Saratoga Memories

[NoCarolinaTony]

Richiebee,

I am thinking we should collaborate on a book something like the history of Tbred racing (NYRA circuit) as we remember it. I am sure with the Bykster we can gather up loads of info, data, and Characters. it\'s the Characters that used to make the race track what it is. Now you have Living Room Downs... Many of those folks are long gone....

NCT

[sighthound]

What a great story!

[Halo Fire]

Thank you, Sight. That is a time which I will always remember. I can even remember what Jeff Lukas was wearing. WOW. I also lost my virginity that summer but that\'s not for this board :-)

How about another one.

I was friendly with a night watchman for Richard Dutrow Sr. He was telling me about this two year old filly they had in the barn and that she was a rocket. I remember going to see him at the Dutrow barn at night and the mosquitos were the size of horseflies. He would tell me old time stories about Laz Barrera, Angel Cordero, Angel Penna, Frank Martin, etc. Anyway, one day this filly was in. I went to bet $80 to win on her and she was 16-1. She was owned by Happy Valley Farm and ridden by I forget who. Anyway, she won easy and paid $30something dollars.

The irony of THIS story was she obviously went on to win the Test the following year, however, she later was bred to Broad Brush and produced a horse named Concern.

[richiebee]

NCT--

Great point about Living Room Downs. Things have changed so much at the
racetrack. It used to be that the only thing you could do with a dime was to
make a phone call-- as long as you did so an hour prior to post time for the
first race, before they locked the phone booths.

Now you can bet a dime super and win $76,000.

My favorite book about NYRA racing: \"The Kid\" (Pete Axthelm profiling Steve
Cauthen, Laz`Barerra and Affirmed).

The comprehensive NYRA book really can not be written until someone can explain
exactly what was going on among the Holy Trinity of NY racing in the 80s and
90s: The Pistol, Oscar and the Holy Gas.

Gotta go now. No one has taken the folks at TG up on the offer to do a Race of
the Week-- I\'m working on the first at the Spa tomorrow.

[trackjohn]

Richie:

  As an ex-Staten Islander I would love to add my comments re: Oscar (got the true inside on exactly what  he was using [and how they found it] from one of the state vets about 10 years ago )...once notified, OSB went 1 for 142...however, don\'t want to get sued!!!

Trackjohn

[Boscar Obarra]

The Holy Gasman just sent me a nice letter offering to reveal all his secrets in a book for only $30 inflation ravaged dollars.

 Based on the hype in the letter, it appears all his edge came from reading the Form in a special way.

 Nothing else.

 I believe.