Winters in Wellington, FL are a little slice of horse heaven—so I’ve been told. I’ve long envied friends who’ve jetted off and escaped the frigid Upstate New York winters, even if only for a weekend, to bask in the sun and watch some of the most talented riders in show jumping, dressage and polo compete there. For 12 weeks every year, thousands of riders (and horses) flock to the picturesque community in Florida, where sandy beaches fade into grassy green pastures. Riders and their fans have transformed the seaside town into an equestrian village brimming with activities centering on the world-famous Winter Equestrian Festival.
Until I get the chance to visit, a new 215-page coffee table book, Wellington: The World Of Horses (Assouline), will help keep winter off my mind. That’s thanks, in part, to the book’s author, Holly Peterson, who comes at the book not from the perspective of a rider but a fan, as she’s become immersed in the sport and requisite lifestyle while cheering on her teenage daughter from the stands. The book also pairs 30 quotes from famous riders with portraits and action photography by Elena Lusenti, a former champion rider in the High Junior Amateur Division, and accomplished equestrian painter Brittany Brett provides additional polo images.
A rider myself, I can’t help but be inspired by one particular quote attributed to Margie Goldstein-Engle, a ten-time American Grand Prix Association Rider of the Year. “Horses teach us at a very early age a sense of responsibility and care for another living being,” she writes. “They also teach you patience and give you everything, as long as you do not do anything to destroy the trust they give you in return.”
I couldn’t agree more. And maybe, just maybe, this coming winter, one of my friends will invite me along to Wellington to see this ethic come to life.
When jockey Joel Rosario rode into the Winner’s Circle after the Belmont Stakes this past June, my eyes weren’t on the glut of people surrounding him but on the flurry of snow-white carnations draped over, his mount Sir Winston. I tingled with pride, knowing that local florist Susan Garrett and her team of volunteers had created that handmade flower blanket in Saratoga Springs. Hold your horses! There’s more. At last year’s Belmont Stakes, a Garrett-made blanket rested on the back of Triple Crown winner Justify. She’s still reeling with excitement, as it was her first Belmont—and Triple Crown, for that matter—assignment. “I can’t even tell you how I feel,” says Garrett. “A blanket on any Triple Crown winner is an honor.”
Garrett, who calls Wilton home and once owned a flower shop in Gansevoort, creates her blankets at Dehn’s Flowers & Greenhouses on Beekman Street (the shop offers up space to her and helps by ordering her the carnations). As far as Saratoga Race Course is concerned, you could call her the queen of equine embellishment, as the track didn’t even deck out winners with flowers until 1994, when she came up with the idea. This summer, she’ll make the blankets, each with up to 1000 flowers, for the Saratoga Oaks, Saratoga Derby, Alabama Stakes, Whitney Stakes (with Marylou Whitney’s pink roses!) and, of course, the 150th running of the Travers Stakes.
How did Garrett become blanket-er of the equine stars? Easy. Her parents, Bob and Brenda Lee, ran The Wishing Well restaurant, a longtime hangout for track people, and her dad, who died in 2002, was once the New York State Racing commissioner. Bob and Mary Alice Lee, her brother and sister-in-law, now own the restaurant (where her mother still works), along with The Brook Tavern, which is right down the street from Saratoga Race Course.
At Dehn’s, Garrett was happy to show me how the blanket-making magic happens with a little glue, quilting needles, thread and hundreds of carnations. I’m proud to report that I sewed ten white carnations onto a blanket for Belmont Park’s Secretariat statue. For me, watching horse racing will never be the same.
Although the international horse racing season may not be as front-and-center in American horse-racing fans’ minds—specifically, Down Under in Melbourne—it holds its own even when put up against its stateside Triple Crown rivals in terms of super-sized events. The huge stakes, gaming, fashion, eye-catching hats and wall-to-wall society events will be familiar to any Saratogian used to our own incredible horse racing season. So, now you have a very good reason to jet off to Australia for some equine indulgences, and, don’t forget, when it’s their turn to take over the racing season, the weather will still be in its perpetual state of summery warmth.
The location doesn’t hurt, either. The Telegraph, ABC and insider.com have reported that Melbourne is “the most livable city in the world,” “the world’s greatest city” and “the best place to live in the world,” respectively. Located on the southern-most tip of Australia, the art, cuisine, culture, design, entertainment, sporting events—even the coffee!—are hard to beat. My favorite time of day is Melbourne’s fabled High Tea, seemingly available everywhere in town. Seriously. Everywhere. The Flemington Racecourse, ground zero for the “Carnival,” as the Melbourne Cup is known, is a weeklong event from November 2-9, with a purse totaling some $7.3 million. Victoria Racing Club’s Melbourne Cup hosts Victoria Derby Day as the opening event, which isn’t to be missed. As huge as these races are, though, the racing can easily become an afterthought if you decide to let the sexy temptress that is Melbourne seduce you away from the track. It’s easy to do, that’s for sure.
