THE HORSES, THE PEOPLE, THE LIFESTYLE
SUMMER 2018 COMPLIMENTARY
brought to you by...
2 | Equicurean | July 2018
saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com
saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com
Equicurean | July 2018 | 3
4 | Equicurean | July 2018
saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com
saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com
Equicurean | July 2018 | 5
EQUICUREAN THE HORSES, THE PEOPLE, THE LIFESTYLE
Owner/Publisher Chad Beatty
General Manager Robin Mitchell
Creative Consultant Chris Vallone Bushee
Magazine Designer Marisa Scirocco
Advertising Design Morgan Rook
Advertising Sales Jim Daley Cindy Durfey
Contributing Writers Polo
Alan Edstrom
Thoroughbred
Colleen Coleman Dennis G. Hogan Katey Freeman Holmes Megin Potter L.A. Sokolowski Maureen Werther
Photographers Polo
Tracey Buyce Dan Heary Cliff Oliver Image Photo and Events
Thoroughbred
Kacie Cotter-Sacala Cathleen V. Duffy Richard Holmes Lisa Miller, Studio di Luce Kassidy Pancerella National Museum of Racing NYRA
Published by Saratoga TODAY Newspaper Five Case Street, Saratoga Springs, NY 12866 (518) 581-2480 saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com Equicurean is brought to you by Saratoga TODAY Newspaper, Saratoga Publishing, LLC. Saratoga Publishing shall make every effort to avoid errors and omissions but disclaims any responsibility should they occur. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by a ny means without prior written consent of the publisher. Copyright © 2018, Saratoga TODAY Newspaper
6 | Equicurean | July 2018
saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com
saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com
Equicurean | July 2018 | 7
CONTENTS 2018
EQUICUREAN THE HORSES, THE PEOPLE, THE LIFESTYLE
10 The Track 16 Trash or Treasure 18 Fasig Tipton 22 Terrible Twos
Cover photo provided by NYRA, Gun Runner from the 2017 Whitney Stakes
27 Equine Decor 33 The Light Cavalry 42 Penny Ploughman 50 Maryland; Horses, Hounds and Hilltops 56 The Shoes Can Make the Horse 63 National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame
8 | Equicurean | July 2018
saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com
saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com
Equicurean | July 2018 | 9
and...
N
THEY’RE OFF!
oted as one of the “Top 10 Sporting Venues In The World” by Sports Illustrated, Saratoga Race Course is one of horse racing’s most beloved tracks. With historical ambiance and modern day amenities and style, Saratoga Race Course is the place to find top Thoroughbred horse racing July through Labor Day each year. The 40-day meet draws the top horses, trainers and owners in the world to try their luck at “the Spa.” Known as the Graveyard of Champions, Saratoga Race Course has earned a reputation for being a challenging track for favorites. In fact, the dominant Man O’ War lost his only race against the aptly named Upset here at Saratoga.
ADMISSION: Single-day Grandstand admission is $5 and Clubhouse admission is $8 for guests who purchase their tickets prior to the day of the event. Single-day Grandstand admission is $7 and Clubhouse admission is $10 when purchased at the gate. Admission may be purchased in advance at www.Ticketmaster.com. Guests may also purchase their admission in advance at the NYRA Box Office at Saratoga Race Course beginning Saturday, July 14. Admission gates open at 11 a.m. on weekdays and 10:30 a.m. on weekends. On Travers Day, Saturday, August 25, gates open at 7 a.m. Travers Day admission purchased in advance is $10 for Grandstand; $25 for Clubhouse. Travers Day admission purchased day-of at the gate is $15 for Grandstand. Admission is included with all reserved seats purchased in advance.
10 | Equicurean | July 2018
DAILY CLUBHOUSE AND GRANDSTAND RESERVED SEATS: Daily individual reserved seats in the Clubhouse and Grandstand, which include admission, may be purchased in advance online through Ticketmaster.com. A limited number of reserved seats for the current day is available for purchase beginning at 9 a.m. at the Reserved Seat Box Office, located at Gate A on Union Avenue.There is a limit of four seats per person. Cash, American Express,Visa, MasterCard and Discover are accepted. All tickets purchased in advance of race day include the cost of admission.
saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com
FULL SEASON RESERVED SEAT PLANS: Full-season plans, which include admission, provide a reserved seat in the Clubhouse or Grandstand for the full 40-day season. Full season ticket plans may be purchased online through NYRA AccountManager. Based on availability.
WEEKLY RESERVED SEAT PLANS: Weekly ticket plans, which include admission, provide a reserved seat in the Clubhouse or Grandstand for six consecutive days of the meet from Wednesday through Monday (Friday through Monday for Opening Weekend). Weekly ticket plans may be purchased online through NYRA AccountManager. Week-long reserved seat plans for the 2018 meet at Saratoga Race Course are available (based on available inventory) as follows: Week 1, Opening Weekend: Fri. July 20 through Mon. July 23 Week 2, featuring the Jim Dandy:Wed. July 25 through Mon. July 30 Week 3, featuring the Whitney:Wed. Aug. 1 through Mon. Aug. 6 Week 4, featuring the Fourstardave:Wed. Aug. 8 through Mon. Aug. 13 Week 5, featuring the Alabama:Wed. Aug. 15 through Mon. Aug. 20 Week 6, featuring the Travers:Wed. Aug. 22 through Mon. Aug. 27 Week 7, featuring the Woodward:Wed. Aug. 29 through Mon. Sept. 3
saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com
SARATOGA SEASON PASSES: A season pass provides fans with admission to 40 days of world-class thoroughbred racing at Saratoga Race Course, including the Grade 1 Travers on Saturday, August 25 and the Grade 1 Whitney on Saturday, August 4. The costs for 2018 season passes are $40 for Grandstand and $65 for Clubhouse. Season passes do not include reserved seating and are valid for one admission. Season passes may be purchased online through NYRA AccountManager or at participating Stewart’s Shops locations throughout the greater Capital Region.
Equicurean | July 2018 | 11
SARATOGA SEASON PERKS: The 2018 season will feature the Saratoga Season Perks program with exclusive offers for season pass and season ticket plan holders, including: • Guarantee of one premium Saratoga giveaway on each giveaway day (must enter through the designated season ticket holder and pass holder lines; giveaway item must be obtained by 3 p.m. in person on the day of the giveaway at Saratoga Race Course). • 10 percent savings to numerous retail, restaurant and professional services locations in downtown Saratoga Springs, in partnership with the Saratoga Downtown Business Association (valid June 1, 2018 through March 1, 2019). • 10 percent savings at most Saratoga Race Course concession stands, NYRA merchandise stores and Shake Shack on Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays and the Artist's Village on Fridays. Discount does not apply to lottery, tobacco, alcohol, restaurant dining, group sales or Dunkin' Donuts. • 10 percent savings on Live Nation Summer Concert Series at Saratoga Performing Arts Center. Discount available on lawn tickets or select Pavilion seats during Pavilion-only shows (subject to availability). Available at SPAC Box Office only, not valid for purchase day of show. Season pass and season ticket plan holders must present their season pass in order to receive the discounts. The list of incentives, deals and discounts is available at SaratogaSeasonPerks.com and will be continually updated with new participating organizations. A season pass must be activated in order to receive Saratoga Season Perks discounts and incentives. Season pass holders are required to provide a photo in order to activate their season pass. Activation instructions, including information on how to upload a digital photo, are available at NYRA.com/Saratoga.
12 | Equicurean | July 2018
THE STRETCH: The Stretch is an all-new, private hospitality area featuring modern and upscale amenities in a casual environment with breathtaking views of Thoroughbreds rounding the final turn as they enter the dramatic stretch drive. Ticket holders to The Stretch will enjoy exclusive access to a full-service bar, kitchen and concessions, highdefinition televisions, special events, and private restrooms. Guests will also enjoy a relaxed dress code at The Stretch. Single-day tickets for premium reserved seats in The Stretch are available through Ticketmaster.com. All reserved seating purchased in advance includes admission. All tickets will be sold on a first-come, first-served basis (according to available inventory).
FOURSTARDAVE SPORTS BAR: Located within close proximity to the trackside apron, the Fourstardave Sports Bar includes more than 80 tables available for paid reservation and a sports bar which features an extensive craft beer selection, popular food vendors, and 60 flat-screen televisions. The hospitality space also provides protection from the elements. Configurations include options for up to six people, four people, and two-person tables. Two-person tables will be available for $30 on weekdays (Monday, Wednesday, Thursday) and $40 on weekends (Friday, Saturday and Sunday). Four-person tables will be available for $60 on weekdays and $80 on weekends. Six-person tables will be available for $90 on weekdays and $120 on weekends. All prices include admission. Travers Day pricing listed separately (see below). Personal coolers and outside food and beverage will not be permitted in the Fourstardave Sports Bar; on-track food and beverage is allowed. The Fourstardave Sports Bar opens at 11 a.m. Monday through Friday and 10:30 a.m. on Saturday and Sunday. All ticket holders must present a ticket for a wristband upon entry. Reserved seating options in the Fourstardave Sports Bar are available for paid reservation through Ticketmaster.com or by calling the NYRA Box Office at 844-NYRA-TIX. Season pass holders wishing to purchase a table without admission may call the NYRA Box Office. saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com
MILLER LITE PICNIC PADDOCK: The Miller Lite Picnic Paddock is the section in the backyard at Saratoga Race Course where guests may reserve picnic tables. The Miller Lite Picnic Paddock is comprised of more than 100 picnic tables, which each seat up to six guests, located adjacent to the paddock and offering premier viewing of horses being saddled before a race. Personal coolers are allowed in the reserved picnic area; coolers may contain plastic bottles or cans and are subject to search by NYRA security. Additional chairs, tents and umbrellas are prohibited. For a full list of prohibited items, visit NYRA.com. The reserved picnic area opens at 11 a.m. Monday through Friday and 10:30 a.m. on Saturday and Sunday. All ticket holders must present a ticket for a wristband upon entry. Reserved seating options in the picnic area are available for paid reservation through Ticketmaster.com. Season pass holders wishing to purchase a table without admission may call the NYRA Box Office at 844-NYRA-TIX.
SARATOGA VIRTUAL VENUE: Available again this year, fans may take advantage of the Saratoga Virtual Venue seating map to digitally preview their seat location and sightlines, as well as table locations in the Fourstardave Sports Bar and Miller Lite Picnic Paddock, before purchasing tickets.
saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com
Equicurean | July 2018 | 13
DINING AT THE TRACK DINING RESERVATIONS: Guests who are interested in reserving dining for the Turf Terrace, Club Terrace or The Porch can do so online at www.NYRA.com/Dining. Guests will be able to submit their individual day dining requests by clicking on the designated link. Guests will be asked to indicate the number of people in their party and preferred date. There is only one 11:30 a.m. seating available per day for each dining location, as the table belongs to the party for the entire afternoon. Guests are asked to claim their table by 1 p.m., the standard first post time for Saratoga. All guests will be required to provide a credit card when making the reservation. Dining reservations at Saratoga Race Course are subject to availability and require a nonrefundable table charge payment. Table charges are final, non-refundable and are based on the full table size. Dining reservations are non-transferable. No reservations will be accepted by phone.
GROUP HOSPITALITY: Group hospitality reservations for the 2018 season at Saratoga Race Course are on sale now for the following areas: At the Rail Pavilion; Luxury Suites; Paddock Tent; Festival Tent; Big Red Spring Tent; and Top of the Stretch. Reservations for group hospitality areas can be made exclusively through the NYRA Box Office by phone at (844) NYRA-TIX, via email at boxoffice@nyrainc.com or at www.nyra.com/saratoga. All reservations are based on availability.
MORNINGS AT SARATOGA: Breakfast at Saratoga is a long-standing tradition. Breakfast is served on The Porch of the Clubhouse, overlooking the morning workouts of the thoroughbreds on the main track each racing day from 7 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. Breakfast admission is free (except for Travers Day, Saturday, August 25, when Clubhouse admission fee is required). Trackside parking is refunded for those guests exiting the track by 10 a.m. Mornings at Saratoga also welcome fans to go behind the scenes with a free, guided backstretch tram tour. Tram tours begin at 7:30 a.m. and depart from the clubhouse entrance approximately every 15 minutes through 9 a.m. Tours are available on a first-come, first-served basis and are 45 minutes in length. The tour is available every race day except Travers Day and Labor Day.
INFORMATION: For questions about reservations for the 2018 season, contact the NYRA Box Office at (844) NYRA-TIX, via email at boxoffice@nyrainc.com or online at NYRA.com/Saratoga.
