The 2023 meet at Saratoga Race Course is officially over, so now it’s time for me to look back and share some of my favorite photos. This meet was one of high highs and low lows. There were many positive moments, such as watching the second female trainer in history win the Travers and meeting my horse for the first time, but there was a dark cloud over the meet, with 13 equine fatalities, nine of which occurred during races. While some call for an out and out end to horse racing, others have proposed a number of reforms that would greatly reduce equine fatalities on the track, such as PET scanning devices, stricter rules surrounding the administration of medications, and the implementation of synthetic track surfaces. I am hopeful that many lessons have been learned this summer and that changes will be made going forward for the benefit of the horses, who deserve nothing but the best from us. With that said, here’s a look back at some of my favorite photos I took of races during the meet, along with a tribute to those we lost. Click here to view my other posts about the track.
Becky’s Joker (center) wins the Grade III Schuylerville Stakes on opening day with Javier Castellano onboard. It was the two-year-old filly’s first outing.
Whitebeam (left) wins the Grade I Diana Stakes over stablemate In Italian (right), who broke a track record winning the race last year. All but one of the entrants in the race were trained by Chad Brown.
The field heads for the first turn in the Curlin Stakes, won by Scotland (right).
Valentine Candy breaks his his maiden for trainer Steve Asmussen with Ricardo Santana, Jr. in the irons.
Wet Paint wins the Grade I Coaching Club American Oaks with Flavien Prat onboard.
The field rounds the first turn in the Grade II Shuvee Stakes, won by 2022 champion three-year-old filly Nest (second from left).
The field breaks from the gate in a claiming race.
Panning as the field heads along the backstretch.
The field heads down the backstretch on the inner turf in a claiming race.
Elite Power extends his win streak in the Grade I Forego on a sloppy track.
Forte wins the Grade II Jim Dandy Stakes in the rain, in a controversial stretch run which resulted in a stewards’ inquiry, but no change to the order of finish.
Nine year old Channel Maker (right) wins the Grade II Bowling Green Stakes with Manny Franco onboard.
I’mhavingamoment wins an allowance optional claimer with Junior Alvarado onboard.
Irad Ortiz gives McKulick a pet after winning the Grade II Glens Falls Stakes.
Multiple Grade I winner Caravel runs fourth in the Grade III Troy Stakes, breaking her five race win streak.
Program Trading wins the Grade I Saratoga Derby Invitational Stakes with Flavien Prat onboard.
White Abarrio upsets the Grade I Whitney Stakes with Irad Ortiz onboard.
Fan favorite Cody’s Wish ran his heart out in the Whitney, but ultimately finished third.
Jockey Javier Castellano hugs trainer Tom Morley after winning the Union Avenue Handicap aboard Grannys Connection.
Dr Ardito wins the Evan Shipman Handicap with Manny Franco in the irons.
Richies Princess (Blue and black silks, #11), breaks her maiden in her first outing.
Rhyme Schemes wins the Grade II Herb Moelis Memorial Saratoga Special Stakes with an impressive Beyer Speed Figure of 94.
Ramblin’ Wreck (outside) wins the Rick Violette Stakes after Let’s Go Big Blue (inside) crosses the wire first but is disqualified for interference.
The field heads around the first turn in the Grad I Alabama Stakes with eventual winner Randomized leading the pack.
Randomized gallops down after her Alabama victory with Joel Rosario onboard.
Idiomatic upsets the Grade I Personal Ensign with Florent Géroux onboard, Nest’s perfect record at the Spa.
Just F Y I breaks her maiden with Junior Alvarado onboard.
Echo Zulu (left) and Matareya head around the far turn in the Grade I Ballerina, won by the former.
Bolshoi Ballet (outside) wins the Grade I Sword Dancer Stakes, his first win in two years.
The field rounds the first turn in the Grade I Travers Stakes, won by Arcangelo (second from right).
Javier Castellano celebrates his record extending seventh Travers win aboard Arcangelo.
Arcangelo gallops down under a rainbow.
General Partner breaks his maiden with Manny Franco in the irons.
The field heads down the stretch for the first time in the Grade I Jockey Club Gold Cup.
Bright Future (orange and blue silks) wins the Grade I Jockey Club Gold Cup in a photo finish with Proxy (second from left).
Brightwork (inside) outlasts Ways and Means (inside) in the Grade I Spinaway Stakes.
Wonder Ride, who placed third in the Spinaway, is a granddaughter of Cosmonaut, one of the dearly departed former residents of Old Friends at Cabin Creek in Greenfield where I volunteer.
On the last day of racing, Triumphant Road was bumped and unseated his rider at the start of a race. Lucky, both horse and rider were fine.
The field rounds the far turn in the Grade I Hopeful Stakes. Winner Nutella Fella came from so far behind, he is seen here towards the back of the pack out of focus, with jockey Junior Alvarado in the turquoise, black and white silks.
Nutella Fella turns for home in the Hopeful.
Beautiful evening light shines on the field as the round the far turn in the very last race of the meet, won by Lt. Michell (second from right in front), bringing the trainer standings to a tie between Linda Rice and Chad Brown, each with 35 wins.
This post wouldn’t be complete without a tribute to those we lost during the races.
Maple Leaf Mel, named for her trainer Melanie Giddings, will forever be remembered as an undefeated filly who loved to run.
New York Thunder was a promising young sprinter with an undefeated record on multiple surfaces. In his first start at Saratoga this summer, he won the Grade II Amsterdam Stakes.
Sopran Basilea, who raced in Italy prior to coming stateside this year, had just won her first graded stake, the Grade III Robert G. Dick Memorial, at Delaware Park, prior to the Saratoga meet.
Other horses lost during racing were Blame it on Mary, Ever Summer, Wisecraken, Burning Bright, and Nobel.
I also made a video highlighting some of the happier moments during the meet. Email subscribers, click here to watch the video.
To see more of my equine photography be sure to follow me on Instagram and Facebook. To see more of my equine illustrations, follow @togadoodles on Instagram. All photos in this post © Samantha Decker and may not be reused without permission.
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One thought on “Saratoga Race Course 2023: The Races”
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Beautiful photographs and sentiments.