Market Lane Bar at InterContinental Melbourne The Rialto.
For globetrotters, the deluxe hospitality scene abounds here, but it’s quantified a little bit differently than just by the number of Michelin-starred restaurants or Leading Hotels of The World assignations a destination has been awarded. So, embrace Melbourne’s finery their way. First on this—and any other luxury list in Melbourne—is the Park Hyatt Melbourne with its stately presence, elegant public spaces, oversized suites, award-winning spa, amazing gym and an indoor pool with a million-dollar view. The Lounge & Garden restaurant overlooks Trilogy Gardens, changing the mood of the space throughout the day, from breakfast to well after the sun’s gone down, while Radii is the hotel’s hero restaurant with daily, carefully curated menus. Sofitel, the original boutique chic, never disappoints anywhere in the world, especially here. Check out its Opera or Imperial suites for that extra edge of sumptuousness. Sofitel’s lounge and dining options are stellar, too. No35 Restaurant offers fine French gastronomy with a view, while High Tea (yes, again!) is offered daily in a lofty, ultra-modern art gallery lounge. (Yes, please!) You’ll definitely want to utilize your Club Accord perks here, as Sofitel’s known for its pre-theater dining packages. Want old-world digs with global modern management? The Rialto is the InterContinental’s impressive Melbourne outpost. The Market Lane Bar adds refinement to an adult-only smorgasbord of bites, delicacies and cocktails without the time constraint of a formal sit-down meal. Perfectly positioned on the Yarra River and the famed Southbank Promenade, The Langham offers amazing views and exciting epicurean wonders. The Lyall Hotel & Spa is privately owned and offers a refined and detailed personal experience as well.
Vue de Monde Executive Chef Hugh Allen’s dreamy chocolate soufflé.
Venturing out for fine dining is taken seriously in Melbourne. Listed as one of the “Top 50 Restaurants In The World,” Attica offers the most unusual experience (French Laundry meets Brooklyn warehouse) and sits on top of all must-do lists offering rare-to-table ingredients and experiences. As does Vue de Monde for modern French culinary exquisiteness and over-the-top tasting menus, while serving up one of the best views in the city. While you’re at it, put MoVida and Cutler & Co on your fine foodie list as well.
Let’s do some sightseeing! It wouldn’t hurt to do some last-minute, pre-flight research into Melbourne’s spontaneous pop-up scene (scenestr.com.au/melbourne). The Melbourne Star Observation Wheel is a great way to get the lay of the land. Aside from really great art, the Melbourne Museum is quite fascinating for all ages, with multiple exhibitions running simultaneously. From Darwin to DNA, Victoria’s Aboriginal history, mind exploration, bugs, marine life, records and music revolutions, eel feeding and so much more, the museum really has it all!
The Melbourne Star, a giant ferris wheel on Melbourne’s waterfront.
And who could blame you should you decide to hunker down at the racetrack? Flemington literally tips its cap to everyone. The food is terrific, and can be enjoyed everywhere from The Precinct to The Rose Room, The Terrace Restaurant and The Perch InThe Birdcage. The architecture of the pavilion is breathtaking, and it’s best served up with the carnival’s signature cocktail in hand. Grab a Flemington Fling, is a bubbly blood orange vodka drink with hints of lime and mint. The thirst is real.
Whatever you decide to do, Melbourne is one of the most memorable spots on the planet, and you’ll want to schedule plenty of time to simply enjoy it without restriction. Isn’t it time you got to the starting gate in Melbourne?
One day, I was craving steak tartare and decided to experiment. My initial idea was to serve the dish with mini brioche grilled cheese sandwiches, but I thought it’d be better to add the steak on top of a grilled cheese sandwich. I made it for the 15 Church staff, and everyone freaked out. Since I’m a fan of Korean food, I thought the addition of an oyster paired with eel sauce was in order, and what over-the-top-delicious dish is complete without caviar? Hence, I present The Superfecta: four Thoroughbreds of the culinary world stacked in perfect harmony.
Chef: Michael Mastrantuono Restaurant: 15 Church Saratoga Bite: The Superfecta
15 Church’s Superfecta
Ingredients
• Rustic sourdough, sourced from Brooklyn
• Cave-aged gruyère
• Sharp provolone
• Japanese mayonnaise
• Irish butter
• Wellfleet oysters
• Buttermilk
• Flour
• Cornstarch
• Garlic powder
• Onion powder
• Frying oil
• Capers
• Kobe beef, from Texas
• Vidalia onion, finely diced
• Olive oil
• Eel sauce
• Caviar
• Micro Dijon mustard greens
Instructions
Slice sourdough to a half an inch thick and make a sandwich with the gruyère and provolone. Spread a bit of Japanese mayonnaise and Irish butter on the outside of the bread and cook in a pan until the bread is extra crispy. Remove the edges of the sandwich. Soak a shucked Wellfleet oyster in buttermilk. While it soaks, combine flour, corn starch, garlic powder and onion powder, and mix well to incorporate. Remove oyster from buttermilk, roll it through the mixture and deep fry.
