Calling all Carson Kressley fans! The TV personality (you may know him from Queer Eye for the Straight Guy or RuPaul’s Drag Race) is coming to town July 30 for a fashion show and brunch party hosted by Saratoga Living, Miss Scarlett Boutique and the National Museum of Racing & Hall of Fame. If you’re already sold, you can get your tickets here. If you’re not sold quite yet, here are all the details:
VIP Pre-Party Starts at 10:30am!
Fifty lucky ticket-holders will have the chance to come to the National Museum of Racing & Hall of Fame early to meet and mingle with TV personality Carson Kressley, best known for Queer Eye for the Straight Guy and RuPaul’s Drag Race. Each guest will receive a signed portrait of the star and have the opportunity to take a photo with Carson.
Main Event Starts at 11am!
Sip on bubbly and rosé from Mionetto and La Crema, snack on tea sandwiches, muffins, coffee cakes, bagels and cookies from Bocage, Sweet Mimi’s and Uncommon Grounds, and wander around an art pop-up of equestrian art by Janet Crawford! Sometime around noon, Jen Marcellus’ racing-inspired fashions will take center stage, as ladies from Saratoga and the racing world present a first-of-its-kind fashion show through the Racing Museum’s sculpture gallery.
Flaunt your own fashion, as photos will be taken for the next issue of Saratoga Living, and because Carson will be picking out the morning’s best-dressed guests, who will go home with special fashion-related prizes!
All guests will receive a racing- and fashion-themed gift bag from Miss Scarlett Boutique and a wrap “tiny” scarf from Chateau du Cheval, goodies from the NMRHF, a copy of Saratoga Living‘s track issue and more.
After-Party at the Track!
Racing and Rosé will let out with plenty of time for you to walk across the street for a good, old-fashioned day at the races!
Since 1986, the New York Race Track Chaplaincy of America (NYRTCA) has prided itself on ministering to the heart and soul of NYRA’s backstretch community—3,500 workers who make racing at Saratoga, Belmont and Aqueduct possible—by way of social, educational, recreational and religious services. And all of that has been done from modest Long Island headquarters consisting of two connected trailers on Belmont’s backstretch. Until now.
This spring, construction began on a new 3,500-square-foot NYRTCA center, which, designed by Saratoga-based Frost Hurff Architects, will double the organization’s current space. “While we are grateful for the trailers at Belmont,” Chaplain Rev. Humberto Chavez says, “we have long outgrown the space, which limits our ability to serve the members of the backstretch community as well as their families.” The new building will have a classroom and chapel, in addition to NYRTCA offices. It’s expected to be completed by the end of 2022.
“The existing trailers will be converted to a food pantry and clothing distribution site,” Rev. Chavez says. “Currently these services are conducted outdoors, year-round, in all weather. This indoor facility will allow us to serve the members of the backstretch with dignity and comfort.”
Several hundred fans are getting to meet their favorite athlete or TV celeb this summer at Saratoga Race Course as part of NYRA’s new series called Stars at the Spa. The two-tiered program will bring in an A-list former Knicks player, a former powerhouse Yankee, and one of the most famous Real Housewives of all time.
“Stars at the Spa was developed as a way to bring in a more diverse crowd of people,” says Zachary Richards, NYRA’s Senior Manager of Events and Marketing. “Maybe someone has never been to the track, or they have been and are looking for an excuse to return. This is a way to enjoy both a full day of racing and time with athletes and celebs. It’s immersive.”
The series comes on the heels of a star-studded Belmont Stakes, which had reality star Pauly D, cast members from Broadway’s Aladdin (which hits Proctors this October), a handful of Housewives, and various Islanders and Jets players on hand for the festivities. On the calendar for Saratoga: Charles Oakley on July 24, Teresa Giudice on July 31, and Bernie Williams on September 4, the Sunday of Labor Day Weekend. On each date, 50 ticketed guests will dine with the celeb at a private luncheon at the track’s new Paddock Suite. Afterwards, 200 general admission fans will show up for a meet-and-greet that includes a photo with the athlete or TV star as well as a signed headshot.
“Each of these celebs draws in a totally different crowd,” Richards says. “We wanted a diverse range of people who are significant to New Yorkers. People come to Saratoga from all over the world, but the biggest presence is other New Yorkers, especially from the Tri-State area. We wanted celebs who the family grew up watching on TV or watching them play.”
