The Whitney Stakes is all about family legacy
When the field is called to the post for Saturday’s 90th edition of the Whitney Stakes on Saturday, I encourage you to take a few moments and think about the family legacy at Saratoga.
Were it not for William C. Whitney more than a century ago, we might not be enjoying another exciting Saratoga summer.
Hard as it is to believe in our time, Saratoga Race Course in the late 19th century was in a period of severe decline that hit rock bottom in 1896.
That summer, after years of poor management by Gottfried Walbaum, there was no thorough- bred racing at Saratoga Race Course. Walbaum equated track ownership with gambling profits, tinkered with post time, and alienated the Saratoga Springs and racing communities with racing of questionable integrity and practices that angered businessmen.
Citizen dislike of him was growing to the point where there was talk of building a new track in the city.
Purses fell dramatically during the 1890’s, and historic races such as the Spinaway, Alabama and Travers were not run on several occasions.
This changed when William C. Whitney announced in November, 1900, that he would shortly acquire Saratoga Race Course as the head of a syndicate which included John Sanford, P. J. Dwyer, Perry Belmont and others.
Contemporary accounts placed his investment at $250,000, an outlay that has benefited Saratoga Springs annually in the subsequent 117 years.
Whitney led an upgrading of the track that included the purchase of what is today known as the Oklahoma Training Track.
The main track was done over and lengthened to its present distance of 1 1/8 miles, a steeplechase course was added, and his leadership also resulted in the building of private barns by August Belmont, the Sanford family, John E. Madden, and others.
Whitney not only restored the Spinaway, Alabama and Travers, he inaugurated new races in 1901 such as the Adirondack for fillies and Saratoga Special for colts.
With William C. laying the foundation, Saratoga Race Course recovered its national standing, which it had enjoyed from the start in 1863, reflecting a host community which held a similar stature dating to the late 18th century.
The race itself is a trea- sure, and you can sense the history that drips from its roster of winners.
Equipoise, Discovery, War Admiral, Tom Fool, Kelso, Dr. Fager, and Easy Goer are on that list.
There are the great ladies Gallorette, Lady’s Secret, and the unbeaten heroine Personal Ensign.
The Whitney stands out even in the age of the Breeders’ Cup, which has impacted American racing since its inception in 1984.
The Breeders’ Cup race that is for the same group of horses that often run in the Whitney is the Classic, one of the richest races on the planet.
Nevertheless, since 1984, 11 Whitney win- ners and four that hit the board have won division championships.
Twelve, most recently Honor Code in 2015, earned an Eclipse Award as champion older male.
So, when the Whitney starters leave the paddock and walk out to the main track late Saturday afternoon, look around at the beauty of Saratoga Race Course and those magnificent thoroughbreds on the way to the gate.
And reflect upon the name of race.