Saratoga Opener a Fan Appreciation Day

Track announcer John Imbriale has been working at a variety of jobs for the New York Racing Association since 1979. He's been there for the last two of the 13 Triple Crown winners. He's seen triumph and tragedy as well as a long list of Hall of Famers and unforgettable grade 1 stakes.

Yet as 1:05 p.m. approached July 15, the grizzled veteran of more than 40 years with NYRA felt like a young, novice at the racetrack. He had some butterflies as he prepared to call the first race of the 2021 meet at Saratoga Race Course.

"There was a lot going on early. We had introductions for (the first race) jockeys and we had a rousing rendition of the National Anthem by tenor Angelo Mazzone Jr., but then as you get closer to post time and the horses come out on the track, I look to my right and I see all the people in the restaurant. I look to the left and the apron is filled with people," Imbriale said. "The place looks tremendous and everything starts to build and you feel the butterflies. You feel the excitement."

A few minutes later, Imbriale led a crowd that topped out at 27,760 (a 22.8% jump from the 2019 total of 22,591) in as loud and emotional shout of "They're off at Saratoga!" that has ever been heard at a historic racetrack that has now seen 153 opening days as the horses broke from the starting gate in a 1 1/8-mile race directly in front of a horde of fans ecstatic to be back for the first time in 682 days at a place they consider home.

"You really do feel for the fans after last year. You're so happy they could be back," Imbriale said.

Thursday marked the second time Imbriale called the opening race of the Saratoga meet and the two experiences could not be more different. On Opening Day 2020, in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, the heaven-on-earth for horseplayers was virtually empty with access to the facility limited to just essential personnel.

Thursday, the fans were back. Though a limited number of licensed owners were allowed for the bulk of the 2020 meeting, the general public had to be content to watch the races on television. That all changed with the 153rd opening day when fans could once again partake in the full experience of an afternoon at Saratoga for the first time since Labor Day 2019.

"Everybody talks about how unique Saratoga was and is, and last year was unique, but not in a good way," said trainer and NYRA television analyst Tom Amoss, who won the first maiden race of the meet—the second race on the card—with Joel Politi's Microbiome , a daughter of Twirling Candy  . "Last year I'd go to the paddock and it was empty. I won a grade 1 (Ballerina Stakes with Serengeti Empress, also owned by Politi) and no one was around. This meet is all about the fans and I am so happy to share it with them."

Though Thursday was the start of the Runhappy Opening Weekend at Saratoga, it was more of a Fan Appreciation Day. Fans flocked in to show their appreciation of being allowed on the grounds and to create fresh, new memories. There was a crowd of 2,000 lined up at the entrance to the track at 7 a.m., awaiting that moment when the gates opened and they could run, jog, scramble—whatever type of movement their feet could muster—to grab their favorite spot in the backyard for the first time since the days when coronavirus would conjure up thoughts of a beer, not an insidious disease. 

The grand dame of American racing herself showed her appreciation for the fans by treating them to a great day of racing and all of the fun and festivities that has created so many lifelong fans for the 40-day meet. Even Mother Nature joined in the fun, providing a warm, beautiful day to showcase the beloved equine athletes who are the wheels that propel the meet and make it great.

For Mike Danville, being at Saratoga on opening day was atop his to-do list. A fan of the game for about 20 years, he even came to Saratoga Springs, N.Y., last Labor Day weekend. Unable to enter the track, he happily watched the races from a downtown haunt.

"I still really, really enjoyed it last year even though I couldn't be at the track," said Danville, a resident of Western Massachusetts. "There's nothing like being at Saratoga. Even the downtown atmosphere is fantastic."

Yet after missing out on days at the racetrack a year ago, Danville and his friend, Joe Rokowski, arrived at the racetrack early to grab a backyard spot near the paddock and then about a half-hour before first-race post time, they took up spots at the clubhouse rail, right on the finish line.

"I love being back," Danville said. "It's like being back home."

For Rokowski, a newer fan of the sport than Danville, just walking into Saratoga left him searching for the right words to explain how he felt. 

"I was saying to Mike as we were coming in, 'How do you describe this place to someone who has never been here?'" Rokowski said. "There's a feel to this place that you can't describe. It feels like you're stepping back in time. It's comfortable. There's a slower pace and yet a lot of activities and people. It gives you such a good feeling to be here."

Rich Thompson, a track security guard, spent last year at home and was delighted to be back at his usual spot in the clubhouse for what would have been his 10th anniversary at NYRA but due to the pandemic is just his ninth.

"I'll have to wait another year for the anniversary cake," the Saratoga Springs resident said with a laugh.

"It's like old home week," he added. "You're seeing people you haven't seen in two years. Sadly, we lost some people but it will be an interesting year. We're going to be busy like always."

Charlie'sarchangel wins the first race of the the 2021 season with Irad Ortiz Jr. aboard at Saratoga Race Course [/image

One constant from 2020, 2019, and the recent years before them was the sight of jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. in the winner's circle. The three-time Spa riding champ and Eclipse Award winner captured that emotional first race on owner/trainer Robertino Diodoro's Charlie'sarchangel  and relished hearing the cheers from the crowd during the stretch run that were missing a year ago.

"I really missed the fans. It was great to hear them again. Last year was very sad and I was happy to be back and have the fans back," Ortiz said.

Great racing is the hallmark of any racing season at Saratoga and 2021 promises to be no exception. Thursday's Schuylerville Stakes (G3) was part of 76 stakes worth $21.5 million and the meet should be a blockbuster with a cast of potential stars that includes Letruska , Maxfield , Essential Quality , Mystic Guide , Silver State , Knicks Go , Malathaat , and Swiss Skydiver , all of whom who could be featured in the meet's 20 grade 1 stakes.

Beyond that, there's the strong possibility a new star could be found before the meet comes to an end on Sept. 6.

"Saratoga is the place where legends are made. I know it's the Graveyard of Favorites but it's also the place where legends are made and that's what brings us back year after year," trainer Chad Summers said. "There's the 2-year-olds debuting. Horses in the Whitney, Diana, Travers stakes. I'm planning to run a filly in the Honorable Miss Handicap (G2). It's a grade 2 and worth $200,000. I assumed it's run on a Saturday but it's a Wednesday (July 28). You get a little of that at Keeneland, but not like this. Every day at Saratoga you might see the next superstar."

Best of all, if that superstar does emerge this year, fans will be there to see it.