Richards says that he really wants Stars at the Spa to be an interactive experience, pointing to the popularity of Third Racecall, which invites fans to a Q & A with track announcer John Imbriale and to watch him call the third race of the day (ticket sales go to the Backstretch Employee Service Team of New York). This year will also see the return of the Budweiser Clydesdales in August, thanks to Bud Light and Saratoga Eagle, and a Jim Dandy appearance by fashion force Carson Kressley, a bona fide horse racing fan who will be in town for a fashion party co-hosted by Saratoga Living. (In fact, Richards wasn’t shy about giving the magazine credit—he said the idea for Stars at the Spa came to him after hearing about Saratoga Living’s meet-and-greets with former Real Housewife Dorinda Medley.)
“I cannot wait to be back!” says Kressley, who grew up coming to The Spa with his family in the ’80s. “Each trip back is very special and nostalgic for me. Not to mention I love all the history and style that is Saratoga: the old grandstands, the potted geraniums, the striped awnings. It’s an atmosphere like none other and I just love it.”
That level of excitement surrounding Saratoga’s meet is what Richards is enthusiastic about building upon. “You come to meet the celebrity,” Richards says, “and then stay to enjoy a great day of racing.”
Lexington native Kiaran McLauglin fell in love with horse racing as a 12-year-old, and hasn’t looked back since. After getting his start in the industry as a hotwalker in 1979, McLaughlin got his big break in 1985, when he went to work for legendary trainer D. Wayne Lukas. After seven years with Lukas, he served a brief stint as a jockey agent for Chris Hanley, and then went on to train for Dubai-based Godolphin for 26 years. But in 2019, McLaughlin was one of 11 horsemen fined by the New York State Department of Labor for a violation of minimum wage requirements. “Everybody knows that I was fined by the state a lot of money, and it just kind of hurt my feelings,” he says. “I was trying to do everything properly, but it’s hard with H-2B visas and workmans comp and all the different hourly wages. It’s very difficult, so I’m happy to do what I’m doing now.” What he’s doing now is working again as a jockey agent, this time for reigning lead Saratoga rider Luis Saez. Saratoga Living chatted with McLaughlin a few weeks before the Belmont to talk about his new role, Saez’s recent success and why the trainer-turned-agent loves Saratoga Race Course.
1. What does a jockey agent do?
Jockey agents book all the workouts and races for the jockey, so mounts for the jockeys. The racing office will send us a text that says “the draw will take place at noon today for Saturday,” and we all get on a Zoom call so we can listen to the horses in the race, the trainers, and the jockeys named on the horses. Sometimes Irad Ortiz will be named on two or three in a race and the trainers will need a jockey late, so we all jump on the phone to tell the trainers we’re available (if we’re available).
2. For what trainers does Saez typically ride?
Many trainers really like that he rides the cheaper horses or the lesser purses as hard as he rides the Grade 1 horses, so he rides for everybody—we don’t really have anybody that we don’t ride for or can’t ride for. Our biggest supporter is probably Todd Pletcher. He’s a very good friend of mine; we both worked for Wayne Lukas and our wives are very close, so he has been very supportive of us.
3. What are some of Saez’s biggest accomplishments since you became his agent?
I would say winning his first Breeders’ Cup on Essential Quality as a 2-year-old, and then winning an American Classic on the same horse at the Belmont. The World Cup last year was a huge win—Mystic Guide in Dubai—and then being leading rider at Saratoga was fabulous. The Kentucky Oaks ranks up there very high for us, too.
4. Do you think you’ll ever go back to training?
I’m not going to say never, because you never know, but I sure love working for Luis. He’s really a classy person with a great wife and three daughters. He’s an outstanding jockey along with being a pleasure to work with, so I hope I can keep working for him and not go back to training.
5. You’ve said Saratoga is your favorite racing meet. Why is that?
It’s a great town. It reminds me a lot of Lexington, KY, where I grew up. It’s very horsey. But the races to me are the best racing in the world for the six weeks. The neat thing about it is the cell brings people from around the world so I get to see friends and different people from England, Ireland, France, Dubai—wherever. It’s just great racing and a great place to be for the summer.
Kathleen Rourke, Kathleen Maeve: A track day in the picnic area is still an excuse to dress up, in my opinion. The bow tie shoulder detail of this tank top and accessories make a simple summer outfit come to life. I would pair the tank with my Kathleen Maeve gingham skirt, comfortable espadrille wedges (key for long track days), and a pop of pink. My bag is from Victoria Dunn Design.