14 | Equicurean | July 2018
saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com
TRACK DRESS CODE
photo by Lisa Miller, Studio di Luce PADDOCK SADDLING AREA & WINNER’S CIRCLE: No shorts or abbreviated wear permitted. Gentlemen–collared shirts required.Box Seat Area: No shorts or jeans permitted.Gentlemen – suits or sports jackets required. TURF TERRACE: Neat casual attire, no jeans, shorts or abbreviated wear permitted. Gentlemen – collared shirts required (Management reserves the right to use its discretion to determine Neat Casual Attire). At the Rail Pavilion, The Porch, Club Terrace & Carousel Restaurant: Gentlemen – No tank tops.No short-shorts, cut-offs or
abbreviated wear permitted. Proper attire at management’s discretion. LUXURY SUITES: No abbreviated wear permitted. Gentlemen - No tank tops. Proper attire at management’s discretion. CLUBHOUSE: No short shorts, cut-offs or abbreviated wear permitted. No tank tops. Proper attire at management’s discretion. GRANDSTAND: Shirts and shoes required. People 12 years and over must abide by the dress code.
saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com
Equicurean | July 2018 | 15
TRASH or Treasure? A
few weeks ago, one of our readers stopped by the office with a non-descript plastic bag containing an assortment of paperwork. He had been digging through old boxes in his basement when he came across some rather unique items. With an eye for detail and a passion for racing, he knew he had found some gems that would be of interest to Equicurean readers….
Yes, Affirmed ran in Saratoga Springs, not once but twice. As you know, Affirmed was the eleventh winner of the Triple Crown, the last horse to win the Triple Crown for a 37-year period, which was ended in 2015 by American Pharoah and followed up in 2018 by Justify. At age three, he was named 'Horse of the Year'. He repeated as Horse of the Year at age four after winning the final seven races in his career, all but one of which was a Grade I stakes race. In the Blood-Horse magazine ranking of the top 100 U.S. thoroughbred champions of the 20th Century, Affirmed was ranked #12. His career has been honored with his election to the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame in 1980. Affirmed was also known for his famous rivalry with Alydar, whom he met ten times, including in all three Triple Crown races. In their final meeting, which took place in Saratoga Springs, Affirmed cut in towards the rail, forcing Alydar to be taken up on the backstretch. While Affirmed finished ahead of Alydar, the stewards decided to disqualify Affirmed from first to second, giving Alydar the final win. Just another addition to Saratoga’s peculiar reputation as the "Graveyard of Champions". Thank you Nick Capone, for this submission.
16 | Equicurean | July 2018
saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com
AFFIRMED 4-year-old ch. colt, Exclusive Native Won't Tell You by Crafty Admiral Trainer: Lazaro Barrera
GRAVEYARD OF CHAMPIONS Other Noteable Saratoga Springs Upsets Man o' War in 1919
Owner: Habor View Farm (Wolfson)
Gallant Fox in 1930
Jockey: Laffit Pincay
Secretariat in 1973 American Pharoah in 2015
1 2 3
FUN FACTS Affirmed has races named for him in both Florida and California. In 1978, Affirmed became the youngest horse up to that time to reach $1 million in earnings when he won the Kentucky Derby. He became the first American racehorse to reach $2 million in earnings by winning the 1979 Jockey Club Gold Cup
saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com
Equicurean | July 2018 | 17
Fasig-Tipton
SINCE 1898
2018 SARATOGA SALES AUGUST 6-7 : THE SARATOGA SALE | AUGUST 11-12 : NY BRED PREFERRED YEARLINGS Auctions will begin at 7 p.m. each evening in the Humphrey S. Finney Pavilion in Saratoga Springs. In 2017, The Saratoga Sale sold 156 selected yearlings for $52,995,000, an average of $339,712 per yearling.
HISTORY Formed in 1898 by William B. Fasig and Edward A. Tipton, Fasig-Tipton Co. is North America’s oldest Thoroughbred auction company. Its first headquarters were in Madison Square Garden in New York, and Fasig-Tipton initially sold high-class road and carriage horses in addition to Thoroughbred and Standardbred racing stock. Fasig-Tipton’s Saratoga sale of selected yearlings is one of the premier horse auctions in the world. It has roots that stretch back to 1917 when Fasig-Tipton formed an alliance with some of the top Kentucky breeders to sell their yearlings during the race meet in upstate New York. The great Man o’ War sold as a yearling at the 1918 Saratoga sale. The Saratoga sale has produced numerous household names for international horsemen, such as Raise a Native, Natalma, Hoist the Flag, Danzig, Miswaki, Conquistador Cielo, and two-time champion filly Open Mind.
18 | Equicurean | July 2018
The list continues as 1991 Horse of the Year Black Tie Affair, ‘93 Belmont Stakes winner Colonial Affair, ‘94 Kentucky Derby winner Go For Gin, ‘94 champion mare Sky Beauty, 2002 champion two-year-old male Vindication, ‘03 champion threeyear-old male Funny Cide (New York-bred sale), and ‘05 Horse of the Year Saint Liam all emerged from the venerable New York sale grounds. And for those of you who attended this years Belmont Stakes, you saw another Fasig-Tipton prodigy make history as Tapwrit defeated race favorite Irish War Cry in the race's final stretch. Humphrey S. Finney, for whom the Saratoga sales pavilion is named, announced his first sale for Fasig-Tipton in 1937. In his 1974 autobiography "Fair Exchange," Finney wrote about an auction company’s need to know about the horses and the value of what they are selling. That commitment to horsemanship and customer service remains a focal point for Fasig-Tipton today.
saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com
SARATOGA SELECTED YEARLINGS OVERVIEW FOR 8/7/2017 THRU 8/8/2017 SALE Date
8/7/2017 8/8/2017 TOTALS
Sold 75 81 156
Total
$24,425,000 $28,570,000 $52,995,000
Average $325,667 $352,716 $339,712
Not Sold
17 21 38
Median
$300,000 $300,000 $300,000
TOP SALES OF 2017 Hip# Sex Sire 190 191 189 188 187 186 185 182 183 184 180 181 179 175 176 177 178 173 174 170 171 172 169
C C C C C F F F C F C C F C C C F F F F C F C
Dam
CURLIN RIVER'S PRAYER ORB FLASHY AMERICAN WAR FRONT LERICI MEDAGLIA D'ORO RIGOLETTA INTO MISCHIEF VICTORIOUS AMI STRONG MANDATE GRAEME SIX SCAT DADDY AUCTION (IRE) CURLIN PURPLE CAT ANIMAL KINGDOM ART TEACHER ORB FASHION CAT UNCLE MO ZETTA Z MALIBU MOON CLOUD JUMPER TAPIT COLONIAL FLAG UNION RAGS PASSION DU COEUR MALIBU MOON ROYAL IRISH LASS UNCLE MO TEAK TOTEM TAPIT LAST FULL MEASURE UNCLE MO WITTY GAL SCAT DADDY BILBOQUET PIONEEROF THE NILE RASHNAA MEDAGLIA D'ORO ANNE OF KIEV (IRE) TAPIT LAST KITTEN MEDAGLIA D'ORO VIONNET
saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com
Buyer
Price
ERIC FEIN KERRI RADCLIFFE BLOODSTOCK GODOLPHIN
$1,000,000 $1,000,000 $995,000 MIKE REPOLE & ECLIPSE THOROUGHBRED PARTNERS $900,000 LAEL STABLE $850,000 LIVE OAK PLANTATION $825,000 KERRI RADCLIFFE BLOODSTOCK $800,000 JUDDMONTE FARMS $750,000 OXO EQUINE LLC $750,000 SOLIS/LITT $750,000 OXO EQUINE LLC $700,000 SPENDTHRIFT FARM LLC $700,000 KERRI RADCLIFFE BLOODSTOCK $675,000 ROBERT BAKER & WILLIAM MACK $650,000 WOODFORD RACING $650,000 JOHN C OXLEY $650,000 ECLIPSE THOROUGHBRED PARTNERS AND MARTY SCHWARTZ $650,000 JOHN C OXLEY $600,000 WHITE BIRCH FARM $600,000 JUDDMONTE FARMS $575,000 MULCASTER BLOODSTOCK $575,000 WHITE BIRCH FARM $575,000 SPENDTHRIFT FARM LLC $550,000
Equicurean | July 2018 | 19
Fasig-Tipton
“
In data recently released by BloodHorse MarketWatch, The Saratoga Sale once again ranks at the top of all major U.S. yearling sales by percentage of Grade 1 winners, Graded Stakes Winners, and Stakes Winners produced from horses sold.
”
STATISTICS FOR 8/12/2017 THRU 8/13/2017 SALE Date
Sold
8/12/2017 93 8/13/2017 89 TOTALS 182
Total
$8,155,000 $8,059,000 $16,214,000
Average
$87,688 $90,551 $89,088
Not Sold
30 32 62
Median
$75,000 $65,000 $69,500
NY BRED PREFERRED YEARLINGS (TOP SALES) Hip # Sex Sire
589 371 459 357 428 450 572 485 329 439 444 565 488 499 554 578 563 595 402
C C F C F C F F C C F C F F F F C C F
Dam
Buyer
Price
CAIRO PRINCE GARDEN CITY WAVES BLOODSTOCK $500,000 CITY ZIP NICK'S HONOR KINDRED RACING, MIKE RYAN AGT $350,000 MORE THAN READY ST FRANCIS WOOD BRADLEY THOROUGHBREDS/SHEEPPONDPARTNERS $315,000 MACLEAN'S MUSIC MY CANARY VINEYARD VENTURES $275,000 UNION RAGS SEATTLE SOCIETY ROB MASIELLO & WEST POINT TB $270,000 TIZNOW SOUTHERN CHARMER HARTLEY/DE RENZO THOROUGHBREDS $250,000 VIOLENCE FEAR THIS CARY FROMMER $250,000 CAIRO PRINCE TWO HEARTS WALKING L THOROUGHBREDS $230,000 CAIRO PRINCE KRAKOWVIAK CRUPI 17, J J CRUPI AGENT $225,000 FIRST SAMURAI SHOW ME THE CARATS SHORTLEAF STABLE $220,000 CURLIN SISTER DIANE WEST POINT TB, L.E.B., AGENT $210,000 VIOLENCE EXCELLERANT MICHAEL C STINSON, TOM MCGREEVY AGENT $210,000 INTO MISCHIEF VERY FUNNY LINDA RICE, AGENT $200,000 MUNNINGS WONDEROUSLY ALEX & JO ANN LIEBLONG $200,000 MACLEAN'S MUSIC ELEADORA JIM & SUSAN HILL $200,000 FLATTER FOREVER SMART VINEYARD VENTURES $200,000 JIMMY CREED EVANGELICAL CIARAN DUNNE, AGENT $195,000 WILL TAKE CHARGE GRANDMAS' GIRL MARC KELLER $190,000 FLATTER RAFFIE'S TREASURE BRADLEY THOROUGHBREDS LLC $185,000
20 | Equicurean | July 2018
saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com
saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com
Equicurean | July 2018 | 21
OH THOSE
TerribleTwos
22 | Equicurean | July 2018
saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com
WRITTEN BY PHOTOS BY
KATEY FREEMAN HOLMES CATHLEEN V. DUFFY
A
nyone who has gone through the experience of raising a two year old child knows what that entails. Behavior ranges across the entire spectrum of human experience. It’s a challenging time as well as a critical one to observe how very much we impact our child’s outlook on life. Surviving it is no mean feat and should be celebrated as overcoming the nearly impossible odds of raising a normal human being. The same can be said about two year old race horses. While we don’t expect our human toddlers to compete on the same level as we put our equine animals, it can still be amusing, if nothing else, to compare the development of both. It’s important to remember that these athletes are babies. Their bones are still in the process of growing and hardening and, like the celebrated Justify, aren’t raced until they reach the age of three. Since all race horses have birthdays on January 1st, some are not even three full years of age when they first go to the track. Another integral part of getting these youngsters ready to compete is the fact that, as with human two and three year olds, their perception of the world changes on a daily basis. Everything is new to them and, often times, frightening. Where a toddler might cry, a horse will show you a vast array of reactions. Jumping and bucking come naturally but that is only the beginning of the way they express their alarm. A horse I had an interest in broke from the starting gate in her first maiden race, took an immediate right turn, and left her jockey on the track. Youngsters can be incredibly impressionable. A lesson learned at this age can change their outlook for the rest of their lives. In short, they have to be handled carefully, gently and with tons of patience. Like a sculptor creating a masterpiece, these living beings are pliable, willing to bend to what ever force is introduced - assuming it’s done in a manner they enjoy and willingly remember. Correcting a two year old’s bad behavior has to be done in such a way that the new behavior asked of him or her doesn’t cause resentment.
saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com
Equicurean | July 2018 | 23
Horses are herd animals and don’t take to abrupt change easily. Two year olds haven’t been separated from their mothers long enough to forget that “Mom” kept them safe and told them what to do. Suddenly, a new order is introduced where a strange person tells them how they’re going to live, what’s expected of them, and what might happen if they don’t agree with that person’s perspective. It must be done in a gentle way. Think of it like taking your young child to day-care or pre-school. And, like these human children, our four footed equines learn many new things. From an early age, they begin by getting accustomed to having equipment put on them and weight on their backs. We might think of it as potty training. As with the latter, it takes time, patience and tenacity (on the part of the trainer hopefully.) During this period they need to learn to be obedient, to be led about quietly and to stand for grooming and Farrier work. Remember your child’s first haircut? Or their first outing for real shoes? Most horses at this age begin to learn how to hold a bit and carry a saddle, though, in many breeds, actual riding is put off until the horse is around three or four years old. You have to remember that a two year old’s joints are still growing and are susceptible to overwork. Parts of the horse mature at different rates. While one part of the horse may be strong, the other parts may not . When they’re two, horses begin to mature sexually and young colts can become aggressive. Mares mature between their first and third year. Luckily, human parents have more time to prepare themselves for this process…
24 | Equicurean | July 2018
saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com
A well trained two-year-old horse has been properly trained in how to have proper manners, be loaded into a trailer, can be lunged, exercised on a long lead, in a round pen and may be ridden at the owner’s discretion. But, here again, it all depends upon the individual horse. You would not put your toddler through a painful preschool experience any more than you would subject a young horse to training it was not ready for. When a two year old horse has been introduced to a saddle and rider, ridden around a pen and is responsive to commands, it may be ready for more advanced training. He or she must become used to a starting gate which can seem like a horrible contraption meant to imprison them and cause them harm. Think here of the school bus` doors swinging open as you push your young charge forward. Patience is required. Gate training is an on-going process that all horses need refresher courses in. Even watching on television, one can hear the loud noise and confusing action that takes place at the start of a race. How does one get a horse to accept this? Simple repetition is usually the key. If an animal is experiencing something often enough, it will get used to the fact that no harm comes from all of it and will accept it as the norm. Police horses are subjected to rigorous training before they are put into duty. Almost like polo ponies, they have to become used to adverse conditions. And such is it with a young race horse. A muddy track with mud flying in your face? Get used to it. Foggy conditions where you can barely see? Get used to it. Noisy crowds with people waving arms all over the place? Get used to it. People walking all around you as you are being saddled for a race? Get used to it. Eventually, pretty much any horse can accept strange circumstances as long as it doesn’t bring them harm. Like human beings, they become immune to stimuli. But, again, it all depends on the outcome. One bad experience can send a horse or a toddler back in their progress. Again, patience is the key. So while you’re raising your own “two year old“, remember, the ultimate outcome of the task depends upon how much time, patience and understanding you put into it.
saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com
Equicurean | July 2018 | 25
26 | Equicurean | July 2018
saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com
Colleen’s Picks
…for YOUR Saratoga Destination!
Ah, Saratoga Summers… Colleen Coleman is the owner of CMC Design Studio LLC and is well noted by her clients for bringing high energy, attention to detail, organization and more to each project. Her collaborative efforts with clients as well as others in the industry translate to a comprehensive design to completion for her clients. Her unique approach to defining each space matured into what she has coined as “Creating Environments for Life™” - Photo by Blackburn Portrait Design
who amongst us doesn’t dream of the long summer nights on the porch with family and friends, shopping downtown to find the perfect outfit for an upcoming soirée or dreaming of hitting the trifecta at the Saratoga Race Course? In preparation for our beloved summer events, I took the liberty of visiting some of our amazing local shops to see the upcoming equestrian décor …and offer tips to make your home a Saratoga destination. I began my search at FINISHING TOUCHES, just off exit 16 of the Northway. The artwork captured my attention upon entering the old church now turned into a home decor shop. With the current home trend being clean and fresh, a pop of color can be added with the “Color Your World” giclee, injecting vitality to any space. For my readers who prefer a quieter setting, the “Black Beauty” piece adds the power and grace of the stallion while offering bold strokes of black upon the canvas. Black Beauty
Color Your World
Dream Horse
Stallion bust lamp
“Dream Horse” would introduce a touch of the farm house style that we love to embrace, reminiscent of the stables in the backstretch. Compliment your equestrian style by illuminating a stallion bust lamp with linen shade, offering a soft glow throughout the evening hours. Now off to downtown to find more treasures!
saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com
Equicurean | July 2018 | 27
Colleen’s Picks
…for YOUR Saratoga Destination!
Strolling on Broadway, IMPRESSIONS OF SARATOGA boasted a copper mailbox embossed with racing horses which would make a statement right from the moment your guests arrive. A locally carved wooden sign with the global coordinates for the Saratoga Race Course pinpoints your destination with family and friends (now that’s precise!). Begin a night of chatter and fun with these “Shot in the ***” cups as you plan your events for the following day around town. Change up your décor from the winter months with a stunning set of Irish bronze horses as they race towards the finish line.
IMPRESSIONS OF SARATOGA Copper mailbox embossed with racing horses
IMPRESSIONS OF SARATOGA A locally carved wooden sign with the global coordinates for the Saratoga Race Course
IMPRESSIONS OF SARATOGA Shot in the ***” cups
28 | Equicurean | July 2018
IMPRESSIONS OF SARATOGA Irish bronze horses
saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com
Or create a shadow box frame to display this year’s beautiful Kitty Keller limited addition 2018 ornament which features Congress Park, the Casino, the Spirit of Saratoga statue and Spit & Spat. In fact, begin a collection each year to commemorate your special moments in Saratoga! Just up the street I found myself drawn into SILVERWOOD HOME AND GALLERY. Add a touch of local flavor by picking up a Saratoga pillow for your guest bedroom. A cast iron horse bust would be perfect on a bookshelf or side table flanked by photos of a prosperous day at the races. Don’t forget the kitchen…be sure to dress up your cooking area with a set of equestrian cooking mitts.
IMPRESSIONS OF SARATOGA Kitty Keller limited addition 2018 ornament
And visitors, be sure to take home a slice of our historical town with this Saratoga sign.
SILVERWOOD HOME AND GALLERY Cast iron horse bust
SILVERWOOD HOME AND GALLERY A Saratoga pillow for your guest bedroom.
SILVERWOOD HOME AND GALLERY Saratoga sign
SILVERWOOD HOME AND GALLERY Equestrian cooking mitts
saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com
Equicurean | July 2018 | 29
Colleen’s Picks
…for YOUR Saratoga Destination!
Just down the rear staircase of Silverwood Home and Gallery, TOGA HERITAGE has created a pop-up store featuring its latest pieces for 2018. The must-have candles; TRACKSIDE, features hints of leather & tobacco mixed with sweet feminine notes, and POLO, which sports a crisp fresh scent of cut grass with a hint of floral meadow, can set the tone for any crowd. And who can resist packing a hand-woven basket for a picnic dinner at Congress park or lunch among the blossoms at Yaddo Gardens.
TOGA HERITAGE Trackside and Polo Candles
Don’t forget a Toga Heritage blanket for the cool evenings at the lake! And one last find is this special engraved silver spoon featuring love and Luck; a gift for a friend, a keepsake for yourself!
TOGA HERITAGE Hand-woven basket
TOGA HERITAGE Blankets
30 | Equicurean | July 2018
TOGA HERITAGE Silver Spoon
saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com
Last but not least, I just had to venture over to the new 23RD [and Fourth] shop on Excelsior Ave to see what they had on hand for the season. Buckle up with a collection of these fanciful, leather accented pillows and be sure to secure a variety of cowhide coasters to complete your bar setting. Need a contemporary tweak on the iron horse, this polished nickel steed will surely add a sleek compliment to any modern décor.
23RD [and Fourth] Leather accented pillows
My last pick for the day is this lovely cowhide ottoman with angular legs. Who can be without a touch of animal print and hide in a horse town like Saratoga Springs!
Enjoy the season my friends! Best of luck at the races!!
23RD [and Fourth] Cowhide coasters
23RD [and Fourth] Cowhide ottoman 23RD [and Fourth] Polished nickel steed
saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com
Equicurean | July 2018 | 31
32 | Equicurean | July 2018
saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com
THE LAST OF
The Light Cavalry WRITTEN AND PHOTOGRAPHED BY
DENNIS G. HOGAN
The term cavalry may be traced to the Italians of the late 1500s, who used the word cavalleria, while the French equivalent was cavalerie. They were soldiers on horseback and in any language a force to be reckoned with. Once again the horse had been paired with mankind and this time it was for battle.
In the United States they were known as Dragoons and first appeared during the Revolutionary War. Their legacy continued with the War of 1812, and the Mexican American War of the 1840s. Shortly before the Civil War this mounted army branch came to be known as the U.S. Cavalry. ‘Go West, young man,’ was the motto for America’s expansion to the Pacific, and under the watchful eye of the Cavalry thousands of settlers did exactly that. The Spanish American War followed, then War World I; soon after this time, mechanized forces replaced the utility of the mounted infantryman - tanks, motorized vehicles and an air force had revolutionized warfare.
Sergeant Rafael Laskowski and Police Officer Mehmet Buyukdag wait for the light saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com
By the middle of the twentieth century, the light cavalry, named for their lack of heavy armor and nimble turn of foot, were sidelined as a fighting force and relegated to ceremonial duties and historical displays. The United States Cavalry lived on though the fearless horses tied to their origins and core purpose were no longer called to service. Equicurean | July 2018 | 33
“…the department has gone to great lengths to ensure the comfort and security of these horses. This is their home, where they live we’re just guests in their house." -Deputy Inspector Barry Gelbman Mankind’s partnership with the horse has certainly evolved over the years and many of these associations remain true to their history and traditions. There may be no better example of this than the customs and practices of America’s mounted police forces. There are approximately 300 mounted units in the United States, though the very first and the largest is the mounted unit of the New York Police Department. Comprised of some 100 members (with a 70/30 split of officers to civilians) and approximately 50 horses, the NYPD Mounted Unit is made up of four Troops stationed within NYC’s five boroughs: Troop B in Manhattan, Troop D in the Bronx, Troop E in Brooklyn, and Troop F in Queens. The unit began in 1858 and their numbers grew steadily as soldiers returned home from the Civil War. Already trained in mounted duties and with an understanding of enforcement principles these veterans were recruited to help bring lawlessness under control.
NYPD Mounted Commanding Officer Deputy Inspector Barry Gelbman
34 | Equicurean | July 2018
They adopted the familiar navy blue coats and yellow-striped britches, and are represented by the crossed sabres of the U.S. Cavalry, though their mission is neither warfare nor battle, but service to their city and the communities they patrol.
Deputy Inspector Barry Gelbman heads up the unit whose main headquarters are along 53rd St. on Manhattan’s west side. “We used to be stationed at Pier 76 just behind the Javits Center, though in 2015 we moved to this brand new facility which is also the home of Troop B,” said Deputy Inspector Gelbman. “We have 27 box stalls, an indoor riding arena, and it’s been designed for the horses from the ground up. It was meant to be a stable and the department has gone to great lengths to ensure the comfort and security of these horses. This is their home, where they live - we’re just guests in their house. “These days we select five to ten-yearold Draft crosses. In years past we used Standardbreds and Thoroughbreds but we find that the Draft horses are calmer, more resilient and better suited for this type of work. There are no color restrictions; once they were all bays and blacks, but it’s the temperament of the horse that is most important. “They are also all geldings; if we introduced a mare into the unit they might become the alpha. We ride in columns and could have issues about who’s in front, who’s in back - it’s for the safety of both the horses and the riders. saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com
NYPD farrier Marcus A. Martinez applies the traction-enhancing Drill Tech to a shoe
“Safety is a big concern. There’s a lot of stimuli encountered in the city but these horses are so well trained they don’t allow it to bother them. They are like, ‘Hey, I love doing this work and when I’m under tack and on patrol I know my job.’ “At our new headquarters we’re a part of the community. On the pier we were surrounded by a fence and were somewhat inaccessible. We now have a real working relationship with the public. People come by, they know the horses, they know the officers, it’s been a very positive experience. There’s a connection here: people hear the horses walking down the street, they hear the steel shoes - a sound so unique, and the
saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com
public has a sense of ownership to these police horses.” Speaking of shoes, I had the opportunity to chat with Marcus. A Martinez, one of the NYPD’s three full-time farriers. He’s been with the unit for ten years and explained what makes his job so unique. “The NYPD has gifted me with a mobile farrier unit which can take me to any part of the city I‘m needed. It has a selfcontained forge and anvil, along with shoes and bar stock and anything else a horse would need at any time or event. “The streets of New York City can go from hard macadam to concrete to black-top, sometimes even cobblestones or steel
plates. So to provide traction we treat the shoes with Drill Tech, which is an aggressive form of tungsten steel particle. You can apply it simply by using your forge, and it provides exceptional traction on all surfaces except steel plates.” With 21 horses stabled at Troop B, Marcus rarely sees any down time throughout the year. “Our busy season starts in April and doesn’t end until New Year’s Eve. This year we also had a busy winter as the horses participated in a lot of ceremonies. I’d say I’d be shoeing each horse every five weeks, though now, in the summertime, it will be about every three to four weeks”
Equicurean | July 2018 | 35
“I was a young girl and I saw a mounted patrol ride by and I decided this is what I wanted to do. My horse is named Torch. He’s a Percheron with a bit of Quarter Horse in him.” - Police Officer Pamela Bond Ceremonial duty is a big part of what they do though these officers are not restricted to simply carrying flags and heading up parades. They are the face of the NYPD, possibly the most popular members of the force, and their necessity has not diminished over the years. Sgt. Donald Boyle, head of training for Troop B explained why. “In one word: adaptation. Like anything else: those who adapt survive and those that don’t - pass on to history. Our role has changed throughout the years. We began as an enforcement unit: to control reckless galloping on the streets and to bring in fugitives from the backwoods; you have to remember that back in the 1800s much of New York City was undeveloped woods. “We then moved to patrolling. As the city began expanding its borders more people started to move into the rural areas. We went where the foot patrols couldn’t; our horses were the vehicles used on patrol. “In the mid-1900s, the 50s, 60s and 70s, a lot of protests started popping up, large crowds would form and the potential for violence was always there. The unit shifted roles again as you can move large amounts of people with just a few horses. It would take a lot of patrol officers to control a crowd of thousands, whereas ten mounted officers could do the job; the fact is: nobody wants to mess with a 1500 lb. horse.
