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Volume 8 • Issue 30 • August 2 – August 8, 2013
Making History Velazquez Becomes Saratoga’s Winningest Jockey by Brian Cremo Saratoga TODAY SARATOGA SPRINGS — In his 24th year as a professional jockey, John Velazquez still has the same love for racing since his days of riding street horses in Puerto Rico as an 8-year-old kid. “If you don’t have the love, you couldn’t be here,” Velazquez said. “It’s a very demanding job. All the glory and everything is great, but it’s a demanding job, very consuming. A lot of time is sacrificed as well. If you don’t love what you do, I think it would be very difficult to do it this many years. I couldn’t do this by myself either. With everybody behind you and giving you support and giving you the best rides, it makes it easy to come back and love it.”
In the fourth race on Saturday, July 27, Velazquez sat in fifth place with Unitarian before the far turn on the Mellon Turf Course. At that point, he knew there was an opportunity to not just win but become the Saratoga Race Course’s all-time winningest jockey. “It was incredible,” said Velazquez, a member of the Puerto Rican and U.S. Racing Halls of Fame. “Just coming around and seeing that I had a chance to get it done.” Unitarian did just that, pushing ahead of Parnelli in the final furlong for the milestone victory. “It was very special,” Velazquez said. “Finally we got it done and now we can move on to other things.” After being swarmed and congratulated by fellow jockeys in the
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F r e e saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com • (518) 581-2480
Let the Auctions Begin by Brian Cremo Saratoga TODAY SARATOGA SPRINGS — The yearlings have arrived and the 93rd Saratoga Auction, run by Fasig-Tipton Co. Inc., is set to start Monday, August 5. The Fasig-Tipton yearling
auctions in the Humphrey S. Finney Pavilion will provide another year of some of the best yearlings available, a trait the event has been known for. “I think the statistics through 2012, shows that this was a sale that had the highest percentage of See Fasig-Tipton pg. 7
See Velazquez pg. 7 As the yearlings are showing up the the Fasig-Tipton sales, people are already starting to look at the lot for confirmation, size, and pedigree. Photo provided.
Panera Plans Drive-Thru by Patricia Older Saratoga TODAY
John Velazquez on top Unitarian after his 694th win. Photo courtesy of NYRA.
WILTON — Panera Bread will be taking over the entire building where they are located at Exit 15 and building a drive-thru where Giovani’s Pizzeria is presently located. Tony DiSanza, project manager for Panera’s said the 4,645 square foot building will soon
have a drive-thru on the south side of building and the same menu offered inside will be available at the drive-thru. “It will be the same full menu we offer on the inside of the café,” said DiSanza, adding that the creation of the drive-thru would create a few more jobs, but he was unsure of the actual number. See Panera pg. 6
Inside TODAY WINNER’S
CIRCLE
See pages 19–22
Obituaries 5 Business 10 Religion
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RSVP 15 Your Home
23
Pulse/Local Gigs
40