2023 Another Impressive Year for Riverdee

Old valets. Young valets. American valets. European valets. An Australian valet. Champion trainers. Claiming trainers. Assistant trainers. Jockeys. Retired jockeys. Jockey’s kids. A two-time champion steeplechase jockey. A mailman. Turf writers from five, maybe six decades. Broadcasters. A daughter. A son. A wife. In laws. An old white-cap friend from … Read More

As you may have guessed, The Saratoga Special has consumed some of my attention, especially on this blog. A few updates on the racing front. Jhirsch finished seventh at Saratoga Sunday. A disappointing run and we’re not exactly sure why. We’ll regroup. Koru finished seventh at Colonial Downs and was … Read More

Charlie Fellowes paused from packing for a trip to Portugal. The British-based trainer fired up At the Races from his sitting room near Newmarket to watch Luther run in the Grade 2 National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame Stakes at Saratoga Friday.  Like watching a drivers’ ed video … Read More

Are you going to be jockeys? “Yes. Yes. Maybe.” That’s how the three young riders answered the first question Tuesday morning.  I can’t remember which one said maybe. Doesn’t matter.  Cassie Lively, Eric Vergara and Sofia Villacres arrived in Saratoga Monday night. Part of the annual young riders’ trip sponsored … Read More

Stewart and Lilibeth Elliott pulled their son’s 2010 Toyota Tundra into a little gas station off the highway last Thursday. Somewhere near the New York border, on their way from Kentucky to Saratoga, they cued the third race on the phone and watched the Rick Violette Stakes.   “People were looking … Read More