As he heads into the stretch, the FINAL time ........ the Legend makes his Final call

Just a few weeks ago, one of the most famous television announcers of all time past away at the age of ninety six years old. Don Pardo, television announcer at NBC for 70 years and most notable for his work on Saturday Night Live was one of the most recognizable voices in our life time. While sometimes you might not recognize the name or the face, when you here the voice , you know it well. It was Pardo on television, Kasey Kasem in music and Bob Sheppard at Yankee Stadium. In the thoroughbred world there is one such voice and it has been associated with every event on track for over 25 years. He was the voice of the Breeder's Cup and the voice of NYRA the past twenty four years; Tom Durkin.

Anyone who has follow the sport, knows Tom Durkin. He started with calling races at county fairs in Wisconsin in the early 70's, he was the track announcer at most of the Florida thoroughbred tracks and chosen as the announcer for the Breeder's Cup in 1984. He was the voice of racing's championship day from it's inception in 1984 until 2005. He also was exclusively the racing announcer for NBC until 2011. But Tom Durkin will be most known as the announcer that called races at the "Mecca" of thoroughbred racing based in New York at NYRA tracks.

Whether it was calling races where horses had funny sounding names or classic exciting finishes, Tom Durkin was the master. For most people, he was the voice you always heard. He told a story and it's always had humor and he had a masterful way of telling it.

Here are some of his classic calls throughout the years. The 1991 Breeder's Cup Juvenile when European import; Arazi made that gigantic winning move that made him "Indeed a Superstar", the 1994 Travers Stakes where there was "Cause for Concern" when the closer; Concern put in his run on Holy Bull just to come up short in the end, the 1995 Breeder's Cup Classic where "The unconquerable, invincible, unbeatable Cigar!" continued his historic winning streak for the ages, the 1998 Belmont Stakes when Durkin said "It's too close to call, was it Real Quiet or was it Victory Gallop? A picture is worth a thousand words, this photo is worth five million dollars! Oh, no History in the waiting! ", the 2001 Breeder's Cup Classic at Belmont Park just a few days after 9-11 when the champion from the year before, ran down his European counterparts and "Tiznow wins it for America!", the 2004 Belmont Stakes when a little horse from Philadelphia Park tried to make history "Smarty Jones enters the stretch to the roar of 120,000! But Birdstone is gonna make him earn it today! The whip is out on Smarty Jones! It's been 26 years, it's just one furlong away!" unfortunately, we know the rest of the story! Fillies have played a big part in some of Durkin's greatest calls like; the 2007 Belmont Stakes where "A filly is in front at the Belmont! But Curlin is right there with her! These two, in a battle of the sexes in the Belmont Stakes, they're coming down to the wire! It's going to be very close! And it's going to be..... a filly in the Belmont! Rags to Riches has beaten Curlin and a hundred years of Belmont history! The first filly to win it in over a century" and just two years later; "They are coming to the finish, it's gonna be a desperately close, here's the wire, Rachel won, she is indeed Rachel Alexandra the Great..... Rachel Alexandra raises the rafters here at the Spa!" These are what made Tom Durkin the race caller who will always be the greatest in the minds of the fans.

Tomorrow, Tom calls it quits in announcing and the final race on Sunday afternoon will bring the curtain down a fabulous career. It's the day before the final race day at the Spa for the year and on Monday, Tom will be a fan with the fans, just enjoying the races with the people who enjoyed his calls for nearly 45 years!

