By Earle Mack
There are days in racing that are remembered for the horse. There are other days remembered for the crowd, the weather, the setting, or the history. And then there are rare days when all of it comes together. Saturday at Saratoga was one of those days.
The final Belmont Stakes at Saratoga was not simply another great day of racing. It was a day of firsts. Nearly 50,000 people filled Saratoga Race Course to capacity. They came despite the threat of rain. And as the horses were entering the gate for the final Belmont Stakes ever to be run at Saratoga, the rain suddenly came pouring down.
Then, miraculously, just as the gate opened, the sun broke through. Through the dampened sand and dirt came Golden Tempo, surging with a burst that brought the crowd to its feet. Golden Tempo flew. The crowd went wild. Then, suddenly, a rainbow appeared. Then a double rainbow appeared.
Golden Tempo’s victory in the Belmont Stakes was historic on its own. A horse bred through the great Phipps tradition and campaigned by a partnership that includes Daisy Phipps Pulito, and Vinnie Viola’s St. Elias Stable, Golden Tempo represented something very special: the continuity of racing’s past and the energy of racing’s future.
The Phipps family represents a standard of class, stewardship, and commitment that has helped define American Thoroughbred racing for nearly a century. And then there is Vinnie Viola. Vinnie came from Williamsburg, Brooklyn. He is a patriot, a West Point graduate, a businessman, a sportsman, and a terrific person. That combination–Phipps and Viola, old money and new money, legacy and ambition–is exactly what racing needs.
I have been in racing for a long time, and I have learned not to ignore moments like that. Sometimes, signs from God are subtle. Sometimes, they are written across the sky. On Saturday, as Golden Tempo came running, it felt like the heavens themselves were reminding us that good things still happen in this sport when good people lead it the right way.
The Phipps family is not merely a name in racing. It is a pillar. Ogden Phipps, Dinny Phipps, and now Daisy Phipps Pulito represent a standard of class, stewardship, and commitment that has helped define American Thoroughbred racing for nearly a century. And at the heart of it all stands Ande Phipps–the strength and bedrock of this family. She carries on the tradition with grace and quiet resolve, even as she faces challenges to her health. That she continues to show up for this sport, for this family, and for everything the Phipps name represents is a testament to a character that racing rarely sees and never forgets. The Phipps family has stood for breeding, patience, integrity, and the long view–qualities too often missing in modern life.
Saturday was also a day to celebrate Cherie DeVaux–and to recognize Phipps Pulito, who gave her the opportunity. What she has accomplished is extraordinary. No woman trainer had done what she has now done. To win the Kentucky Derby was historic. To come back and win the Belmont Stakes at Saratoga was something even greater. It was a moment that opened doors for others and showed every young woman watching that there is no ceiling in this sport.
For Saratoga, the day was a triumph. The town came alive with the sound of music, conversation, excitement, and pride. The restaurants were full. The streets were alive. The grandstand was electric.
It is also important to recognize Governor Kathy Hochul. Her leadership has helped make possible the nearly half-billion-dollar transformation of Belmont Park. When the Belmont Stakes returns home in 2027, it will return to a new Belmont Park worthy of the race, the horses, the fans, and the history. NYRA deserves enormous credit as well. Today, NYRA is led by people who understand the responsibility they carry: Chairman Marc Holliday, CEO David O’Rourke, and Senior Vice President Glen Kozak.
Saturday’s numbers were remarkable. Almost 50,000 in attendance. More than $116 million in handle. A great race. A historic winner. A beloved Saratoga native trainer. A double rainbow blessing the Spa.
But the numbers are not what I will remember most. I will remember the feeling.
I will remember the sun breaking through. I will remember the crowd. I will remember the roar. I will remember Cherie DeVaux being celebrated. I will remember the Phipps legacy and Vinnie Viola’s Brooklyn grit meeting in the winner’s circle. I will remember a day when racing looked like what it can and should be.
Honorable. Joyful. Competitive. Beautiful.
A day of firsts. A day of faith. A day of great fun. And above all, a great tribute to racing.
This article was originally published by Thoroughbred Daily News here: https://www.thoroughbreddailynews.com/letter-to-the-editor-a-day-of-first-faith-and-a-rainbow/