Saratoga’s Grand
Summer #5
By Dick Healy
All the many events and celebrations leading up to this
Saturday’s 138th Travers Stakes 1-14 mile race for three year old horses at
the fabled Race Course on Union Avenue, has so far lived up to their
anticipated expectations.
Charitable functions highlighted the big week, with Ronald McDonald House
Charities’ Ninth Annual Saratoga Fashion getting a big turnout, and which
was preceded by a Travers post position draw on Wednesday with the working
press on hand and a morning breakfast held At The Rail Pavilion track side.
The following post were drawn: 1. Helsinki; 2 C P West: 3 For You Reppo: 4
Street Sense: 5 Grasshopper: 6 Loose Leaf and 7 Sightseeing.
For those who don’t know, The Travers is a Grade 1 $1 million dollar race
many call the Mid Summer Derby because horses competing often include the
current year’s Kentucky Derby, Preakness or Belmont winner. Derby champion
Street Sense will be running Saturday. The excitement a Derby winner
generates with track goers when being saddled in the paddock area prior to
the race is almost indescribable. Seeing a champion horse up close creates
its own special atmosphere.
Wednesday evening, The Travers Gala Celebration honoring 2006 Travers winner
“Bernardini” saw Darley Stable trainer, Thomas Albertrani, accept the
traditional replica of the Travers Canoe – among other awards – for Sheikh
Mohammed bin Rashid al Maktoum, the ruler of Dabai and proprietor of Darley
Stable.
The Travers Celebration was co-chaired by Betsy Senior and well known area
personality Ed Lewi. Senior is co-owner of Senior & Shopmaker Gallery in
Manhattan and wife of New York Racing Association (NYRA) President and CEO
Charlie Hayward. Lewi is president of Ed Lewi Associates, a public relations
fir in Clifton Park, NY. Many may remember Lewi when he handled publicity at
the 1980 Winter Olympic Games in Lake Placid, NY.
If you haven’t already booked lodging in Saratoga proper for this weekend,
things will be tight. But there is nearby towns such as Clifton Park and
Glens Falls that usually have available last-minute lodging. Some visitors
even stay west of Saratoga in places like Amsterdam, or south on I-87 in
Albany. Driving time from these locations to Saratoga is about 35 minutes.
Oh yes, post Travers dining always presents a big night on the town. Some
dining choices I recommend include: Sperry’s on Caroline Street (downtown);
Scallions on Lake Avenue (downtown): Leon’s Mexican Restaurant on Crescent
Street (Close to the track): Famous Siro’s (also a short walk from the
track) and Saratoga National Golf Course East off Exit 14 off the Norway.
