Summer Swan Song

Hello, Everyone!  I apologize for the protracted absence from the blog this summer.  Think of it as a hiatus for "summer vacation" (I wish).

Actually, I've been phenomenally busy this summer. Between work and other distractions, I haven't had much time, or, admittedly, much energy to check in here.  I try to post at least once per month, but this summer's demands just hasn't allowed that.

I'm back now, things have calmed down a bit (fortunately), and I want to make up for lost time.  I've been visiting one of my favorite places on the planet a number of times this summer in Saratoga. This image - a beautiful painting by Sir Alfred Munnings, one of the foremost painters of turf scenes, wasn't painted there, but it is representative of the great energy, excitement and pageantry that is found at the historic Saratoga Race Course in upstate New York.

 It's a beautiful place, in a city that came to life initially in the Victorian era, where the natural mineral springs gave rise to spas and attracted wealthy visitors from the urban areas of New York and Boston to "take the waters." 

The famous film, "Saratoga Trunk", based on the novel by Edna Ferber, starring Gary Cooper and Ingrid Bergman, tells the story (more or less).

Today, Saratoga Springs  has retained much of its Victorian heritage and is a very popular vacation destination from May through October. 

But it's the summer season, and the 6-week long thoroughbred racing meeting, that defines the essence of Saratoga.  It's world-class horse racing.  The Saratoga meeting is considered one of the finest anywhere - in the US and beyond - at one of the most magnificent, historic race courses ever built.  Next year - 2013 - is the 150th anniversary of racing at Saratoga and promises to be a terrific celebration.

If you've never been here, consider coming to visit - it's a place where lasting memories are made and, as the saying goes, "It's the August Place to Be"!