Sean Clancy

Each year, they sneak up on you. You know they’re out there but never quite sure where. It’s not like you look for them or wait for them or think about them. Then they appear, around the long, slow, descending left bend on the Northway. Usually at dusk, sun fading … Read More

It’s that time of year. Earlier than ever. Off to Saratoga today to catch the ninth tomorrow. Jhirsch making his Riverdee debut at Saratoga. Whew. This was the plan, or part of the plan, when we bought him. A steeplechase prospect down the road, but for now, a New York-bred … Read More

OK, back in the entries. Mortal Sin and trainer Danielle Hodsdon ship to Presque Isle Downs today. The 4-year-old runs in the fifth race Friday. The son of Solomini is 7/2 in a field of seven. A couple of decent tries over the synthetic track last year, hopefully he can … Read More

Rory Cleary stood up at the wire and pumped his left fist. A pick-up ride, a pick-up win on a Tuesday evening at Roscommon. There aren’t many pumped fists on a Tuesday evening at Roscommon. This was a poignant punch. Rory Cleary won the Sean Cleary Memorial Handicap aboard Thatwilldoso. … Read More

Slow few weeks on the racing front. Mortal Sin entered at Presque Isle Downs July 4. We enter Lorraine for a maiden at Delaware July 5. We enter Jhirsch for a waiver claimer at Saratoga July 6. If the latter gets in, then Saratoga starts early this year. Earlier than … Read More

In two weeks, we’ll be on deadline. The first deadline of The Saratoga Special 2025. Our 25th season. Imagine that. We embarked on our first year, from an out-of-business yoga studio on Broadway. I recruited four students from Skidmore and realized quickly that creative writing was very different than turf … Read More

This from my great friend, George Baker. It went something like this….. Day 5 in The Big Brother House dawned overcast, muggy, humid and sultry. A long week of fabulous sport set aside time spent with great mates. A potent mix. But by Saturday morning, the batteries were running a … Read More

Busy Saturday. My cheat sheet runs to two columns, starting at Compiegne at 7:23, breezing through Royal Ascot, some stakes at Laurel, solid races at Churchill Downs, the Ohio Derby at Thistledown, the Canterbury Derby up north and finishing at Churchill Downs at 11:10. Good thing Miles is in Italy, … Read More

Home after a road trip to Lexington. Tough drive home yesterday. Storms off and on all the way. A white-knuckle drive. Glad to be home. Royal Ascot wrapping up its Friday card. I’ll nibble at Nightwalker in the King Edward VII. One day to go. I’ll wade into the Saturday … Read More

Road trip to Lexington to celebrate 25 years of The Saratoga Special as part of the Keeneland Library’s Lecture Series tonight at 6:30. An Evening with The Saratoga Special This is the 25th season of The Saratoga Special, which will be celebrated with Eclipse Award-winning Turf writers Sean Clancy, Joe Clancy and … Read More