Taylor Rao, The Buttonista: If you’re spending the day people-watching near the paddock, a matching set with a pop of color is an A+ way to stand out from the crowd. This green and blue tweed set from ZARA is on-trend with bright, bold colors and is loaded with texture and detail. When you want to lay low but still look good carrying a cooler, wear this elevated but casual style as separates or even pop on a pair of tennis shoes to tone the look down.
Randi Poillon & Nicole Nicholas, Haute Messes in Dresses: We love this eyelet romper because it’s not only made of super-comfy cotton, but its ruffle-sleeve details and textured fabric make it a little more fashionable than shorts and a tank. Add a summery belt and your favorite wedges or flats, and you are ready to rock the picnic area in style.
Kathleen, Taylor, and Nicole Nicholas of Haute Messes in Dresses modeling looks they’d wear to the clubhouse.
The Clubhouse
Kathleen: The comfort and effortless style of this pink cotton linen maxi dress is a summer dream. To elevate the look for the Saratoga Clubhouse, I paired it with pearl detailed accessories and a pink satin headband. All items from this look are from my own brand, Kathleen Maeve.
Taylor: Track hats not your thing? Make your trackside #OOTD sweet and feminine by accessorizing with a padded headband. This “Show Me Your Mumu” midi dress from Violet’s is easy and breezy with subtle embroidered floral details that could take you from breakfast at the track all the way to the dance floor at the Horseshoe. Puff sleeves add a soft touch that won’t leave you fussing with straps while you’re placing your bets.
Randi & Nicole: If you’re stumped on what to wear to the clubhouse or grandstand, a floral print dress is always the right answer. We love this tiered skirt and how it pairs perfectly with a heel, wedge or lace-up flat.
Kathleen, Taylor, Randi and Nicole modeling looks they’d wear to the 1863 Club.
1863 Club
Kathleen: To make this look even more 1863 Club–chic, I added my gold evening shoes and clutch handbag from Loeffler Randall. I love the combination of the natural linen sundress with dressier accessories for the perfect daywear outfit.
Taylor: When you’re going all out at the 1863 Club, you should not be worried about being “overdressed” because there is simply no such thing. I’d go with a long maxi dress for this occasion, but one that feels fun, youthful and just like summer—like this one from Rent the Runway. This style is drapey, a little sexy and incorporates a bold pattern guaranteed to turn heads.
Randi & Nicole: If you’re in need of an elevated look for the 1863 Club, these are two of our favorite options. Randi’s gorgeous paisley print dress has a dramatic asymmetrical hem that is unique and so cool. Nicole’s dress is both fitted and flattering thanks to all-over ruching, and the vibrant red color is sure to stand out in the crowd. Fascinators are a must for both these looks!
The opening of Siro’s Restaurant each racing season always causes a stir in the Spa City, but this year, it’s even more newsworthy. That’s because the historic high-roller hangout is getting a rebrand of sorts, including a facelift courtesy of Lee Owens Interior Design and Mack Construction, as well as a new chef: Elliott Vogel, formerly of Daley’s on Yates, MezzaNotte Ristorante, Savoy Taproom and, most recently, Jack’s Oyster House.
In addition to indoor renovations that will “bring a more modern and sophisticated atmosphere to the restaurant,” Vogel says outdoor renovations will allow the service bar to cater to more options and accommodate more outdoor dining. “This year we have expanded our outdoor offerings including the addition of a raw bar stocked with fresh varieties of oysters, clams and shrimp,” he continues. “Our margarita bar has also been expanded and will now serve frozen margaritas.”
Inside, diners can expect dishes worthy of the Sport of Kings. “The indoor menu is composed of creative inspirations from all over the world,” Vogel says. “Simple and exotic ingredients are celebrated through French cookery paired with seasonality fitted for any palate. Our menu is modern with a strong focus on technique, pure flavors and a thoughtful presentation.”
The announcement of these changes comes on the heels of several years of upheaval at the iconic establishment; ownership changed hands in 2019, permitting paperwork was falsified by the restaurant’s operator in 2020, and the head chef was arrested mid-season in 2021. But Vogel seems up for the challenge of returning Siro’s to its former glory. “A challenging task is always something I look for when applying myself to a growing business,” he says. “Rejuvenating, reinventing and reestablishing a culinary program is my favorite part of being a chef. It’s simply making people happy and excited about food.”
