Saratoga Springs New York

When one first thinks of Saratoga NY the immediate recognition is Saratoga Springs itself. Known for their natural mineral waters Saratoga Springs hosts a number of spas offering “relief and rejuvenation” for the visitor partaking in its waters.  Saratoga Springs is also the home of Skidmore College. Skidmore is a private liberal arts college that embraces the idea that “creative thinking is  an integral part of the campus culture as well as holding the belief that a liberal arts education best prepares one for a lifelong experience of continued learning.

On the other side of town, or actually just a few blocks away is Saratoga Race Course.  At one time the Vanderbilt’s, Rockefeller’s and the who’s who in society would come to Saratoga referring to it as their summer playground.  It was all about horse breeding and racing then and now for approximately the last week in July through labor day weekend it remains all about horse racing.

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  As you can see it is early am.   The photo is of the clubhouse/grandstand area taken from the trackside rail on what is called the first turn.  That is, the first turn on the oval beginning where the “finish line” is located, usually directly across from the clubhouse.   If you work in this profession from a guard at the gate, a groom, jockey, trainer et. al. you can rely on your work day beginning before the rooster crows.   Every race horse on the Saratoga grounds will receive one on one attention in some form or other each day.  There are approximately 2000 horses stalled at Saratoga during the racing season.  Each horse’s stall is cleaned, hay is hung, oats put in buckets and hung on the wall each and every day.  All will be groomed and those that work out ( are ridden ) on one of the many training tracks or main tracks will be walked to cool down, showered, brushed and all around prettied up.  There is no lack of attentiveness for these stately animals.

   The photo to the left shows a typical barn with multiple stalls.  The area directly adjacent to the stalls as well as being under the roof is called “shed row”. Many a horse and groom will put in many miles walking this area.  The grounds are kept clean and free from debris.  Used hay and straw are taken to a holding area keeping at bay any chance that disease and contamination will get a foot hold in the stall areas.  Even the ground itself are swept, by a broom nonetheless and raked daily.

   On the backside or opposite side of the race track oval from the clubhouse/grandstand area you will find the food shack.  The prices here are, at minimum, half the prices from the main track area.  All horsemen and women gather at this area not only for coffee and but it happens to be adjacent to what is called the “gap”.  The gap is that area of the race oval that opens up to the stable area.  There horses and riders get on and off the track as they train.  This is one busy area so be careful and remember that horses at all times have the right of way.  Race horses have a tendency to be “wired up” as shown in this photo.   Take a moment and really look at the attitude being displayed by this horse leaving the track and passing though the gap. Horses like routine and familiar surroundings.  Circumstances that present themselves “as different”  can cause the animal to be weary. Trust me you don’t want to be near a spooked horse.  So be doubly aware of whats around you while at the gap area.

I decided to purchase my first DSLR camera in order to photograph horses and their surroundings which I found colorful and storytelling.  Being a lifelong racing enthusiast I decided to own a thoroughbred once group ownership took foothold in the business.  So there I was owning a small fraction of three horses, one of which earned enough purse money to cover the cost of owning all three.  Very cool.  Ironically once I purchased the camera I sold my shares of ownership in order to purchase a few lenses.  The idea of photographing race horses has festered for quite a while so I decided to see if I could reach out to past friendships trying to get unrestricted backstretch access to the barn areas.  Thanks to my friend Joel this was accomplished. 

  I contacted Richard and Wendy, a couple who own a bed and breakfast in Greenwich, NY.  A beautiful country home on many open acres of land who opened their hearts and doors to me without hesitation.  The dates were set, the trip was planned and three days at the “spa” was in my future.  Below is a sample of many photos taken at Saratoga, both of racing and backstretch life.  I hope you enjoy them as much as I did experiencing the environment and taking the photos.   Almost forgot, the one photo of the squirrel taken just outside a shed row area where staff left their morning coffee and donuts unattended.  Squirrels as we all know are very opportunistic as you can see.  The trainer took notice of what I was photographing and began to shout four lettered expletives chasing the squirrel away.  It was a very funny and entertaining moment.