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Our recap of the action on- and off-track to give you a flavor of the premiere race meet in America

Saratoga Racing Season 2003

Week One

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Week One ** Week Two ** Week Three ** Week Four ** Week Five ** Week Six

Opening Day, Wed 7/23

The place was jumping on opening day as a large, appreciative crowd showed up to enjoy the return of the Big Dance to town.

Fans filled the backyard too. A downpour just prior to the featured Schuylerville left the track a soupy slop.

Wed 7/23
Attendance: 28220
Weather: Rain early in the day. Cleared for the early part of the card. Downpour just prior to the 8th.
Highlights: *** G1 winner Evening Attire easily wins an off-turf alw.
*** Pletcher's Ashado is a smart three-length winner of the G2 $150K Schuylerville.
*** Jock Prado grabs a four-bagger to get off to a hot start.
*** Post-race action at neighboring watering hole Siro's is jam-packed in their newly re-designed backyard.

Thurs 7/24

Thurs 7/24
Attendance: 30500 ("spinner"-inflated due to Prado bobblehead giveaway)
Weather: Sun and rain vied for superiority with two huge downpours hitting during the card -- only to let the sun peak through after each.
Highlights: *** Prado bobbleheads go fast as NYRA elects to order only 22000 for the weekday giveaway.
*** Jerkens' Puzzlement scores by two in an alw.
*** Pletcher's Chapel Royal continues his winning ways by taking the G2 $150K Sanford. Barnmate Heckle disappoints and runs last of seven.

Fri 7/25

From 7-11pm on both Friday and Saturday night of the opening week Saratoga annually holds the Hat's Off music festival. Musical acts perform for free all along Broadway and about the time it's starting to get dark the sidewalks are jammed with folks enjoying the performers.

Fri 7/25
Attendance: 18857
Weather: Nice.
Highlights: *** Gygistar made a successful return to the races, winning the 3rd by six under Bailey.
*** McGaughey's Alchemist continued her march towards stakes competition taking a NW2 in her first two-turn try.
*** McLaughlin's good fortune carried over from his phenomenal Belmont meet as his 6-1 Trademark wins the G2 $150K Baruch over yielding turf.
*** Off-track, the streets were crowded with revelers enjoying the Hat's Off music festival downtown. Musical acts perform for free all along Broadway, Saratoga's main street.

Sat 7/26

The guy on the left was at the track for his bachelor party -- and his hat won a prize. On the right is a replica of Saratoga Race Course, and, yes, it's a prize-winning hat.

Frankel/Stronach's Ghostzapper in the paddock before Saturday's 7th race.

Lady Tak/Jerry Bailey and Birdtown/Edgar Prado in the paddock prior to the Test.

Actor John Lithgow makes his way out of the winner's circle after presenting the trophy for the Diana. Followed by NYRA's Jan Rushton in her Hat's Off Day big hat.

On the far left is ESPN's Kenny Rice doing post-race commentary after the Diana. In the backgournd, wearing the tan suit, is winning trainer Christophe Clement watching the replay on the large infield monitor. On the right is winning jockey Corey Nakatani.

Sat 7/26
Attendance: 28016
Weather: Very nice. Sunny throughout, although a little humid.
Highlights: *** Todd Pletcher unveiled a good-looking 2YO. Value Plus attended fast early fractions and still had plenty in the tank to win off by nine in an excellent debut effort.
*** Frankel's promising, but lightly raced, Ghostzapper, takes a NW2.
*** Clement's Voodoo Dancer prevails over Frankel's Heat Haze after a good duel late in the stretch in the G1 $500K Diana.
*** Lady Tak with Jerry Bailey aboard cruises to a four-length win in the G1 $250K Test. Birdtown runs a respectable second.
*** The annual Hat's Off contest attracted the usual assortment of wacky hat entries.

Sun 7/27

Left, part of Sunday's large crowd line the fence at the top of the stretch. Right, Sightseek in the paddock prior to the Go For Wand.

Left, NYRA's Jan Rushton (in a biker-cowgirl outfit) interviews Bobby Frankel after Sightseek's victory in the Go For Wand. Right, Bobby and the press duck into the clubhouse to avoid the rain during post-race interviews.

The day wound down nicely with an old-fashioned band concert in downtown Congress Park.

Sun 7/27
Attendance: 57235 "spinner"-inflated, Seabiscuit mug giveaway.
Weather: Cloudy, warm. Slight drizzle before last race.
Highlights: *** McGaughey/Phipps unveil a nice looking 2YO as 18-1 Daydreaming wins a 6.5F MSW by seven.
*** Juddmonte's Zenda, a French G1 winner, makes her first start for trainer Bobby Frankel and cruises to an easy three-length win in a NW2.
*** Frankel comes right back in the next race to score a decisive eleven-length victory over five outclassed rivals with Sightseek in the G1 $250K Go For Wand.
*** Off-track, a traditional band concert draws a crowd to the lawn under cloudy skies in Congress Park downtown.

Mon, 7/28

Mon 7/28
Attendance: 14202
Weather: Nice.
Highlights: 9-1 Film Maker wins the G3 $100K Lake George.

Week One ** Week Two ** Week Three ** Week Four ** Week Five ** Week Six

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