Next, fry capers. Dice the Kobe beef into tartare consistency, and add raw Vidalia onions and olive oil. Layer a generous amount of the beef concoction on the grilled cheese, followed by the oyster, eel sauce and caviar. Finish the dish with a salad of micro Dijon mustard greens and fried capers.
It’s track season, so we gambled on and, in our opinion, won with our “Next Great Saratoga Cocktail” entry: The Saratoga Longshot. We kept the recipe super simple, so anyone can make this delicious cocktail in the comfort of his or her Saratoga home. For our can’t-miss concoction, we went with Saratoga Courage Distillery’s gold-medal-winning Pick Six Vodka not only because of its horseplayer-focused name, but also its delicious taste—and mixed it with lemonade, the true OG summertime refreshment. Enjoy!
Bar: Putnam Place Cocktail: The Saratoga Longshot
The Saratoga Longshot
Ingredients
2 oz. Pick Six Vodka
2 oz. Lemonade
1 oz. Grenadine
2 Orange wedges
1 Lemon wedge
Splash club soda
Ice
Instructions
Muddle one orange wedge and lemon wedge in a cocktail shaker, then add vodka and lemonade. Shake together and strain over ice into a highball glass. Top with a splash of club soda and let the ounce of grenadine sink in for color. Garnish with an orange wedge.
Hey, Saratogians! You can now read your monthly horoscopes in saratoga living magazine—and, of course, on saratogaliving.com. (Check out last month’s to compare and contrast.) Make sure to return early and often to our website to find out what’ll lie in store for you over the next month.
LEO
July 23-August 22
Everything Saratoga Springs is calling, Leo! Invites pour in requesting your presence. Everyone wants you at their event, whether it’s fun in the sun at the track or relaxing under the twinkling stars at an elegant late-night gala. You have an air of regality that attracts attention wherever you go. It’d be wise, however, to keep your ego in check, as there are several retrogrades happening now that are known to create misunderstandings, jumbled communications and unexpected delays. During this time even the best-laid plans can go awry. Make sure to find balance in your schedule: Too much celebrating can create complicated health issues. Things will improve by mid-to-late August, just in time for the Travers Stakes. You may have that bit of luck needed to win big in countless areas of your life. Go for it!
Virgo
August 23-September 22
With so much stirring under the surface, it’s making you reflective. Your intimate relationships are growing deeper and more spiritual. This summer, quiet gatherings at your home with friends are preferable to big soirées. Spend time in the Spa
City to rest and relax. You may also spontaneously travel abroad.
Libra
September 23-October 22
Been thinking about what you can do to help those in need? Consider a political run. (Seriously.) You have what it takes to win people over and a great sense of fairness. Achieve goals with focus and passion.
Scorpio
October 23-November 21
You have the power to attract attention in your career. You’ve been chomping at the bit to be recognized for your talents and efforts, and now’s your chance. Strut your stuff: your creativity is at a peak and your efforts will be noticed. You may have a sudden windfall of cash, so now’s the time to invest.
Sagittarius
November 22-December 21
It’d be fitting for you to visit Saratoga Race Course this season, as your sign is symbolically half-man, half-horse. Furthermore, the horseshoe is a symbol of good luck, and generally, Sagittarians are especially lucky. Right now, you have luck in spades—capitalize on it.
Capricorn
December 22-January 19
Change is brewing and creating some intense upheaval in your life that may involve some legal trouble. Trying to force issues will be detrimental. Like the old proverb says, “you can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make him drink.” Just keep putting one foot in front of the other. Change can be a positive thing.
Aquarius
January 20-February 18
It looks like you may have finally found someone who could hold your interest for the long haul and to whom you could make a commitment. He or she seems perfect, providing friendship, loyalty and mental stimulation, all of which are very important to you. Jump in!
Pisces
February 19-March 20
If you can harness your scattered thoughts and tap into your creativity, you’ll create some wonderful things for this world. There are plenty of solid friends and groups who could help make your dreams come true. Center yourself.
Aries
March 21-April 19
Romance and creativity go hand-in-hand this summer—have fun! Your career may take an unexpected turn, so sit tight. Don’t look a gift horse in the mouth. Things will turn around and could end up being even better than you ever imagined.
Taurus
April 20-May 20
You’ll gravitate toward your happy place this summer. The shakeups have been unsettling, and your home provides the best place to regroup. Take time to read. It may open your mind to a new path in life.
Gemini
May 21-June 20
You’re at the starting gate and ready to race. All aspects of your life are looking good. You could find a partner (personal or business), who seems to have a lucky horseshoe around their neck and helps you to pursue your ambitions. Saddle up and hang on for the ride.
