...did not like to ship the horses by rail
Walking the horses to Saratoga
In the early twentieth century, thoroughbred horses owned by Amsterdam carpet mill owner Stephen Sanford were walked each summer to Saratoga from Sanford’s Hurricana Farm.
Racing Hall of Fame trainer Hollie Hughes, who served three generations of Sanfords, recalled the annual trek in Alex M. Robb’s book, “The Sanfords of Amsterdam.”
The trip began at the Sanford horse farm on what is now Route 30 in the town of Amsterdam. Efforts are underway to preserve remaining buildings at the complex, originally called Hurricana Farm but later known as the Sanford Stud Farm.
“First, we’d go up to Hagaman, a couple of miles away, and then we’d head for Top Notch, or West Galway, as it’s called,” Hughes said. “That would be about five miles. Then we’d go three miles straight east to Galway village. Then we’d go to West Milton, about seven miles farther east, and there we’d stop at the old Dutch Inn and feed the horses and men. My, those breakfasts tasted good! By that time it would be close to daylight. On the way over, half the horses would be under saddle with boys up. After breakfast the saddles were put on the others which had been led by the men up to this point, and we’d walk the remaining ten miles to Saratoga, coming in by Geyser Spring.”
In 1901, Sanford built his own stable on Nelson Avenue in Saratoga. He had as many as 35 horses at a time. When asked why he kept so many horses, the industrialist replied he was not in the horse raising business for “margin,” in other words for profit.
Author Robb, an official of the New York State Racing Commission in 1969 when he wrote his book about the Sanfords, said that Stephen Sanford started buying the property that would become Hurricana Farm in the 1870s after his doctor recommended he take up farming as a hobby to help with what may have been stomach ulcers. And Robb said that Sanford’s sons—John and William—also encouraged their father in this enterprise because of their own interest in fast horses, especially jumpers. William died in 1896.
From 1903 through 1907, the Sanfords invited the people of Amsterdam to the Sanford Matinee Races at Hurricana on the Sunday closest to Fourth of July. Trolleys ran continuously up to Market and Meadow Streets. From there, horse drawn wagons took people to the farm. Some automobiles went to the farm as well but were not admitted to the grounds. There was food, drink, music and, of course, horse racing. Some 15,000 attended the event during its last year.
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New York State outlawed betting in 1907 and racing stopped at Saratoga. Temporarily, the Sanfords sold most of their horses to out-of-staters and Canadians, according to Robb.
Stephen Sanford was blind the last five years of his life. Born in 1826, he worked with his father John and then on his own to create the Sanford carpet mills. Stephen Sanford went to West Point, served in Congress and was a friend of Ulysses S. Grant.
The old gentleman doted on his grandchildren, in particular his namesake, born in 1899. He gave the boy a Shetland pony almost before the youngster could walk. Young Stephen called the pony Laddie. The grandfather bestowed the nickname Laddie on his grandson as well.
Stephen Sanford died on February 13, 1913. Six months later, racing resumed at Saratoga along with the first running of the Sanford Memorial.
Stephen’s 62-year old son John continued to head the carpet mills and racing stables created during his father’s lifetime. According to Robb, John Sanford inherited $40 million at his father’s death.
Robb wrote, “Hollie Hughes recalls Stephen Sanford as a man with a magnetic personality, one to whom your eyes would turn instinctively, even though he was but one of a hundred men in a crowd. Hollie describes him as tall, thin, straight as a ramrod, his chin (and the chin whiskers) carried high, his right arm across his back. He had a dry wit.”
Ben Kemp told Bob Cudmore in tomorrows interview that in the last twenty years
a better light has appeared on Grants time in office March 4, 1869 – March 4, 1877
Grant's Justice Department prosecuted members of Grant's own Republican Party who were part of the Ring.
Tomorrow, Friday, June 24, 2022-Episode 428
Ben Kemp from Grant Cottage in Wilton N.Y., where Ulysses Grant died after completing his memoirs.
Saturday, June 25, 2022-From the Archives- June 14, 2019-Episode 270-Deborah Emmons-Andarawis is executive director at Historic Cherry Hill, an 18th century house museum on South Pearl Street in Albany New York. Hear about the lives of the former residents and the gripping tale of a murder at Cherry Hill in the 1800s.
Get a Jump Start on your fall planning for New York State History Day.
https://www.nyshistoryday.com/jump-start-history-day.html
If you are new to History Day or a seasoned veteran we have something to help you inspire your students and plan for the 2023 theme--Frontiers in History.
There are both in-person and virtual training sessions available. In-person events are held on the SUNY- Oneonta campus unless stated otherwise. All events are free of charge and free accommodations are available for in-person events.
Introduction to History Day
This online session featuring our History Day Coordinator, Lindsey Marshall, provides an overview of New York State History Day, the 2023 theme, and will provide answers to your History Day questions through a Q&A session. Perfect for both first-time and seasoned History Day teachers.
Held via Zoom - email for details.
Online after August 1
Mohawk Valley Weather, Thursday, June 23, 2022
Showers, mainly before 3pm. High near 67. Southeast wind around 9 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New precipitation amounts between a half and three quarters of an inch possible.
Tonight
A chance of showers, mainly before 11pm. Patchy fog after midnight. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with a low around 56. East wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening. Chance of precipitation is 30%. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.
Friday
Patchy fog before 9am. Otherwise, mostly sunny, with a high near 79. West wind 3 to 6 mph.
Mohawk Valley News Headlines, Thursday, June 23, 2022
Daily Gazette
Racing Around: Fonda Speedway season reaches midway point
The season has hit the midway point at Fonda Speedway. Really? Weren’t we just at the car show at Via…
Capital Region jobless rate drops to 2.7% in May
ALBANY — The Albany metro area in May had its second-lowest jobless rate in a third of a century
https://dailygazette.com/
Amsterdam Recorder
Class of 2022: Mason Sarabia – Amsterdam High School
Mason Sarabia VALEDICTORIAN Amsterdam High School Mason Sarabia is the valedictorian of the Class...
Class of 2022: Fonda-Fultonville valedictorian has nothing but love for her community
https://www.recordernews.com/
FULTON COUNTY, JOHNSTOWN, LOCAL NEWS, MONTGOMERY COUNTY, THE GLOVERSVILLE LEADER HERALD
https://www.leaderherald.com/
