Written by Bill Orzell
The original track configuration included a chute, for both 6-furlong and 14-furlong races, which started in front of the dual grandstands, and ran on a diagonal across the center of the oval. This illustration was made by Albert Berghaus and was published in Frank Leslie’s Illustrated Newspaper August 14, 1875.
The Wilson Chute was returned to operation during the 2022 Saratoga race meet, and operations manager Glen Kozak should be commended for his forethought several years prior when the track base was overhauled to plan its re-incorporation. Prior to the NYRA franchise operations beginning in 1955, the Saratoga Association operated the track as a private entity and employed six track superintendents.
During the Civil War, Bill Puckett was working in the deep woods of Quebec, where he learned of what must have sounded like an illusory proposed venture in Saratoga Springs. He had been born John William Puckett in Weymouth, Dorsetshire, England in 1830 and emigrated to Canada in the 1850s where he specialized in producing timber and wood construction. Convinced of Yankee virtues he traveled to the Spa in 1863 and introduced himself to John Morrissey and explained how greatly he endorsed the yet unproven venture and was hired to build the place. Bill Puckett, due to his skill and enthusiasm for the race track project, became a favorite of the other principal stockholders of the Saratoga Association for the Improvement of the Breed of Horses; Col. Charles Wheatley, James H. Marvin, John McB. Davidson and William Travers and was made track superintendent.
Both Saratoga Grandstands and the Judges Stand, all built by Track Superintendent Bill Puckett shown in the 1875 image. Photo courtesy New York Public Library Miriam and
Ira D. Wallach Division of Art, Prints and Photographs.
In 1864 track competition moved across Union Avenue to its present location and Mr. Puckett converted the former setting into a practice and stable area known as Horse Haven. Retired Thoroughbreds drew his personal buggy.
Superintendent Puckett had everything in order as usual for the racing season at Saratoga during August of 1890, when the tattooed beat of racetrack rumors spoke about a change of ownership, a common theme. This instance bore more viability than in the past because of the personalities involved, Pierre Lorillard, August Belmont, Senator George Hearst, with the syndicate headed by publisher William J. Arkell. This deal did not materialize due to the death of two of the main principals, and the opportunity arose for the disreputable Gottfried Walbaum to purchase the Saratoga Race Course in 1891. He frightened the racing business with his operation of the Guttenberg Racetrack in New Jersey, only a ferryboat ride from Manhattan. Operations at “The Gut,” were a black mark for the turf, where winter racing was staged with little concern for equine athletes or jockeys.
At Saratoga, “Dutch Fred” Walbaum functioned as track operator, stable owner, bookmaker and faro dealer into the early hours of the morning. The legendary gentleman-jump jockey Harry S. Page described those days as “squalid,” and further stated that Walbaum’s sport was “mostly indoor, unfortunately.” Mr. Walbaum’s lasting influence at the Spa which has endured is the classic grandstand with its iconic slate roof, unique turrets and copper trim, so recognizable in our time. The new owner negotiated with architect Herbert Langford Warren at the Worden House on Broadway which included Mr. Puckett, and by late autumn of 1891 the superintendent began tearing down the original grandstand.
c. 1890-1900
Photo: Elizabeth, N.J., Alfred S. Campbell,
Library of Congress Prints and
Photographs Division
Race publications reporting an 1877 improvement made by Bill Puckett still used the archaic term “shute,” for the 6-furlong chute. Krik’s Guide 1879-80 described the Saratoga track layout.
Saratoga Race Track c.1900-1915. Photo courtesy of Library of Congress.
C. 1900-1915
Bill Puckett would see another change in management when the consortium headed by William C. Whitney purchased the Saratoga track in late 1900 and immediately began work to restore the lost reputation. A new elliptical paddock was constructed, and the grandstand was disassembled, moved and lengthened around a reconfigured new track. The revised track length and configuration mirrored those at the Sheepshead Bay Course in Brooklyn and occurred after the 1901 Spa season and had everything in place for the 1902 opening. It is regrettable that much of the documentation of this revision was lost due to the Arcade Building fire in June 1902, which, in addition to an unfortunate loss of life, completely destroyed the local and on-site Saratoga Racing Association office. From newspaper quotes at this time, Superintendent Puckett realized he had made the right choice so many years before, realizing the Spa provided a beneficial tonic-effect on horses and people. He was pensioned by the Association, and the reconfigured track was supervised by Reed Landers.
Mr. Landers had previously served as Saratoga Springs village superintendent and managed Judge Hilton’s Woodlawn Estate. He was responsible for creating the Oklahoma Training Track and stables on land the Saratoga Association acquired north of Horse Haven. Reed Landers was in charge during the racing ban created by Governor Hughes and carried out the sad lay-off of employees, and sale of work horses. Mr. Landers lived across Union Ave and kept the grounds up until the return of racing in 1913. After devastating spring 1917 fires at Belmont Park, Superintendent Landers organized a security detail and had the Spa track ready as a replacement location, although that option was passed up.
