The first weekend of August was an exciting one at the Upstate New
York track. On Friday under beautiful skies and pleasant humidity
the 8th running of the Amsterdam was won by Personal First. The field
included Trippi and Disco Rico.
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On Saturday one on NYRA's finest Steve Erck made an heroic save when a horse
broke loose from the gate. The outriders and starting crew are racing's
unsung heroes and without them the game could not go on. Hats off to
their daily effort to ensure safe racing.
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Saturday' running of The Jim Dandy further complicated the
Three-Year-Old picture as Graeme Hall (on the right) led to the wire
under Jerry Bailey. The victory of Dixie Union in the Haskell leaves The
Travers a wide open race.
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The weather turned wet and wild by Sunday afternoon but not enough
to dampen the spirit of last year's Belmont and Travers winner Lemon
Drop Kid. The Kid won this year's Whitney in easy fashion defeating the
best horses in training. He becomes the first horse since Easy Goer to
win those three races.
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Trainer Scotty Schulhofer & Edgar Prado
Below: Lemon Drop Kid wins the Whitney
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The Alabama- August 19th
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Top three-year-old fillies met in this year's Alabama. A renewal of
the Secret Status-Jostle rivalry provided excitement for the 120th
running of this race. Jostle claims divisional honors at this point by
beating odds-on favorite Secret Status by almost 4 lengths.
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New York Turf
Writers Cup- August 24th
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The highlight of Steeplechase Racing at Saratoga is the Grade
I New York Turf Writers Cup Handicap. As part of the Travers Week
festivities leading up to Saturday's 131st running of the Travers,
jockeys participated in an annual fundraiser for the Benefit of the
Disabled Jockeys' Fund and the Don MacBeth Memorial Fund. The
running of the Jockeys Express proved to be a fun and profitable event.
Although Richard Migliore got nosed at the wire his smile indicates he
had a great time.
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Prior to the Running of The New York Turf Writers Handicap
Former Steeplechase Eclipse Award winner Lonesome Glory led the post
parade. A bronze statue of Lonesome Glory is now on display at the Museum
of Racing in Saratoga Springs across from the Track.
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In the 59th running of the New York Turf Writers Cup Ninepins
spoiled Campanile's hopes of becoming the first horse to win back to
back runnings of both the NYTWC and the A.P Smithwick (Saratoga's other
major Steeplechase race). Ninepins is a 13 year-old gelding and was
ridden by Arch Kingsley Jr. and trained by Jonathan Sheppard.
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