Rider Katie Colbert aboard Essential Quality, the Travers favorite on the morning of Tuesday, August 24. (Tom Killips)
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A rider guides a horse through the entry point to the track near the top of the backstretch, after working out on Saratoga Race Course's main track. (Tom Killips)
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Dogs are frequently found in the barn area as mascots for the horses. This is Luna, who provides "security" for trainer Wesley Ward. (Tom Killips)
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Carlos Castellano wrings out sponges used to wash the horses. Carlos has been with trainer Wesley Ward for more than 20 years. (Tom Killips)
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A rider for trainer Todd Pletcher rides through the backstretch barn area. (Tom Killips)
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Riders leave the track at the busiest entry point early Tuesday morning. (Tom Killips)
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Travers favorite Essential Quality, with exercise rider Katie Colbert, works out on Tuesday, August 24. (Tom Killips)
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Carlos Castellano and John Guadalupe wash Illustrious for trainer Wesley Ward. (Tom Killips)
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A rider waits to enter the main track early on Saturday morning (August 21). (Tom Killips)
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Riders leave the main track at Saratoga Race Course in darkness, very early on Saturday morning (August 21). (Tom Killips)
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Riders enter the race course near the top of the backstretch. The horse in front is trained by Michael Maker. (Tom Killips)
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Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher's barn on the Oklahoma Track, where he created his own walking ring. (Tom Killips)
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Riders circle Saratoga Race Course beneath the moon early Tuesday morning. (Tom Killips)
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Horses are reflected in one of the many puddles as they approach Saratoga Race Course. (Tom Killips)
Source:If you’ve been following Saratoga Living track photographer Tom Killips’ progress this summer at Saratoga Race Course, you’ll know that no two photos he’s sent us have been alike. That was by design. He didn’t want to be repetitive, and man, did he ever hit the mark on that one.
Sadly, this batch of photographs is likely his last for us—at least for the 2021 season, that is. “I went really early this past Saturday morning and again this morning,” Killips says of his latest batch of 22 photographs. What you’ll find is more of his eagle eye for the extraordinary along the backstretch, as well as an early look at Travers Stakes frontrunner, Essential Quality.
Swipe through the photos above, and make sure to enjoy Killips’ other galleries here, here, here and here.
