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 that I converted to black and white. Unlike the previous posts, I am also including photos I took leading up to and during the Belmont Stakes Racing Festival in June as well as a few from fall. Click here to view my other posts about the track.
A Pletcher trainee jogs on the Oklahoma Track.
A close up look at Sovereignty’s unique stripe.
Journalism gets a bath at the barn of Todd Pletcher while staying at the Spa leading up to the Belmont Stakes.
Exercise rider Damian Hinds smiles as Whitney winner Arthur’s Ride is led back to the Bill Mott barn.
Sovereignty gets a bath after a routine gallop.
Saratoga is known as the Graveyard of Champions. Kentucky Oaks winner Good Cheer was unbeaten in seven starts going into the Grade I Acorn Stakes on June 6, but it just wasn’t the filly’s day. Part of what makes racing so exciting is that nothing is for sure. That being said, I hope we see more good things from Good Cheer in the future!
Sovereignty is led around the paddock prior to the Belmont Stakes.
Jockey Junior Alvarado points upward after winning the Belmont on Sovereignty.
Sovereignty’s best pal Erma Scott feeds the Belmont winner a carrot the day after his big victory.
Francisco Serrano, assistant to trainer Kenny McPeek, snuggles with reigning Horse of the Year Thorpedo Anna in her stall.
Thorpedo Anna rests on a bed of hay in her stall.
Jockey Brian Hernandez, Jr. heads back to the jocks’ room after a race.
Jockey John Velázquez heads back to the jocks’ room following a race.
Francisco Serrano and José López lead Thorpedo Anna around the paddock prior to the Grade I Personal Ensign Stakes, which would be the filly’s final victory, as she has since been retired.
MG1SW Chancer McPatrick is led off the track following a fourth place finish in the Grade I H. Allen Jerkens Stakes. Earlier in the meet, the Chad Brown trainee won the Curlin Stakes.
I overlaid this photo of Sovereignty winning the Travers on a black background.
The star of the summer is walked back to the barn after his Travers win.
Reign It In, the horse I own a share of, is hot walked after a breeze over the Oklahoma Track.
MGS1W Sierra Leone is hot walked in the rain after galloping.
Grade II Flower Bowl Stakes winner Bellezza gets a bath after her victory.
Yonibel Correa walks Sovereignty around the Clément-Mott shed row prior to his morning gallop.
Sovereignty cools down after a breeze.
GSW Batten Down gets a bath at the barn of Bill Mott.
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 2025: Black and White”
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These are really striking!