Saratoga 2009 - Reflections from a Season Winding Down

As we’re approaching the final days of August it’s hard to believe that there are only two weekends left in the Saratoga meet.  I can only speak for myself but I personally have had a tremendously good time this season.  Although, remarkably, Hibiscus has only had one start so far at the current meet I’ve managed to occupy my time this year taking full advantage of the Saratoga experience.  In no particular order I’d like to do some Saratoga call-outs.

Our Great Partners – For not only being the best group of partners in the world but also for being great friends and teammates.  We’ve had a good number of people ship in from distant areas of the country to join us at the Spa and to share the awesome Saratoga experience.  We couldn’t have asked for a better group.

William Thomas – For emerging as our stable’s most talented runner thus far.  He looks like he may turn out to be a good one.  He gave us quite a thrill in his Spa debut on August 1 nearly taking them gate to wire before settling for second place money.  He’s slated to try again on August 30 which is the day after Travers day at Saratoga and we can’t wait.

Steve Klesaris – For finally breaking down and taking stalls at Saratoga this year.  It’s great to get on the backstretch every morning and visit our trainer, his assistant Lisa Sloan, and the entire rest of the team as they keep the Hibiscus horses at the top of their game.  Surely beats shipping in for each start.

The Horseshoe and The Audio Stars – For being what is probably my favorite spot in Saratoga.  The Horseshoe is located directly across Nelson Avenue from the backstretch gate.  It’s an awesome patio bar and has live bands almost nightly.  Every Friday night (except the Friday before Labor Day) from 6 PM to 11 PM the house band is The Audio Stars and they’re fantastic.  They have no difficulty packing the place.  I always look forward to Friday nights in Saratoga at The Horseshoe with friends, partners, and The Audio Stars.

Portuguesemano’war – For being such a scrappy member of the team.  He’s “only” a $4k claimer and runs at Penn National but he goes out there every two weeks like clockwork and lays it all on the line for us every race.  He’s never given less than 110% in any race and you just can’t help but love him.  It was a couple of Fridays ago when he went out there in a very contentious race and battled to the wire losing by a thin nostril in a head bob.  Select the photo on the left and watch the race.  Again, it was only a $4k claiming race but I couldn’t have been more proud.  I lifted my next beer at The Horseshoe in honor of “The Little Guy” and that gutsy performance.  We love him.

Lynne C – For making available to us her reserved clubhouse seats.  Lynne is one of our most enthusiastic partners.  She’s got a share of William Thomas and she never misses a race.  It’s not unusual to see Lynne biking over to the racetrack (makes us feel lazy to be bopping around in a golf cart) to visit William Thomas in Steve’s barn and taking in the morning works.  It’s rewarding for us to see partners fully enjoying the ownership experience.  Lynne is a great example that ownership is so much more than just owning a share of a horse.

Salt Water Reign – For being one of our more consistent runners and trying like hell to be ready for a start in Saratoga.  She shipped in with the string from Belmont but she came out of her race two races ago at Belmont a little touched up and was too sore to be able to race at the meet this year.  We had to kick her out to the farm (she’ll be fine) but I know she wanted to be part of the action here.  She ran a very good race here last season in a stake and she probably feels left out hanging out in a paddock in Maryland.  She’ll be with us next year proudly representing the stable.

The Stadium Café and Tiara – For being a friendly face in a strange town away from home.  The Stadium is a great sports bar and a very good choice for casual dining.  I go there often and Tiara is my personal bartender.  Everyone else knows they’re not allowed to serve me.  Tiara has this incredible smile that completely lights up the room.  As soon as I walk through the door I see that fabulous smile and without me saying a word she cracks an ice cold bottle of Bud and it’s on the bar waiting for me before I have a chance to sit down.  She’s a great barmaid, a good friend, and makes me feel more welcome than perhaps anyone else in town.

Steve L – For being a great partner and friend.  Steve often visits the Hibiscus string at Belmont Park and greatly enjoys bringing the horses a snack of carrots in the AM.  Steve has developed such a great relationship with the horses I think he’d bring them home to live in his backyard if we’d let him.  He, like Lynne, is a great example of someone getting the full benefit of ownership.

Sextant – For shipping to Saratoga and working hard every day to battle through a sore hoof, playing in pain, and never taking a day off in trying to get ready for a race at the meet.  Sextant is one of the sweetest horses I’ve ever been around but when she gets on the racetrack she’s all competitor.  I hope we can get her a race before the end of the meet.  She tries so hard I’d love to get her into the winner’s circle here.

