The overall handle for the 36-day season was $582,656,106.  Attendance was up 50,000 from ’06.

This summer, we probably saw the highest number of year-end Eclipse Award winners ever to perform at Saratoga in one season. 

The Todd Pletcher-trained English Channel was second in the Sword Dancer, sandwiched between victories in the United Nations at Monmouth and The Turf Classic at Belmont. He then ran away with the $3 million John Deere Breeders’ Cup Turf and is a cinch to be named Turf Horse of the Year. 

Bob Baffert’s Indian Blessing served notice of her class in her maiden victory at Saratoga, added Belmont’s Frizette before taking the BC Juvenile Fillies. She is sure to be crowned two-year old filly of the year.

Nick Zito took the conservative route with War Pass and put him in an allowance race after his wire to wire Saratoga maiden victory in July. The speedy War Pass has yet to be headed  and the slop at the BC allowed him to seal his bid for two-year old champion. War Pass’s form looks like Seattle Slew’s did going into the ’77 campaign;  they both have the bubbles of the Champagne on their past performance chart though Seattle Slew came along before the BC was established and had to wait for his son Vindication to cap off an undefeated season with a victory in the BC’s Juvenile. We saw a little Vindication here when Maimonides ran away from a field of maidens before bucking his shins in the Hopeful Stakes. 

Steve Asmussen trained Classic winner Curlin did not run at the meet but for those fortunate enough to finagle their way into the Oklahoma Training Track, they were able to see this awesome horse of the year train.  Asmussen is continuing to take down big races through another banner year and we will have to wait to see whether it will be he or Pletcher receiving the most votes for outstanding trainer of the year. 

Midnight Lute was sensational in the BC Sprint, confirming his equally impressive win in the Forego.  He was unable to run down Shadwell’s Daaher in the Cigar Mile but remains on course to be named sprinter of the year

Ginger Punch showed us just how spicy she could be in the Go for Wand.  In the BC Distaff she would have no part of Hystericalady trying to squeeze the juice out of her.  A lesser filly may have settled for second and have been put first through a DQ but not Ginger; she had too much Punch in her for that.  She will give Adena Springs another Eclipse Award.

There were three new BC races added told Championship series this year and they were all won by horses we saw perform in Saratoga.

We saw Street Sense at his best when he came to town and impressively added the Jim Dandy and the Travers to his Kentucky Derby and BC Juvenile wins.  The gentlemanly trainer, Carl Nafzger, gave us a rare treat in saddling both the winner of the Travers and the Alabama (Lady Joanne) in the same year.  The talented and gregarious Calvin Borel was aboard Carl’s winners. 

He is a joy to be around.  We should all aspire to love life as Calvin does and to accept success graciously as does Carl Nafzger.  These two are a sure bet to make it to the Hall of Fame, so lucky for us, we can be sure to see them in Saratoga again.

Hard Spun is one of the toughest and most consistent performers to come along in a long while and his King’s Bishop victory was a memorable race

Bill Mott, the youngest trainer ever elected to The Hall of Fame ran away with the trainer’s race with 27 victories at the meet.  It is nothing new to see Bill on the podium when the leading trainer’s award is given but it was new to see him send out so many two-year old winners.  He capped it off when Majestic Warrior came from far off the pace to take the Hopeful Stakes.  It looks like Bill may be zeroing in on one of the few prizes not already on his resume, The Kentucky Derby.

Thank you Lawyer Ron for awesome performances in the Whitney and Woodward, to Kodiak Cowboy, Miss Shop and many other game and beautiful runners.  Congratulations to Cornelio Velasquez for strong performances all summer which left you atop a jockey colony steeped in talent.  Thank you NYRA for still another stellar season. And to our politicians, please be careful how you “fix” racing.