A Kentucky-bred son of hot sire Gun Runner, this Klaravich Stables–owned colt has won three of his four starts for Brown. After breaking his maiden at Aqueduct in his career debut in December, Early Voting won the Grade 3 Withers then finished second to Mo Donegal in the Grade 2 Wood Memorial. Skipping the Kentucky Derby in favor of the Preakness, he was successful in his first start outside New York with a 1¼-length victory over Epicenter at Pimlico. Brown decided to also pass on the 1½-mile Belmont to prepare for the summer races—with the Travers being the primary target. The four-time Eclipse Award-winning trainer has yet to win the Midsummer Derby, but Early Voting is capable of changing that.
2. Epicenter
Trained by Hall of Famer Steve Asmussen, Epicenter was closing in on victory in the Derby before Rich Strike’s late stretch run stole the show at Churchill Downs. Two weeks later, Epicenter again suffered a tough defeat, coming in second to Early Voting in the Preakness. Those losses, however, haven’t soured Asmussen on Epicenter. The Kentucky-bred son of Not This Time has proven he belongs with the heavyweights with three graded wins in addition to his strong showings in the first two Triple Crown races. A Travers victory would not be unexpected.
3. Jack Christopher
Also trained by Brown, this Kentucky-bred son of Munnings didn’t compete in any of the Triple Crown races but is nonetheless as highly regarded as any of the classic winners. Undefeated in four starts, Jack Christopher won his career debut at Saratoga last summer and has since added graded stakes victories in the Champagne (G1), Pat Day Mile (G2), and a 10-length romp in the Woody Stephens (G1). The only question this horse needs to answer involves his distance capabilities, as he has yet to race beyond one mile. The talent, however, is obvious. There is a possibility this is the best horse in Brown’s barn, which is as deep and talented as any in North America.
4. Mo Donegal
Mo Donegal has a slight credential advantage on his fellow classic winners entering the summer. He easily defeated Kentucky Derby winner Rich Strike in the Belmont Stakes and owns a victory against Early Voting in the Wood Memorial. After giving Pletcher his fourth Belmont win, Mo Donegal will take aim at the Travers with a prep in the Jim Dandy also likely. Both of Pletcher’s previous Travers winners—Flower Alley in 2005 and Stay Thirsty in 2011—won the Midsummer Derby after prepping in the Jim Dandy, so expect Pletcher to follow that proven formula with Mo Donegal. A bay son of champion Uncle Mo bred in Kentucky, Mo Donegal will also bring some local flavor to Saratoga this summer: He is owned in part by Skidmore College graduates Ken Freirich and Ray Bryan through the Donegal Racing partnership. His other owner, Mike Repole, campaigned Uncle Mo and won the Travers with Stay Thirsty.
5. Rich Strike
Was Rich Strike a one-hit wonder? He’ll get his chance to prove otherwise, but the jury is certainly out on this one. Yes, the Derby victory was one of the biggest shockers in the history of the Run for the Roses, but he failed to validate the effort by finishing a lackluster sixth in the eight-horse Belmont field. Trainer Eric Reed believes the Kentucky-bred son of Keen Ice (who upset Triple Crown winner American Pharoah in the 2015 Travers) is better than he showed in the Belmont and will take him straight to the Travers without a prep race. A former claimer who had only one win in seven starts prior to the Derby, Rich Strike will certainly be a wild card when the gate opens for the Travers.
When a certain meme starts making the rounds of Saratoga’s hospitality workers’ group chats, the nightlife industry knows it’s time to get pumped for the seven-week party that is Saratoga’s track season. The top half of the image features a lovely photo of the track itself with the words “How you see it.” The bottom half? A still from the war epic 300, shot from behind a behemoth fighter, weapons raised for battle and staring into a chaotic and bloody sea of rampaging soldiers. “How we see it,” the meme deadpans. “We all know each other, so that gets sent around to everyone,” says Shane Foley, GM of Horseshoe Inn Bar & Grill. “That’s when we’re all like, ‘Here we go. See you on the flip side.’”
The Saratoga Race Course is expecting to again top one million visitors during this summer’s meet, which will double and sometimes triple how many people are in Saratoga on any given day. And as every Saratogian knows, this is a crowd that after a long day of wagering likes to hit the bars—hard. “Some are celebrating a win, or maybe they lost,” says Olivia Ventra, a bartender at The Bourbon Room. “Either way they’re going to drink.”
