It is hard to understand when something is over at times.
Saratoga will return year after year. It\'s been doing it for over 160 years.
But it seems the days of Uncle Bill, Topcat, richiebee, TGAB, and others in a monster backyard group sharing stories, food, jokes, and handicapping the entire card are merely memories. And they will likely not return. But I hope somehow a few of them will one summer.
Those charged with carrying the torch onward were few this summer. Credit to those I did see (such as shanahan) albeit several for literally fleeting moments:
Trackjohn for literally a few races on Whitney Day
Rocky for literally a few minutes on Fourstardave Day
Sean for part of an afternoon on Labor Day weekend
Bob who made it on 2 days while I was there closing weekend
Those that missed altogether can hopefully get it rolling again next year. Those that are unable, I understand.
Beyond Extra Credit to FrankD who went 27 of 39 days. We are all getting old but it was a bit disappointing how many didn\'t make it that likely could have. Big Red Spring might bring some of you some healing qualities if you can get up there next year.
It is all behind us now. I love it up there no matter what and nowhere I\'d rather be on a beautiful afternoon than the backyard among friends arguing about who will get a solo trip on the front end or that there is tons of speed in the race and I\'m blind. But next year, an improved attendance is expected from the ones that are capable.
Some decent handicapping on the board lately from some old and new. Let\'s keep that rolling.
For another day or two, I\'ll try to see if I can figure out what Saratoga means to so many including myself. It is hard to put into words. 8 flights for two trips and a total of 8 racing days and it was beyond worth every effort and every penny. But if not for the folks that still made it that I know through the board, that\'s probably not true.
Til next year at various moments, I\'ll be recalling a decade of memories from the Spa backyard with many of you now unable to attend and many that just didn\'t make it this year. The travails and tolls so many of you have faced as the days go by are not lost on me. I am appreciative of so many of you that taught me how to do Saratoga and the time we did spend in the backyard. Even if they are just memories now.
I\'ll end this rambling mess by saying I\'m convinced the song Suddenly Last Summer was written about Saratoga and I\'ll never be persuaded otherwise. Give it a listen and if you say I\'m wrong, I\'ll tell you your lyrical handicapping is garbage.
_____________________
It happened forever, for a short time
A place for a moment, an end to a dream
And then Suddenly............................Last Summer
First thing I said to the wife when we left this summer, I’m staying longer next year. Place just felt right.
I personally hope they don’t extend the meet, to much of a good thing is not good either.
Always enjoy the posts
I’ll be on the sidelines until the BCC
GL to all
John
Well said.
And Liz Taylor is pretty great in the movie of the same name.
Terrific encapsulation Richie! Was great seeing you again (albeit a shortened visit)... Looking forward to the FOY weekend!
John
Putting Liz Taylor aside for the moment, I\'ll echo JB\'s \"well said\" and also commend Fairmount for anchoring his theme on that song by the Motels.
I don\'t know the band\'s wider catalog, but their two hits (the other is \"Only the Lonely\") both beautifully capture a sense of longing that seems to have largely vanished from pop culture, yet remains the very essence of Saratoga\'s allure.
It\'s why we care about the place. It\'s why we get upset when trees are chopped down to make room for some tacky ersatz museum, when the entire property was already a living, breathing, galloping, snorting, screaming, cursing, pooping museum of the racing life.
That\'s the thing about the racing life. It goes by at a fast clip. At the Spa, we can kid ourselves that it doesn\'t. We take the waters, and are cured. For the moment, anyway. Which is really all that any of us can ask.
As to Liz Taylor, I\'ll take \"National Velvet\". A girl, a boy, a horse, and a happy ending, despite the worst bad beat in the history of horse racing movies.
2 big hits that you noted, but that fantastic Martha Davis voice makes many Motels songs very listenable
I hear groups like The Motels and it makes me wistful for the 80\'s
Agree, and as she also wrote both hits (thank you, Wikipedia), I\'m fine with Ms. Davis getting all the credit, longing-wise (especially since it apparently also worked so well on you, Paul).