Now that the Saratoga’s longest-ever summer meet is over, it’s time for my annual look back at some of my favorite photos I took. I had the pleasure of shooting for The Saratoga Special again this summer, capturing morning preview photos as well as race day shots. In this post, the last of the series, I will share my favorite photos taken of, well, everything else. Click here to view my other posts about the track.
Fourth of July weekend was the first time I had ever seen a game of this nature set up at the track.
Revolutionary War reenactors bring history to life on July 4.
The gate crew waits out a lightning delay on Diana day.
Pony riders weather the rain on Diana day.
Exercise rider and pony rider Lorna Chavez gives her pony Mango a pet between races.
Ponies and pony riders gather on the track for recognition during Aftercare Day’s Salute to the Ponies.
Valerie Buck of ACTT Naturally shows her enthusiasm atop her pony Fuhrious Warrior.
Lead outrider Miguel Gutiérrez sits atop his pony Chestertown as he (the pony) is named the recipient of the Down Broadway Award, given to a retired racehorse each year on Aftercare Day.
Newlyn, bred by my friends Britt Wadsworth and Sean Mahoney of Mahoney Eden Manor, returns after a fourth place finish in the Rick Violette Stakes. I love following the careers of horses I knew as foals.
Seagulls fill the sky after a lively day of racing.
Jack’s World is ponied back to the winner’s circle by outrider Lance Cronk after unseating jockey Flavien Prat shortly after crossing the wire. Prat was fine and hopped aboard to get his photo taken.
Miguel Gutiérrez lopes by on his pony.
Kentucky Oaks winner Always a Runner heads to the test barn following a runner-up finish in the Grade I Coaching Club American Oaks.
Counting Stars and her people head off the track following the Mark Casse trainee’s win in the Coaching Club American Oaks, her second consecutive grade 1 win.
Grade II Honorable Miss Stakes winner Maida heads to the paddock for her race.
Haulin Ice, the highest earning Arkansas-bred of all time, heads off the track following her runner-up finish in the Honorable Miss.
Maida gets a bath after her win in the Honorable Miss.
A box containing the latest issue of The Special sits outside the Oklahoma Track. You can pick up The Special at the track or around town during the meet.
Analyst Maggie Wolfendale rides by on her pony Norm during a race.
Renegade gets a bath following his win in the Grade II Jim Dandy Stakes.
Renegade heads to the test barn after being hosed off.
Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf winner Gezora returns following a sixth place finish in the Grade II Glens Falls Stakes. The Bill Mott trainee made four starts this year, with her best result a second place finish in the Grade III Modesty Stakes at Churchill Downs.
Two-year-old Gaudreau heads out to the track for his debut, where he finished third. The Shug McGaughey trainee finished third, but followed that up with a win later in a meet and a victory in the Grade I Champagne Stakes at Belmont in the fall.
The Spa had some special guests on Whitney day. From left, U.S. Olympic gold medal hockey team members Katie Million, Haley Winn and Hayley Scamurra presented the trophy after the sixth race, won by Summer Starlet and José Ortiz. They also did the call of riders up for the Whitney.
2023 Grade I Whitney Stakes winner White Abarrio gallops out after his last place finish in this year’s renewal. It would turn out to be the Saffie Joseph, Jr. trainee’s last start, as he was subsequently retired to Gainesway Farm.
Sovereignty gets hosed off after his win in the Whitney.
Jockey Javier Castellano gives his side of the story to trainer Mark Casse during an inquiry/objection in the Grade II Ballston Spa Stakes. No change was made to the order of finish and Castellano’s mount, And One More Time, was declared the official winner.
Mark Casse watches the replay of the Ballston Spa while awaiting the results of the inquiry/objection.
Ballston Spa runner-up Sunlit Uplands gets a drink during the inquiry/objection.
A butterfly lands on the track.
A full crowd gathers at the rail on Travers day.
Golden Tempo crosses Union Ave. on his way back to the barn following his third place finish in the Travers. Although he didn’t win, he maintained his perfect on-the-board record, having finished either first or third in each of his seven career starts to that point.
Leading Change crosses Union Ave. on his way back to the barn following his win in the Travers.
A family of chickens keeps an eye on things at the barn of Dominick Schettino.
By the end of the meet, the leaves are starting to change here in Saratoga and fall is well on its way. NYRA security guard Kevin Judge had Gate 15 at the Oklahoma Track looking very festive for the occasion.
Inspiring the next generation: Assistant starter Daniel Gutiérrez and his son, also named Daniel, pause for a photo before a race.
To see more of my equine photography be sure to follow me on X, Instagram and Facebook. All photos in this post © Samantha Decker and may not be reused without permission.
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