A freelance turf writer, I am a correspondent for The Blood-Horse and a contributor to Forbes.com; I contribute to The Saratogian‘s coverage of the Saratoga racing meet. My work has appeared in Thoroughbred Times, the Daily Racing Form, Trainer magazine, and the Rail at the New York Times. I contribute to BelmontStakes.com during the Triple Crown season and I’m a contributing editor at Hello Race Fans!
I’m a member of the board of directors of the National Turf Writers and Broadcasters Association, the board of directors for the Belmont Child Care Association, the voting committee for the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame, and the historical committee for the Saratoga 150 celebration.
I teach high school English in Brooklyn, and I’m a Brooklyn dweller and an erstwhile and occasional resident of Saratoga Springs, New York. When not teaching or writing, I’m watching the Rangers at the Garden, playing Scrabble, or rescuing cats.
Contact: teresa@brooklynbackstretch.com
Follow me on Twitter and “like” the Brooklyn Backstretch Facebook page.
Teresa,
What a cool website!! I am a 3 chimmneys fan club member, ex racehorse owner and breeder and proud to still have some of my retires at my small farm in Texas. I’m still obsessed with the sport for the same reason “Romey” fell in love with it. I love ALL animals too.
I bookmarked your sight so I can check it out and learn and enjoy when I can. Thanks for having it.
Sincerely
Jarrod Goldberg
Houston Texas
Jarrod,
Thanks for the kind words and for reading, and welcome to Brooklyn Backstretch! Hope to see you back here –
Great stuff on D. D. Withers. I don’t know when the racing bug bit you, but my bite was the 1968 Belmont Stakes, and has continued ever since. Great to see someone write about racing the way it used to be covered.
You probably don’t remember Joe Nichols in the NYT, but at the end of the writeup on Saturday’s stakes race Joe would always give a capsule history of how the race came to be named what it was; a shorter version of your Withers story.
Thus, I learned the Dwyer was named for a pair of Brooklyn brothers who were butchers. On and on. The program also used to list past stakes winners as well, but that’s gone.
Check the blog Onofframp now and then. I sometimes work in a racing post. Like the recent $2.6 million score on ‘Luck.’
Will be reading you as well.
John…
Thanks, John. Researching history pieces like this, I’ve read a lot of Nichols, and he’s great. If you check the “racing history” tag at the bottom of the post, you’ll find a lot of posts like this one–what a treat it is to go trawling through racing history, and I’ll definitely check out that blog. Thanks for reading and commenting.
Teresa,
Curious as to what you think of my theory that the Times article from this past Sunday and any that follow as an installment are being instigated at the behest of the Cuomo administration. The letter he wrote to NYRA in the aftermath of the terrible breakdown rate during the inner dirt season made in fairly plain that this was about dollars and cents. The series by the Times seems to me to be a convenient way to convince an all too willing public that slots subsidies for the industry are not only wasteful, but immoral as well. Taking an anti-racing stance hasn’t cost Chris Christie one voter, and the movement is now gaining traction in Ontario also…
Very nice and informative website. I appreciate how much effort and energy goes into keeping a “site” current and interesting.
Good work – Frank, Rvhd. N.Y.
Question re Rick Dutrow. I understand the NY Court of Appeals refused to hear his appeal so why is he still allowed to train? Thans
Hi, Glenn,
Matt Hegarty in the Racing Form covered it in
this article last month. I hope it helps–
Teresa
Hi Teresa!
I am friends with Dorothy here in Naples. I hope we can meet when you are down this way. Love your blog – fabulous job. I am a HUGE racing fan…love seeing your insights.
Ame
Thanks, Ame–appreciate that! Looking forward to meeting you next week –
Hi Teresa-
I’m an antique photography collector and dealer and now and then I mine my early NYC photo collection and prepare an article on some aspect of NYC history for publication in a magazine called “Stereo World.” This magazine is a publication of the National Stereoscopic Association (NSA), a not-for-profit organization of individuals interested in stereoscopic photography. I have a number of stereoviews of Jerome Park and would like to prepare a small article on the topic such as the one you published here and illustrate it with the 10 of so stereoviews I have. If you’d be interested in doing this together please write to my email and let me know. Hope to hear from you.
best, jk
Hi Teresa:
First visit.
A very well-put-together and interesting blog, informative.
Living on the west coast of Canada I’m more ‘in tune’ with California racing but I certainly like to check in with NY racing and this seems to be the site to get all the info.
Like most people I’m sure, I enjoy the ‘human interest’ takes.
You obviously put a lot of time & effort into this and a job well done!
I’ll be back.
Ron Logan
Vancouver BC
Thanks, Ron — thanks for visiting the site and for taking the time to leave a comment. Hope to make it to Hastings one of these days!
Hi Teresa:
If you do get an opportunity to visit our very beautiful little bullring, I’d recommend letting the track know ‘when’. and your connections to the industry. I’m confident you would get a very sincere welcome.
GM Raj Mutti is doing great work, getting the younger folks interested in the game. (not too many guys walking around puffing on stogies anymore. Being older, have to admit I miss that)
Of course, Mario Gutierrez coming from Hastings didn’t hurt :~)
Hope you get out here at some point.
All the best
Ron
Thanks, Ron — me, too!