Cancer
June 21-July 22
This should be a time for family, love and pampering yourself. Enjoy excursions around the region with loved ones. Get healthy. Consider all propositions that come your way. There’s a lot to sort through. Trust your intuition.
I’ve driven down Route 9 from Wilton countless times on my way to Saratoga Springs and had no idea I was whizzing past the headquarters of horse racing royalty. Just off the road and up the street from Maple Avenue Middle School sits West Point Thoroughbreds (WPT), a racing partnership manager and creator, which in less than three decades, has won its partners 840 races—11 of which were Grade 1 stakes races—including a coveted Kentucky Derby, which it took home aboard Always Dreaming in 2017. In total, WPT has garnered its partners more than $50 million in purse money. Not a bad ROI, right?
If you’re trying to understand what WPT does, think of it as a horse racing hedge fund. It purchases untested yearlings and two-year-old horses at auction, then builds and manages groups of investors, who buy fractional “shares” in each horse. These partnerships or “syndicates” could be made up of trainers, racing insiders, experts or just about any Saratogian who has the disposable income to buy in. (Obviously, there’s a minimum investment cost, and that can vary from horse to horse.) And just like playing the stock market, the more horses you invest in, the better your chances are of winning big.
Sounds like an easy moneymaking equation, right? Not so, says Terry Finley, West Point Thoroughbreds’ President and CEO, who founded the company in 1991 in Cherry Hill, NJ. “We struggled to make our mark for a lot of years,” he says. Make that 16 in total: WPT didn’t have its first Grade 1 stakes win until 2007. Growing up in nearby Levittown, PA, Finley was the youngest of seven children, getting the horseplaying bug early from his “racing nut” father. Then, during an eight-year stint as an artillery officer in the US Army—hence the “West Point” in his company’s name, where he earned a degree in mechanical engineering—Finley founded WPT. Three years later, he retired from the military and went all in on his dream business. “I had a strong sense that there was nothing else out there that would even come close to igniting my passion and my enthusiasm like the horse racing business,” Finley says.
Nowadays, the 55-year-old makes his home in Saratoga—literally within eyeshot of the track. And despite those early setbacks, following his passion has paid off exponentially. In addition to that Derby win, which Finley describes as “life-changing,” WPT now has five offices dotting the country, including its headquarters in Saratoga. WPT has also worked with some of the biggest names in racing throughout the years, including legendary jockey Richard Migliore (a.k.a. “The Mig”) and his son, Joe, who’s a Partner Associate at the company.
At this point in his career, Finley has nothing but positive things to say about WPT’s future. “Our partnership statistics just keep getting better,” he says. “I’m more pumped and motivated about this game than I’ve ever been.” Now that I know a little bit more about WPT, I have a foolproof idea: a saratoga living syndicate! Who’s with me?
As it was happening, it was such a non-event, such a nothingburger, that the moment wasn’t even noted by me in any significant manner; but, just a few short weeks ago, I touched a horse for the first time in my life. And I really loved it. Standing in “Tap,” award-winning racehorse trainer Todd Pletcher’s barn at Belmont Park in Elmont, NY, while chatting easily with the living legend and, yes, lovingly stroking the neck and face of one of his beautiful prized Thoroughbreds, my mind suddenly flooded with impossibly happy memories of other notable firsts I’ve been able to accomplish thus far in my fortunate, colorful life. And just how many of those firsts have occurred over the past year-and-a-half as a new resident of Saratoga Springs.
Where to begin? The first time I attended Opening Day at Saratoga Race Course…The first time I placed a bet on my own at the track…The first time I walked onto the paddock on race day…The first time I stood in the Winner’s Circle and smiled for a photograph with a victorious stakes race jockey at my side…The first time the horse I wanted to win actually won going away…The first time I felt like I truly belonged to this proud community. And on and on it’s gone. And on and on it goes.
As life’s clock ticks by sightly faster with every passing year, I now force myself to slow down my experiences just long enough to be able to acknowledge them and to more fully appreciate these key moments, even as they’re happening in real time. That, in turn, has inextricably upped the ante on my happy meter. The faster the images that matter to me fly by, the slower I’m reacting to them. It may actually be working.
I’ve always been that guy—that New York City guy—who considered “nature” something I saw on the Discovery Channel. Sad but true. The very idea of touching a horse, let alone riding one, had never even entered the realm of the possible for me. I mean, more than half of my friends living in Manhattan, as I was for decades, didn’t even drive a car; why would any of us ride a horse? But standing there in Todd Pletcher’s surprisingly tidy barn surrounded by more than a dozen of his stunning, shiny ponies, I realized I was posing the wrong question: It’s not why would I ever ride a horse, but, rather, why wouldn’t I want to ride one?