The Bourbon Room’s Rachel Duff has been doing some sort of track season work since she was 16, making her a veteran at just 24. To serve more quickly as the summer crowds swarm, she says the key is prepping her serving area: “It has to be clean—no clutter!” (Noah Yandow)
For those of us who have essentially aged out of the post-track nightlife season (or at least the most hardcore version of it), the venues with their bulked-up teams of waitstaff form a sort of unique ecosystem with a lot of strangely complementary moving parts. After a day at the races finishes, the after-partying commences at Siro’s and the Horseshoe, with the former’s neighborhood exacting the strictest noise ordinance. When Siro’s closes so its neighbors can rest, everyone migrates to the Shoe, which then has to close at 11 for the sake of its own neighbors. That’s when the masses—including many of the bar’s workers—head downtown, where some bartenders go in as late as 8:30pm and all work well into the early morning. (Just a few hours later, the Horseshoe opens for breakfast and enjoys its first rush of the day as people headed to the track’s backyard stop in to load up on food.)
For patrons, that’s a lot of hours of drinking, especially for the ones who started at the track in the afternoon (or for some, even in the morning). But party on they do—and COVID didn’t help that. “People’s tolerances got higher because they were making stronger cocktails at home,” says one Caroline Street bar owner. “This summer’s going to be a crazy one.”
“It’s not too terrible until 1:30 or 2am,” says Alyssa Murphy, a bartender at Soundbar. “That’s when you can start to point out the people who have been out all day. It isn’t really too bad though. We have two head bouncers at the door to stop problems before anyone gets inside. They make sure us girls are safe.”
The Bourbon Room, which opens relatively early at 5pm, draws a uniquely higher-end crowd, given how closely bourbon and horse racing go hand in hand. It’s not unheard of for someone to call ahead to make sure a certain bottle is stocked in preparation for the liquor company’s owner to stop in. “A lot of people love to talk about bourbon,” says Ventra’s friend and coworker Rachel Duff. “I learn a lot, which makes it fun. Working here, you meet people from all over the world.”
Those connections can be stronger than one might think. So many people have such fond memories from fun nights out in Saratoga that they book their next trip solely because they met a great bartender who helped them have a spectacular night. On the other hand, especially as downtown suffers from street fights that sour Caroline Street in the news, one venue’s having a bad night can affect the whole town.
Horseshoe owner Charlie Hoertkorn says renovations to his venue, which already sees up to 5,000 guests in a weekend, will improve flow and prevent bottle-necking: “Plus, we paved it, so no more dirty, ruined shoes for the girls.” (Dori Fitzpatrick)
Downstairs at Soundbar, Murphy calls track season her Super Bowl (“we prep all year”), and tries to prepare the newbies: “This spring, one new person thought we were so busy, and all I could say was, ‘If you think this is bad, just you wait.’” But at the Horseshoe, where a whopping 17 bartenders serve thousands (up to 2,000 at a time with renovations making room for even more this year), it really does conjure up a meme-worthy battle. There’s one bar that serves only cans, and you might hear “cash only!’ if the crowds get too dense. “When the people line up at the bar, I call it a typewriter,” says owner Charlie Hoertkorn. “’What do you want? What do you want? What do you want? What do you want?’ Then you go click, click, click back to the beginning.” (Murphy says the crowd gets so thick at Soundbar that dancing her way through it with her bottle service tray is the only option.)
Over the years (this summer will be his sixth) Hoertkorn and his team have become a well-oiled machine that’s ready for anything.
“The bar opens at 5:30, and by 6:30 it’s like someone flipped a switch,” Hoertkorn says. “But sometimes a storm or the heat will cancel the rest of the card. We’ll be getting ready and look up to see 200 people headed our way at 4 or 4:30. You buckle down, get the barbacks in motion, and as people show up for their shifts, you get them out there.” And when Mother Nature steps in, anything goes. “In a big downpour, people huddle in the tents,” he says. “Some people always end up dancing in the rain, jumping in puddles.” Adds Foley, “One time my shoes were so muddy I just left them and walked downtown barefoot.”
