Some Saratoga History & Look at the Gallant Fox 1930 Travers Stakes

With its Opening Day being tomorrow (July 22nd) I figured it timely --

The track opened in 1863, making the grand ol' gal the third oldest racetrack in America. Since as early as 1847, Saratoga Springs was the site of standard-bred racing. It was on August 3, 1863,  that then current casino operator and too then future US congressman Mr. John Morrissey organized the first thoroughbred race-card on what is now the locale of the Oklahoma Training Track. The current main course opened across the street from the old track in '48 (1848, to be clear). The late 1800s saw a decline for the Race Course via a booming New York scene and its inherent and nigh harsh competition. In 1892 it was picked up by the somewhat less-than-kosher professional gambler, one Mr. Gottfried "Dutch Fred" Waldbaum -- whom too operated the less-than-kosher Guttenberg racetrack in Jersey. Finally the facilities were purchased in 1901 by a group of investors led by Mr. William Collins Whitney, whom made major improvements to both the track's construction and reputation. The first parimutuel betting machines were then installed in 1940, ushering in the modern age of Saratoga. Then came the grandstand renovations of the 1960s which served to double the joint's seating. Presto, here we go.

Saratoga Race Course is home to a metric boatload of important races, gentlepersons. Most notably (and most pertinent to upcoming dalliances herein), Saratoga has home to the country's oldest race of importance, the Travers Stakes, since 1864. Several other major stakes races are held at Saratoga each year as well, including the Alabama Stakes, the Hopeful Stakes, the Woodward, and the Whitney Handicap.

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"I hear you went up to Saratoga and your horse naturally won" Carly Simon, You're So Vain. Well, perchance yer horse was a longshot, then. As Saratoga hath earned itself a reputation and the henceforth monikers of "The House of Upsets," and "The Graveyard of Champions." Famous race horses to lose at the track:

• Man o' War to Upset in the 1919 Sanford Stakes
• Gallant Fox to Jim Dandy in the 1930 Travers Stakes
• Secretariat to Onion in the 1973 Whitney Handicap
• Rachel Alexandra to Persistently in the 2010 Personal Ensign Stakes
• American Pharoah to Keen Ice in the 2015 Travers Stakes 

As I stated on the latest Kaplowitz Show: "Steve from San Francisco CA writes: is this mold or plume? Unfortunately, it’s AIDS, Steve." No, no, no -- that's not the one.

"That’s not really a lotta upsets for a track that started running in 1863 -- talk about focusing on the negative. However -- one a those upsets, Gallant fox, I’m drawn to write about -- perhaps that’s the angle I’ll take…" That's the one.

Coming off a triumphantly successful bid to become the mane under the 1930 Triple Crown, Gallant Fox and his connections came to Saratoga not expecting to lose to the 100-1 Jim Dandy, to say the very least -- but he did just that. Verily short after the loss, Gallant Fox’s trainer Mr. “Sunny Jim” Fitzsimmons sat down with a reporter and spoke at length... a length we are lucky 'nuff to still have measure of. I like to allow history to tell itself whenever possible. I'll just focus on this Manolo Estate Serie 32 Habano I'm currently chomping, whilst you focus on --

"It’s the last time that Gallant Fox will race in a muddy track. If the Travers had been earlier in the season I would have advised Mr. Woodward to scratch him out of the race. But as Mr. Woodward was very eager to start him for the Travers and as the season was well advanced and the colt was in fine physical condition I made no protest in sending him to the post.

"Gallant Fox had never even galloped much less raced in mud. His race in the Belmont couldn’t be called a muddy effort because the track at Belmont has a firm foundation and the topsoil on that day was merely wet and a trifle slippery. It wasn’t sticky and holding like the track here on Saturday. There is no nicer track than the one here when it is dry, but after a heavy rainstorm and when it begins to dry out it is heavy and holding.

"I was afraid of the going more for the aftermath of the race than the prospects of having him beaten. Mr. Woodward thinks a great deal of Gallant Fox and would prefer to give up any chance of winning stake events than have him injured. Why, after the race his first thought was about his condition. He said, ‘Is he all right?’ To the horse he said, ‘You did fine old boy. I’m glad you’re not hurt.’

"I wonder if the patrons of the track appreciated the sportsmanship of Mr. Woodward and Mr. Whitney in starting their colts in the Travers under such poor racing conditions. I don’t know how badly Whichone is injured, but he certainly was very lame when I noticed him and he surely will be a long time away from the races. He is a valuable colt and one can’t get his kind every day

"The Travers appears to be particularly unfortunate for colts that have won important races early in the season. Take for instance Reigh Count. He had won the Kentucky Derby of 1928 and was regarded as the best three-year-old of his year. He started in the Travers and finished outside the money, Petee-Wrack, Victorian, and Sun Edwin finishing in front of him. That race too was run in the mud. Petee-Wrack, like Jim Dandy, is a great mudder. He proved it not only that day but in the Suburban Handicap this year by winning over a wet track.

"Reigh Count after his defeat in the Travers came back on a dry track to win the Saratoga Cup and the Jockey Club Gold Cup, the former at one mile and six furlongs and the latter at two miles. Well, I’m going to send Gallant Fox after both of these events. His next start, if all goes well with him and the track is dry, will be the Saratoga Cup on the last day of the meeting. He is in good physical condition, so we’ll take another crack at ’em. I’ve been licked before and I expect to be licked again. But if you’re afraid you’d better remain in the house and keep your horses in the stable. It’s the uncertainty of the sport that makes it so popular. No man has it sewed up."

Now ya know, gentlepersons, more about Saratoga, the 1930 Travers Stakes, and also why they called the man "Sunny." (As the original interviewer made note of.) Have a blast on the morrow's opening day. As always, gentlepersons -- don't bet the dough dough, and thanks for the kindly loaning of yer attentions.

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