For the vast majority of people reading this, full on incredulity must be the pervasive emotion they’re feeling. I mean, how many fully realized adults in Saratoga, of all places, have really never touched a horse in their lives? I mean, I’m quite aware that I’m the outlier here. But, here’s where I try to catch up with the rest of the civilized world, even a little bit. I vow to share my late-in-life epiphany with any and all who’ll listen: Horses are extraordinary creatures, here to be revered, championed and loved. If only we could all look at one another and believe the same to be true.
I know! Why don’t we make that a first we all can share together?
How has the oldest-living jockey to win a Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes fared in retirement? When I spoke with 95-year-old Dave Erb this past June, it was clear that he was keeping himself busy: He’d been enjoying maintaining his farm in Greenfield Center (just a few miles from Saratoga Springs), where he’d been living since 1988; and he’d been playing golf as many as four times a week, weather permitting. You’ve got to wonder, though, if the folks with the tee time behind him know how famous the man ahead of them really is.
Growing up in the tiny town of York, NE, Erb dreamed big. Really big. “I wanted to win the Kentucky Derby,” he told me. And, well, Erb went out and did just that. “I’m one of the lucky ones,” he says. “I had a great horse that day.” Erb’s dream came true in 1956, when he piloted Needles, a future Hall of Fame inductee, to victory. (After the Derby win, Erb and Needles appeared together on the cover of Sports Illustrated.) Needles then finished second in the Preakness before winning the Belmont to claim two-thirds of the coveted Triple Crown.
Erb rode other standouts during his career in the irons, too. He piloted Hall of Famer Swoon’s Son in 21 of his 22 career races, including wins in the American Derby, Arlington Handicap and Clark Handicap, among others. Erb was also aboard Hall of Famer Swaps when he set a world record for 1 1/16 miles on dirt at Hollywood Park in 1955. After retiring in 1960, Erb went on to become a successful trainer, conditioning the champion two-year-old colt Hurry to Market.
Erb stepped away from the sport in ’88, when he and his wife, Lenni, moved to Saratoga County. And despite still following racing and making the occasional trip to Saratoga Race Course, it’s all peace, quiet and retirement for him…though I can’t even begin to imagine how someone who won the Derby or Belmont could ever find true quiet after hearing the thunder of hooves—and those crowds.
We’ve really done it this time. For the first time in our 21-year history, saratoga living has accomplished what no other local media outlet has ever dared to try: We’ve created—and ranked(!)—a stellar list of the most powerful individuals impacting horse racing in Saratoga Springs right now. It’s a roster of familiar and perhaps not-so-familiar names, who not only share an unquestioned love for the Sport of Kings, but also come to land on this historic list because of one all-important word: influence.
So, if power is influence—and we say it absolutely is—then this inaugural 2019 saratoga living Power List is exclusively comprised of the men and women who have the greatest impact on horse racing in the Spa City.
saratoga living asked a panel of local horse racing experts, historians, editors and writers to recommend the trainers, owners, jockeys and other influencers who make the summer meet in Saratoga an absolute must for all racing aficionados. We know any ranked list will inspire conversation, debate and even a little bit of what were they thinking? (to say nothing of the perceived “snubbed” list); but, no matter. saratoga living is, as always, proud to represent our city and our city’s signature sport. We’re ready for any feedback that may come our way. It’s OK; passion is required for all of Saratoga’s wondrous offerings, the track very much included.
Without further ado, we present the first annual 2019 saratoga living Power List. It’s quite a list; but, hey, it’s quite a sport. —Richard Pérez-Feria, Editor in Chief
1. Todd Pletcher (Trainer)
Award-winning Thoroughbred Trainer Todd Pletcher sits atop saratoga living’s inaugural Power List for a number of key reasons, the most obvious being that he dominates in the sport of horse racing, laying waste to his competition and setting records aplenty along the way. It’s what he does—both nationally and here at Saratoga Race Course. A native of Dallas, the 52-year-old trainer extraordinaire has reigned supreme in the Thoroughbred game for more than two decades, and there’s no indication his prime will end anytime soon. Some more evidence of Pletcher’s dominance? He’s the all-time leader in purse earnings by a trainer (more than $375 million as of mid-June); has been awarded a record seven Eclipse Awards for Outstanding Trainer and a record 13 leading trainer titles at Saratoga; has won leading trainer in North America honors by earnings 10 times; has set the record for most stakes wins (100) and graded stakes wins (57) in a single year (2006), surpassing the previous marks set by his former boss, D. Wayne Lukas; has won 2 Kentucky Derbies, 3 Belmont Stakes and 10 Breeders’ Cups; and has garnered 33 total meet training titles in New York. His list of accomplishments literally goes on and on.
