This is the fourth post in my series looking back at the Saratoga summer meet. I had the pleasure of shooting for The Saratoga Special this summer, capturing morning preview photos as well as race day shots. I made a point to take a lot of portraits this summer. In this post I’ll share my favorites. Click here to view my other posts about the track.
Dornoch’s regular exercise rider Priscilla Schaefer poses with the Belmont and Haskell winner early in the summer.
Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas, atop his pony, talks shop with this year’s Kentucky Oaks and Derby-winning trainer Kenny McPeek at the Oklahoma Track while Sonny McPeek (the dog) keeps himself busy.
Danny Ramsey is a long time exercise rider for trainer Kenny McPeek, and he is also a really nice guy! He has exercised the likes of Kentucky Derby winner Mystik Dan and multiple Grade I winner Thorpedo Anna, among others.
Peace Officer Chrys Lucerne is a friendly face outside the paddock.
Bobby Currier (left) and Fred Camerato dressed dapper for a Saturday at the track.
Jockey Junior Alvarado gives his son Adrian a kiss after a race.
Chad Brown exercise riders Alonzo Tapia, Felipe Arenas, and Jordan Aranda pose in the paddock before the Diana, which Brown’s horse Whitebeam won.
White cap Kathy Eitzmann poses for a portrait by the box seats.
Jockey Flavien Prat’s children Elena and Lenny pose with flowers from the Diana flower blanket after their father won the race on Whitebeam.
Delia Wagner of Guest Services is ready to show off Lucky the pony to backstretch visitors.
Todd Pletcher exercise rider Nick Merritt poses at the barn.
Erma Scott, a long time member of the Bill Mott team, poses with Timeout.
Jockey Junior Alvarado, who rides a lot for Bill Mott, poses at the barn.
Groom Roberto Ambriz poses with multiple graded stakes winner Buchu at the Phil Bauer barn.
Trainer Phil Bauer poses with star filly Xigera.
NYRA handicapper Sara Elbadwi poses in the paddock.
Members of the gate crew Derrick Edwards, starter Hector Soler, Anthony Collado and Ruben Lopez pose behind the Clubhouse.
Security guard Jay Kelly is a friendly face at the Clubhouse entrance.
Anna Thorpe, filly Thorpedo Anna’s namesake, poses with her cousin Sawyer Edwards in the paddock before the Coaching Club American Oaks, which her namesake won.
Steve Asmussen exercise riders Carlos Rosas (left) and Roberto Howell pose at the barn.
Trainer Wesley Ward, Charlie DuClos, and Real Players Inside the Backstretch co-creator Rasi Harper pose on the backstretch.
Hot walker George Grey poses at the Phil Serpe barn. Back in the day, George hot walked Onion, the horse who beat Secretariat in the 1973 Whitney!
Trainer Pat Quick and his dog Fergi are fixtures of the backstretch.
Trainer Brendan Walsh poses with three-year-old filly Intricate.
Todd Pletcher assistant Sophie Green poses with her pup Jax.
MLB baseball star (and part owner of Dornoch) and his wife Julia pose for a portrait in the backyard.
Bugler Tony Gambaro gives the thumbs up in the winner’s circle before playing the Call to the Post.
Trainer Saffie Joseph’s son Rocco would like to be a jockey when he gets older. He says is favorite jockey is Tyler Gaffalione.
Two exercise riders pose for a portrait. Unfortunately, I didn’t get their names. If anyone knows their names, please comment!
Jockey Katie Davis has a smile that can light up the whole track! She is pictured here in the paddock wearing the silks of Under Our Tree Stable (the partnership I’m involved in).
Mila, Matie, and Vale pose with Horacio de Paz trainee Be Your Best.
Trainer Bruce Brown’s son Nick poses with unraced two-year-old filly Candy is Dandy.
Groom Oscar Guerrero poses with three-year-old filly Mysaria.
Sydney MacArthur, Rhonda Osborne, and Nubia Phillips look fashionable in the paddock on Whitney day.
Trainer Will Walden poses with three-year-old filly Pipsy.
Old Friends at Cabin Creek volunteers (clockwise from back left) Linda VanAmburgh, Ron Thompson, owner JoAnn Pepper, Daryl Thompson, Dan Milliman, and Wendy Marino pose at the community outreach booth on Aftercare Day.
Future jockey? José Ortiz poses with his son in the paddock.
Erma Scott poses with Whitney winner Arthur’s Ride. Erma loves to show off the stars of the Mott barn.
Hot walker Milber Martínez poses with Brendan Walsh trainee Pondering, who ran in the Grade I Spinaway Stakes.
Trainer John Ortiz poses with three-year-old filly Brightwork, who extended her perfect record at the Spa this summer with a win in the Grade III Prioress Stakes.
Trainer Christophe Clément’s son and assistant Miguel, his wife Acacia, and jockey Dylan Davis pose in the winner’s circle after Big Invasion’s victory in the Harvey Pack Stakes on closing day.
Old Friends at Cabin Creek owner JoAnn Pepper enjoys closing day.
And finally here’s one of me! With so much time spent behind the camera, I thought it was time to get a photo in front of the camera, and Bob Mayberger was kind enough to take it.
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.
These are great!!!