Patrol Officer Pamela Bond and her mount Torch
“Of course, we have always been involved in ceremonial details and we still lead parades. Interestingly, this activity began because in the old days there was little organization. They'd just say, ‘ok, today, we’ll have a parade,’ and there’d be people all over the place. They used the mounted unit to move the crowd to the sides so the parade could pass. Thankfully, things have become much more organized. “In recent times the need arose for improving communitypolice relations, and we adapted by becoming a more approachable unit. People are drawn to horses. They will pass by two or three officers on foot to ask the mounted officer a question: ‘What’s the horse’s name?’ ‘How can I become a police officer?, and so on. “We are the face of the NYPD and with so many tourists visiting New York, we’re also the face of the country. “Now there’s an emphasis on counterterrorism. Our high visibility means everybody sees us: the good guys see us and are comforted that we are there, and the bad guys see us and when they do - they go elsewhere. No one is more visible than the mounted officer and what we provide is deterrence. Thanks to adaptation and the versatility of the mounted unit we have indeed survived and remain a vital tool of law enforcement.” So what does it take to become an NYPD Mounted Officer? To begin: it takes experience. Officers must be on the force a minimum of three years before they are eligible for assignment to the unit. 36 | Equicurean | July 2018
saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com
“We’re off to Times Square. There’s definitely a lot of noise, a lot of cars, but we go through a lot of training, the horses go through a lot of training - though every day is a learning experience." - Sergeant Rafael Laskowski “We’re the eyes and ears of those on the ground,” explained Sergeant Boyle, “You often have to relay information to those on foot, so you must know what they’re looking for and that requires the experience one gains as a foot patrolman. “You also need the right temperament. Because we are so available to the public one must be a good communicator and not abusive in any way we have no tolerance for that. “We also look for resilience. This is a laborintensive unit and if you’re the type that calls in sick all the time - this is not the place for you. “And of course, you must possess a passion for horses - and that’s something that is common to all members of the unit. Surprisingly, you don’t have to know anything about horses, and if you’ve never ridden before - even better. P.O. Mehmet Buyukdag and Madison, Sgt. Rafael Laskowski and Finbar, and Det. John Reilly and Trooper head out on patrol
“If you come in riding it’s harder to break your habits. The training period, which we refer to as Remount, is only 90 days so it doesn’t give you a lot of time to adjust.”
Officer Mehmet Buyukdag and his mount Madison along with Sergeant Rafael Laskowski atop Finbar patrolling Manhattan’s busy west side saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com
Equicurean | July 2018 | 37
Students ready their horses on graduation day
So say your application to the Mounted Unit is accepted - what sort of things can one expect from the training process?
"The three months of Remount have been rigorous and physically demanding, but rewarding as well." - Police Officer Alban Kalaj
“Well, the Remount center is located in the Pelham section of the Bronx, and it’s also the home to Troop D,” explained Sgt. Boyle. “During the first month it’s going to be a lot of physical exercise: working out, running, push ups, sit ups. It requires a lot of stamina and strength to control a 1500 lb. animal for shifts that last six to seven hours; one must be in shape.
based on the U.S. Cavalry’s model of ‘earning your spurs.’ This is the halfway mark of Remount School, and by this time we’ll get a idea whether someone has got what it takes to continue in their training.
“You’ll also learn the basics of being around horses: they’re clumsy, they’ll step on your foot, they’ll push you around - you have to learn how to work your way around a horse before you even get on one. You’ll learn to groom them, put on their tack and once done with your task, bathe them and settle them down for the night. “Once you’re on the horse the focus becomes how to control it properly while sitting, walking, and taking it through its various gaits: the sitting trot, the posting trot and the canter. “At the midway point you have what is known as the ‘spur test,’” added Senior Remount Instructor Detective William Staszeski. “Here, we add a lot of stress to their riding. A recruit will come into the ring alone for the first time and during the first four minutes they must execute all the gaits in both directions and they’ll have to do some nuisance work as well. “What we’re looking for is a quiet and steady leg, their weight must be down in their heels and their toes must be straight. If they pass the test we have a presentation
38 | Equicurean | July 2018
“Next comes more advanced forms of equitation and then we start the actual police work.” “And it’s intimidating. I remember my first day out,” recalls Sgt. Boyle. “I was in the park, no longer surrounded by fencing and the safety of the ring. And it was all up to me to guide that horse.
Remount graduate Alban Kalaj
“We start off riding locally - it’s quiet in that part of the Bronx. A single car or a bus will come by and you’ll get a sense of that. As the days go by you’ll head into the Tremont section of the Bronx, which is a bit more hectic. There’s a lot more stimuli - it’s testing the horse and it’s also testing you. Slowly, it gets busier and busier until finally you’ll come to Manhattan.” And if you’re lucky enough to get your spurs and complete the Remount training, your journey will be marked by all the pomp and circumstance of Graduation Day. This year the NYPD Mounted Unit welcomed eight Patrol Officers and one Sergeant into their ranks. That’s about the average, said Deputy Inspector Gelbman. “Each year we take in about ten new recruits, it all depends on the staffing requirements of the department.”
saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com
“This is one of the best days of my life.” - Police Officer Jenique Scott-Cooper Before stands packed with family and friends, and a gallery filled with mounted unit veterans, instructors and police brass, the new recruits showed off their stuff with a 15 minute dressage presentation that would thrill even the most discerning horse show attendee.
Remount graduate Jenique Scott-Cooper
A standing ovation followed as the recruits sat atop their charges, smiling ear-to-ear, their accomplishment and pride on full display. Next they’ll be paired with their own mount and assigned to one of the four troops contained within New York City. These graduates join the ranks of brother and sister members, and follow in the steps of those who served before them, all possessing a love of duty, honor and service to their cities and country. The roles may have changed over the years though what remains steadfast is their unbridled passion for the horse. The NYPD Mounted Unit, and members of some 300 other units throughout the country, are still on the streets, on patrol, and they remain ‘the last of the light cavalry.'
This is the first year horses will wear breastplate badges. The first two numbers signify a horse’s initial year of service; the last two numbers indicate its place among mounts recruited that year
saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com
Equicurean | July 2018 | 39
MEET SARATOGA’S
Mounted Patrol
WRITTEN BY
MEGIN POTTER PHOTO BY TRACEY BUYCE PHOTOGRAPHY
Pictured left to right: Officer Aaron Moore on Apollo, Sergeant Aaron Benware & Officer Glenn Barrett on King Tut.
Horses put Saratoga in a special position to keep the peace.
“Several police departments around the country have done away with their mounted patrol units. We’re the last of a legacy,” said Officer Aaron Moore. Education Essentials “You really have to have your wits about you. Your horse is an extension of you. When you sense your horse is tense or nervous, you must be your most relaxed and reassuring,” said Officer Moore. Crowd and traffic control, community relations and prevention of street crimes is the mission of the Saratoga Springs Police Department’s Mounted Patrol Unit. Horses and officers undergo a 7-week training course and complete a yearly desensitization session. “By the time the Officers graduate mounted school, they have formed a bond of trust with the horses. They are well-trained to deal with the sights and sounds of a busy downtown,” said Sergeant Benware. "The horses’ posture reveals how excited they are to go to work and they stand taller in anticipation," said Officer Moore. Moore had experience with Western-style riding and helped with the horses on the force before joining the unit in 2014. Streetwise A dynamic duo when they are paired up downtown – the black Percheron draft horse, Officer King Tut is ridden by Officer Glenn Barrett, and Officer Apollo, a chestnut Standardbred who graduated last year, is ridden by Officer Moore. The horses look at and nudge each other. When one goes, the other joins him. There’s no pecking order – they work as a team. 40 | Equicurean | July 2018
“During a fight, I can give a verbal command from my horse and (snap) people are on their way without further issue,” said Officer Moore. The horses’ gentle yet powerful form of intimidation encourages people to disperse. “It’s amazing the difference in how people react when I’m on foot or in the patrol car compared to when I’m on a horse.” On Common Ground A typical workday means a six-hour shift for the team. Criss-crossing Broadway downtown, they chill-out in the shade of Fingerpaint’s overhang and by N. Fox Jewelers. Their shoes (which are replaced every five to seven weeks in the summer) are equipped with Borium spikes to securely grip the pavement as they traverse the hills on Lake Avenue and Caroline Street. Farmers Hardware has water outside for the horses to drink from if they don’t want the water in their trailer. At Congress Park there is a hose to use, but on a hot day, they wade through the creek bed there to keep cool. “I like to joke that King Tut and Apollo are better cared for than most people’s family pets,” said Sergeant Benware. Inspiring a sense of wonder, the horses are happy to pose for pictures - even nose-to-nose with Saratoga’s famous horse statues or even once, with an English bulldog puppy. “People just thought it was the greatest thing. I get so many firsttimers who have never been around a horse. They’ve seen them on T.V., at the racetrack or from a distance but this is their first interaction. They’re completely enamored,” said Officer Moore. saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com
saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com
Equicurean | July 2018 | 41
Penny Ploughman
Puts Magic into Everything She Does
WRITTEN BY
H
orses inspire Penny Ploughman of Albany, New York, an unlikely mix of attorney by day and, on weekends, a leather crafter/saddle repairer in a studio nestled behind her 1889 historic Quail Street brownstone once belonging to cork maker Ira Sampson. The only clue to any equestrian activity within is an elegant metal placard of a horseshoe and bridoon hanging to the left of a street-level door. But make no mistake. Ploughman’s handcrafted leather equestrian accessories and saddlery services command attention. Her patented SZ (side-zip) belt has made the show world sit up and take notice and her ‘stable to street’ belts with horsey hardware have become a staple in the Saratoga Springs gift shop of the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame. Born and raised in Buffalo, with family roots in Massachusetts and Newfoundland, Ploughman moved to Albany in 1989 after finishing law school at SUNY-Buffalo. Since 1999 she has worked as an Associate Counsel at SUNY’s Office of General Counsel. “I grew up in Williamsville, next to a private barn where racehorses recovered from injuries, and Saddlebreds, Hackney ponies and Standardbreds trained. My dad took me for trail rides at least once a month in the summer and fall, and to many of the Buffalo International Horse Shows. In Newfoundland, my paternal grandfather and father used a horse to bring wood in from the forest, plough fields, and take fish from the harbor to be salted and dried. “He (my paternal grandfather) made his own tack. I use some of his tools in my work today and still have his wooden toolbox.”
