but aspects of the race’s traditions were in the making so many years prior.  Great things were happening in KY that built the foundation of the state’s modern day Thoroughbred greatness.  Many of the KY Derby bloodlines and customs were under development at My Old Kentucky Home long before Churchill Downs held its first race.

 

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