Dear
Readers,
I’m back to the races and continuing
my reviews on the Breeders’ Cup “Win and You’re In” Challenge Series of races.
Today the extremely prestigious Whitney Handicap, a Grade I event contested at
one mile and one eighth over the dirt surface at Saratoga Race Course in
Saratoga Springs New York.
Saratoga Race Course Entrance Gate.
Located near the site of the popular mineral springs, The Spa, became the most notable of nicknames for the Saratoga Race Course. As early as 1847 standardbred harness racing was taking place at the venue and in 1863, barely one month after the infamous Battle of Gettysburg, the first thoroughbred race card was organized.
Saratoga Race Course Grandstand as it looked in 1907.
The
history of the Saratoga Springs area is so rich and so varied; it makes for
endless hours of entertaining research. I literally got so sidetracked from my
goal, of writing this blog that I had to pull myself away. I urge you to use
whichever search engine you prefer and put in Saratoga Springs. Be forewarned
each click of the mouse opens myriad avenues to explore, and as each page opens
with captivating bits of history, you get drug ever deeper into the endless
adventure.
As to the original subject of this
posting, The Whitney was run for the first time in 1928. This year’s race
boasted a talented field of eight. Second choice in the wagering was the
lightly raced son of Unbridled’s Song, Cross Traffic. In only five
lifetime start, this talented colt has raced in three Graded races in a row. Unraced
until this year, Cross Traffic broke his maiden in his first outing in Florida.
He followed that win up with a decisive first place finish in an Allowance-Optional
Claiming race, price: $25,000.
For those of you not familiar with
this term, it is fairly simple, while at the same time somewhat complicated.
Basically you can run in an Allowance-Optional Claiming race as long as you’ve run
at or below the claiming level listed in the conditions. So in this case they
would have had to risk their horse being claimed for $25,000 or less at some
time, while at the same time not won for a higher claiming price, or in an Alowance or Stake race. Though not the same as Starter Allowance their are similarities.
Claiming races mean any horse
running in a race with this designation could be claimed out of the race by any licensed owner, who
puts his money up, and drops the claim in the claim box thirty minutes before
the gate opens. In the not to distant past, it used to be once the gate opened, win, lose or even if the
horse broke down, he then belonged to the person who'd dropped the claim. Well…unless
they spelled the name wrong on the claim slip. But there have been some rule changes.
In a few states, to cover those horses that needed to be vanned off the track
or came up lame soon after, claims can be voided.
So in the Allowance-Optional
Claiming race, the horse can be entered to run for the designated claiming price
and carry less weight than those who don’t run for the claiming price. Simple,
right?
Since Cross Traffic ran in one of those races, though not for the
claiming price, it seems quite impressive that he wins the Whitney three races
later, and in his first year of racing to boot. I thought he still looked
green, particularly when he ducked sharply after getting hit with the whip. But this
was his first time going a mile and an eighth; he could and did look like he
was getting tired, which might explain it. I would say Cross Traffic’s connections have a lot of fun ahead of them. Stay
sound my friend.
Photo by Coglianese Photo's
Next
time I will try to pick one of the books I've read lately, and write a short
review on it. If you have a favorite, drop me an email and let me know. If I haven’t
read it, I will consider reading it—that is
if the subject matter appeals to me. There are some things I just won’t read.
I have Mark Leibovich’s book This
Town sitting on my shelf, but I’m not sure I want to talk politics on
this blog. Friendly, soft spoken and rational people, can so quickly do a one
eighty and thus for that reason, among others, I prefer to keep away from the
subject.
Take
care,
Shelley
Riley
Author
of Casual Lies – A Triple Crown Adventure
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