by Michael M Sweeney, Saratoga Harness Horsemen’s Association

Saratoga Springs, NY – – With one month of exciting harness action in the books at Saratoga Gaming and Raceway, the 2006 season kicks things up a notch by adding Wednesday night performances to the weekly offering.

The added day will certainly be welcomed by patrons and horsemen alike as an abundance of horses at the Spa City oval has diversified the local product while cranking up the competitiveness level to the nth degree. Saratoga’s sustained purse structure and accommodating racing environment, have helped draw many fine horses from the Meadowlands, Freehold and Monticello this season – and the equine caravan shows no sign of slowing down.

Combined with a strong presence from local conditioners, this new mix of horseflesh has produced some of the most powerful displays to be seen on the historic racing surface since the old grand circuit days.

Can you remember the night when Whitey’s Fella almost tracked down a front running Big Towner on the old muddy clay track? Were you here to watch Incredible Neville way back in 1982? How about John Campbell steering Mack Lobell to his 1:56 track record?

Remember the excitement?

Well, its back! Live harness excitement every Wednesday through Saturday night at Saratoga Gaming and Raceway. First post scheduled for 7:15 pm.

It’s a whole new game!

King Carl

Local trainer, Carl Silligato, continued his early season dominance last weekend – gaining two wins and a second in three outings.

Little Nicholas was simply overpowering in his 5 length stomping of the second race field on Friday night, while stable mate, Debbie’s Eldorado was likewise impressive. Her seemingly effortless, first up victory over Will Erickson’s Deep Regard, seems to have ended this one’s dominance in the $5000 claiming class.

Silligato topped the week off with a rousing second place finish with Hezamagicman, in Open III company on Saturday night.

Tonight he sends Partly Cloudy to post in the third race, as the 7-2 morning line second choice, along with long-shot, Nelson’s Revenge, who makes his first appearance of the season in race ten.

The third ‘Silligato sighting’ of the evening comes in race twelve with Jim Martuscello‘s, Spirit’s Duet. This young Jet Laag mare has posted consecutive victories coming into tonight action, with her only loss of the season being a close second place finish during opening week.

With eighteen starts so far this season, Silligato sports a record of 6-4-2 to go with a gaudy .494 UDRS. Splendid statistics indeed for Saratoga’s King Carl.

Stop Horse Slaughter

Equine Protection of North America, an organization committed to the preservation and well being of all horses, will lead a caravan to Washington DC on March 6th and 7th to protest the US Department of Agriculture’s decision to allow the continued operation of three foreign owned slaughter houses in the United States, despite attempts by congress to shut them down.

The caravan of empty horse trailers will leave Epping, NH on March 6th with scheduled stops in Hartford and New York City before arriving in the nation’s capital on the 7th.

“Empty trailers symbolize the horses who have gone to slaughter,” said Executive Director, Ron Levesque. “Anyone can join the convoy for part or all of the trip.”

Please visit the Equine Protection of North America Website – www.eponarescue.org – for additional information.

Beulah Park Twins at Saratoga

The famous Beulah Park handicapping twins attended the races at Saratoga last Friday night and made a special winners circle presentation to Open Trot winner Onomatopoeia.

Winning driver, Brian Allen was ecstatic at the chance to meet the famed duo.

“While I always want to win every race I’m in, I had special incentive to win this one. It was a big honor to meet the Beulah twins and get my picture taken with them. It was big.”

The twins were surprised at Allen’s height too, commenting that they were used to the shorter jocks at Beulah Park.

Saratoga Gaming and Raceway proudly features live harness action every Wednesday through Saturday night with first post scheduled quite promptly at 7:15 pm.