There have been some great posts and some negative ones regarding opening weekend at the Spa. I thought I would chime in as an avid horseplayer and a lover of Saratoga. When I started going to the Spa on opening weekend, I used to drag my wife with me. She has no interest in Thoroughbred racing, and to this day is often doing a crossword puzzle while I study the Thorograph in section B of the clubhouse. Nonetheless, she is now as excited about opening weekend at Saratoga as I am and the reason is the people. Maybe we have a drink with big Bo in the clubhouse bar by the horses entrance to the main track or asking Dan S who he likes in the 5th at Del Mar at Siro\'s long after my brain can contemplate handicapping or having Sean F tell a joke about his height (the same one he told last year) and getting a roar from the crowd. Yes the racing has gone downhill and NYRA is useless and the drug testing is anemic but if things like this and the weather are what occupying your thoughts after opening weekend, you need to head to the new paddock bar this weekend and have a drink or two and make some new friends. I can\'t remember a better opening weekend than this past one and I want to thank all the great people I have met in Saratoga for making that happen. E