Saratoga is a pretty happening place in summer when the racing meet is underway, but training actually occurs April-November. As much as I love the hustle and bustle of the summer, the calm of the spring and fall are a quite nice change of pace from that. In this post I will share photos I took this fall at the Oklahoma Track.
Grade II Suburban Stakes winner Charge It is exercised by Nora McCormack.
Horse of the Year candidate Cody’s Wish is breezed by Neil Poznansky in preparation for the Grade II Vosburgh Stakes, which he won en route to winning the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile.
Charge It gets a bath.
Grade I Hopeful Stakes winner Nutella Fella looking handsome in his stall.
The Hopeful flower blanket was draped over the rail of the shed row when I went to visit him.
Owner/breeder Carolyn Karlson bonds with East Ave. Racing Stable and Sisu Racing Stable’s Vallelujah.
Mary Union Ave, the two year old filly I own a share of, looking gorgeous.
Capone the dog gets some exercise alongside the horses.
Bill Mott trainee Waskesiu.
Two time Grade I Fourstardave Handicap winner Casa Creed enjoys a morning walk.
Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott watches his charges walk.
Exercise riders have a tough job but they always seem to have smiles on their faces and pure love and admiration for their mounts.
Cody’s Wish heads to the track.
Cody jogs on the track. While Cody the horse did defend his title in the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile, sadly, Cody Dorman, the young man for whom he is named, passed away the very next day. Cody’s story is an inspiration to millions and his passing sent shockwaves through the thoroughbred racing industry. The two Codys taught us how powerful the bond between human and horse can be.
Lots of love for a Christophe Clément trainee, as assistant trainer Miguel Clément can be seen at left watching his charges.
Outrider Omar poses on his pony Vanilla.
Eddie Davis exercises Addagirl Addie for his dad Robbie Davis.
I stitched six photos together to make this sequence of Robbie Davis exercising Mary Union Ave.
It’s never too early to get them into horses!
Mary Union Ave is walked by hot walker Henry.
Grade I Summer Stakes winner and Breeders’ Cup contender Carson’s Run looked a picture as I photographed him during his afternoon walk and graze at the Clément barn. The two year old son of Cupid is named for a man named Carson Jost, who has a rare genetic disorder called Wolf-Hirschhorn Syndrome, the same disorder young Cody Dorman had. The two families met at this year’s Breeders’ Cup.
Fabulous Fox recently made her debut at Belmont at the Big A.
Grade II Narcotic Stakes and Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint runner up Big Invasion is truly a star, and he reminds me of Will’s Way, a dearly departed resident of Old Friends at Cabin Creek.
Amazing Grace, who has won graded/group stakes on two continents.
In Time, a French bred.
If Not Now
Turf queen War Like Goddess takes an afternoon walk and graze.
On the last weekend of the season, Mary is led out to the track with Robbie Davis onboard.
Things look a little different here around this time of year.
Mary comes back from her gallop.
Vallelujah comes back after being hot walked.
Mugsy Fury is another Robbie Davis trainee.
Mary gets a quick bath after her gallop.
Mary is hot walked by Henry.
One last shot of Mary in her stall before she ships out!
My dad enjoys some time with Mary with treats and pets.
I made a video of footage I captured at the track this fall. Email subscribers, click here to watch the video.
To see more of my equine photography be sure to follow me on Instagram, Facebook, and X. All photos in this post © Samantha Decker and may not be reused without permission.
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One thought on “Saratoga’s Oklahoma Track Fall 2023”
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Beautiful!!