L.A. SOKOLOWSKI PHOTOS PROVIDED
into a “great, large garage” that she proceeded to renovate into a workshop. “My creative spirit has been there since I built my first fort as a ten year-old,” she said about balancing a staid legal persona with that of an artist and do-it-yourselfer. She didn’t stop at forts: “I built a cabin from a shed kit I modified with the help of friends. Later, I built an outbuilding with a ‘solar’ shower, and built roof trusses for a porch out of found wood that I lashed to the roof of my Chevy Cavalier.” She started refinishing antiques and that led to repurposing used bits and “pieces of horse stuff.” Ploughman took a do-it-yourself approach to saddles: “I started my saddlery business when I wanted a particular dressage saddle that wasn’t being made anymore (a Kieffer Udo Lang).” She had found a Kieffer on Ebay but it needed work. “That’s how Ploughman’s Saddle & Bridle Repair, LLC started. I read everything I could on saddle repair and took my first course from British Master Saddler, David May, when he was teaching flocking and fitting in Ocala, Florida. Then I went to his Saddlery School in England and took more courses, including bridle-making.” She took another saddle fitting class with Hastilow Group in Pennsylvania. “I was repairing and making my own tack. Then friends and barn people started asking me for repairs, alterations and re-made tack. Ploughman’s Saddlery & Belts (P.S.&B.) came a couple of years later to cover my custom-made and new items.”
Ploughman’s Saddle & Bridle Repair launched in 2006 in her laundry room and, when her last Albany Law School tenant graduated, she moved the studio and showroom, first into the ground floor apartment and then behind the brownstone, 42 | Equicurean | July 2018
saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com
The first piece she crafted under the P.S.&B. maker’s mark she confessed was for herself. “I wanted one of those beaded belts you used to see at roadside shops or camp resorts. They were always child-size and I wanted adult.”
Ploughman has also done what few fashion designers ever hope to achieve: Be granted a Utility Patent for apparel. “It is very difficult to get a Utility Patent, which covers/protects both the design and – more significantly – the method of making the belt.”
She started making more belts. “After buying belt blanks, I decided to buy whole hides and cut the belting to order myself. I started buying buckles designed for apparel and learned my choices were limited and the materials – plated metal or metal of undetermined composition – were inferior.” Having worked in tack repair with solid brass, stainless steel, nickel and chromed horse and harness hardware, she decided “whenever possible” to use that instead.
The idea for her SZ (side zip) belt for use with side zip breeches came fast but granting its patent took five years. “The idea was from a friend who always wore Tailored Sportsman and said the only problem with those breeches was that you had to shift your belt around to the zipper on the side, or wear it with the buckle in front. I said I could make a belt, with two billet and buckle parts, and the idea was unique enough to be awarded a U.S. Patent in 2015.” She has also had a Design Patent since 2017 for her EZ spur strap.
Soon she was making five different belt series: Horse Tack, Rosette, Harness/Driving Hardware, Western and Fox Hunting. “I got copies of every tack and hardware catalog I could find and discovered all the hardware and tack that I could use in belt making. “The most important tack design was the martingale because through it I could make a ‘one size fits all’ and ‘one size fits’ breech or pant-high or natural waist, or hip-hugging. After making pragmatic and useful belts, I started to make equestrian fashion statements with actual bits, and brass and stainless steel rivets as accents.”
saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com
“Each belt is individually made by me. The process can take a few hours, from cutting the belting from the hide through measuring, edging, creasing, edge dying, attaching hardware, oiling and polishing before I stamp it with my Maker’s Mark, attach the beaded chain leather label with my embossed logo and put it in the muslin bag that delivers each piece of my work.”
Equicurean | July 2018 | 43
She also adds a touch of real Magic. Fifteen years ago, for a 48th birthday gift to herself, she got an eight year-old, 15.3-hands tall, chestnut Morgan gelding from Manitoba, Canada. Jointly registered in the U.S. and Canada as Agasea Mtn Magic, she calls her fourlegged friend and inspiration “the single best present I’ve ever purchased.”
© John Seymour
“I had leased horses of other breeds and had begun taking dressage classes when I saw Magic and – that was it – I knew he was the horse for me. I was at a point in my life where I knew he could be taken care of in the style I wanted him to be cared for.” “Magic is an ‘Old Government,’ Brunk-bred Morgan with lineage going back to the Civil War. He is multi-talented and, at age 23, still full of flash!” Magic’s youthful exuberance keeps earning him entry into shows like the Eastern New York Dressage and Combined Training Association (ENYDCTA) Dressage Days at the Stockade Polo and Saddle Club in Glenville, where he competed over the Memorial Day Weekend and placed in the top 10 in its Training Level Dressage division.
44 | Equicurean | July 2018
saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com
Like Magic, Penny Ploughman keeps riding forward. After retiring from SUNY, she dreams of opening a private practice in animal law, expanding her lines of accessories and learning how to carve leather, and maybe offering howto courses of her own. In the meantime, she said, “I’m excited to take more welding courses and open Ploughman’s Forge, which will feature home and garden items made with used horse shoes. Another re-usable and re-purposed material that I have many creative ideas for!” Inspiration just keeps trotting along on Quail Street. Find items by Ploughman’s Saddlery & Belts at the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame Gift Shop on Union Avenue in Saratoga Springs or at www.ploughmansbelts.com.
saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com
Equicurean | July 2018 | 45
HOMETOWN BRAND MOVES TO BROADWAY AND BEYOND WRITTEN BY PHOTOS BY
MAUREEN WERTHER CATHLEEN V. DUFFY For Mike and Jill DeAnzeris, EMBRACE THE RACE® is about so much more than thoroughbred racing. The apparel and accessories brand was conceived and created right here in Saratoga seven years ago, and it is fast becoming synonymous with the pursuit of excellence in racing and in life. DeAnzeris, whose background is in sports and marketing, has developed the line of men’s women’s and children’s clothing, accessories, fashion jewelry and more, that fits right in with the Saratoga scene and well beyond. EMBRACE THE RACE® ties, hats, polos and dress shirts have already been spotted on celebrities both within and outside of the thoroughbred racing world. The clothing and apparel is classy, elegant and works equally well in the paddock area and later, lounging on the patio of the Adelphi Hotel or people-watching from the vantage point of Salt and Char’s sprawling front porch. DeAnzeris rightly calls the brand elegant, classy and cool in a subtle and understated way. Formerly located on Circular Street, EMBRACE THE RACE® has made the next logical step in its journey to becoming an internationally known brand by opening its flagship store at 327 Broadway. Doors officially opened in June and DeAnzeris says he plans to hold several celebratory events there throughout the summer. The story behind the creation of the company’s logo is as cool as the image itself. It took nine months to develop the logo, which happens to contain nine simple yet compelling strokes of the designer’s pen. Together, those strokes form the image of a speeding horse with jockey astride, galloping towards glory. It has an allure that evokes grace, speed and an understated elegance that speaks to the nature of the brand and the culture of the company.
46 | Equicurean | July 2018
saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com
“The brand is meant to inspire, and it is inspired by the aspirational elements of the racing experience,” says DeAnzeris. While he says that it’s all about passion, elegance, style and allure, it is also about something more important. “People connect with the constant pursuit of greatness and excellence, the desire to achieve. Our brand and logo exude that spirit of moving forward.” EMBRACE THE RACE® is located toward the southern end of Broadway in Congress Park Center. When first entering the space, your eye is drawn at once to the impossibly high ceilings and the richly dark-toned wood cabinets and shelves lining either side of the store. The cool stone flooring beneath adds to the charm of the space and makes you feel as if you have just entered Brooks Brothers or a chic Soho designer boutique. Along one wall are casual tees, polos and fleeces, while crisply checked cotton button down shirts are neatly displayed on the large circular tables, topped off with the traditional straw panama hats, key fobs and ties that work perfectly at the clubhouse in the track or at the nearby polo grounds. Further back in the store is a glass case holding fashion jewelry for both men and women, all with the brand’s logo. Nearby is an array of bar and glassware ideal for mint juleps or celebratory toasts with champagne as your horse crosses the finish line. Cozy leather cub chairs offer a comfortable respite for shoppers as they make their rounds of the other nationally known shops and boutiques that also reside in the building. DeAnzeris says it is only natural that EMBRACE THE RACE® should be in a premier building with other premier brands. His goal – which is rapidly becoming reality – is to cement his brand’s place in much the same way that Lacoste’s legendary trademark became a symbol of excellence, style and casual elegance in the world of tennis and far beyond. His own aspirational goal can be summed up in three simple words: “Broadway and beyond.”
saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com
That “beyond” includes expanding the already large audience that hail from all 50 states and at least 8 different countries. The company is also looking forward to opening more stores in cities around the country. EMBRACE THE RACE® is an official sponsor of elite events in places like Kentucky, Maryland and Florida as well as Jockey Club events in California and New York. The company also enjoys the unique designation as The Official Apparel of Horse Racing® and The Apparel for the Horse Racing Lifestyle® As such, DeAnzeris says that “We work hard everyday to make sure of our products, messaging and contributions to the racing community are reflective of our leadership position, one we hold in the highest regard.” To learn more about EMBRACE THE RACE®, a visit to their website tells you all you need to know about the up and coming brand and company. But it won’t compare with the actual experience of visiting the flagship store at 327 Broadway and “embracing” the race in your own life. Equicurean | July 2018 | 47
9 Reasons to Visit BEEKMAN STREET
CONTENT PROVIDED BY WWW.SARATOGAARTDISTRICT.COM, PHOTOS BY CRYSTAL COBERT GIDDENS
The Arts District on Beekman Street,
part of Saratoga Spring’s historic west side, is a thriving and ever-changing arts and business community. A three-block mixeduse neighborhood located a walkable four blocks west of Broadway, the Arts District supports a relaxed but vibrant community of working artists, shopkeepers, restauranteurs, health professionals and residents. The area embodies the creative spirit of Saratoga while it honors the local heritage. It serves as a meeting place where neighbors and visitors can come together to view and purchase artwork, meet artists, dine at some of the city’s best restaurants, visit specialty shops and services, or just stroll down the flower- lined street. A multi-ethnic neighborhood, Beekman Street has always been home to families and family-run businesses. In the early 1900’s the neighborhood was settled by Irish and Italian immigrants who came to Saratoga to work in the tourism and railroad industries. Ethnic clubs and restaurants were nestled among the multi-family homes, many with two-story porches that fostered a close-knit community. Local street festivals brought generations of families together to celebrate heritage, culture and food. Mid-century,
Pop Up Art on Beekman July 13, August 10, Oct 12, 5-8pm (Second Friday of the month) Various shops and restaurants in the district host visiting artists who set up for the evening in the host's space. Enjoy new art openings, refreshments and inspiring conversation! 48 | Equicurean | July 2018
African-Americans settled on the west side helping the hotel and entertainment industries flourish. In the early 2000’s, a grass roots effort began as local artists got together and purchased or leased affordable studio space on Beekman Street. Several artists bought buildings on the street and thoughtfully renovated them for work and living space. Restaurants and boutiques soon followed and now there is an interesting mix of small specialty shops, artist studios and ateliers, restaurants and pubs, and residences. Beekman Street has evolved as a compelling destination. We have been thoughtful in planning for residential, artistic, business, and professional office space, including local parking and transportation for residents, artists, professionals and guests alike. As the next generation looks for eclectic neighborhoods that are pedestrian friendly and close to services, the Beekman Street Arts District offers a great place to live and work. Careful to preserve the character of the artistic and historic nature of the Beekman Street area, we have tried to nurture all facets of this close-knit, supportive community. The Arts District on Beekman Street is a local treasure in Saratoga Springs.
EVENTS
Vintage Fest on Beekman Saturday, Sept 15, 4-7 pm Flashback to the 50s and 60s. Live music, dance, storytelling, vintage cars and food help bring back the rich history of the west side.
saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com
Tavern novo
plum and crimson
textiles studio
Kravere
saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com
The local
Equicurean | July 2018 | 49
MARYLAND: Horses, Hounds & Hilltops
50 | Equicurean | July 2018
saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com
WRITTEN AND PHOTOGRAPHED BY
Maryland, home of the Preakness Stakes and second jewel in Thoroughbred racing’s Triple Crown, is serious about its horse country. Racing fans may turn to Pimlico for one Saturday a year but for the remaining 364, Maryland offers a vibrant and historic world of foxhunting, eventing, timber racing and steeplechase action.
L.A. SOKOLOWSKI
W
hen the opportunity presented itself to explore Hunt Valley and neighboring regions in June on a Horses, Hounds & Hilltops tour before the start of the American Horse Publications Conference and Media Awards in Maryland, I seized it. I was already driving the five-and-a-half hours to attend as a finalist in the Freelance Writer Equine-Related Journalism category, and as a guest on a 45 Social Media Ideas in 45 Minutes panel, so why not? HORSES The tour stopped at Locust Hill Farm (Glyndon). Locust Hill Farm isn’t usually open to the public but its impact on the horse world is significant. It is the former estate of Stuart Janney, Jr., one of the nation’s top breeders before his passing at age 81 in 1988, and forever tied to the tragic 1975 televised match race between his undefeated filly, Ruffian, and a colt called Foolish Pleasure. Today, Locust Hill is the Thoroughbred training facility of Jack Fisher, who won his sixth Leading Trainer Award from the National Steeplechase Association in January and the Lonesome Glory Award, presented by his father, Maryland Hunt Cup winner and retired trainer, John R.S. Fisher, as the NSA leading earner (smashing his own NSA record thanks in part to Mr. Hot Stuff, a 2009 Triple Crown hopeful who preferred to win America’s richest steeplechase, the $400,000 Grand National at Far Hills Races). No stranger to Saratoga, Fisher won the Grade 1 A.P. Smithwick Memorial Steeplechase in 2013 with the Tiznow-bred Mr. Hot Stuff and twice (2015, 2017) with Choral Society. The taciturn ‘father of steeplechasing’ welcomed the morning’s tour with a droll history of his sport: “Two guys bragged about whose foxhunter was faster, so they decided to race from church steeple to steeple, best man wins.” It wasn’t a race but Locust Hill’s tracks and fields were echoing with the sounds of hooves and laughter as a local Pony Club happily schooled over low fences in an impromptu performance for us.
