Fun in Saratoga

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Song Hill Thoroughbreds picture in today's Times Union

I have not seen the print edition yet but I believe this picture of the horses at Song Hill Thoroughbreds is on the front page of today's TU. Pretty ironic in tjat we are going there today.

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NBC Sports has dropped "Summer at Saratoga" tag and will skip many Saratoga races, including this weekend's Jim Dandy stakes

I haven't posted since May, but now I have something to say.

Am I the only one who noticed that this year's NBC Sports coverage of Saratoga racing is much less than previous years?  NBC is showing perhaps as little as 40-something percent of previous years' Saratoga coverage.  They are only here three days this year, and unlike past years will not show this weekend's Jim Dandy stakes!   Last year, NBC was here 7 days total, and in 2012 they were here 5 days, and in 2011 they were for eight days.  In fact, in 2011 NBC was here every weekend of the track.  The only national networks carrying this year's Jim Dandy coverage seem to be TVG & HRTV.  Incidentally, for some time now TVG has been available on Time Warner as part of a sports package that will set you back $8 or so a month. 

It's not just the number of days that NBC is here that has dwindled, but the number of races covered on most of those days has declined precipitously as well.  For instance, in previous years Travers Day's TV coverage featured four stakes races, but starting last year it was reduced to just two races. 

Wheras I was happy to see Fox Sports 1 step into Saratoga coverage, Fox is still in its infancy in televising horseracing.  I saw some of their coverage at Belmont last month and it was really just the NYRA announcers using Fox microphones - it was an honest effort but still pretty rudimentary without the experienced professionalism and star power of NBC.  Maybe they'll hit their stride at some point - it just won't be this year.

It doesn't even seem that NBC is using the tag "Summer at Saratoga" anymore.  To show you how things have changed in just one year, below I will put NBC Sports' 2014 Saratoga coverage and below that I will put its 2013 coverage.  This is just something that I noticed that I don't think anyone else has written about, so I am sharing my thoughts.  Have a great weekend!

NBC Coverage of Saratoga 2014

Saturday,  8/2; 5-6 PM     NBC     Test Stakes and Whitney Stakes     
Saturday, 8/23; 4:30-6 PM  NBC     Ballerina  and Travers
Saturday, 8/30; 6-7 PM     NBCSN   Forego and Woodward

NBC Summer at Saratoga 2013 schedule

Saturday, July 27:  Grade 1, $600,000 Diana and Grade 2, $600,000 Jim Dandy (5-6pm on NBC Sports Network)

Saturday, August 3: Grade 1, $750,000 Whitney Invitational Handicap (5-6pm on NBC)

Saturday, August 10: Grade 2, $500,000 Fourstardave Handicap (5-6pm on NBC)

Sunday, August 11: Grade 2, $200,000 Adirondack and Grade 2, $200,000 Saratoga Special (5-6pm on NBC Sports Network)

Saturday, August 17: Grade 1, $600,000 Alabama and Grade 1, $600,000 Sword Dancer Invitational (5-6pm on NBC Sports Network)

Saturday, August 24: Grade 1, $500,000 Foxwoods King’s Bishop and Grade 1, $1 million Travers (4:30-6pm on NBC)

Saturday, August 31:  Grade 2, $250,000 Bernard Baruch Handicap, G1 $500,000 Forego and Grade 1, $750,000 Woodward (4-6pm on NBC Sports Network)

CDTA Saratoga Trolley to start up this Sunday

The Saratoga Trolley, run seasonally by CDTA as Route #875, will start the 2014 season this Sunday May 25th and continue through Labor Day.  Two trolleys go in opposite directions from the Hall of Springs and make stops on Broadway, Lake Ave,  Circular Street, Union Avenue,  Nelson Avenue (with a stop at Wright Street near the Clubhouse entrance to the track) and the harness track and Casino.  Click here for CDTA's flyer showing times and the trolley route. 

2014 Silks and Satins

Hello folks:

I haven't posted on here in ages.  I am wondering whether I will continue blogging. Those of you that read this regularly know that's because of my new and wonderful experience of being a father.  Margarita and I are blessed! 

In the meantime, here is a notice that the 2014 Silks and Satins road race will be July 19th.  Click here for more information.

 

 

Times Union reviews 62 Beekman Restaurant

This generally positive review can be accessed by clicking on the following link: http://www.timesunion.com/living/article/Value-on-the-menu-5410857.php?forceWeb=1

Oklahoma Training Track will open on Tuesday April 15th

I talked to some people in the know this weekend and found out that the Oklahoma Training Track at Saratoga Race Course will open for the season on Tuesday April 15, 2014.  That is good news and yet another sign that summer and track season are not too far off.

 

The Ice Cream Man in Saratoga is open!

In a very well timed soft opening on the year's first warm weekend, the Ice Cream Man on South Broadway opened today!   It's open until 9pm seven nights a week.  Look for a more official grand opening sometime around the beginning of May.