One of the main reasons Todd Pletcher takes the No.1 slot on the 2019 ‘saratoga living’ Power List is his dominance at Saratoga Race Course. (Susie Raisher)
Pletcher earned his first win in January 1996 at Gulfstream Park in Florida with Majestic Number. He’s amassed almost 4800 more wins since then and counts many of the most powerful owners in the sport among his clients, including Mike Repole, WinStar Farm and Starlight Racing, among countless others. At Saratoga, he has been masterful in preparing his horses for success in the most prestigious events. He can list the Travers, Whitney, Alabama, Woodward, Sword Dancer, Hopeful, Personal Ensign, Ballerina and King’s Bishop among his Grade 1 conquests here. And he’s hoisted the trophy for several of those events on multiple occasions.
Pletcher began showing an interest in horses as a child. His father, Jake “J.J.” Pletcher, trained both quarter horses and Thoroughbreds and now runs a training center in Florida where many of Todd’s young runners get an early education before joining the big barn. After high school, Pletcher graduated from the University of Arizona’s Race Track Industry Program. He then apprenticed with Lukas, a Hall of Fame conditioner with 14 Triple Crown race wins to his credit. After nearly seven years with Lukas, Pletcher began his own journey when he landed his trainer’s license in late 1995. Some two years later, he had his first stakes win in New York when Jersey Girl won the Astoria at Belmont. Pletcher quickly established himself as a star on the rise, and has burned bright ever since.
With one of the largest stables in racing, Pletcher has had to effectively manage the numerous day-to-day tasks of the business side of the sport, while also never failing to maintain complete focus on the horsemanship required of his craft. Few trainers—if any—approach Pletcher’s mastery of this delicate balancing act. Two years from now, Pletcher becomes eligible for induction into the Hall of Fame. He’s considered a lock to be elected on the first ballot. A few hours after the morning induction ceremony at Fasig-Tipton, it’s a sure bet that the trainer will be across the street at the racetrack in a familiar spot: the Winner’s Circle.
Irad, Jr. and José Ortiz will be in contention for top jockey honors once again in 2019. (Susie Raisher)
2. Irad Ortiz, Jr. and José Ortiz (Jockeys)
Imagine if National Basketball Association superstar LeBron James had a younger brother who was just as good at basketball as he was. Apply that concept to Thoroughbred racing, and you have the reality that is the Ortiz brothers. Irad, 26, and José, 25, natives of Trujillo Alto, Puerto Rico, have combined for more than 4000 wins and purse earning of close to $300 million in less than a decade. In 2017, José won the Eclipse Award, the Belmont Stakes and topped all North American riders with more than $27.3 million in earnings. In 2018, it was Irad’s turn for the Eclipse and the earnings title with more than $27.7 million in purse earnings (he won the Belmont in 2016). The brothers have reigned supreme at Saratoga for the past four years. Each has a pair of riding titles here, and the brothers have finished 1-2 in the standings each of those years. At press time, the Ortiz brothers were both in the top three in purse earnings, nationally, once again and appear primed for another sensational summer at Saratoga.
NYRA’s David O’Rourke was officially named CEO and President in March after serving in the position on an interim basis.
3. David O’Rourke (New York Racing Association’s CEO and President)
An integral member of the New York Racing Association (NYRA) management team since 2008, David O’Rourke, 45, was named CEO and President in March after serving in the position on an interim basis since January. O’Rourke first joined NYRA as director of financial planning before becoming chief revenue officer and vice president of corporate development. During his tenure at NYRA, O’Rourke has played a major role in the development of NYRA Bets, a national wagering platform now available in 30 states, and the expansion of NYRA’s television broadcasts, Belmont Park Live and Saratoga Live. He’s also led NYRA’s strategy and investment in cloud-based video streaming technologies, including the innovative NYRA Now app. O’Rourke is a member of NYRA’s Board of Directors and serves the racing industry in a variety of roles with the National Thoroughbred Racing Association (NTRA), Thoroughbred Racing Associations of America (TRA) and the Management Committee of the Equibase Company. NYRA recently unveiled Saratoga Race Course’s newest luxury accommodations, the 1863 Club, and many changes are expected at NYRA’s metropolitan tracks, Belmont and Aqueduct, in the coming years. All eyes will be on O’Rourke to see how he charts the course during this most crucial time for New York racing.
Mechanicville native Chad Brown is perennially a top trainer at the Spa. (Dori Fitzpatrick)
4. Chad Brown (Trainer)
With three straight Eclipse Awards, the 40-year-old Mechanicville native is on the short list of the most successful trainers in the game, along with Pletcher, Bob Baffert, Steve Asmussen, Mark Casse and Bill Mott. In winning his second training title at Saratoga in 2018, Brown set a track record with 46 wins, breaking the previous mark of 40 that he shared with Pletcher. He’s surpassed $20 million in purse earnings each of the past four years and earned his first Triple Crown race win in 2017, when Cloud Computing took the Preakness. At press time, Brown was second nationally in purse earnings and sixth in wins. A Cornell University graduate and former assistant to Hall of Famers Claude R. “Shug” McGaughey III and Bobby Frankel, Brown appears loaded for another run at the top of the standings at Saratoga this summer.