The Green Spring Valley Pony Club going through its cross-country paces at Locust Hill Farm, one of the Thoroughbred/steeplechasing facilities on the American Horse Publications Horses, Hounds & Hills Tour during its annual conference and media awards in Hunt Valley, MD.
saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com
Equicurean | July 2018 | 51
Images from the Horses, Hounds & Hills Tour during the American Horse Publications Conference & Media Awards in Hunt Valley, MD, including the Green Spring Valley hounds - photo by Doug Lees
HOUNDS Next, at Green Spring Valley Hounds & Hunt Club, horses, hounds and history have been woven together since 1892, when Redmond C. Stewart (purchaser of Maryland Hunt Cup champion, Ben Nevis II) met with residents within a roughly 35-mile square territory in Baltimore and Carroll Counties and proposed a foxhunting club. (Today’s modern humane equivalent is ‘foxchasing.’) According to GSVH, “Stewart’s plan was a natural outcropping of his passion for hunting: as a teenager, he hunted his own private pack of five hound couples. But now his vision was for an organized club, with a board and officers, initially friends and family, with a dedication to breeding a topnotch pack of hounds. To that end, Stewart crossed American hounds with English hounds to add bone and biddability (docility). The first fixture card was sent out for December 1892 and invited 127 men from the surrounding neighborhood and sportsmen in Baltimore. Annual dues were $5.” Since the end of World War II, GSVH has had only five huntsmen. Two – Leslie Grimes and Andrew Barclay – are enshrined in the Huntsmen’s Room in the Museum of Hounds and Hunting. The latest to join GSVH’s lofty lineup is Ashley Hubbard. Call him an ‘alpha dog.’ He’s earned it. Hubbard oversees 100 hounds (in hunt lingo, ’50 pairs’) equally divided among males and females, and is always ready to hunt a ‘mixed pack’ of 35-40 dogs at once. The pedigrees of some GSVH English foxhounds trace back nearly two centuries and, with good weather, these primed athletes can hunt 20-50 miles at a stretch, over 100 times a year. Who really let the dogs out? Ask Hubbard, who demonstrated his mastery by releasing 50 hounds at once to joyfully cover us in waves of sloppy canine enthusiasm. Then with a series of short, quick whistles, he receded those waves from our shore and back to their kennels (okay, except for one, who couldn’t resist a happy sprint along the paddock’s tree line before straggling home). Hubbard’s synchronicity with his tri-color and cream hounds is most apparent at feeding time. “I can feed eighty hounds in twenty minutes,” he said, explaining how their fitness stays fueled on a combination of protein and fat. Kibbles® and tripe, sourced from a slaughterhouse in Pennsylvania, are the hounds’ favorite treat. 52 | Equicurean | July 2018
Green Spring Valley Hounds keeps 50 pairs of English foxhounds, preserving a century-old tradition of the sporting life in Maryland. photo by Doug Lees
saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com
AND HILLS I was optimistic that our tour’s catering would offer a somewhat more palatable menu when we arrived for lunch at our next stop, the former Thoroughbred racing and breeding facility of Alfred G. Vanderbilt II: Sagamore Farm. Founded in 1925 by Issac Emerson (inventor of Bromo-Seltzer), Sagamore was a gift from his daughter, Margaret Emerson Vanderbilt, to her son Alfred G. Vanderbilt II, for his 21st birthday. Sagamore was an innovative showpiece then and still includes the original indoor ¼ mile track surrounding 90 box stalls. Vanderbilt later became owner and president of Pimlico Race Course, and headed the New York Racing Association and United States Jockey Club. Our lunch was outdoors, on checkerboardcovered picnic tables (in Sagamore’s racing silks of red-and-white) alongside the 1926 training track where National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame inductees Native Dancer, Bed O’Roses and Discovery once breezed. In 2007, Maryland native Kevin Plank, CEO and founder of UnderArmour®, purchased Sagamore with a long-term plan for major restoration of buildings like the indoor track.
Sagamore Farm (former Thoroughbred breeding and training facility of Alfred Vanderbilt)
Last July at Saratoga, Ginger N Rye had her first career stakes win, the $100,000 Smart N Fancy Stakes, finishing by a comfortable 1 3/4 lengths under jockey Ricardo Santana, Jr. The six year-old homebred daughter of More Than Ready is owned by Sagamore Farm.
saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com
Equicurean | July 2018 | 53
1973 Maryland Hunt Cup. At the third fence, where we stood on the tour, with some of the top riders and where they finished. L-R: US Olympic Show Jumping Silver Medalist Frank Chapot/ Evening Mail (3rd); Bruce Miller/Eastmac (2nd); Jay Griswold/Handsome Daddy.
Over pulled pork, fried chicken, macaroni and cheese, warm roast beef and buns, salads and dessert cookies, Sagamore’s Jocelyn Brooks and Randy Lewis talked about the legacy of Native Dancer, and the lively sporting ‘feud’ that existed between the farm and its 1953 Kentucky Derby nemesis, Cain Hoy Stable’s 25-1 longshot, Dark Star, who had beaten Native Dancer by a head. We’ll never know who the better horse truly was, because three-eighths of a mile from the finish line in the Preakness, Dark Star pulled up. He sustained a tendon injury that ended his career. But the parrying between Sagamore and Cain Hoy apparently did not retire as easily. We heard stories of how certain portraits of certain horses might disappear from their dignified display only to be discovered hanging in an innocuous small bathroom somewhere else in the house…
annually to experience grit and glamor the way it was when the horse was king.
Maryland is replete with great horse stories. One of the best, true life accounts is written in hoof prints along our last stop, the Maryland Hunt Cup timber race course at Worthington Valley.
“It was a Herculean effort,” Davies said. The Thoroughbred gelding had once been a $5,000 claimer with a reputation for bad behavior. “I was told not to try and check his (lip) tattoo. He’s too dangerous.”
The Maryland Cup is the Ironman of timber and steeplechase racing, and for 122 years has been testing the mettle of horsedom highbrows and amateurs alike over a deceptively inviting, verdant four-mile course of wood board and post-and-rail fences averaging four-feet high. A gently sloping pasture across the road serves as a natural amphitheater for thousands of enthusiasts who converge
Senior Senator failed on the flat, tand ried hurdling (once) only to unseat his rider. Then came timber and he found his stride. In just 10 National Steeplechase Association timber races, Senior Senator has had five wins and three seconds, and is only the 23rd horse in the 122-year history of the Hunt Cup to win it twice.
54 | Equicurean | July 2018
“It’s one of the only ‘pure’ sporting events left. Since 1894 very little has changed, other than a 1922 course change which remains in place to this day,” agree jockeys and Cupwinning trainers, Joe and Blythe Davis. “At 4:00 pm the last Saturday in April, you’re going to find an event that offers a $100,000 purse yet accepts no commercial sponsorship.” Parking costs about $65 and there is a 10-year waiting list. Something did change on April 28, 2018, when trainer Joe Davies’ “accidental horse of a lifetime,” Senior Senator returned -- nearly a year to the day after fracturing his neck at the same fence he soared over now -- to win his second Maryland Hunt Cup in three years.
saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com
“He (Senior Senator) led for every step, measured every leap, dismissed every mild challenge like Gore-Tex repels raindrops. As good as he was in 2016, and he was pretty good, the 8-yearold made 2018 his own,” wrote Joe Clancy in his Maryland Hunt Cup report for Mid-Atlantic Thoroughbred. What Davies shared with us is the horse’s resiliency. He didn’t “just” recover. The gelding gained a second lease on life thanks to surgery performed at New Bolton Center by Dr. Dean Richardson. “At first, we didn’t know how badly he was hurt. He got up from the fall and ran back to the barn. The next morning, when he had trouble lifting his head, we realized something was wrong.” Over the year that Senior Senator spent in recovery, Davies watched the horse transform, growing calmer and taking a softer bit, and his feet grew a full size larger. Now with two Hunt Cups to his name, the horse that beat a broken neck is setting up a big pair of shoes to fill. Happy endings are a great way to end a horse story or a conference. Like Senior Senator, I had my own strong finish: second-place in freelance equine-related journalism to Tracy Gantz, a talented Southern California correspondent for The Blood Horse. In Maryland, a good match race is everything.
saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com
Equicurean | July 2018 | 55
The
Shoes
56 | Equicurean | July 2018
saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com
Can Make the
Horse KATEY FREEMAN HOLMES PHOTOS BY RICHARD HOLMES WRITTEN BY
Any architect can tell you that the integrity of any building depends upon its foundation. The same can be said of any breed of horse involved in competition. Their success depends upon their foundation – their hooves.
saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com
Equicurean | July 2018 | 57
F
or all equines, performance depends on how well they stand, walk, run, jump or compete on a polo field. In short, do their feet meet the ground squarely? Do the hooves expand, reducing the impact when they hit the ground, and do they properly let blood circulate in the hoof and to internal structures? And then, do they help in the expulsion of the blood, send it back to the heart? Horses’ hooves are concave which allows them to absorb and reduce the force of the impact. So much of the horse’s wellbeing depends on this basic concept that it is no surprise that one of a competing horse’s most important friends is his or her farrier. Competing horses need to wear shoes to help them achieve optimal performance. But therein lies the rub. There are a large variety of horseshoes and they come in such materials as steel, aluminum, rubber, plastic, magnesium and copper. Long wearing steel is generally used in polo, whereas aluminum and titanium shoes are lighter, making them common in horse racing. It should be noted that the terms blacksmith and farrier are often used interchangeably. If there is a difference, it is the perception that a blacksmith is someone who, besides shoeing horses, makes and repairs things made of iron or steel which used to include plows, axes, shovels, door hinges, logging chains, harness hardware, etc. A farrier is more likely to work exclusively with horses and is thought to be more concerned with the general health of the animals especially regarding their feet. When you consider how fragile the walls of a horse’s hoof are (think fingernails) you have to take into account all the other
58 | Equicurean | July 2018
factors that impact an average horse’s foot. Wild horses certainly don’t wear shoes but remember, they run over all different types of ground traveling many miles to obtain adequate food. Domesticated horses brought to often colder and wetter climates encounter softer and heavier soils which soften the hoof, making it more prone to splitting and thus making hoof protection necessary. Horses kept in stalls are exposed to more moisture than would be encountered in the wild as well as to ammonia in straw from their urine. Made from keratin, a protein, the hoof is weakened by this exposure and becomes even more soft and fragile. Shoes don’t prevent or reduce damage from these exposures but they do help protect already weakened hooves. Plus, without the natural factors present in the wild, such as rocky surfaces, the feet of horses can grow overly large and long unless trimmed regularly by the farrier. The historical evidence of using horseshoes goes back to as early as 400 B.C. However, today, shoes, with new technology to help them, have made incredible strides in their development. Dr. Johanna Reimer has developed the ROST shoe which is essentially a horseshoe split in two with a wide space at the front of the hoof left open to grow or heal. ROST stands for “Reimer Open Shoe Technique” and has been found to have interesting effects on a horse’s hoof. Under slung heels and elongated flattened hooves had changed shape. Bottoms of feet had become shorter, wider toward the heels, and more concave. In a side view of the hoof, ideally, a line drawn through the center of the lower leg would be parallel to the front and back of the leg saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com
which means the horse is standing soundly. If the hoof extends outward or forward or if it toes in, correcting the problem falls to the blacksmith or farrier. The proper shoe, put on a horse and in the correct fashion, can solve many problems (and ending up costing a lot less money than vet bills). But that isn’t to say that all new shoes have positive results. Years ago farriers used a horseshoe with a bar across the front called a toe grab. This shoe, while giving a race horse more traction, inadvertently threw off the angle the horse’s foot hit the ground causing it to react with the surface of the track in a manner that caused many catastrophic breakdowns. Eventually the shoe was barred from race tracks. Yet a trainer told me he’s seen an increase in bowed tendons (often caused by a horse slipping or mis-stepping) since the shoe has been banned. In short, if the horse can’t get traction and skids, tendons and muscles pay the price. (I suppose the ideal solution would be a shoe that can be put on and removed easily that applies traction equally around the hoof, much like a person wearing sneakers.)
saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com
Equicurean | July 2018 | 59
In the end, it is the owners who must have at least three people they know and trust with the health of their horse...
