Back from Saratoga ...

Posted by Avram Freedberg

Unfortunately, our internet service or our rented PC stunk and we couldn’t get e-mail for most of the weekend. Otherwise, I would have gotten the pleasure of sharing each day’s adventure with you… and it really was a pleasure!

We rolled into Saratoga Springs a little after 2PM on Friday. We checked in at our hotel, The Adelphi, with 131 years of history (even older than me!). What a grand, yet dark, Victorian with the first Otis elevator from 1920 still working (and needed a conductor!). Seeping in history, this became a hotel for Jews when Eugene Zuckerman bought it in the 1920’s. Some of the room doorposts, still have a Mezuzah affixed to them. It is situated right in the center of Broadway within easy reach of everything downtown and the Racetrack.

After dropping our bags off, we immediately ran to Linda Rice’s stable to see “the kids.” Each one is so different from the others. They were in four different stable buildings. First, we got our first look at Arielle’s Song. She had the four month battle with Pneumonia. She is by far the biggest of “our kids.” She is stalled next to a horse named Canadian Ballet, who is very petite. They look like Mutt and Jeff.

Arielle’s Song loved the carrots we brought, as did all the kids. She towered over us but was pretty gentle and snuggly, particularly to Rhoda (all the horses seem to love her!). Anyway, she is one big bay filly (Arielle’s Song that is).

Ofcr. Sheila T Rex looks very black compared to most of the other horses and all of ours. Of course, black is beautiful! Last year, I had black residue left on my hand after stroking her, so I thought they had painted her that color. She ate her carrots and was also pleasant to be with. I told her we loved her no matter what but she had a big name to live to, our dearly departed Sheila.

Then came our first visit with Conseated Lady, a bay filly, nicely conformed but average size. She has a reputation around the barn for being feisty but she was gentle with us. I guess she liked the carrots.

Finally, the grande dame… Ahvee’s Destiny, looking regal, as usual, she’s our first born and the “leader of the pack!” She didn’t like carrots when she was a 2-yr. old but she devoured all we gave her. She was supposed to run on opening day but got rained out. So far another race has not been put up for her kind of racing (short grass).

Then, we walked around the racetrack. It’s like a Country Fair, with as much going on outside the grandstand as inside. Vendors of all foods and merchandise, picnic tables, TV sets everywhere and throngs of people. How quaint and interesting. Just taking all this in is worth a day in Saratoga.

We went looking for Steve Byk who hosts a racing radio show on Sirius 126 at 4PM, since I listen to his show a lot and bought a tiny piece of a couple of the horses he owns with trainer Chuck Simon in their Dee Tee Stables (Aldebutante and Rampillion). Only got to him seconds before air but we came back to visit with him on Saturday.

Finally, we went back to check into our hotel, freshened up for dinner and The Lodge with Linda Rice and her parents, Clyde and Jean. The two Yearlings are in Florida at her parents’ ranch. It was wonderful speaking to these knowledgeable horse people. The next day was Clyde’s birthday but I’ll not reveal his age (though he is actually older than me!).

Seeing as how this has really gone on and on, I will break it up into separate e-mails. Hopefully I’ll get photos posted of all the kids and some other interesting things (you be the judge) in the next day or two.

Saratoga reservations for 8/17 – 9/1 are filling up, so call now, if interested.

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