Saratoga Springs DOESN'T need NYRA ....... as much as the "powers to be" think

In today's world, there are a lot of catch phrases out there. While many of them are very annoying, some are appropriately fitting. One such is "reinventing the wheel" when it comes to making changes that really have no effect on the task at hand. Case in point, this past Tuesday evening somewhere in downtown Saratoga Springs, the New York Racing Association (NYRA) decided to switch the Travers Stakes post position draw from the traditional Wednesday morning paddock event to the night before. I found out about the change the night before (Monday) on the local news. There were no press releases to the media covering Saratoga (at least I didn't get one). Ever since I've been involved in the coverage of thoroughbred racing, NYRA always drew the post positions for the Mid Summer's Derby at 11am that Wednesday before the race at the track paddock. It's never been a big deal for NYRA when conducting these race draws, unlike Churchill Downs for the Kentucky Derby and Pimlico for the Preakness Stakes. Changes have been made through the years for these track venues when showcasing their big days. But, it has always been low keyed for New York with both the Belmont Stakes and Travers, also very traditional. Until Tuesday night.

First of all, the event was held at a private facility or business (which I've never heard of) at 6:30pm in the evening. Actually it looked like it was behind one of the buildings on Broadway. I watched the "live" streaming event, not on the NYRA website, but from a local television's website. You would think that NYRA would have also streamed it live on theirs. Retiring track announcer; Tom Durkin was the master of ceremonies and he always does a great, entertaining job at these events. But while watching it, the set up seemed a little chaotic and Tom was a bit confused on the order it was going to be presented. The 2014 Travers post position board where the jockey silks were place to the post position numbers was a bit confusing too. There were 11 numbers listed, but only 10 horses running. After doing a little research, I figured out the Ken McPeek runner; CJ's Awesome who was nominated to the race, decided not to run. The members of the NYRA racing office, that drew the listed horses and post position pills, had their backs to the camera (switch Tom Durkin commented on and had them move). There was even a little confusion when drawing the pills and making sure that they matched up with the board. It all seemed a little hastily put together at the last minute and just another unnecessary part by the new NYRA officials to put a spin on something that has been basic to horse racing for years.

Saratoga, is what is it when it comes to thoroughbred racing in the summer months. While change is good in some aspects, others like moving the post position draw downtown are really unnecessary. This "reinvention of the wheel", when it comes to the new NYRA people in charge is a little over done in my opinion and this is another example, one of many the past year. Saratoga Springs is the TOP resort area in the Capital District during the summer, bar none! People go there whether the track is open or not. NYRA doesn't need to feed off of downtown and the business there and vice versa to attrach people. A good product does that for both companies. The popular Twilight race cards the first Friday and last Friday are gone because of the "downtown" influence. That is been a big mistake for NYRA in my opinion. Saratoga Race Course has been around for 150 years and done quite well. It's the Golden Goose of the three tracks owned by the association. Can we stop with all the changes and remember it's main purpose is for thoroughbred racing? Downtown Saratoga Springs will survive quite well just with that and so will the track.

The ALABAMA STAKES ....... the memories!

Today is the 134th running of the Alabama Stakes for three year old fillies, considered by some as the biggest three year old filly race on the NYRA circuit. So rich history, it's had such winners as; Beldame, Maskette, Top Flight, Vagrancy, Busanda, Tempted, Gamely and Shuvee all which have had stake races named after them. More recently Hall of Fame runners like; Mom's Command and Go For Wand have won this mile and a quarter test around the Saratoga oval. The first graded stakes race I saw in person was the 1987 edition of the Alabama Stakes which Up the Apalachee defeating a slew of D.Wayne Lukas runners. Twelve years later, one of the greatest efforts by a three year old filly was showcased in the 1999 edition of the Alabama. Silverbulletday destroyed the field by nine lengths in her return from a ill-fated effort versus the boys in the Belmont Stakes that year only a few weeks before.

This year the "big" filly entered was supposed to be Untapable, winner of this year's Kentucky Oaks. She too faced the boys, but not in the Belmont Stakes. It was the Haskell at Monmouth and her result was much like Silverbulletday's with a losing outcome. Unfortunately though, Untapable won't be competing today. But we have a nice field of nine fillies. Todd Pletcher has two runners, the probable favorite Stopchargingmaria is the only grade I winner in the field after winning the Coaching Club American Oaks here over the track and Get Lucky who also has a victory over the track. Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott has entered three runners (America, Miss Besilu and Size). Four other nice three year olds round out the field with seasoned stakes runners and lightly raced ones. With the leader of the three year old filly class, Untapable not entered today, it's a wide open event worth taking a shot with a priced horse.