In the end, it is the owners who must have at least three people they know and trust with the health of their horse: a veterinarian, a trainer and a good farrier. Each should be selected with equal importance. When choosing a farrier, consider the following:
•
Ask around and get several opinions. How are they around other horses?
•
Are they reliable? Everyone in equine sports is on a schedule and can’t afford to wait around.
It is also good to remember that owners and trainers are responsible for their part in this relationship. It’s helpful to all concerned if they remember:
•
Always be on time for appointments.
•
Have a safe, clean and comfortable place for the farrier to work.
•
Have your horse clean and cared for. It’s not the farrier’s job to spend time removing caked mud from your horse’s feet.
•
If you’re happy, refer your farrier to others. Word-of-mouth business is always appreciated.
•
Offer your farrier a cold drink on a hot day. Little kindnesses can go a long way.
•
Try to see it from your horse’s point of view. A stranger arrives, followed by many contraptions which belch fire and smoke and pretty soon it might be their own feet that are smoking! Get your horse used to having its feet lifted and touched. Horses don’t like new things and surprises but they can get used to pretty much anything if given enough time and patience.
60 | Equicurean | July 2018
saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com
saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com
Equicurean | July 2018 | 61
62 | Equicurean | July 2018
saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com
NATIONAL MUSEUM OF RACING AND HALL OF FAME
photo provided photo by Kacie Cotter-Sacala
ADDRESS
191 Union Avenue, Saratoga Springs NY 12866 (518) 584-0400 | www.racingmuseum.org
MUSEUM HOURS Daily 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
ADMISSION FEES
Adults Students Senior Citizens (55 and older) Children 5 and under Members
$10.00 $5.00 $5.00 Free Free
FREE ADMISSION
• NYRA employees (Please show NYRA identification) • Hall of Fame inductees • Active United States military personnel and their accompanying family members. (Proper military identification is required) • Museum Members. (Please show membership card) • Members of the NY Thoroughbred Breeders with membership card/pin • Free admission for Seoniors (55 and older) every Wednesday • Members of AAM (American Museum Association) with card • "Free Fridays" offers free admission after 2 pm
DISCOUNTED ADMISSION
• AAA Discount - Buy one, get one free on adult admissions ($10) • Buy one, get one free with Downtown Business Association Card saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com
Equicurean | July 2018 | 63
NATIONAL MUSEUM OF RACING AND HALL OF FAME
NEW AT THE MUSEUM READY TO RIDE!
The racing simulator is a mechanical horse synchronized with sensors to respond to your balance and movement during a simulated race experience. The simulator will enable visitors to mount up and experience a jockey's point of view while racing at historic Saratoga Race Course. The simulator provides a unique experience that allows the rider to appreciate a few of the qualities required to be a jockey. However, the ride is physically demanding and is not suitable for everyone. There is an additional charge for the racing stimulator. Visitors can find out more information at the Museum front desk. photo by Kacie Cotter-Sacala
FOAL PATROL Foal Patrol, is a one-of-a-kind interactive web project featuring a collection of live cameras where people can view real-time streams of several in-foal mares during their pregnancy through the actual foaling. Check it out at: www.foalpatrol.com
photo by Sharon Castro
SPECIALTY TOURS Join us for our exclusive specialty tours… Oklahoma Training Track: Find out why this beautiful and historic site, located across the street from Saratoga Race Course, is a favorite base for leading trainers such as Todd Pletcher and Nick Zito. Photo Finish Tour: Learn from the experts about lighting, composition and developing your own artist’s eye. Farm Tours: Old Tavern Farm tour, June 30 McMahon of Saratoga, July 10 For more information visit www.racingmuseum.org/event/
64 | Equicurean | July 2018
saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com
SPECIAL EXHIBIT
The Test of the Champion
T
his year's fine art exhibition celebrates the 150th running of the Belmont Stakes, the oldest of the Triple Crown classics. Named after August Belmont I, the Belmont Stakes is considered to be the true "test of the champion" - the last jewel of the Triple Crown that tests the speed and endurance of the 3-year-old contenders vying for their place in Thoroughbred racing history. First run at Jerome Park in 1867, a filly named Ruthless won its inaugural running (and earned her place in the Hall of Fame). In fact, more winners of the Belmont Stakes (39) have entered the Hall of Fame than winners of either the Kentucky Derby (35) or the Preakness (33). The Belmont was next run at Morris Park before moving to its eventual home at Belmont Park in 1905 (with a minor exception in the 1960s when the track was closed for a major renovation, reopening in 1968 in time for the Belmont Stakes Centennial). This special exhibition traces the history of the Belmont Stakes, from its early days at Jerome Park to the racing superstars of the Twentieth Century, by pairing artwork and portraits from the Museum Collection with historical facts found in the official race charts and newspaper archives.
photo by Kacie Cotter-Sacala
Flip the magazine over to check out some other horses in this town.
saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com
Equicurean | July 2018 | 65
THE HORSES, THE PEOPLE, THE LIFESTYLE
SUMMER 2018 COMPLIMENTARY
brought to you by...
Vahanian
2 | Equicurean | July 2018
saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com
saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com
Equicurean | July 2018 | 3
EQUICUREAN THE HORSES, THE PEOPLE, THE LIFESTYLE
Owner/Publisher Chad Beatty
General Manager Robin Mitchell
Creative Consultant Chris Vallone Bushee
Magazine Designer Marisa Scirocco
Advertising Design Morgan Rook
Advertising Sales Jim Daley Cindy Durfey
Contributing Writers Polo
Alan Edstrom
Thoroughbred
Colleen Coleman Dennis G. Hogan Katey Freeman Holmes Megin Potter L.A. Sokolowski Maureen Werther
Photographers Polo
Tracey Buyce Dan Heary Cliff Oliver Image Photo and Events
Thoroughbred
Kacie Cotter-Sacala Cathleen V. Duffy Richard Holmes Lisa Miller, Studio di Luce Kassidy Pancerella National Museum of Racing NYRA
Published by Saratoga TODAY Newspaper Five Case Street, Saratoga Springs, NY 12866 (518) 581-2480 saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com Equicurean is brought to you by Saratoga TODAY Newspaper, Saratoga Publishing, LLC. Saratoga Publishing shall make every effort to avoid errors and omissions but disclaims any responsibility should they occur. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by a ny means without prior written consent of the publisher. Copyright © 2018, Saratoga TODAY Newspaper
4 | Equicurean | July 2018
saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com
saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com
Equicurean | July 2018 | 5
EQUICUREAN THE HORSES, THE PEOPLE, THE LIFESTYLE
CONTENTS 2018
8
Welcome to Saratoga Polo
10
Schedule of Events
11
Polo Primer
12
Polo Equipment
17
Polo Traditions
32
Top Ten
34
Food
6 | Equicurean | July 2018
Cover art by Frankie Flores
saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com
WELCOME TO
SARATOGA POLO where the Veuve Clicquot is always pouring and the celebration is yours to enjoy!
The season begins July 6 and runs every Friday and Sunday through September 2, and this
120th- Anniversary Season promises to be even more fun!
saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com
Equicurean | July 2018 | 7
CELEBRATING 120 YEARS
SARATOGA POLO
Photo by ImagePhotoEvents.com
THE DOG SHOW will start promptly at 4:45pm, followed by the Polo match at 5:30pm. Dog friendly vendors will be setup throughout the event. There is also an additional pre-event photo contest for Saratoga’s Top Dog! The Dog Show is open to all dogs, big and small, categories include: • Dog That Looks Most Like its Owner • Dog That Looks Least Like its Owner • Best Trick • Happiest Dog • Best of Show • Prizes will be awarded to the winners! Even more importantly, AIM Services, Inc raises much needed funds for their programs that support the “power of potential” in people of diverse abilities. The Adelphi Hotel will also be partnering with Saratoga Polo, and great cross-promotions at Whitney Field and at the hotel are planned with Veuve Clicquot and more!
8 | Equicurean | July 2018
saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com
When SARATOGA POLO stepped into the limelight in1898, Thomas Ediison’s latest technology, the kinetoscope, was all the rage. Mega celebrities Diamond Jim Brady and Lillian Russell wandered Broadway in Saratoga Springs, and New York City expanded when the five boroughs banded together to create the city that never sleeps. At the same time, tourists flocked upstate to summer in a Saratoga Springs that welcomed polo to the already famous racecourse scene. Although times have changed, Saratoga Polo Association will be returning with world-class polo on Fridays and Sundays starting in July this summer. More importantly, this year’s parties will be even bigger at Whitney Field with the 120th Anniversary Season. More than a century later, the excitement is still present at Saratoga, and we’re pulling out all the stops - it’s going to be a real dog and pony show. No…seriously…on July 15th AIM Services Inc presents the Dog and Pony Show Cup!
In celebration of the 120th anniversary, renowned Saratoga Springs artist Frankie Flores has created a signature painting that is showcased on the front cover of Equicurean Magazine, in posters, on apparel, and even as one-of-kind artist paintings. Whitney Field will feature new food, a new chef, new menu specials, and signature cocktails. Additionally, there will be four tailgate decorating contests, as well as a Fascinating Whitney weekend hat contest, and much more! Plus, it wouldn’t be Saratoga Polo if you didn’t try your hand at a Veuve Clicquot sabrage at every match during the season. The celebration will hit its peak at the 120th party gala on Whitney Cup Sunday, August 5, with owners and special guests from Saratoga Polo’s last 40 years. The season kicks off with the Celebrate Saratoga Tournament and culminates with the Polo Hall of Fame Tournament, featuring some of the most exciting polo to be seen along the way. Tickets, tables, and tailgating spaces are going quickly!
saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com
IN THE STANDS: Young talent sing the National Anthem • Adirondack Thunder Hockey Celebration Opening Day • Upset, The Dark Horse Mascot from Impressions of Saratoga visits • The Times Union Presents The Mid-Summer Celebration Tournament • OrthoNY will be hosting a Match Cup this season • This year, The Whitney Cup trophy and the Veuve Clicquot Cup will be brought to the field by Independent Helicopter ...and lots, lots more every Friday and Sunday July 6th through September 2nd - the gates open at 4pm and the matches begin at 5:30pm! Tickets can be purchased on-line at saratogapolo. com/tickets , and you can always find us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and at saratogapolo.com •
Equicurean | July 2018 | 9
SARATOGA POLO
SCHEDULE 2018 SARATOGA POLO ASSOCIATION
120th Anniversary Season EVERY FRIDAY AND SUNDAY AT 5:30PM (GATES OPEN AT 4PM) To Purchase Tickets visit www.saratogapolo.com/tickets/index.cfm
JULY 6 - SEPTEMBER 2, 2018 July 6 Celebrate Saratoga Tournament July 8 Celebrate Saratoga Tournament July 13 July 15
SPA Anniversary Tournament SPA Anniversary Tournament The AIM Services, Inc. Dog and Pony Show Cup " Saratoga’s Top Dog”
July 20 Veuve Clicquot Challenge Tournament July 22 Veuve Clicquot Challenge Tournament July 27 The Times Union presents The Mid-Summer Celebration Tournament July 29 The Times Union presents The Mid-Summer Celebration Tournament
August 10 August 12
The Barrantes Cup Tournament OrthoNY Cup The Barrantes Cup Tournament Madison Wealth Managers Cup
August 17 August 19
The Ylvisaker Cup Tournament The Ylvisaker Cup Tournament
August 24 August 26
The Saratoga Special Tournament The Saratoga Special Tournament The Boats by George Cup
August 31 The Polo Hall of Fame Tournament September 2 The Polo Hall of Fame Tournament
August 3 The Whitney Cup Tournament August 5 The Whitney Cup Tournament
10 | Equicurean | July 2018
saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com
POLO PRIMER
A BREAKDOWN OF TERMS YOU’LL HEAR ON A TYPICAL DAY AT THE POLO FIELD
Throw-In
A chukker begins and many plays resume with the umpire bowling the ball between the two ready teams. A ceremonial throw-in is done by a guest at the beginning of the match.
Neck Shot
A ball which is hit under the horse’s neck from either side.This is approximately 80 percent of their game.
Mallet
Also known as a “stick.” The shaft is made from a bamboo shoot and the head from either the bamboo root or a hardwood such as maple. These vary in length from 48 to 54 inches and are very flexible in comparison to a golf club or hockey stick.
saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com
Equicurean | July 2018 | 11
Ride-Off
tail Shot Hitting the ball behind and across the horse’s rump.
