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Saratoga Racing Season 2003

Week Two

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

Wed 7/30

A Saratoga tradition: The Bell. Here's a little background on The Bell from a recent article in the Albany Times Union:

The paddock routine begins with the tolling of a historic bell near the winner's circle. The sounding of the bell harkens to the early days of the track when it alerted horsemen in nearby barns that there were 17 minutes left to post and it was time to saddle up.
That was in the days before cell phones and paging systems. Today, the ringing of the bell is only a symbolic reminder of the track's history. This year's bell ringer is Ballston Spa's Erin Bulson, who clangs it seven times before each race, meaning there are 17 minutes to post.
As she clangs away, Bulson has to wear ear plugs, and nearby security guards put their fingers in their ears, but she likes the connection to the past and the interest the bell attracts.
"I get lots of people who come up and ask me about it," said Bulson, who will attend St. John's University in the fall. "I just love this job."

Wed 7/30
Attendance: 14727
Weather: Nice.
Highlights: Cornelio Velasquez wins a couple and is off to a good start in his first Saratoga season.

Thurs 7/31

Thurs 7/31
Attendance: 15392.
Weather: Excellent. Sunny and warm.
Highlights: *** 17YO double-bug Shannon Uske scores a Saratoga victory aboard Lilah for trainer Allen Jerkens. From an 8/1 Albany Times Union article: Other 17-year-olds have won as apprentices at Saratoga, notably Kent Desormeaux in 1987 and Paul Toscano in 1990, but a search of Times Union archives revealed no mention of a 17-year-old girl ever having won there.

Fri 8/01

A steady dose of precip brought out the rain gear and umbrellas.

Willa On The Move (left) and Shine Again (right) duelled to a photo finish in the G3 Honorable Miss -- Willa won.

Trainer Mark Hennig and jockey Jerry Bailey discuss Raging Fever's fifth-place finish. Some fans opt to stay out of the rain and watch the races on TV.

Sam The Bugler plays the call to the post for the nightcap -- opening with a refrain from "Raindrops Keep Fallin' On My Head". Fans head for someplace dry.

Fri 8/01
Attendance: 15350
Weather: Miserable. Rain throughout varying from drizzle to downpour.
Highlights: *** Willa On The Move won the G3 $100K Honorable Miss in a photo over a game Shine Again.

Sat 8/02

"Queen of Saratoga", socialite Marylou Whitney (right) and former Miss America Mary Ann Mobley autographed special Whitney Day stamp/envelope cancellations for admiring fans. Captain Squeeze and the Zydeco Moshers performed before some happy racegoers on the small stage in back of the grandstand.

Trust N Luck/C Velasquez (left) and Posse/C Lanerie in the paddock prior to the G2 Amsterdam. They ran third and fourth respectively.

Zavata in the paddock -- and his connections, jock Jerry Bailey and trainer Patrick Biancone, being interviewed by ESPN's Kenny Rice after winning the Amsterdam.

Among the folks chatting with NYRA CEO Barry Schwartz in the paddock prior to the Whitney was none other than Curtis Sliwa in his trademark Guardian Angels beret and jacket. Right, Medaglia d'Oro walks in the paddock.

Left, Medaglia d'Oro leaving the paddock before the Whtiney. Right, rival Volponi.

Sat 8/02
Attendance: 38671
Weather: Nice. Sunny..
Highlights: *** Jerry Bailey wins five, including the two stakes on the program.
*** Nick Zito and Marylou Whitney unveil a half-bro to their G1 winning filly Birdtown. Birdstone draws away to win a MSW by twelve and stamps himself one to watch.
*** Zavata wins the G2 $150K Amsterdam by more than five. Fave Posse runs fourth.
*** Medaglia d'Oro wins the G1 $750K Whitney. Rival Volponi has head turned at the break and gets off to a poor start -- then can't reel in the winner in the stretch.

Sun 8/03

Another big Sunday crowd -- this week spurred on by the T-shirt giveaway. And Reggie's Red Hot Feet Warmers regale the crowd with some good music in their usual spot outside the clubhouse back entrance.

Bobby Frankel and Empire Maker eyeball one another in the paddock prior to the G2 Jim Dandy.

Left, a happy John Velasquez weighs out after upsetting the Jim Dandy on Pletcher's 6-1 Strong Hope. Minutes later the Saratoga fans turned their attention to the many monitors around the facility to watch hometown hero Funny Cide bid for victory in the Haskell at Monmouth. He ran third.

Sun 8/03
Attendance: 65346 "spinner"-inflated, Native Dancer T-shirt giveaway.
Weather: Humid but nice.
Highlights: *** The Pletcher/Velasquez freight train runs over Bobby Frankel as 6-1 Strong Hope nips a re-rallying 2-5 Empire Maker to take the G2 $500K Jim Dandy.
*** Minutes later fans turn their attention to the simulcast monitors and watch as hometown hero Funny Cide runs a disappointing third in the G1 $1 mil Haskell at Monmouth.

Mon, 8/04

Hall of Fame Day annually offers an autograph session outside of the jock's room featuring, of course, Hall of Famers. Left, Ron Turcotte reacts with amusement after receiving a smooch on the ear from Angel Cordero. Right, newest Hall of Fame member Mike Smith signs for a fan.

Mon 8/04
Attendance: 16261
Weather: Overcast, humid. Slight sprinkle just before the feature. Brief, heavy downpour just after the last race.
Highlights:

Tues, 8/05

The annual Fasig-Tipton yearling sales kicked off Tuesday night. In the days preceding the sale the yearlings are brought out and inspected by potential bidders -- who might, or might not walk away with one of these untested t-breds after they enter the sales ring.

The sales typically brings out some of the biggest names in racing. Left, trainer DW Lukas talks with former client Satish Sanan of Padua Stables. Also spotted during the three-day sales: Bob Baffert, John Ward, Patrick Biancone, Mark Hennig, Nick Zito, Barry Schwartz and many others. On the right, a bid taker calls out to the auctioneer.

Tues, 8/05
Attendance: Dark day
Weather: Rain.
Highlights: Dark day.

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

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