John R – John is a NYRA mutual clerk who has become a great friend over the years.  John enjoys cranking out exotic wagers for DA and they often win for her.  John roots very hard for Hibiscus horses and you can guarantee that you’ll see John right next to the winners circle after every Hibiscus horse runs, win, lose, or draw with kind words for us after the race.

Larry, our landlord – For renting to us each season such a great condo and being a great landlord.  Larry also roots for Hibiscus horses and has become a friend.  Having the condo for the meet is like having a home away from home.

Lord Greystoke – For patiently watching the Saratoga meet from the sidelines as he rehabs from surgery to remove a chip from his knee.  He’s in Ocala now and before the chip Linda had ideas about trying him on the grass.  Linda trained his stakes-winning dam, Tarzena.  Tarzena did very well on the turf and Linda always thought that Lord Greystoke would relish the Saratoga sod.  We’ll have to wait until next year to find out but we have the utmost faith that he’ll represent the stable well here.

Fasig-Tipton – For doing a fabulous job renovating the sale grounds and pavilion.  Fasig has invested a lot of money in capital upgrades over the past year.  This year’s select sale, despite being conducted in 90+ degree heat and 90+% humidity well after sundown, was a great event.  If you haven’t attended this annual happening I strongly advise that you do so.  Hundreds of people descend on the sales ground from all over the country.  Food and cocktails are served as yearlings sell for hundreds of thousands and sometimes millions of dollars.  As I said to Steve Klesaris, it’s really a party with a sale going on in the background.  It’s always great fun and an interesting experience.

Linda Rice – For, at the time of this writing, being the leading trainer at the meet.  She’s got 12 wins, 2 more than Todd Pletcher with what I’m sure is millions of dollars less in racing stock.  No one works harder than Linda and her team and, believe me, I know because I’m out there every morning watching.  Linda wants nothing more than to win that title.  It’s prestigious to win a training title at any track at any meet but to pull that off at Saratoga where every big gun in the country shows up is truly a great accomplishment.  I sincerely hope she gets it and we couldn’t be more proud, win or lose, to have Linda as part of our team.  She’s a good friend and great trainer and I’m personally rooting hard for her each and every start.

Also want to give a thumbs down to local Saratoga PD.  While I have the utmost respect for the men in blue I can’t help but be miffed at the fact that my buddy received a ticket for driving the golf cart on the street one block off the racetrack grounds and I yesterday received a speeding ticket for doing a hair-raising 40 in a 30 on Union Avenue leaving the backstretch.  Can someone remind them that it’s us horsemen that anchor the economic food chain here and this type of overzealousness is a bit over the top?  Come on guys…can you lighten up a bit?

And a final shout out to Vintage 2009, our newest members of the stable as we are delighted to announce they are officially sold out.  We look forward with excitement to their debuts and welcome our new partners to the Hibiscus family!

                                                                             - Mike Oliveto, CEO Hibiscus Stables

D.A.'s Trivia Corner - Trivia Rewind

Keeping in the Saratoga theme, we dug back into the trivia archives to revive our Saratoga Quiz from the past to not only test your knowledge of the obscure side of Saratoga, but to also test your Wire-2-Wire Newsletter memory!

1. The Traver’s Stakes is also known as:

          A. Mid-summer Derby
          B. Mid-summer Preakness
          C. Last Chance for Fame
          D. Test of Champions

2. Saratoga was also home to the first hotel built in the U.S. Name the hotel. For extra credit what was the year?

          A. The Adelphi
          B. The Union
          C. The Coronet
          D. The Saratoga Inn

3. What else is the Spa City known for?

          A. Wettest summer in NY
          B. Largest snowfall in NY
          C. Longest drought in NY
          D. Largest hailstone in NY

4.  Although SPAC (Saratoga Performing Arts Center) is known as the summer home of the NYC Ballet and the Philadelphia Orchestra. What rock group attracted the largest crowd?

          A. Grateful Dead
          B. Moody Blues
          C. Whitesnake
          D. Madonna
 

5. Saratoga Springs is the birthplace of the potato chip.  In what year were they invented?

          A. 1880
          B. 1901
          C. 1776
          D. 1853


 

See below for answers.
                                                                                      - Doris Ann Hayes, Hibiscus Stables

Answers to Trivia: 

1) Answer: A.  The Mid-summer Derby at 11/4 miles was first run in 1864. The purse this year is $1 million.

2) Answer: B.  The Union first opened in 1802.

3) Answer: B. Between March 11-14, 1888 a total of 58 inches of snow buried the city.

4) Answer: A.  In 1985, 40,000+ packed the park to see the Grateful Dead.

5) Answer: D.  George Crum, the chef at Moon’ Lake House in Saratoga Springs serendipitously came up with the recipe when a customer complained that his French fries were too thick in 1853.

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