Racetrack chaplains aiding workers
Organization caring for families during winter offseason
The late millionaire socialite Marylou Whitney was rightfully praised for her work on behalf of the backstretch workers who, often earning a bit more than minimum wage, do the hard work of caring for the horses and grounds that make Saratoga Race Course world famous.
Since 1972, NY Race Track Chaplaincy has also cared for backstretch workers in Saratoga Springs, Belmont and other New York racetracks. Hall of Fame Jockey Ramón Dominguez is president of the nonprofit, tax exempt organization.
The Rev. Humberto Chavez and program director Nick Caras, with a band of dedicated volunteers, care for backstretch workers who stay on through the winter months after racing season is over.
“About 40 families, most of them with children, stay on in Saratoga Springs to take care of the horses,” said NYRTC development coordinator Eleanor Poppe.
In addition to distributing food packages, the chaplaincy has hosted a Christmas dinner party and made sure each child has a gift. The chaplaincy also helps with tasks like finding a doctor or teaching a worker how to open a bank account or report a power outage.
This summer, Whitney’s husband, John Hendrickson, continued her tradition of providing weekly Sunday night meals. Poppe has fond memories of Whitney and Hendrickson hosting the buffet-style meals.
“This summer, due to the pandemic, most meals had to be served to-go but I remember Ms. Whitney and Mr. Hendrickson sitting at a table surrounded by workers every Sunday,” Poppe said. “They made everyone feel special and talked with all the workers and their children.”
Summer accommodations for backstretch workers are normally the cabins in Pine Grove Family Camp in Saratoga Springs. They were spartan. The “before” photos show bare beds covered with plastic sheets and a TV table for dining, everything covered in dust.
That changed when Caras contacted Saratoga’s Kim Weir who recruited volunteers, including Habitat for Humanity, to scrub down the cabins and give them makeovers. The volunteers dressed the beds with beautiful bedspreads and linens and added comfy chairs and dining tables.
Since the pandemic began, Saratoga Chamber of Commerce donated masks and sanitizer. Impressions of Saratoga donated goodie bags to each family. Temple Sinai donated one loaf of challah bread to each cabin. Rainbow’s End Racing Stable donated 10 bicycles for the children and the New York Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association donated 10 $100 gift cards to families. And with the help of donations, the chaplaincy was able to take the children on miniature golf outings and create soccer teams for them.
Chavez called Philadelphiabased Quaker Valley Foods a “godsend” for the backstretch workers. Quaker Valley truckers drove all the way from Philly with a cargo of quality meat and veggies ever since the pandemic
began.
“Not only do they make regular donations, but their drivers, after coming all the way from Philadelphia, (help) us to unload other trucks as well,” Chavez said in a recent emailed statement.
In 2010, the New York Daily News published a tough, detailed examination of the demanding seven days per week schedules that often start at 4 a.m., which also focused on the dorms where workers slept not far from the stables they had to muck out. The cabins were an improvement over those dorms.
But in winter, most workers have to scramble to find affordable apartments, a camper to rent or a place in a trailer park. Often rent can gobble up two paychecks. This doesn’t leave much money for buying winter clothing, leaving some workers to clean stables and walk horses with no more protection than unlined boots and windbreakers. Capital Region residents who are able to help are deeply appreciated.
“We still need and welcome donations of new winter coats, gloves, hats, warm shoes or boots for men and women,” Poppe said. “Some winter workers aren’t prepared for how cold and snowy it gets (in the Capital Region).”