If all of this chaos has you wondering why anyone would put themselves through it, they not only do so, but they’ll also do anything to avoid taking even one night off. “Money does motivate!” says Ventra, while Murphy says the older couples that hit Soundbar during track season are the biggest tippers aside from larger parties celebrating a special occasion. At the Horseshoe, Hoertkorn and Foley have a strong team of summer servers who are track season veterans, many rolling in the dough while on summer vacation from their teaching jobs. “Money-making season is all about your mentality going into it,” Duff says. “This is the priority. You don’t want to take time off all season, so clear your head now.” Adds Ventra, “You can’t let the stress show or let them see that you’re tired. Always stay positive because it’s going to be a good night.”
John Velazquez warmheartedly remembers his humble beginnings learning to ride horses while growing up in Puerto Rico. He never envisioned those early learn-on-the-fly experiences competing in unsanctioned street races—relying on instincts and natural ability instead of formal schooling—would set him on a path to become one of the most accomplished and revered jockeys of all time.
“It’s pretty wild to think back to those days,” Velazquez says. “I just got on horses as a young kid, without any real teaching at first, and would race through the streets. It was kind of crazy. I caught the bug for it right away. It didn’t matter what surface you were on or what horse you were on. I’d ride any horse that was available for a couple hundred yards or so and just go for it. I didn’t know a lot, but I was eager to learn. I just wanted to ride and be able to win and have those bragging rights.”
Velazquez eventually received conventional riding instruction at Escuela Vocacional Hipica, the state-run jockey academy at Puerto Rico’s Camarero Race Track, which he entered in 1988 at the age of 16. He wasn’t as experienced as some of his peers or as advanced in the technical aspects of riding, but his natural horsemanship and aptitude in the irons more than overcame any early deficiencies in his technique. The education Velazquez received in both the streets and at the jockey school convinced him that riding racehorses was his calling. He ventured to America early in 1990 and the results unquestionably validated the decision.
Through mid-June, Velazquez has won more than 6,400 races. His staggering purse earnings of $452.4 million rank him No. 1 of all time, $83 million more than No. 2 Javier Castellano. Velazquez has done it all. Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2012, he has won both the Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes three times each, earned a pair of Eclipse Awards, and thrived at the Breeders’ Cup with 18 victories. He’s won 22 individual meet riding titles in New York, including five at Saratoga, where he became the Spa’s all-time wins leader in 2013. Velazquez comes into the 2022 Saratoga meeting needing only 17 wins to become the first jockey to reach 1,000 at Saratoga. His Saratoga earnings of $77.9 million is also a record.
Off the track, Velazquez is universally respected by his peers, and serves as a role model for many of the younger riders. (Susie Raisher)
“I’ve worked very hard, always tried to learn and improve, and I’m proud of what I’ve been able to accomplish,” says the 50-year-old. “I also realize I’ve been incredibly fortunate. You can’t do any of it on your own. I’ve been lucky to have had great trainers and owners support and believe in me, and I’ve had the horses. You’re not going to do much in this sport unless you get the opportunity to ride the good ones. It all comes down to the horse, and those really good ones will motivate you to be your best.”
Talent and work ethic have afforded Velazquez the opportunity to ride Hall of Fame members Ashado and Wise Dan, as well as champions such as Animal Kingdom, Authentic, English Channel, Gamine, Malathaat, Rags to Riches, Sistercharlie and Uncle Mo, among others. He’s come a long way from his days as a teenager sending tapes of his early wins to trainers in New York in hopes of getting their attention. Velazquez got a big break when he met fellow Puerto Rico native Angel Cordero, Jr. in 1990. Cordero, who was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1988, was still riding when he took the teenage Velazquez under his wing and into his house. Velazquez began to learn English by watching The Little Mermaid with Cordero’s daughter, Canela. An injury forced Cordero to retire in 1992 and he later served as the agent for the emerging Velazquez.
Competing on the challenging New York circuit, Velazquez slowly worked his way into the upper echelon of the elite jockey colony. But success didn’t come overnight for the rider known around the track simply as “Johnny V.” At Saratoga, for example, Velazquez struggled mightily early on. In 1990, his first year riding at the Spa, he won on only three of his 64 mounts. The following year, he was 8-for-95; in 1992 he was 2-for-85; and in 1993 he was 4-for-91. “I almost went back to Puerto Rico in 1992,” Velazquez says. “I wasn’t doing well at all and I had my doubts. I really had to keep pushing myself.” Eventually, that perseverance began to pay off. He won 11 races at Saratoga in 1994, then 25 in 1995, and was atop the standings at the Spa for the first time in 1998 with 31 wins. In 2004, the first of back-to-back years in which he won the Eclipse Award, Velazquez set a Saratoga single-meet record with 65 wins.