This occurs when two riders make contact and attempt to push each other off the line of the ball to prevent the other from striking. The horses are the ones intended to do the pushing, although a player may use his body but not his elbows.
Umpires
Two mounted umpires (one for each side of the field) consult each other after each infringement and impose a penalty only if they agree. If they do not agree, they ride to the sidelines to confer with the third man, known as the referee. 12 | Equicurean | July 2018
saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com
Hook
A player may spoil another’s shot by putting his mallct in the way of the striking player. A cross hook occurs when the player reaches over his opponent’s mount in an attempt to hook; this is considered a foul.
POSITIONS Each of the four team members plays a distinctly different position. Since polo is such a fluid game, the players may momentarily change positions, but they will try and return to their initial assignment. No. 1 is the most forward offensive player. No. 2 is just as offensive, but plays deeper and works harder. No. 3 is the pivot player between offense and defense and tries to tum all plays to offense. No. 4, or the back, is the defensive player whose role is principally to protect the goal.
Goal
Anytime a ball crosses the line between the goal posts, it is considered a goal regardless of whether a horse or mallet causes the ball to go through. In order to equalize wind and turf conditions, the teams change sides after every goal scored.
Chukker Also called a period. There are six chukkers in a polo game (four in the Arena Polo), each lasting seven and a half minutes. After seven minutes, a bell will sound to indicate 30 seconds remain in the period. At the end of seven and a half minutes of elapsed time, a horn will sound to terminate the period. If the score is tied at the end of last period of play, the game shall be resumed in overtime periods, known as sudden death.
Sideboards
Boards that are 9 to II inches along the sidelines. Sideboards are optional.
tHIRD MAN The referee sitting at the sidelines. If and when the two umpires on the field are in disagreement, the third man makes the final decision.
saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com
Equicurean | July 2018 | 13
POLO
1
EQUIPM EN T
Have you ever wondered what is required for the horse and rider to stay safe during a Polo match?
2 3 4
6
5 14
7
8
9
10
14 | Equicurean | July 2018
saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com
1. HELMET
2. BROW BAND
Just like most contact sports, the helmet is probably the most important part of safety equipment. With the horses moving at an average speed of 40 mph and the ball travelling at a top speed of 100 mph, the hard outer shell and cushioned inner layer can prevent head trauma in an unlikely case of an accident.
This band is looped across the forehead to prevent the bridle from slipping backward.
3. HEADPIECE This is looped over the horse's head and ears to support the bit in the mouth.
4. REINS The reins are attached to the bit rings.
5. THROAT LASH Helps to stop the bridle from slipping.
6. NOSE BAND Helps to stop the horse from avoiding the bit.
13
7. BIT
A metal mouthpiece helps to direct the horse.
8. BALL
12
Usually made of solid plastic 3 to 3 ½ inches in diameter and 3 ½ to 4 ½ ounces in weight. For many years they were made of wood, but because of their fragile nature, would often split in two.
9. MALLET
A mallet, usually 49”-54”consists of the shaft, normally made of a flexible, solid, bamboo-like wood known as Manau (from the palm family of plants) and the head, made of ash or maple. There is also a strap that goes around the player’s wrist.
10,11. POLO WRAPS, SHIN BOOTS, AND BELL BOOTS All of these pieces of equipment protect the lower legs of the horse. Wraps are fabric pieces wound around the lower leg of the horse, and the boots are often leather.
11
12. PLAITED TAIL 13. SADDLE 14. PLAYER KNEE PADS Often made from shock resistant resin and leather.
saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com
Equicurean | July 2018 | 15
16 | Equicurean | July 2018
saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com
Polo Traditions All sports have traditions, but few have ones as unique and interactive as the game of Polo. With traditions that bring the spectators onto the field and make them part of the experience, Polo offers something for everyone. Head out to the Historic Whitney Field this summer for the 120th anniversary season at Saratoga Polo and share in the festivities, some old, some new. To help make the most of your visit we have some fun facts and tips about what to expect…
The Museum of Polo and Hall of Fame in Florida created a special display to commemorate Saratoga Polo's 120th anniversary. Pictured with the display are Saratoga Polo player, Debbie Gilmore and Managing Partner, Jim Rossi. saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com
Equicurean | July 2018 | 17
18 | Equicurean | July 2018
saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com
The Divot Stomp Photos by Cliff Oliver
Perhaps the most widely known polo tradition is the ceremonial stomping of the divots.
What is a divot? It is a mound of earth that has been torn up by the horse’s hooves as they gallop down the field, upwards of 40 miles per hour. During half-time of a match, spectators are invited to go onto the field not only to help replace the mounds, but to walk about, socialize, and take in the scene. “It’s the equivalent of asking the people in the stands at a baseball game to fix the infield during a game,” said Alan Edstrom, Director of Events at Saratoga Polo. “It’s also a great civilized way for people to meet, drink and know that they are helping the match move along safely. I’ll bet you won’t get that at Yankee Stadium!”
saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com
Equicurean | July 2018 | 19
The Divot Stomp
20 | Equicurean | July 2018
saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com
Photo by Jordan Craig
saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com
Equicurean | July 2018 | 21
Photo by Cliff Oliver
22 | Equicurean | July 2018
saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com
Tailgating There are two distinct sides to the field at Saratoga Polo: The Clubhouse side, where guests are seated in the shade of a pavilion. There the guests are more likely to get dressed in their finest summer attire, and order food from the wait staff. and… The Tailgating side where guests pile into a car, pull up to the edge of the field, unpack their chairs, dining room tables, and a smorgasbord of picnic goodies that sometimes rivals the feast at a king’s supper.
Summer is our chukker. These are our ponies. Bowl in! BOATS BY GEORGE ON THE LAKE & PATTY’S WATER SPORTS 291 Cleverdale Road Cleverdale, NY 12820
SHOWROOM 18 State Route 149 Lake George, NY 12845
Legendary design meets legendary service boatsbygeorge.com | (518) 793-5452
saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com
SERVICE CENTER 10018 State Route 149 Fort Ann, NY 12827
Equicurean | July 2018 | 23
Tailgating
The tailgating tradition at
polo is quite different than other sports. Unlike baseball and football where your party is isolated in parking lots, polo lets you stretch out on the green grass and host your party on the edge of the field. You’ll also see a vast spectrum of everything from man-cave inspired barbecues and Great Gatsby themed picnics, to luaus with costumed party-goers. At Saratoga Polo, the fans let their imaginations go wild, …and if you want the best of both worlds, come several times, and party on both sides of the field!
24 | Equicurean | July 2018
saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com
Photo by Cliff Oliver
saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com
Equicurean | July 2018 | 25
The Science of Sabrage
After a polo match, everyone looks
CAUTION! DO NOT TRY THIS ON YOUR OWN WITHOUT THE EXPERT GUIDANCE OF SARATOGA POLO SABRAGE TEACHERS
forward to celebrating a victory with bottle after bottle of Veuve Clicquot Champagne, and joy is in the air. But leave it to polo aficionados to focus on a ceremony that combines a little bit of the bubbly with the flair of a sword, and leave it to a strong willed woman, Barbe Nicole Ponsardin – aka Veuve Clicquot, to use this “Sabrage” technique to promote her family’s Champagne in such theatrical style almost two hundred years ago. Over the years, hundreds of polo fans at Whitney Field have experienced the art of the sabrage, but very few have said “Hey, what’s the science behind the sabrage?”
Well, here you go…
26 | Equicurean | July 2018
saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com
While the sabrage that was done by Madame Clicquot was more of a slicing the top off the bottle, the technique that guests at Saratoga Polo use is a little more nuanced. The technique that George DuPont and Brenda Lynn from the National Museum of Polo and Hall of Fame taught Saratoga Polo’s Managing Partner Jim Rossi uses an ice cold bottle, the carbonation of the Veuve Clicquot Champagne and the alignment of the sword along the bottle's seam to literally crack the glass and pop the cork.
saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com
Equicurean | July 2018 | 27
The Science of Sabrage
28 | Equicurean | July 2018
saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com
saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com
Equicurean | July 2018 | 29
30 | Equicurean | July 2018
saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com
6 saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com
2 Equicurean | July 2018 | 31
TOP TEN QUESTIONS AT SARATOGA POLO
Many people who come to a polo match at Whitney Field don’t know anything about the sport….they have a lot of questions…and we have answers. Hopefully they are questions that YOU want to know. ENJOY!
How long has polo been around? Whitney Field has been around for 120 years, but the sport has been played for over 2,000 years, starting in Persia and throughout Asia including everyone from Genghis Khan, to Walt Disney, to Prince Charles and Cuko Escapite. It has been used to train the military in strategy, and not just with horses. There’s bicycle polo, elephant polo, and even Steve Wozniak started his own Segway Polo League. 32 | Equicurean | July 2018
What is the field made of? Whitney Field is mostly clay with a turf that is cut three times during the week during match season – Once on Monday to cut the top of the blade, again on Wednesday a little shorter, then on game day to playing height. You don’t want it to get too much sun and get too dry, but you want it just the right height to play fast or slow. It takes about four hours to cut the field.
That person with flags by the goals…what the heck are they doing? They’re FLAGGERS. That’s the person who has the best angle on whether a goal is scored. If they hold their flag up, it’s a goal. If they wave it from side to side, it is NOT a goal. Don’t worry, as long as the flaggers don’t move, the horses don’t run them over… they’re the smartest ones on the field.
saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com
What’s the ball made out of? Modern polo balls are made of a solid plastic, about the size of a baseball, but for many years they were made out of wood. Although the plastic ones are much more resilient, the wood ones would “whistle” when hit or cracked, and the players often said they could hear them as they sailed by their head. In some countries, they will use an inflated goat skin, or whatever is around that rolls.
If the ball comes into the stands, can I keep it? Yes.You can come to the trophy stand at the end of the match to get it signed. PLEASE DON’T RUN ON THE FIELD TO GET A BALL! It’s dangerous. Keep your eyes open because the ball can move VERY fast. So can the horses. Or you can buy an official polo ball in the Clubhouse…that’s a safe way to get a ball.
Ooooooo! Can I dress up? Do I HAVE to dress up?
How many ponies are used in a typical match?
There are many different ways to get dressed up for a polo match, but remember; there are no set rules and the most important thing is to enjoy yourself! People in the Clubhouse areas tend to dress up, and the TAILGATING area of Saratoga Polo is the perfect way to enjoy the speed and intensity of polo in a more relaxed setting with your family, friends and even the dog. The atmosphere is not unlike that of a summer family gathering or weekend cookout, so feel free to dress accordingly.
Normally, a polo player swaps out ponies at every chukker, so if there are eight players and six chukkers, there needs to be a minimum of 48 ponies. Plus, two for the umpires. Sometimes you need a few more horses that are specialty ponies that are skilled in one or two things. There are grooms for the horses, feed wagons, veterinarians, and whole team behind the scenes.
Who owns the polo ponies?
How do you become a polo player?
Some players do travel with their favorite ponies, but because taking care of large animals is important, expensive, and regulations for quarantining animals to different countries is complicated, many players lease or borrow ponies wherever they are playing. That means that polo players have to be very adaptable to how the ponies behave, and need to pick from a lot of choices. That makes it important to local economies where polo is played.
Practice. Many polo players start their careers as hunter-jumpers, and find that they want to play in a sport that is more team oriented. Although there are a few informal leagues for polo, the sport is not like football, baseball, or basketball and many of the top players are independent and brought in by the patron who pays for them to play on their team. The United States Polo Association is the governing body for the sport and has great opportunities for people who want to get started in polo. www.uspolo.org
saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com
Is there a difference between a thoroughbred and a polo pony? A polo pony is more about how the horses are trained and their agility level. There are many thoroughbred horses that are polo ponies. Many race horses that are not good at long distance racing may be good at polo because of the short, quick moves in polo.
Equicurean | July 2018 | 33
Saratoga Polo Association is pleased to announce a new partnership with
B-RADS BISTRO & CATERING for the 2018 Tournament Season at the historic Whitney Field. B-RADS is known throughout the Capital region for their venues including Bistro Express, Bistro Executive Dining, and the new Parti Events and Banquet Hall. "We are excited to celebrate the 120th Anniversary of Saratoga Polo in the Spa City” said Brad Stevens, the owner and creative mind at B-rads Bistro & Catering. “Polo is a fantastic setting where our food fits right in. We love to meet people who want to share their love of food at events, private parties and more. Whether it’s at a match or beyond… look no further than us. Food lovers beware...you're in for a tasty surprise.”
34 | Equicurean | July 2018
saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com
Flip the magazine over to check out some other horses in this town.
saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com
Equicurean | July 2018 | 35