Just back from Saratoga

Video of a shop window in Saratoga Springs

I’ve lived a three-hour drive from Saratoga Springs, NY, for almost <cough!>ty years now, but this weekend was the first time I’d ever been.

We had an action-packed weekend, like our blogging colleague Left at the Gate, did, but we enjoyed different activities than he and his party did.

We picked up tickets downtown Friday afternoon for the Fasig-Tipton symposium set for the next day.

Afterward, we went for a walk down Broadway, the main drag through town. The video you just watched is a highlight of the walk.

The next day, we were late for breakfast at the track but got great seats for the symposium. We were close enough to have tugged on chef/racehorse owner/symposium speaker Bobby Flay’s sleeve.

Then, we had a glorious, non-humid day at the races, which we ended early because we’d had such an early start.

Like Left-at-the-Gate, we blew out before the last few races, which included, – very likely to the horror of hardcore horseplayers -  The Test and The Whitney, the latter of which turned out to to have been Commentator’s swan song. (Don’t worry – he’s fine.  Be sure to read the link on his name to get his story, if you’re not familiar with it.)

As we slipped out of town before the traffic rush, we swung by the Equidae Gallery at the Holiday Inn to stroll among the paintings, photographs and sculptures. We caught Twitter friend @LeCheval’s collection of B&W racing close-ups.

And on Sunday, we went to the National Museum of Racing’s backstretch tour. Still not humid, but cloudy, we spent several hours strolling the backstretch with our group.

Details, you cry. We want details!

Well, you’re gonna get ‘em. Of course!

You know that no one milks stories of an event like I do. After all, we’re still working our way through that Virginia hunt country tour.

So, stay tuned.

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Tags: Bobby Flay, G. Willikers Toy Store, Saratoga racing, Saratoga Springs