Steve, many thanks for a great Saratoga
 

Steve,

it was great meeting you a Carolina BBQ and just wanted to thank you for your coverage of this sport as well as Saratoga in particular. Between ATRAB and this forum you've brought us all closer to the Toga action as well as each other....well except for a few combatives that go at each other tooth and nail.

But I guess it wouldn't be a forum without opinions.

I'm sure you'll get some much needed rest although if you're like me, even from where I sit in SC, this is a sad day as it's over 10 months until openning day.

Thank a bunch Steve,

Spyder from SC

I would like to second that emotion. the insight on the races was priceless and very informative. will we be seeing this for belmont too?? thanks again!

I'll third it.

That picnic table beside Carolina has become the gathering place for the "IN" crowd at Saratoga.

A well-deserved success for Steve ... a real mensch.

i ate at the bbq place both days i was there. i love the bbq and the sauce in the containers on the left. the only improvement could be the bread. it is the best food there.

I'll 4'th it....great time!
Rick

Steve: Superb job all the way around!! My only regret is not getting to sample the BBQ at your place!

Carolina BBQ is the only vendor at the Spa worth patronizing in terms of quality and cost.

i agree. i wish they had rolls though instead of those mini hero breads. the sausages are also excellent. the young ladies working the carts on the second floor were pretty tasty too. ;)

My pleasure..
 

Rev, P4, Timm, Rick, BB, N/Y, Spydie:

Thanks so much for the generous comments and support.. As always, it was my pleasure to host and meet so many new friends from "DT", ATRAB and regular annual Toga visitors. And while taxing, covering the meet on a daily basis was a great experience and taught me a lot...

I can't even begin to recall everyone who were BBQ habitues that made the meet great... My houseguest cohorts of course, Hooves (Matt), Ateam (Joey) and D-Boy (Sammy)...

In addition to you guys, Paisjpq brightened the scene markedly; Brockguy (who came from Ireland and stayed at the house a night or two); GPK (who jetted in for the meet's final 48 hours); Gander (who pops up like a jack in the box); Oracle; Gales; PSH; Thanasi Sarris and Family; Kelly and Martin and the kids from Montreal; the Pace Advantage guys and of course Team Thoro-Graph (Jerry Brown, Bill Spillane, Alan Benewitz and Julian Weinberg)...

I was stunned by the volume of ATRAB listeners including Gene Vidi from NJ (who provided me with several of his wonderful photographs); Bobby from NJ (who stopped by daily); no less than 8 from my hometown (Manchester, CT); and so many more who just said hello and told me how much they enjoy the show...

Regular stopovers were made by ATRAB pals and/or media characters Blackthroatedwind (Andy), Bob Fox, John DaSilva (NY Post), Mark Cusano (The Gazette), Tom Amello (Upst. NY OTB-TV), Seth Merrow (Equidaily.com) and Steve Haskin (B-H)... DRF staffers Noel Micheals, Lonnie Goldfedder, and long-time friends Steve Grabowski and Brian Pochman... Kenny Mayne and the ESPN/Game Creek Video engineers were weekly visitors...

The now famous Captain's Table was frequented by My Man Sciacca, Pat Kelly, Bobby Frankel, Del Carroll, Chuck Simon, John Parisella, their owners, NYRA execs/staffers (Bob Palumbo, the 2 Mikes, Jerry Davis, John Lee, Sonny Taylor, Paulie) and table patriarchs "Shrek and Donkey" (Don and Richie)...

I'm undoubtedly forgetting many, many others... It's a very unique environment, and even though it's an overwhelming task, I relish the 42 days.

Thanks to everyone that made it another special season..

Steve

Steve does a great job in Toga. Its like a meeting of the minds each day for the people who really love horse racing. Met a lot of friends up there over the years. If you haven't been yet, come up next year and check it out.

I gave him best host of the meet on the wrap up thread, but it goes beyond that.
The guy basically feeds more folks for free than any charity. He has folks there at the tables all day long bothering him for things all day long.
He provides some with housing, and gives our board members a central location in which to meet and gather.
There isn't much else to say really, and it woud be nice if people found some way to attempt to thank him for what he does, which is really underappreciated.
I don't know what exactly we could do for him, but an attempt is always better than no attempt.
I think I have an idea, so everyone could message me if interested. Steve will pop on this thread and say its not necessary, because thats how he is.
But I have an idea about what we might do as thanks. Pm me and I will tell you about it.

Yikes! Randall is one of the "many, many" whom I forgot to list that made the scene during the meet! Uggh...

Sorry Rand...

You're such a great guy that I won't even bring up " very unique ".

It is a testament to my fortitude that I made it through the entire meet without eating any cobbler of any kind.

He sweet-talked ... and sweet-toothed ... me and Mrs. Brooklynite into sampling the scrumptious cheesecake ...

... a great testament to his powers of persuasion.

And the brisket was to die for ... yup ... brisket and cheesecake ... the surest paths to two Brooklynites' hearts.

We believe that we're getting sleeeepy.

Thank you very much steve, not able to get up there this year, but hopefully next year I'll be able to slide up and visit for a few days. Sounds like a great time was had by all.

lmfao..."a lill bit"...just got in and will try to tell the storys ..that are fit to print....HEY STEVE !!!!STEVE!!!!!!!!\




ITS SLAVE A Q FOR LIFE!!!!

Dude I need Chuckles' information.. I lost my wallet and had his card in it. PM me sonnn.

I gave out the super-gave out the super-gave out the super

He doesn't ship on a l-He doesn't ship on a lark

Thanks to all of ye guys for all ye did to accomodate me when I was over there. It was so appreciated. It really was. I loved talking to ye and I learned alot.. It was such a fun part of my holiday and I cant wait to return to Saratoga. It is one of the nicest places I been to.