5. John Hendrickson (National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame President, Racehorse Owner)
A former member of NYRA’s Board of Directors, Hendrickson, 54, was elected the museum’s president in 2017 and has spearheaded a revitalization of the institution. Introducing an innovative online program called Foal Patrol—which spotlights in-foal mares during their pregnancies via live webcam—Hendrickson has increased the museum’s national visibility exponentially. He’s currently leading a $20 million campaign to transform the Hall of Fame into a revolutionary interactive experience. A native of Alaska, Hendrickson is also an owner of a prominent racing stable with his wife, the iconic Marylou Whitney. The couple has been integral in promoting and preserving the legacy of Saratoga racing and supporting the track’s approximately 2500 backstretch workers through the annual Saratoga Backstretch Appreciation program. Hendrickson was a key figure in convincing NYRA to spend more than half a million dollars to renovate a pair of dormitories that house many of the workers near the Oklahoma Training Track.
Barbara Banke’s Lexington-based Stonestreet Farms has also emerged as a force in the sport’s sales business.
6. Barbara Banke (Stonestreet Stables’ Owner)
One of the most successful stables in the racing world, Stonestreet was established by Banke and her late husband, Jess Jackson. Stonestreet has campaigned some of the most accomplished racehorses of the 21st century in Hall of Fame members Curlin and Rachel Alexandra, as well as champions such as My Miss Aurelia, Good Magic and Lady Aurelia. Banke’s Lexington-based Stonestreet Farms has also emerged as a force in the sport’s sales business. Furthermore, Jackson’s involved in numerous organizations within the sport, including the National Museum of Racing and the Breeders’ Cup. (A graduate of UCLA and The UC Hastings College of Law, Banke is a former land use and constitutional law attorney, who spent more than a decade arguing cases before the Supreme Court and Court of Appeals.) Outside of the realm of horse racing, Banke and her late husband co-founded Jackson Family Wines. In addition to the flagship Kendall-Jackson brand, Jackson Family Wines includes two dozen top wineries in California and maintains a global presence of top vineyards and wineries in France, Italy, Australia and other locations around the world.
Owner Seth Klarman’s Klaravich Stables has been a heavyweight at Saratoga Race Course in recent years.
7. Seth Klarman (Klaravich Stables’ Owner)
Besides graduating from Harvard Business School and being the CEO of the Boston-based Baupost Group, one the world’s largest hedge funds, 62-year-old Seth Klarman, who grew up near Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, has been one of racing’s top owners for more than a decade, campaigning his horses under the name Klaravich Stables. Many of Klarman’s horses are owned in partnership with William Lawrence, an Albany native. The aforementioned Cloud Computing, who was trained by Chad Brown and won the 2017 Preakness Stakes, is one of Klavarich’s horses. The stables has also been a heavyweight at Saratoga Race Course in recent years, topping track standings in earnings in 2017 and 2018 and in wins each of the past three years. According to Equibase, Klaravich Stables and its extended partnerships have earned more than $50 million in purses since 2006. Outside of racing, Klarman is also a minority owner of the Boston Red Sox and has named some of his horses, including Fenway Faithful and Yawkey Way, in honor of his Red Sox connection.
With more than 26K followers on Twitter, Serling has one of the most followed handles in the sport.
8. Andy Serling (New York Racing Association Handicapper)
A staple of NYRA’s broadcast team for more than a decade, the highly opinionated Serling, 57, is regarded as one of the top handicappers in the game. Serling, who was born in New Jersey and grew up in Saratoga, has been an integral presence on the popular TV programs Belmont Park Live and Saratoga Live. He also hosts NYRA’s Talking Horses program and its Across the Board podcast. With more than 26K followers, Serling’s Twitter handle (@andyserling) is one of the most followed in the sport and offers regular insight during the Saratoga racing season and throughout the year for all NYRA tracks. Before working in the racing industry, Serling traded options on the floor of the American Stock Exchange and was a professional horseplayer. He brings a combination of cockiness and humor to his job along with the ability to clearly explain complicated handicapping concepts to an audience that ranges from novices to expert horseplayers.
A third-generation horsewoman, Wolfendale has quickly earned a reputation as one of the sport’s top analysts.
9. Maggie Wolfendale (New York Racing Association Paddock Analyst)
One of the most recognized women in horse racing, Wolfendale is the daughter of respected Maryland-based trainer Howard Wolfendale and the wife of emerging New York trainer Tom Morley. A third-generation horsewoman, Wolfendale joined the New York Racing Association (NYRA) in the fall of 2010 and quickly earned a reputation as one of the sport’s top analysts. An expert on horse conformation (the evaluation of a horse’s body/bone structure and more) and a meticulous student of the game, Wolfendale’s views from the paddock are essential tools for horseplayers before they head to the betting windows at Saratoga Race Course. Along with her broadcasting career, Wolfendale remains active in the training aspect of the sport, working with her husband’s horses in the barn and galloping on the track. She’s also spent time retraining retired racehorses to take on new careers. Prior to working for NYRA, Wolfendale graduated from Towson University with a broadcasting degree and worked for both the Maryland Jockey Club and Colonial Downs in Virginia.