That priced horse has a trainer who is no stranger to the winner's circle in this event. In 2000, four years before he trained Smarty Jones to a near Triple Crown bid, John Servis from his Philadelphia Park base brought a three year old filly to the Alabama named; Jostle. Just like Stopchargingmaria, She won the Black Eyed Susan Stakes at Pimlico and Coaching Club American Oaks at Belmont before winning the Alabama. It could be said that Jostle was the first horse that put John Servis on the map. Today, he sends a daughter of Include attempting the mile in a quarter distance by the name of Joint Return. This closer was second best in the Delaware Oaks behind Fortune Pearl (in this race also) and fourth behind Stopchargingmaria in the Black Eyed Susan Stakes. Today she gets blinkers on and in the odds department is at 15-1 morning line with the two horses that beat her at 2-1 and 8-1. Just maybe John Servis can capture a little of that magic from fourteen years ago and at price with Joint Return winning this year's edition of the Alabama Stakes.

We also have stakes action at Arlington Park today with their Arlington Million Day that includes six graded stakes on the grass. Here are my selections for the All Stakes pick 4 in races 7 through 10. The American St. Leger Stakes (7th) at a mile and eleven sixteenths : Danino (#2) - Eye of the Storm (#9) - Havana Beat (#7). The Secretariat Stakes (8th) for three year olds : Adelaide (#6) - Belisarius (#3) - Divine Oath (#7). The Beverly D. (9th) for older filly and mares : Stephanie's Kitten (#5) - Alterite (#9) - Sparkling Beam (#10). The Arlington Million : Smoking Sun (#2) - Real Solution (#6) - Finnegans Wake ((#4).

The half way point ....... of the 2014 Saratoga meet

Well, today marks the half way point of the 2014 Saratoga racing season. With the exception of a few days, the weather has been fabulous. The racing on track has been good with large fields and decent wagering opportunities. On the quality side, the weekend stakes action has continued to trend much like the Belmont Summer meet with high talented horses entered in the graded stakes. During the week though, there has been many statebred contests, lots of maiden races for all ages and the return of straight claiming events at a lower level. This trend of "cheaper" races is inevitable with 40 days of racing and ten plus races carded five days a week. I shutter to think how the racing will look the final week of the meet leading up to Labor Day.

After starting off a bit slow the first four "mini" days of the meet, my handicapping has improved with about the same amount of "winners on top" at the half point this year, compared to last year. The Todd Pletcher barn continues to roll on as expected and the jockey race will go down to the wire with half a dozen or so top jockeys. My biggest disappointment for the first 20 days, was last weekend's Whitney Handicap and the dull effort from Palace Malice. Seemingly with no apparent excuse, he may return during closing weekend in the Woodward Stakes and face the same cast with a few other big names.

Attendance is up slightly and handle about the same, which seems to make NYRA happy at this time. The atmosphere on track has been full of energy the times I have been present there. The New York Racing Association has been really "playing it up" with their results for the first half. Sounding like a carryover from Belmont Stakes day, the people in charge at NYRA are all smiles at this present time. But as we know in the past, that can change at the blink of an eye!

With mid way point here, it's relatively quiet stakes weekend. In today's Fourtstardave Handicap at a mile on the turf, we lost it's main star when Two-time Horse of the Year ~ Wise Dan came down sick several weeks ago. We have a short six horse field and it's the only stake race on today's Saturday card. Tomorrow, two year old stakes action for both the girls and boys combined for the first time this year with the Saratoga Special & Adirondack Stakes. On Monday, NYRA has a unique handicap contest for the "low rollers" who like a little action at a smaller price. The "live money" tournament has a $40 entry fee, which $30 goes toward live wagers with five $2.00 WPS wagers on five different horses and $10 into a players prize pot for most money won for the day. The breakdown is 70% for first, 20% for second and 10% for third. I'll be participating in this Monday's contest and there will be one on each Monday during the meet.

