[Glimmerglass]

With the recent passing of his owner, actor Jack Klugman, it's worth revisiting a winning effort by his 'big horse' named in error up at the Spa in 1980.

Video: 1980 with CBS Sports' Jimmy "The Greek" and Jack; then the race - Syrian Sea Handicap at Saratoga Race Course.

What a production team - Jack Whitaker, Frank I. Wright, Charlsie Cantey, and then NYRA's Marshall Cassidy with the race call.

PP#5 Jacklin Klugman with Jacinto Vasquez up

[PeteyPie]

Very nice. Thanks for the post. It was fun that they interviewed Jack Klugman, and fun to see his excitement.

[SaratogaTB]

Thanks for sharing this! I was about 12 then and went to this race. My mother was in charge of designing the NYRA float for the Travers Parade held each year. Jack Klugman was the honorary guest to ride the float! My parents and I met him on Union Avenue and he spent some time with us before climbing onto the seat of mom's beautifully designed scuplture. It was very exciting.

[Glimmerglass]

Thanks for sharing this! I was about 12 then and went to this race. My mother was in charge of designing the NYRA float for the Travers Parade held each year. Jack Klugman was the honorary guest to ride the float! My parents and I met him on Union Avenue and he spent some time with us before climbing onto the seat of mom's beautifully designed scuplture. It was very exciting.

Now that's very cool! Thanks for sharing.

Jack returned in 1981 to be co-Grand Marshall for the Travers' Parade. From that article Gov. Hugh Carey even proclaimed for all of New York State that Aug 9 - 15 was to be "Travers Week". Ah the good old days.

SaratogaTB in 1987 thefour Belgium draft horses pulling the NYRA float also carried aboard $1 million in $100 as a promotional stunt.

If only the $1M purse offering in 1987 had kept pace with inflation then the 2011 Travers would've had a purse of $1,948,410

[SaratogaTB]

Ah yes, we assembled with him on North Broadway, not Union Ave!

Does anyone remember two horses kept in a paddock on Union Ave, right as you enter the Oklahoma track? They were there for maybe 20 years in a field. Now it's parking I believe. One was a gray mare and the other a palomino gelding. Their names were Clemantine and Cinnamon. Apparently someone left them there one year, and the track maintenance folks just kept them.

[CVPeg]

Thanks for this. Miss that feeling and uproarious response these days. Fast time!

Didn't recall his being in the 1980 Travers, and he wasn't. But he won the Jerome at the end of August - back when they closed up shop before the end of August at Saratoga!

From Equibase

Track Date Race Race Type Finish Chart Video
Aqueduct 5/2/1981 8 Carter Handicap - Gr. 2 6
Gulfstream Park 1/24/1981 9 Sprint Championship Handicap 2
Aqueduct 10/18/1980 8 Vosburgh Stakes - Gr. 1 2
Hawthorne 9/29/1980 8 Hawthorne Derby - Gr. 3 1
Belmont Park 9/6/1980 7 Marlboro Cup Handicap - Gr. 1 3
Belmont Park 8/30/1980 8 Jerome Handicap - Gr. 2 1
Saratoga 8/16/1980 7 Handicap 1

I do recall the horses in the paddock on Union Ave, and always wondered whose they were. Thanks for the info, SaratogaTB!

[SaratogaTB]

The story I heard from the maintenance crew on the Oklahoma training track was that Cinnamon and Clemantine were just left one year when everyone went to Belmont, and they became fixtures year round. Lived in that field until they died. They used to let me groom them when I was a kid. I learned to pull a mane on the gray, Clemantine! They were terribly overweight from the maintenance crew giving them treats constantly.