WINNER’S CIRCLE Celebrating the Life of DAVE LITFIN

by Tony Podlaski for Saratoga TODAY

On a table next to the doorway of the Paddock Suite at Saratoga Race Course, a pair of high-quality three-fold poster boards featured various photos of Dave Litfin with family and friends from over four decades.

Next to the neatly-arranged photo collage, a tripod stand cradled Dave’s headshot with a flamingo pattern short-sleeve shirt in blue with flamingos draped around it.

Everyone who walked through the double-glass doors observed the memorial, then reflected on the selfmade handicapper, writer, analyst and chart caller who was a fixture in the press box, whether it was at Saratoga Race Course, Belmont Park, Aqueduct, Gulfstream Park, or another racetrack throughout the country.

It was part of the Celebration for Dave Litfin that included a race in memory of him on Sunday.

Before his passing on Nov. 17 at the age of 64 following his longterm battle against cancer, Litfin’s last request to his wife, Robin Litfin, was a celebration.

“I asked him, ‘Do you want a funeral or do you want a party?’” Robin said. “He said, ‘I want a party.’ This place is the place he loved more than anywhere else. He didn’t want a funeral. He wanted a celebration.”

Sunday also was the first time that Robin walked on the Saratoga Race Course grounds since Dave’s passing. Last year, both of them came to the track on Closing Weekend. Robin had plans to attend Opening Day, but she wasn’t ready to walk on one of the historical sports venues in the country. Her daughter Addy and her son Sam suggested she should wait.

“This is the first time I have been at the track without him,” Robin said. “I was supposed to come Opening Day, but I couldn’t do it. My kids said, ‘Just wait for us, mom.’ The last time when I was here with him was Closing Weekend. Saturday, we were on the front side. Sunday, we were on the backstretch. All he wanted to do is be at the races.”

For over 40 years, Dave’s career involved the racetrack. While meeting Robin in Manhattan, Dave wrote articles for American Turf Monthly. After six weeks of dating, Dave and Robin were engaged. Simultaneously, she encouraged him to pursue his dream.

Dave’s first opportunity in horse racing was a call taker for the Daily Racing Form in Hightstown, N.J. in 1982. For two years with Robin, he traveled the country to cover various races.

Shortly after Addy was born, Dave took a less-traveled position as a communications assistant for the New York Racing

Association. From 1984-1988, along with covering races, Dave also honed his handicapping skills that later became the foundation for his books: Expert Handicapping: Winning Insights into Betting Thoroughbreds and Real-Life Handicapping: An Eclectic Horseplayer’s Year at the Track.

Before returning to the Daily Racing Form as an analyst and columnist in 1990, Dave was a handicapper for Racing Action and the Daily News.

“He is completely self-made,” Robin said. “When he started working for NYRA, someone saw what he was doing, and the word got out. He was dedicated to the sport.”

During his time at the Daily Racing Form, Dave developed a special working relationship with Dave Grening that included watching episodes of The Odd Couple on New Year’s Day in the Aqueduct press box.