Six Days of Saratoga Fun on Whitney and Labor Day Weekends.

With many genuinely believing that the game is in decline and there are signs of the sun setting, reflecting on the Old Guard and Old Gangsters from the TG Backyard/Board seems appropriate. The TGOG crew is what I’ll call the folks that appeared on the two 2023 weekends when I was there. They are the TG board members from Way Back When that we will call the Old Gangsters that no longer post or rarely post at best. Many of them have been stalwarts in the backyard for decades. They check in and read still b/c they talk to me about the board, about the intelligent posts when they appear (and the dumb ones too), and some wondered why I didn’t post about Whitney Weekend.

So here we are.

I’m sending out some highlights of the two weekends for everyone that still reads. I don’t want to bore everyone with all the stories of gals from Louisville chasing me around the picnic tables or the heckling of Todd Pletcher for changing from jeans to dress pants from race 1 to race 5. I won’t share how gamblers in the group ran their bankroll up to 7k and crashed and burned it by the end of the card. I’m not gonna tell you about all the joking and laughing with everyone that was well deserved and made for a great time. I won’t share how I blasted everyone yesterday that in 25 years from now I’m going to have to do this all by myself likely and there won’t be rides to and from the airport and hotel and there won’t be anyone left to read these posts on the TG board. They countered the game might not even be alive then. Let’s hope that isn’t true and I’m still making the trek to upstate NY.

I don’t want to bore you with Whitney Weekend highlights with trackjohn, FrankD, jimbo66 and his pal Jim. Or that Sean made an appearance only to disappear when Wi-Fi failed. Not gonna share that Bob was front and center the entire time both weekends never missing a beat. Or that P-Dub and his friends came from the left coast and Dallas and he caught some Wide Mikey flack right off the plane from FrankD, all in good fun. I’m not gonna tell ya about Mathcapper showing up with his cousin and our discussion on calculating win odds by various platforms now. I won’t tell you the picnic area where we had tables every time next to the paddock was perfect as in past years. I will tell you that I can’t emphasize enough the monster Thanks for the 2 TGOG members that make that happen with their contacts to get us tables for all these days. They know who they are.

I won’t tell you Labor Day weekend was perfect weather unlike the rest of the meet. Not gonna mention Mjellish from Minnesota and his crew that made it for two days providing so much fun and entertainment. Or that Bob, FrankD, Sean, and Sean’s daughter Kate all made the journey. And this time Sean was armed and ready for action and in a great mood compared to Whitney Day. I won’t share the solid p5 score he made. Not gonna mention Donna at FourStarDave checked in her usual spot a few times both Whitney and Labor Day weekends. Or that Rock reappeared by himself this time in good spirits as always. I won’t share his ROI secrets to improve his game immensely the past year or so. I’m definitely not gonna mention Banditbeau from Minnesotah also checked in yesterday for a good while and how he was smiling and laughing and all the Oaks and Derby war stories he told from this year.

I will tell you the beer count for me had to be over 80 for the six days. I wasn’t alone. The Heineken count had to be significant as well for one TGOG. Maybe a new Saratoga record for me. Two dinners at Mama Mia’s over the weekends with one more fabulous than the prior one. I personally thanked one of the owners myself. Carson’s on the Lake couldn’t have provided a better venue for our group on Friday evening. I might have been dancing with some local gals while the terrific band was playing and embarrassed myself really good. I won’t tell you all the details. Also, several of us made it to the Lakeside Farm for breakfast each day which is always a treat and fantastic.

It takes a lot of planning, a lot of driving, some parking “know how,” and a lot of ice and beer purchases for the coolers every single day along with snack food to make this happen. The amount of concessions purchased by one of the TGOG members had to exceed several, several hundred dollars for the group. He knows who he is. I’ll never miss a Shake Shack burger again on my trips up there. No one can say Thanks enough for all of this. It is just part of the story and everyone pitches in with their generosity. You guys are THE BEST. I really will be reflecting on this to whomever will listen in 25 years with what will be the stories of the Good Ol Days in the backyard with the TGOG’s.

Last night, 3 of us made it to the Casino as my 2023 Saratoga trip swan song for more beer, a few burgers, and live jugheads and picking on the Bartender. I won’t share all the details. No luck there for me gambling just like with the Thoroughbreds. In fairness, playing a horse b/c the woman was hot and said her husband owned the 5 in race 3 probably wasn’t exactly a stellar handicapping move. After 40 beers for 3 days, my cognitive skills might have been a touch impaired. But we did get to meet an exercise rider one of the TGOG members knows from years gone by at the casino who gave us insight on the closing card. I’ll be curious how it played out once I am off this plane.

A few members might be out there Shutting it Down today as I’ve already made it home (typed this out on the plane). The generosity and kindness by everyone can’t be overstated. All of us went the extra mile to pitch in when we could for everyone’s benefit. Six days of handicapping, being at the track, being with friends, sharing all the laughs was worth every penny that I put into it. I’ll be back if the TGOG members will have me and if I can make it happen on my end.

Some folks I genuinely missed when I was there this year included Shanahan, richiebee, TGJB, TGAB (hope he is well), wrongly, and hopefully Johnnym will make his Saratoga debut next year. If I missed anyone that appeared, my apologies as those six days are a whirlwind of good times that goes by way too fast.

How many weeks til Saratoga opens again? I’d tell you I don’t know but I’d be lying to you. More importantly, if you want all the details I didn’t share, then your best bet is to make it up there yourself to immerse yourself into the action.

____________

Footnote. Yesterday, during the 2nd half of the card we were treated with an attendance by phone from Uncle Bill. I speak for all four of us that spoke to him I think that we are always cheering you to make it back up and can’t wait to see you for Fountain of Youth. I want you to know that on two occasions I went out of my way to be super kind to two people who were less fortunate than most of us particularly a young man facing physical and cognitive challenges according to his parents at a table near ours. I thought of watching you many times when you were in the backyard helping strangers enjoy their day and I didn’t understand why at the time as an obnoxious knucklehead. I do now. I appreciate the model you set for being kind to people that probably just need it. Doing the right thing is easy when everyone around you is doing the same.