“Saratoga has been such a big part of my career and my life,” he says. “I did a lot of growing up here both on and off the track. There is absolutely no other place like it. It’s the biggest stage in racing. Of course the Triple Crown races are huge and so is the Breeders’ Cup, but Saratoga is a battle of the best, day in and day out, for 40 days. It’s the place [where] all the owners, trainers and jockeys want to be. Wins at Saratoga tend to mean a little bit more. It forces you to dig deeper if you want to be successful.”
John Velazquez (left) with fellow jockey Jose Ortiz. (Brien Bouyea)
Velazquez has been a credit to the sport in more ways than just his achievements in the saddle. He is universally respected by his peers and serves as a mentor to the younger riders. Velazquez has also served as chairman of the Jockeys’ Guild and as a board member for the Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund. “I’ve always believed that I should give back and help others in the sport as best I can,” he says. “It’s a responsibility that I take very seriously. You want to see that next generation of riders have success and do things the right way, so I try to be a good example for them. That can be giving them tips on the track or advice about things like how to manage money or take care of their body or just in general about supporting the other riders in the jocks’ room.”
More than 30 years into his career, Velazquez is still challenging himself and trying new things. This past winter, he rode regularly at Santa Anita in California for the first time, instead of returning to his usual winter base at Gulfstream Park in Florida. Riding selectively, he piloted 32 winners there to finish fifth in the standings even though he had fewer mounts than all the riders ahead of him on the leaderboard.
“I wanted to try something I hadn’t previously done,” he says. “There were some stakes horses based out there I wanted to stay close to, and I’m at the point in my career that I can be flexible and experience different things. I really enjoyed it. Racing has taken me around the country and around the world and it’s been a life education.”
Although it is not unusual for jockeys to remain successful into their late 40s or early 50s, Velazquez admits his battle with Father Time to remain at the top of the game is a daily
test. “I’m not obsessed with working out,” he says. “I’m not big into running or lifting weights, so I focus on things like swimming, some yoga, stretching to stay flexible and loose. You have to put more into it physically as you get older, but I feel great. I’m definitely a smarter rider than I was in my 20s and 30s and my reflexes and instincts are as good as they’ve ever been. I feel I can compete with any of the younger guys out there because mentally it’s easier for me now. I’ve experienced pretty much every scenario you can think of on the track. I have plenty of motivation because I still enjoy what I’m doing so much and I don’t want to be out there unless I’m able to compete at the highest level.”
Velazquez says the support of his wife, Leona, and children, Lerina and Michael Patrick, has been vital to his continued success. And Leona, the daughter of trainer Leo O’Brien, could very well be his secret weapon.
“Leona was brought up in racing and she knew the sport better than I did,” Velazquez says. “Being a racing family is great in a lot of ways, but it also is very unique and it can be challenging. I never would have made it to this point if it didn’t work well for the family. Leona has really been amazing and she’s one of the biggest reasons I’ve done as well as I have.”
It’s been a decade since Velazquez was inducted into the Hall of Fame, yet he hasn’t shown any signs of decline, winning seven Breeders’ Cup races and two editions of the Kentucky Derby since his induction. Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher, who began collaborating with Velazquez in 1998, said there is no better example of what defines a Hall of Famer than Velazquez. “There’s no magic number or certain amount of wins or money won or stakes wins or what have you that make someone eligible for the Hall of Fame, but whatever that magic number is, I think with Johnny’s induction today the bar has been raised at every level,” Pletcher said when introducing Velazquez at the 2012 induction ceremony. “He’s a terrific role model, a terrific husband, a caring father, and an all-around really super human being. No one deserves it more.”
Velazquez says he’s enjoying riding now as much as he ever has and has no intention of retiring anytime soon.
“I’m not riding for any reasons like checking certain wins or milestones off a bucket list or anything along those lines,” he says. “I think I’m enjoying it so much because I don’t feel there is any pressure on me at this point. As long as I’m healthy and capable of competing at the top level there is no thought of retirement. This is what I’m meant to be doing right now and I couldn’t be happier.”
