Rob Haswell at the iconic Saratoga meet
Former Mayor Of Pietermaritzburg Rob Haswell is a big racing fan and he reports on the Travers Stakes at the Saratoga Summer meeting, which he regularly attends
The Travers Stakes, worth $1 25 million, is the richest race on the summer season of racing at the historic Saratoga race track in upstate New York in Saratoga Springs.
The race track with its historic wooden grandstand Club House, and vast public picnic area around the parade ring behind the grandstand, caters for all walks of life.
This year some 40,000 attended on Travers Day, so to describe racing as the lifeblood of the town’s economy is insufficient.
The city’s slogan is ” Health, History, Horses”, with the local population enormously proud of their racing, as evidenced by the horse statue feature which welcomes visitors.
Historically the wealthy from New York City were attracted by the hot water springs in the area, but that reason for the city’s existence has been eclipsed by the attraction of racing fans from across the USA and the amazing support of the local population.
The yield of this support is a racing season or “meet” of 46 days from late July to early September. Racing on 6 days in every week, provides an opportunity for locals to rent out their houses, with hotels, restaurants and a wide range of commercial activities having enough turnover during the racing season to ensure a profitable year. Racing is thus not simply important but vital to all members of the town’s community.
Given that the Travers is like, America’s Triple Crown, restricted to three year olds, and given that it follows the Kentucky Derby, the Preakness and the Belmont , the Travers is dubbed The Mid summer Derby.
However, only one Triple Crown winner has added the Travers Stakes, the 1941 Triple Crown winner Whirlaway – not even Secretariat could do it.
Nonetheless, Golden Tempo who won the Derby, was favorite to win this year’s Travers, but could only manage third.
Not for nothing Saratoga is also known as a graveyard for starters horses.
What makes racing unique and an eye opening experience is, in my view. the way the town’s people from all walks of life have embraced and support the city’s unique racing character.
Put another way, racing at Saratoga is to racing what the Masters is to golf.
