Saratoga 2009 remembered....

The reality of making my way in the sport of kings (on a tight budget!) is that I've just now had time to sit down and share a few rememberances on the grand dame of race meets -- THE GREATEST SARATOGA I HAVE ATTENDED IN THREE DECADES -- I would imagine it was even greater for Rachel Alexandra's Jockey Calvin Borel pictured above en route to winner's circle after the Woodward, what a day! Enjoy -- Susan.

It's hard to believe we are over a month past the close of Saratoga’s glorious race meet, and the Breeder’s Cup is just 3 weeks away! Even more unbelievable is the approach of 2010, a new year of possibilities. As a child these time frames seem an eternity, now they are simply too short. Not long ago, I remember James Taylor at SPAC saying, “the secret of life is enjoying the passage of time". I find it more precious with every passing day, with every passing meet at the Spa another year has come and gone forever. PICTURED: SUSAN KAYNE, TURF WRITER EXTRAORDINAIRE MIKE WELSCH, MEGA OWNER ARON YAGODA


2009 has been a challenging year on the farm; I have added 10 new horses to the Unbridled herd and personally facilitated four rescues from Paragallo, all in a very slow economy--though you’d never suspect any economic woes if you visited Saratoga this year! I spent many mornings at the rail watching a fantastic spectrum of horses, from first-timers setting an auspicious foot on the track, to seeing the magnificence of Rachel Alexandra cut through the thick fog like a goddess of old. Ever my favorite time at the track, the magic of early morning and its bustling activity never fades: with the dawn of each new day, our hopes and dreams are renewed. We are not returning from a race we didn’t win, spending hours in the spit box after rising at 4AM, or carrying any other disappointment from expectations gone unmet. We are fresh and we are hopeful. This season I had the pleasure of meeting new owners for the first time, catching up with old friends and gathering with seasoned partners; together we cajoled, star gazed, improved our “eyes”, expanded our knowledge, and confirmed that we were on the right track with UR Stable. PICTURED: UR GIRLS & LEGENDARY JOCKEY ANGEL CORDERO JR.


Something about the Spa brings out the best in every horse and every person -- the water, the air, the camaraderie – and yet is the most competitive race meet on the planet. Year after year, horses, trainers, and jockeys grind it out in the afternoon, alchemizing even the most ordinary race into a spectacular run; on Rachel’s day, an allowance race went faster than the Grade One Forego ---the fractions were blistering start to finish – it just wasn’t fair for the horses who really fit the condition.

PICTURED LEFT: MICHELLE NIHEI IN PADDOCK WITH INKADO
PICTURED RIGHT: PYRO BACK AT THE BARN AFTER WINNING THE FOREGO - CLICK PICTURE TO WATCH RACE

Rachel’s Woodward Day ... was a joyous celebration about all things good in horseracing. Finally, a breather from the dogged press, “racing is dead”. I can assure you it was not only alive and well on the day she beat the boys, but it sparked the electric anticipation of future owners and and track goers for years to come. PICTURED: RACHEL ALEXANDRA VICTORIOUS IN THE WOODWARD STAKES SEPTEMBER 5, 2009 AT SARATOGA - CLICK PICTURE TO SEE RACE

LINDA's dream meet...

The huge achievement of Linda Rice's training title (with 20 wins!) was so sweet, not to mention deserved. Linda is a friend, and I have worked for her and witnessed personally the dedication she delivers to every aspect of her horses' care and well-being. To those of us in the know – it was no surprise that this day would soon be a reality.

To commemorate Linda’s amazing accomplishment, I am producing a special limited edition DVD featuring the best of Linda Unbridled. In addition to in-depth interviews with Linda, the compilation includes interviews with her uber-horseman father, Clyde Rice, a conformation segment on exactly what Linda looks for when selecting racing prospects, and talks with runner-up trainers, Todd Pletcher and Bill Mott. Click here to order.

PICTURED ABOVE: LINDA RICE IN THE WINNER'S CIRCLE AGAIN!

PICTURED RIGHT: BILL MOTT WON 18 RACES AT THE SPA IN 2009 TO FINISH THIRD IN THE TRAINER STANDINGS -- CLICK ON BILL TO WATCH MY INTERVIEW WITH HIM

With another year to come before the Spa opens its gates again to the roar of thoroughbreds coming down the stretch, now is an excellent time to learn from its most recently successful trainers.

MARK UR 2010 CALENDARS
SARATOGA RACE MEET
JULY 23 - SEPTEMBER 6

To get even more involved with all aspects thoroughbred, check out my free series of Hands On Tip articles at Squidoo, which offer some perspective on breeding, training, and the basics of HOOFCARE.

Equine education is an excellent first step to get your racing dream up and running!

Did you go to Saratoga this season? What was your best/worst day and why? If you have a moment please share your horseracing experiences at the Spa in the comments box below.