Saratoga Race Course opens its 2023 season on Wednesday July 13.
The opening comes amid news of both renewal of the sport with state-sponsored financing for a rebuilding of Belmont Park and threats to the existence of the sport from a rash of fatalities at numerous high-profile North American thoroughbred racetracks. Draped over these seemingly contradictory developments is the new enhanced federal oversight of the sport under the Horseracing Integrity & Welfare Unit (“HIWU”). The HIWU was recently established in 2022 by Drug Free Sport International (“DFSI”) to administer the rules and enforcement mechanisms of the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority (“HISA”) Anti-Doping and Medication Control (“ADMC”) Program.
It’s a mouthful and if it sounds confusing – that’s because it is. Suffice it to say, the testing and enforcement of the prohibitions on the use of banned or controlled substances in race horses has recently become much stricter under federal oversight. Fans can expect to see many more reported violations and concomitant trainer suspensions. This oversight is an effort to protect the integrity of the sport and health and safety of its participants – both equine and human.
The National Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association (“HBPA”), despite lengthy mission and position statements, is waging a pitched legal battle against this Congressionally created oversight by challenging the authority of the new program in litigation in numerous places. While the details are too many to enumerate here it is fair to say the HBPA is fighting tooth and nail against the federal regulation as currently constituted. There are many who fear the combination of high-profile equine fatalities and the leading horseman’s group resisting further regulation is jeopardizing the sport’s social license to exist. Meanwhile, this enhanced testing has begun and with it a recent spate of trainer suspensions across the country. For bettors and fans whether this will impact who wins on the racetrack provides yet another uncertainty to the daily handicapping puzzle.
On the racetrack rather than the courtroom, the 2023 Saratoga meet begins without an obvious racing star among this year’s three-year-old division. Lacking star power, in some ways, makes the meet’s traditional marquee event – the Travers Stakes on August 26th more important than usual. A matchup between Kentucky Derby winner Mage and Belmont winner Arcangelo in the Travers is a possibility should each maintain their form through the summer and one can expect new stars to emerge from the 40 race cards to come.
The racing at the spa is always instrumental in determining divisional championships with established runners and newly emerging stars shining on the bright stage of Saratoga. The Whitney Stakes on August 5 highlights the best older horses, as does the Jockey Club Gold Cup later in the meet on September 2 and two-year-olds are unveiled throughout the meet. As usual there will a generous amount of turf racing in all divisions.
This writer has always believed the Saratoga race meet to be as much about people as it is about horses and there are certain trainers that shine most brightly at this time of year and deserve extra attention at the betting windows. Among the trainers to whom bettors and fans should give extra consideration are H. James Bond; David Donk; John Terranova; Danny Gargan; and Carlos Martin. Trainer Keri Brion is expected to dominate the traditional steeplechase events run on certain weekdays. Of the larger barns expect Bill Mott trainees to have a big meet – including an unraced two-year-old half-brother to Cody’s Wish named Hunt Ball.
One change that fans will see this year is one admission for the full run of the grounds. Ending more than a century of delineation between the grandstand and clubhouse facilities, all attendees this year will be able to freely move through the building availing themselves of all concessions and restrooms. The iridescent hand stamps historically needed for movement from the grandstand to the clubhouse will be destined for antiquity.
As mentioned earlier in this article, New York State has approved credit support for funding of a $455 million renewal of Belmont Park. The duration of the project will affect the Saratoga meets in 2024 and 2025 with the possibility of the Belmont Stakes being run at an abbreviated three-day meet in June 2025.
This year’s Saratoga meet runs from Wednesday July 13 through Labor Day September 4. Racing will be conducted five days per week with Mondays and Tuesdays being dark (except Labor Day). Admission is $10 on the day of admission discounted to $7 if purchased in advance.
