This is my third post featuring photos I took during the 2023 Saratoga Race Course meet. In this post, I’ll share my favorite photos from the paddock, where the horses are saddled and the jockeys mount up. Click here to view my other posts about the track.
A Jena Antonucci trainee schools in the paddock with assistant trainer Fiona Goodwin onboard.
Trainer Chad Brown in the paddock ahead of the Curlin Stakes. Brown tied for the leading trainer title with Linda Rice, having won 35 races apiece.
Paddock analyst Maggie Wolfendale.
Owners typically get dressed up to see their horses race.
Trainer Bill Mott walks in front of the saddling shed as Chad Brown trainee Blazing Sevens is saddled up behind him.
Scotland is walked in the paddock ahead of the Curlin Stakes, which he won.
A young Nest fan holds up a sign outside the paddock.
Nest gets walked in the paddock before winning the Grade II Shuvee Stakes.
Trainer Steve Asmussen walks Clairiere in the paddock before the Grade II Shuvee Stakes while rival Nest’s trainer Todd Pletcher is seen in the background off to the left.
Nest gets some pets while she is saddled up.
A portrait of Clairiere. She may not have been victorious this summer at the Spa, but her connections still have a lot to be proud of, as the five year old daughter of Curlin has earned over $3 million dollars.
Steve Blasi, assistant to Steve Asmussen, walks Gunite in the paddock before the Grade I Alfred G. Vanderbilt Handicap, where he finished second to Elite Power. He had his day later on in the meet when he prevailed over his rival in the Grade I Forego Stakes.
Irad Ortiz, Jr. wears Juddmonte silks to ride Elite Power in the A.G. Vanderbilt.
Groom Martín Estrada leads Forte into the paddock for the Grade II Jim Dandy Stakes, which he won by a nose.
Angel of Empire, who finished third in the Jim Dandy, is walked around the paddock as it rains.
Disarm, who finished fourth in the Jim Dandy, gets walked around the paddock.
Forte, with Irad Ortiz, Jr. onboard, heads out to the track for the Jim Dandy.
Horses walk through the paddock on a pleasant morning.
War Like Goddess is walked into the paddock for the Grade II Glens Falls Stakes, which she won the previous two years, but came in second this year.
Jockey-turned-artist Nick Martinez works on a masterpiece in the paddock.
Vallelujah is walked in the paddock ahead of the Union Avenue Handicap, where she finished fourth. Val’s win at the Spa last summer was considered by many to be one of the highlights of the meet.
Defining Purpose is led into the paddock for the Grade I Alabama Stakes, where she finished third.
Chocolate Gelato is walked in the paddock before the Alabama, where she finished last. Her last win was in the Grade I Frizette Stakes last year as a two-year-old.
Alabama winner Randomized is walked in the paddock prior to the race.
Grade I Coaching Club American Oaks winner Wet Paint is walked in the paddock prior to the Alabama, where she finished second.
Jockey Flavien Prat (Wet Paint) talks to Blake Cox, assistant to his father Brad, before the Alabama.
Sacred Wish heads out to the track for the Alabama, where she finished seventh. While she wasn’t victorious, she just posted her first stakes win in the Winter Memories at Belmont at the Big A on September 15.
Grade II Black-Eyed Susan Stakes winner Taxed heads out to the track for the Alabama, where she finished sixth.
My parents enjoy the calmness of the paddock that occurs when a race is going off.
Proxy is walked into the paddock for the Grade I Jockey Club Gold Cup, where he finished second to Bright Future in a photo finish.
Tyson is walked in the paddock prior to the Grade I Jockey Club Gold Cup, where he finished third.
Duke of Love is walked around the paddock prior to the Jockey Club Gold Cup, where he finished fifth.
Trainer Todd Pletcher, owner Mike Repole, and jockey Javier Castellano discuss the game plan prior to the Jockey Club Gold Cup, which they won with Bright Future.
To see more of my equine photography be sure to follow me on Instagram and Facebook. 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 Paddock”
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Love the pictures – it’s a special place!