Chamber shifts gears for Travers marketing
Justify headed for permanent retirement
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. » More than 15,000 people turned out to watch American Pharoah gallop around Saratoga Race Course the day before he attempted to win the 2015 Travers Stakes.
It was one of the most indelible moments in the track’s long, colorful history as fans poured out their adoration for the sport’s first Triple Crown winner in 37 years.
However, similar scenes won’t be replicated this year following Wednesday’s announcement that 2018 Triple Crown winner Justify is headed for permanent retirement.
“He would have been the icing on the cake,” said Todd Shimkus, Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce president. “Advance sales for the Travers are doing really well. Hotel bookings are good, too.”
Earlier this month, the chamber organized a #JustDefy campaign. Its goal was encouraging trainer Bob Baffert and Justify’s owners to enter him in the Travers on Saturday, Aug. 25.
However, undefeated colt’s
breeding rights have reportedly been sold to Coolmore Stud in Versailles, Ky., for between $60 million and $75 million. After Justify suffered a recent ankle injury, his team decided not to risk a potentially long, lucrative breeding career by putting him out on the track again.
On Saturday, Justify is scheduled to parade before fans at Del Mar racetrack in California, where he’s taken up residence since capturing the Triple Crown at Belmont Park on Saturday, June 9.
Next, plans call for him to return to WinStar Farm, his majority owner, in Kentucky.
Before he gets there, Shimkus is holding out hope that Justify’s handlers will let him make a brief visit to Saratoga, where the world’s best horses, jockeys, trainers and owners are currently gathered for the 40-day meet.
The idea would be for him to parade around the track, giving fans a chance to see him, similar to Saturday’s event at Del Mar.
“I know it’s a wicked long shot,” Shimkus said. “We’ll give him the keys to the city. Whatever it takes.”
No matter what happens, the chamber is already shifting gears in an effort to make sure Travers Day has a sell-out crowd.
“It’s an historic race to win,” Shimkus said. “Now you don’t have a heavy favorite. So it’s a wide open field.”
Shimkus said Belmont Stakes runner-up Gronkowski, trained by Chad Brown of Mechanicville, offers all sorts of marketing opportunities for bringing fans to the track.
The horse is named for popular New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski, a part owner.
“If we find out he’s going to run in the Travers we’ll focus a digital campaign in the Boston area,” Shimkus said. “It’s already a major market for us within driving distance and there are obviously lots of Patriots fans around here, too. Plus, Rob Gronkowski’s family is from Buffalo.”