Strong storm damages trees; backstretch power loss resolved
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SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – A powerful storm with heavy rain and strong winds blew through Saratoga on Tuesday night, knocking down large tree branches and even downing a power line on the backside. Fortunately, there were no injuries to horses or humans reported.
A downed power wire adjacent to Clare Court prompted the New York Racing Association to shut power off in that area. Power was restored Tuesday night, and the power infrastructure was fully repaired Wednesday.
The NYRA reported some minor damage to a horse path rail near Barn 33, but otherwise there was no damage to barns, cottages, or dorms.
On the Clare Court section of the backstretch, several large branches were knocked down fairly close to Barn 3, which houses horses trained by Horacio De Paz.
“Everybody’s in good shape,” De Paz said. “I was surprised there weren’t [horses with] scratches or cuts. Everybody worries about storms, especially when you have babies.”
Trainer Todd Pletcher said a tree fell horizontally at his barn on the harness track. Had it fallen vertically, it might have hit the barn, Pletcher said.
The storm did bring enough rain to prompt NYRA to cancel turf racing for Wednesday’s card. Among the races impacted was the Grade 1, $150,000 A.P. Smithwick Steeplechase that was rescheduled for Sunday and was to be re-drawn on Thursday.
“Considering the severity of the storms that hit the Capital Region and Adirondacks [Tuesday], we were fortunate to not have sustained more significant damage,” NYRA spokesman Pat McKenna said.
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