Post Saratoga Debrief

With all of the doom and gloom in the racing industry Saratoga was a definite bright spot. It seems like both summer (Del mar is the other) boutique meets had better than expected numbers; these are signs that fan interest is focusing on the better racing even has marginal racino tracks raise purses. These numbers lend credence to the opinion that it is time for racing to eliminate marginal content. The highlights of the meet was of course Rachel Alexandra who surely minted a few thousand new racing fans this summer. Even the most obtuse horseplayers who could care less about equine achievements were moved by Rachel's stirring victory in the Woodward.

The year of the female in racing certainly continued at Saratoga. Not only were most of the notable performances by fillies and mares but a female claimed the training title of the first time. Linda Rice dominated the turf sprint races as she had entry after entry run one big race after another. Careless Jewel ran a tremendous race in the Alabama, especially considering her wild pre-race antics. Icon Project projected her speed in the Personal Ensign with a break-out 13 length tour de force. Of course the highlight of the meet was Rachel Alexandra, so much has been written about her but her greatest achievement is in illuminating the appeal of horse racing to new fans. Saratoga proved to be the perfect venue for Rachel to run her greatest race. A house packed with old and new fans and she "raised the rafters"giving people a memory that they will never forget.