Cannizzo has been instrumental in the impressive development of the state’s Thoroughbred breeding program. (Photos by Z.)
10. Jeffrey Cannizzo (New York Thoroughbred Breeders Executive Director)
Hailing from a family that’s been involved in New York racing for more than a half-century, Cannizzo has been instrumental in the impressive development of the state’s Thoroughbred breeding program. Since joining the New York Thoroughbred Breeders (NYTB) in 2008, Cannizzo has been a powerful advocate for the racing and breeding industry in the state’s contentious political environment. Cannizzo regularly represents New York breeders and horsemen at state hearings and is on the Board of Directors for both NYRA and the New York Thoroughbred Breeding and Development Fund. He’s also an advisory board member of the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance. A graduate of Le Moyne College, Cannizzo worked in business development for Lockheed Martin, Dell and Microsoft prior to joining the NYTB.
Arguably the most popular figure in Saratoga racing history, Angel Cordero, Jr. is a multiple Eclipse Award winner, who won six Triple Crown races.
11. Angel Cordero, Jr. (Hall Of Fame Jockey, Agent)
Known as the “King of Saratoga,” Cordero, 76, won a record 14 leading rider titles at Saratoga Race Course—including 11 in a row—and is regarded as one of the greatest jockeys in history. Arguably the most popular figure in Saratoga racing history, Cordero is a multiple Eclipse Award winner, who won six Triple Crown races. He continues to be a major presence at Saratoga as the agent for Hall of Fame jockey John Velazquez and Manny Franco, one of the sport’s top young riders. A native of Santurce, Puerto Rico, Cordero was one of the first three track superstars honored in the Saratoga Walk of Fame at the racetrack in 2013. Cordero has helped Velazquez, who is also a Hall of Famer, become the sport’s all-time leading jockey in purse earnings with more than $400 million to his name. With Cordero booking their mounts, Velazquez and Franco are both among the top ten riders in the country so far in 2019.
12. Danny Meyer (Shake Shack Founder)
One of New York City’s most celebrated restauranteurs, the 61-year-old Danny Meyer might have some Saratogians scratching their heads as to his inclusion on this list. But bring up his signature business, Shake Shack, and it’s a no-brainer. Shake Shack is, without question Saratoga Race Course’s most popular, lengthy-queued eatery. With its NYC flagship founded in 2001, the upscale “roadside burger stand” was a sizzling hit from the get-go and has since gone nuclear, popularity-wise, with more than 200 locations all over the continental United States and in far-off reaches such as China, Saudi Arabia, Russia and Singapore. Sure, Saratoga Race Course is steeped in tradition and history. But in with the new, we say. And by that, we mean a ShackBurger, cheese fries and vanilla milkshake.
13. Bobby Flay (Racehorse Owner, Celebrity Chef)
Speaking of food, a powerhouse in the field of culinary arts and a staple on the Food Network, Flay, 54, burst on the racing scene in 2010 when his horse, More Than Real, won the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf. Flay has since become one of the sport’s most visible owners and a top ambassador for the game. In 2016, Flay was a part-owner of Belmont Stakes winner Creator, and has also campaigned Grade 1 winner Dame Dorothy and bred graded stakes winner America. Along with being a successful owner and breeder, Flay served on the New York Racing Association board from 2012 through 2018. He’s also served on the Breeders’ Cup board and delivered the keynote speech at a National Museum of Racings Hall of Fame induction ceremony.
Power List: Hall Of Fame
Besides being known as the “Queen of Saratoga,” Marylou Whitney has been a successful horse owner and breeder since the early 1990s.
Marylou Whitney (Racehorse Owner/Breeder, 2019 Hall Of Fame Inductee)
Known as the “Queen of Saratoga,” Marylou Whitney has been a successful horse owner and breeder since the early 1990s. Following the death of her husband, Cornelius Vanderbilt “Sonny” Whitney, in 1992, Whitney began blazing her own trail in the racing world. For Marylou Whitney Stables, her homebred Bird Town ran the fastest Kentucky Oaks ever in 2003 and her Birdstone won both the Belmont and Travers the following year. The latter later sired a Kentucky Derby winner (Mine That Bird) and Belmont winner (Summer Bird) in his first crop as a stallion. She’s also a member of The Jockey Club and an Eclipse Award of Merit recipient. This summer, Whitney will receive the ultimate horse racing honor, when she’s inducted into the Hall of Fame as a Pillar of the Turf.