Above: Billy Myer as he appeared in the Daily Racing Form November 26, 1922.
Saratoga Track Superintendent Anne Clare and Saratoga Association President George Bull in a clubhouse discussion. King Features Syndicate, Inc. wire service photo.
The 1917 season was marred by the condition of the track and the Saratoga Association planned major alterations, seeking to replace the aging Reed Landers. Their answer was Billy Myer, a former prize fighter and pool sharp, with experience at racetracks around the country. Revising drainage and using soil removed from inside the oval to improve the banking, Mr. Myer performed his magic. This refashioning, which also created the attractive infield lake, made the surface much quicker than previous seasons. Ten new track records were established during the 1918 Spa season. Billy Myer, the toast of so much success, just after the season ended, was complicit with owner Willis Sharpe Kilmer in a spectacle to establish a new mile record by his colt Sun Briar, and was sacked during that winter. Indignant editors of The Saratogian published the headline, “MYER DISMISSED AT OFFICIALS’ DEMAND.”
Faithful Reed Landers was recalled but would succumb to a stroke in August 1919. The management of the Saratoga Association reached back to its Long Island roots and selected William Clare. Superintendent Clare learned his business from his father, James Clare, who was the superintendent of the Brighton Beach Racing Association. He had recently reconditioned the Blue Bonnet track at Montreal and was known to virtually everyone in racing as "Billy."
Billy brought his sister-in-law Anne Clare and his brother, Tom, to the Spa as resident assistants. Besides their abilities as track conditioners, the trio possessed an artistic sense of landscape gardening, which benefited the racing grounds. One of their big projects in the early 1920s was creating what was then called the new “automobile paddock.”
Superintendent Clare died unexpectedly in January 1924 at age 51 in his home, Brighton Cottage on the Union Ave racing grounds. Billy had been one of the best-known figures on the American turf. Later that same week, the Saratoga Association announced that Thomas Clare would succeed his brother as Superintendent of their racing plant.
Tom Clare, a former Thoroughbred trainer, would carry on programs started by his brother in naming roads and paths after famous equine performers, and also growing all the hay and oats required by the track’s work horses on the racing grounds. These same draft animals were used during the winter to harvest ice to be used during track season.
Anne and Tom Clare were year-around residents in Saratoga Springs, and firmly integrated in the community, attended services at St. Clements, and were participants in the County Fair. Tom had a fine working relationship with the stout, genial and gregarious man who was president of the Saratoga Racing Association, George H. Bull, who was never content unless he was giving a party. His ebullient personality fostered much of the goodwill at the Spa track.
In 1936 the Saratoga Association was having difficulties providing ample stable space to meet the ever-increasing demands, a good problem if you are a racetrack operator. Through Tom Clare’s urging and influence, track management was able to obtain the private 106-acre training center on Nelson Avenue, originally constructed by August Belmont, which he referred to as “The Surcingle.”
Tom and Anne Clare would typically attend southern racing for periods during the winter season and mix with stables and jockeys they got to know well during August. Like many trainers of the time, they would stop in South Carolina, about halfway between New York and Miami. In January of 1940, after arriving at trainer Tom Healey’s Hialeah cottage, Tom Clare succumbed to a heart attack.
After Tom‘s unfortunate demise, George Bull selected Anne Clare for the superintendent position at the Spa track, replacing her late husband; she was the first woman to hold such a position at any track. In 1940, the “The Surcingle” area was renamed Clare Court by John Galligan, Assistant Superintendent of the track, in memory of Tom Clare.
Anne Clare, with her Scottish Terrier Mickey in tow, and George Bull fostered an esprit-de-corps on the track backside with weekly softball and boxing events featuring jockeys and stable hands.
During WWII, while the Saratoga track was shuttered to conserve military resources, the Superintendent was relocated to Belmont Park where she oversaw wartime racing. Following the cessation of hostilities in 1946, Anne Clare quickly conditioned the track for the return of Thoroughbreds to the historic oval, which now included a canoe on the infield lake.
New York State, in 1955, accepted the deeds to racetracks at Belmont Park, Aqueduct, Jamaica and Saratoga in exchange for a franchise to operate Thoroughbred racing, which is today known as the New York Racing Association (NYRA), and Anne Clare made the transition.
George Bull’s faith in Anne Clare was justified by her long service as Saratoga Superintendent, retiring from NYRA in 1960. To place it into proper perspective, when she started in the position she was not allowed in the bar which was then “gents only.”
Each of the six superintendents during private operations made their own contribution to the facilities we now enjoy at Saratoga Race Course.