It looks like Bayern will be pointing toward the Travers Stakes in two weeks off his wire to wire victory in the Haskell Stakes at Monmouth Park. But, the same cannot be said for the three year old filly; Untapable for the Alabama Stakes next weekend. Her off the board effort has her pointing for the Cotillion Stakes at PARX racetrack (Philadelphia Park) in late September. The top three finishers of the Jim Dandy (Wicked Strong, Tonalist & Kid Cruz) will be in the Travers, along with possibly the Shug McGaughey trainee; Mr. Speaker who has excelled on turf and polytrack this year. Trainer Bob Baffert said, when coming to Saratoga "why come for the small race (the King's Bishop at seven furlongs) when you can come for the big one (Travers).

The richest Whitney Handicap ever ...... with a possible Horse of the Year candidate

Every so often, a good horse comes around at the right time. And it so happens that the right time is during one of the biggest racing days at the best track in the country. The new re-tooled Whitney Stakes day has five great stakes races and one of them showcase's the best horse in training.

NYRA has had the knack of creating showcase days with several stake races assembled on one race card. Today we have such a day with the main event being a race for older handicap division. The Whitney Stakes is historical in itself with rich tradition throughout the years. But this year it's rich in value too. It has become the biggest purse race at Saratoga during the 40 day meet this year. With this year's edition, the best current horse in training headlines today's race. He's no stranger to Saratoga and keeps improving from his three year old season of last year, to his form this year.

Palace Malice has captured the spirit of the handicap dirt division with four straight graded stakes victories, at three different venues. Last year's Belmont Stakes and Jim Dandy winner has been better than ever this year. Winning his seasonal debut at Gulfstream Park early in March, he then shipped to the Fairgrounds and won their top handicap race, the New Orleans Handicap impressively with a career best Beyer speed number of 114. It was then on to Belmont Park where he won two one-turn mile races, including the grade I ~ Metropolitan Mile on the Belmont Stakes under card. Today he faces eight rivals which include last year's Travers winner and Breeder's Cup runner-up ;Will Take Charge, Itsmyluckyday winner of three straight races, dead heat co-winner of the 2012 Travers; Golden Ticket and five other worthy handicap opponents.

There are only a few named horses missing from this cast today. But, Palace Malice is head and shoulders the "horse to beat" today. He reminds me of the top older handicap horses of the mid 90's who improved during their three year old season and got even better versus older foes the following year. While many fans of the sport enjoy the Triple Crown races, it's the older handicap ranks that have a major impact on the Breeder's Cup Classic in the Fall. Today, in the rich tradition race we see the "best" horse in training show his stuff and make a statement in the thoroughbred world.

With a third of the meet in the books, the weather the past week has played a factor in the racing with sudden downpours causing turf races to be taken off the grass. The racing office has not hesitated switching these races to the main track. Safety is always a priority when it comes to the horses and jockeys when inclement weather arises. But if that weather arrives after wagering has begun at noon, bets that were made could be affected. In most cases, off-the-turf events will be scratched horses. That's not a problem with most types of wagering. But in the pick 4 and pick 5 wagers and your horse is scratched, you get the post time favorite and no refund. This is a problem to me. If you wager early on the pick 4 in the 2nd race and the weather forces the race off the turf and horses are late scratches, you should receive a refund. I've made plays before the early pick 4 and a storm rolled into Saratoga taking races off the turf that were in the sequence and unfortunately I had a "dead" ticket before the first race in the leg was run. If you can have refunds on most other wagers, the same can be made for the multi-race wagers. It's only right.