Saratoga Opening Day 2012

And now it's New York's turn, as Friday marks Opening Day for Saratoga Race Course.  Opened August 3, 1863, just one month after the battle of Gettysburg, Saratoga is the oldest race track in the United States.  In fact, it's also the oldest organized sporting venue of any kind operating in the Good ol' U.S.A.


Saratoga is known as the "Graveyard of Champions", and for good reason.  This is the race track where Man o' War suffered his only defeat, losing to a horse named Upset; it's where Triple Crown winner Gallant Fox lost the Travers Stakes to 100-1 shot Jim Dandy; and it's where the mighty Secretariat lost to Onion (see 7/7/12 entry below).


A part of that history is the 1982 Travers Stakes.  The field that day contained the three horses that had won the Triple Crown races that year: Kentucky Derby winner Gato Del Sol; Preakness winner Aloma's Ruler; and Belmont Stakes winner Conquistador Cielo.  Who would win?  Answer: None of the above.

Peace and Love,


Jimbo