In the past several posts, I have been sharing some of my favorite photos I took during the Saratoga summer meet. 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, I will share my favorite photos taken of…everything that didn’t fall into one of the previous categories. Click here to view my other posts about the track.
A woodchuck grabs a drink on the wash pad at the barn of Joe Sharp.
Uncle Sam, pictured on July 4th, wants YOU!
Revolutionary War reenactors put on a demonstration on the track apron on July 4th.
Parachutists fly over the track in between races.
First out maiden winner Ewing gets hosed off after his race. The Mark Casse trainee followed up his maiden score with a win in the Grade II Saratoga Special Stakes during the regular meet.
Trainer Cherie DeVaux relocated this year from the backside of the Saratoga main track to the former barn of the late D. Wayne Lukas on the Oklahoma side. While she has made the space her own with her recognizable “CD” insignia visible in various locations throughout the barn, she has respectfully paid tribute to her predecessor by leaving his insignia up next to hers.
MG1SW She Feels Pretty’s emotional support goat Mickey hangs around at the DeVaux barn.
Emily Evanston and Dee Jean-François dance to the tunes of Reggie’s Red Hot Feet Warmers.
America runs on Dunkin’…and so, apparently, does Saratoga! These specially made donuts, with white frosting and red sprinkles to represent the colors of the Spa, were presented in the winner’s circle after the running of the Grade I Dunkin’ Diana Stakes.
New York Thoroughbred Aftercare Day is an annual tradition at the track which highlights local retraining and retirement facilities with demonstrations and opportunities for community outreach.
Mel’s Baby Sister was voted this year’s recipient of the Down Broadway Award for retired racehorses. She is flanked in this photo by (from left) Lizzy Madden, trainer Melanie Giddings and Take the Lead president Rick Schosberg.
For the second year in a row, mares retrained through New Vocations in Gansevoort showed off their new skills as polo ponies on Aftercare Day.
My Devine One runs off after unseating jockey Junior Alvarado in the post parade for a race. Both horse and rider were fine.
Hall of Fame jockey Victor Espinoza is interviewed after posting his first win at the Spa onboard Navy Seal.
Gate crew member Anthony Rodriguez waves to the camera sporting a NYRA giveaway Hawaiian shirt.
Class and sportsmanship: John Shirreffs (left), trainer of Grade II Jim Dandy Stakes runner-up Baeza, and Neil Poznansky (center), assistant to Bill Mott, trainer of Jim Dandy winner Sovereignty, smile and chat coming off the track after the race. Sovereignty’s hot walker Yonibel Correa is pictured at right. Sovereignty himself can be seen in the background.
This photo and the next few weren’t taken at the track, at least not the Thoroughbred track, but they involve some key players from the Spa. In July, Saratoga Harness hosted its third annual Charity Match Race, pitting Thoroughbred jockeys against harness drivers. Jockeys Trever McCarthy (pictured) and his wife Katie Davis represented the Thoroughbreds this year.
Trevor and driver Brett Beckwith faced off in the sulky race, with Beckwith prevailing.
Katie and Racing Under Saddle rider Sietske Spagnola faced off in the RUS race, with Davis prevailing.
Katie gets a high five from her dad, retired jockey Robbie Davis, after the race.
Prominent owners Michael and Jules Iavarone were at the Spa this summer to watch their horse race.
Trainer Melanie Giddings’ dog Simba keeps an eye on things at the barn.
First out maiden runner Ted Noffey gets a bath after his race. The Todd Pletcher trainee followed up that win with a consecutive victory in the Grade I Hopeful Stakes on closing day.
Saratoga bugler Carson Gambaro plays a tune for track patrons in the backyard.
Grade I Saratoga Derby winner World Beater gets a bath after earning trainer Riley Mott his first graded score.
Sierra Leone and his connections come off the track after winning the Grade I Whitney Stakes for trainer Chad Brown. The son of Gun Runner followed that up with a second place finish in the Grade I Jockey Club Gold Cup.
Just one of the many critters you may find on the backside.
It’s a pretty good crowd for a….Friday, actually.
Lyndsey Delello, assistant to trainer Rusty Arnold, poses with MGSP Totally Justified. The three-year-old filly ran in the Grade I Belmont Oaks and the Grade II Saratoga Oaks this summer.
El Cordobes gets hosed off after winning the Grade I Sword Dancer Stakes.
May Day Ready gets a bath after winning the Grade II Lake Placid Stakes. Ok, yes, I love bath photos.
Sovereignty is led back to the barn following his Travers win. The flower blanket can be seen in the golf cart at back.
GSW Mythical is led back to the barn after finishing fifth in the Grade I Spinaway Stakes. The Jorge Delgado trainee was 3-for-3 heading into the race, having won the Grade III Adirondack Stakes earlier in the meet.
Tommy Jo gets a bath after her win in the Spinaway. The Todd Pletcher trainee broke her maiden earlier in the meet. This will be my final bath photo.
Chad Brown and Todd Pletcher shared the training title after Brown’s win in the last race of the meet brought them to a tie.
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.
Liked this post? Subscribe by email below to receive future posts!
One thought on “Saratoga Race Course 2025: The Rest”
Comments are closed.
These are great!