Sunday was a beautiful day.  Just one winner again, but it was a good one!  The forecast for today is grim, and I expect to get wet.  Heading home in the morning.  This is my last post from Saratoga.  I’ll be back in early September with the great cross-Canada train adventure and the annual Depoe Bay, Oregon visit.

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It rained, heavily at times, Saturday morning, but by noon the sun was out and it was a beautiful cool sunny afternoon.  I only had one winner, but it was a good one, and I made a few bucks.  It was Mike day at the track!

That’s Mike Mutnansky, Mike Shea, Mike from New York, and Mike from Connecticut

Mike Toomey (John to me, Mike to everyone else)

A good time was had by all at the track and later at King’s Tavern.

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Today is Saturday – Whitney Stakes Day – so there will be a huge crowd.  I lost on Wednesday and Thursday but won on Friday, so gambling continues to go well.  We have totally avoided rain until today.  It’s drizzling this morning, but it should be dry most of the day after about 11 AM.

My friends John & Lino from Marshfield have arrived.  We had dinner last night at the Brook Tavern.  Ed the Pharmacist from Connecticut and Mike “Mut” Mutnansky are also here.  Mut does the Red Sox pre and post game shows on Boston’s WEEI radio.  He’s on a four day vacation.

Here are some pictures from King’s Tavern, my longtime hangout across the street from the track, and elsewhere around the track.

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Two winners yesterday but lost a little.  Bob headed home last night after the races.  Michael from New York is back today with his wife.  John and Lino from Marshfield come Friday.  Yesterday Sam the Bugler (who plays the call to the post) played God Bless America in the backyard for some New York City fire fighters.

Back to the track today.  Tuesday was no racing, so we wandered around town and took a ride.

The most interesting thing we viewed was the Palazzo Riggi, the Saratoga home of Michelle and Ron Riggi, local benefactors.  Michelle is quite the diva and has 36 dogs.  The story of the house is fascinating.  Read it here.

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Today is a dark day at the races, so we will kill the day around town doing something or other.  I won on Sunday, lost on Monday.  Weather has been perfect, but thunderstorms are in the forecast from tomorrow through Saturday.  we’ll see what happens.  Dinner at Pennell’s last night was as good as usual.  Bob and I met some track friends we have from Baltimore, and we shared a table.