"Six Weeks in Saratoga" available! Go get it!

"Six Weeks in Saratoga: How Three-Year-Old Rachel Alexandra Beat the Boys and Became Horse of the Year" published July 1, 2011. Keep it locked here, at The Carryover or go to SUNY Press to order your copy ... right now! Or head on down to your favorite bookseller.

Praise for "Six Weeks in Saratoga"

“Going behind the scenes of three-year-old filly Rachel Alexandra’s 2009 triumph … O’Meara makes her story gallop and gleam.” — Chronogram

“The [book] is one of enjoyable promise, and as the author recounts little moments and inside conversations, he provides an intimate glimpse into the lives of the figures he covers. The narrative keeps game pace with outside literary standards and features bursts of brilliance, and I found it a refreshing change from the selection of racing-themed volumes available today. As O’Meara brings his subjects to life, you find yourself thinking this is the kind of guy whose work I want to follow.” — Claire Novak, ESPN.com

“O’Meara … provide[s] a tremendous amount of detail from behind the scenes that the reader would not have otherwise enjoyed … Six Weeks is essentially a Rachel book, but it’s told without neglecting the always rich backdrop of a Saratoga meet. That means there’s history, surprises, characters (human and equine), great racing, foggy mornings and sun-splashed afternoons—plenty of material through which O’Meara could exercise his descriptive abilities.” — Schenectady Daily Gazette
“O’Meara fell for a magical place and magnificent horse, which is a lovely malady that often befalls horse people, and with a great deal of heart he tells us how and why. You’ll never forget his Six Weeks in Saratoga, either.” — Joe Drape, author of Our Boys: A Perfect Season on the Plains with the Smith Center Redmen

“Brendan O’Meara tells the story of this proud horse with verve and great historical insight. Six Weeks in Saratoga marks the debut of an exciting new talent.” — Wil Haygood, author of Sweet Thunder: The Life and Times of Sugar Ray Robinson

“Brendan O’Meara’s Six Weeks in Saratoga is a victory to be savored by those who treasure good writing in general and tales of the track in particular. Horses may win races, but they also win hearts as this impressive book proves beyond doubt. A memorable, sure-footed debut.” — Madeleine Blais, author of In These Girls, Hope Is a Muscle

Tuesday, August 31, 2010

Read between the lines, moron

Went to the track for the first and likely only time on Sunday to see Rachel get bruised by that mile and a quarter. The scene was just as I remembered. I had fun running into a few familiar faces during my reporting of the unpublished book "Six Weeks in Saratoga." Publishers? Throw me a bone! Sorry, that's unprofessional.

Still, it was nice to get there and for the Personal Ensign and then leave. It was all I needed.

I soon got to talking with Good Ol' Pete and he asked if I had read any follow up. I just said the NYRA quotes.

"Did you read the quotes from John Velazquez?" he asked.

"Yeah, what about?"

Well, here's the quote:

“That was a speed duel. I thought my filly would be on the lead, [Calvin Borel, jockey aboard Rachel Alexandra (No. 2)] would rate in second, but he sent her out and got in the lead and all that did was create more problems for my horse because now she was engaged. But I wasn’t going to take her back; I just left her alone. I wasn’t going to go back either, so I just held my position and left it alone. The half-mile pole came and I thought she was dead and then the three eighths pole came and she was done. Nothing left.”

 Pete said, "That was a subtle jab at Borel for sending Rachel to the lead. It sounded like he was surprised Borel sent her."


"Yeah, I think you're right. I didn't get that at first when I read it. Read between the lines, moron!"


"Moron!"


Good Ol' Pete then said that his brother, Tommy, accidentally ate his Grilled Stuft Burrito on their way home from the Personal Ensign making for the Worst. Weekend. Ever.
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Monday, August 23, 2010

The Irish Car Bomb

Talkin' about Paddy O'Prado in this week's renewal of The Carryover 2.0.

Also, how about that $200K Carryover at the Spa.

Get to it!
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Friday, August 13, 2010

Could it be?

Check out the spotlights. Check out the pretty white couples getting ready to enjoy a night at lovely ... Aqueduct?


Lame-duck (but really not that lame) Gov. David Patterson and the New York State Legislature seem to have come through with a vendor for video lottery terminals at Aqueduct. Genting New York.


As much as it is encouraging that horse racing will get a slice of the pie, I'm more intrigued by the $1.5 million the state will get every day. New York is in fiscal disarray, so the thought that it could be pulling in close to $400 million a year from this new casino is a nice regressive tax we can all learn to hug.


And it's not just VLTs, it's blackjack, roulette, and poker. State Lottery officials want to instill video versions of these games. We can agree that that is both cheaper and lame. Get tables and attractive dealers.


Here is the story written by Charles V. Bagli of the New York Times.
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Wednesday, August 11, 2010

Chad Brown Chat

In the past many people in the Capital District have tuned into The Carryover for news on Mechanicville native and trainer Chad Brown. This Thursday Brown will be participating in a live chat on NYRA.com/livechat.

Brown is the second leading trainer in this year's renewal of Saratoga's racing season, three victories behind Todd Pletcher.
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Friday, August 6, 2010

New Post and Nice Comments

But you'll have to go over to HRI and see The Carryover 2.0 to join in. Writing every week during the Saratoga meet for HRI so be sure to tune in here and there for you fill of The Carryover!
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