First things first: If you haven’t heard about Saratoga Living‘s Racing & Rosé brunch party with TV personality Carson Kressley (Queer Eye for the Straight Guy, RuPaul’s Drag Race) at the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame, get your tickets immediately. The July 30 soirée will feature a VIP meet-and-greet with Carson, followed by the main event featuring food and drink by Mionetto, La Crema, Bocage, Sweet Mimi’s and Uncommon Grounds; a best-dressed competition (with prizes!) judged by Carson; and the main event—a fashion show featuring racing-themed designs by Jen Marcellus, owner of Saratoga’s Miss Scarlett Boutique.
Many Saratogians who shop at Marcellus’ store may not know that, in addition to running a downtown boutique full-time, the Saratoga native is also a designer herself, working with Valerie Clement of Clement Stables under the label Chateau du Cheval, which specializes in designs for the horse racing industry and counts Breeders’ Cup, Keeneland Race Course, Tampa Bay Downs, Daily Racing Form and Claiborne Farms among its clients. Saratoga Living caught up with Marcellus, who you may remember was a judge at our first annual Overdress to Impress event this past spring, to find out more about the fashions guests will see at Racing & Rosé.
Jen Marcellus and Carson Kressley at Breeders’ Cup.
How did you get into the fashion industry? After I graduated from FIT in New York City I worked at Bergdorf Goodman and then Donna Karan—I was a buyer—and then I worked for a hat designer named Lola. I moved to San Diego to take a job running the Chanel ready-wear boutique, where I bought all the product for our Chanel boutique. And then, in a weird twist, I had a friend that opened a children’s store and I started designing for them. They brought my line to a sales rep in LA, and all of a sudden I was in the children’s wear business. It was very crazy. My first order was from Fred Segal in LA and my line grew. I had my children’s line [it was called Jen Jen] for 12 years. I designed and manufactured in San Diego and sold to all the major department stores: Nordstrom, Neiman Marcus, Marshall Fields. I was featured on covers of magazines. I sold to 15,000 boutiques, it was a really large business. I sold in Japan, England and Italy.
Jen Jen was featured in Martha Stewart Weddings, correct? I had actually designed a dress way back and the print said “Saratoga” in it. I was living in California, and I was contacted by the editor of Martha Stewart Weddings to design 12 flower girl dresses for a wedding, and it was the featured cover story. The funny thing is, the wedding happened to be in Saratoga. I was in San Diego, she was from New York City, and then the wedding was at The Lodge.
How did you wind up owning a boutique in Saratoga? Jen Jen was a very demanding business for me. I had 12 sales reps around the country and I was constantly traveling. And then, when I ended up getting pregnant with Scarlett, I realized that there was just absolutely no way I could work to that capacity with a child. I ended up moving back home to Saratoga (with a lot of pressure from my parents), and that’s how I opened Miss Scarlett Boutique. I opened when Scarlett was 6 months old in 2009.
How did you get involved with the racing world? I’ve always loved the races, even when I lived in San Diego—I actually lived across the street from Del Mar. I met Valerie Clement through my Chanel store. At the time, I was designing some of my apparel for my store, and she was shopping at the store and then we started the Chateau du Cheval partnership. We do a lot of silk scarves and bags. And then separately I design clothing. It’s technically custom manufacturing for companies to promote their brand, so a lot of it isn’t even labeled with Chateau du Cheval—it’s labeled Breeder’s Cup or whatever the business is.
Are any of your designs available at Miss Scarlett? I do the dresses at my shop. I do the Saratoga Clubhouse entrance bag—super popular. Every year I do a new handbag for the races, and we carry through the old ones. And this year I designed some of the clothing. A black and white dress that has the horses running at the bottom is actually Janet Crawford‘s artwork. The print on that dress—it’s a shirt dress—features all the different tracks, like Keeneland, Ascot, Chantilly, and those little sketches are adaptations of Janet’s art.
Tell us about the designs that will be on display at Racing & Rosé. The fashion show will feature some of my exclusive designs with the art of Janet, and then we mixed in some stuff from the store as well. But every outfit will have something that I’ve designed in it, whether it’s the fascinator or hat, or the complete look. They will be available for purchase at the show, at our pop-up shop in the Clubhouse, online, or in store.
You’ve worked in all aspects of the fashion world. What’s your favorite part about what you do? I like variety. I don’t like every day to be exactly the same, so I like the challenges of manufacturing. I manufacture overseas, so when most people’s work days are over, I’m still working through the night [because of the time difference]. There’s always an issue that comes up, but I don’t think I would be content working only at my shop. I need to do more, and I like the very creative aspect of it. And I love turning artists’ work into wearable art.
