AROUND THE TRACK Powering his way through Pink Sheet sales
By Stan Hudy SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. » If you’ve entered the main entrance on Union Avenue to Saratoga Race course, if you haven’t seen 14-yearold Pink Sheet kid Jarrett Powers, you may have heard him.
“I’m not going to lie, I’m definitely the loudest,” the smiling Saratoga Springs High School freshman said. “That’s the key, that and my personality.”
Traditionally stationed on the corner of East Avenue and Union, Powers recommends the Pink Sheet to every passing horse racing fan.
“The back is O.K. but I seem to do best here,” Powers said from his usual station. “You have to be open, don’t be nervous and don’t be scared.”
He knows when he is in the zone with his Pink Sheet sales.
“When a lot people just start coming up to me and bam, bam, bam, bam and I just knock out a bunch in a row,” Powers said.
The Pink Sheet sales machine needed funds for his hobby.
“I thought I should start trying to earn some money for myself,” Powers said. “I do have my eye on one video game console, but I’m also going to be saving up for something else, which I have no idea what yet.
“A Nintendo Switch, I think everyone owns a Switch if feels like.”
He was determined to find employment this summer.
“If not here, I would probably be working at Six Flags,” Powers said. “They started hiring 14-year-olds for their concession stand people, I would probably try getting a summer job there.”
Instead the Pink Sheet got the call.
“It seems like it’s a pretty easy job and the pay is good,” Powers said.
Like the horseman across the street, Powers knew the value of a good start to the summer meet.
“Opening day was the best, the fact that it was super crowded and I was able to get a lot of sales on my first day selling gave me confidence,” Powers said.
Like any salesman he has had those slow days also.
“When we had the downpour, that rain storm, I think I only sold a few dozen copies,” Powers said.
He is also in tune to the front page of each Pink Sheet.
“I knew a lot about horse racing, my dad used to teach me about horse racing, how to bet and stuff like that and kind of determine where the price is,” Powers said. “I also think it’s interesting when the handicappers all pick the same horse. It doesn’t happen a lot.”
Horse racing and video games are not his only interest.
“I do not play any sports, but I do enjoy watching hockey,” Powers said. “I am glad the Eagles finally won the Super Bowl, I’m from outside Philly. It’s about time.”