THE AUGUST Wasabi
Photo by Valerie Embrey
The stillness of dawn transforms into a day of racing at “The Spa.”
F
By Vicky Moon
or anyone who loves thoroughbred horse racing, it’s all about Saratoga Springs in upstate New York.
The late, great Bill Nack wrote in Sports Illustrated that fellow sportswriter Red Smith once told him how to get to this magic place: “Red Smith’s standard directions for getting to the track still work: From New York City, you drive north on the Thruway for about 175 miles, turn off at Exit 14, take Union Avenue heading west and go back about 100 years.”* Those directions have worked for two members of the Country ZEST staff for decades. So, here we go, with apologies if you were there and we missed you. We began at a reception for Virginia Tech’s Marion duPont Scott Equine Medical Center. Attendees
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Photo by Maureen Conroy Britell
Knicks Go won the Whitney Stakes
included Michael Erskine, director and professor; Susie and Wayne Chatfield-Taylor; Richard Garagliano and his daughter, Laura Gargagliano Bartee, a Warrenton-based architect, horse lover and mother of upcoming equestrian Maddie; steeplechase trainer Doug Fout; Steffanie Burgevin; and, with many thanks to hostess Peggy Steinman with her 2021 Westminster Kennel Club Best in Show Champion Wasabi, a three-year-old black masked red male Pekingese who also put in an appearance at the track one day. A bevy of beauties from Middleburg made the trek: Maureen Conroy Britell, Shannon Elaine Casey and Sabrina Moore arrived in time to see Knick’s Go, bred by Moore, win the Whitney Stakes. Then it was on to the 100th edition of the FasigTipton Selected Yearling sales at the Humphrey S. Finney Pavilion. Out in the courtyard is the perfect place to see the horses as well as fabulous friends
Go Green Middleburg | Fall 2021
near the Man o’ War restaurant or the snack bar. Jane Covington was with Emily Hannum and her daughter, Chloe. And, happy to have our great pals, Robin and Gordie Keys nearby. John Stuart from “over the mountain” and wife Douglas Wise were there, too. Add to this list trainer Jonathan Thomas, who had a gate-to-wire win for first time starter two-year old filly Benbang. Our neighbor, Jim Fitzgerald of Chilly Bleak Farm, is coordinating a weanling to yearling pin-hooking partnership. And, Woodberry Payne from Orange was doing everything, as was Gregg Ryan and Summers Thomas. And oh my, suddenly I can’t breathe, there’s ANGEL CORDERO. On the backside, we chatted with National Steeplechase Association Director of Racing Bill Gallo and Adam Newman of Flying Elvis Stables, who owns several jumping horses trained by Neil Morris. One afternoon at the races we spotted an