The New York Racing Association Inc. will host multiple events Saturday on Alabama Day, beginning with an annual fund-raiser for the Lustgarten Foundation to honor the memory of longtime trainer Dominic Galluscio.
Headlined by the $600,000 Alabama (G1), presented by Keeneland Sales, Saturday's program also includes the $200,000 Lake Placid (G2). Gates open at 11 a.m. (ET) with first post scheduled for 1:10 p.m.
Each year, NYRA pays tribute to the legacy of Galluscio with a day to raise awareness and funds for the Lustgarten Foundation, a nonprofit organization whose mission is to advance science and medical research related to pancreatic cancer.
NYRA will name a race in honor of Galluscio, who passed away in 2014 following a battle with pancreatic cancer. A popular and respected figure among his peers, Galluscio trained more than 1,000 winners and earned more than $31 million in purses during a career that began in 1981 and took place primarily on the New York circuit.
The centerpiece of the day will be a trainer autograph session from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Jockey Silks Room Porch. Suggested donations will benefit the Lustgarten Foundation.
Hall of Famers D. Wayne Lukas, Shug McGaughey, Todd Pletcher, Steve Asmussen. and Nick Zito are among the trainers scheduled to sign autographs (lineup subject to change). One-hundred percent of all donations will help fund pancreatic research.
Also being remembered on Saturday will be farrier Ray Amato Jr., who died in 2021 from pancreatic cancer. Amato was a familiar and important member of the New York racing community, having teamed for many years with his father, Ray. Together, they shod hundreds of stakes winners, including two Kentucky Derby (G1) winners (Super Saver in 2010 and Always Dreaming in 2017) and three Belmont Stakes (G1) winners (Rags to Riches in 2007, Palace Malice in 2013, and Tapwrit in 2017).
Alabama Day will also include appearances by two leading players from the 1980 Men's Olympic Ice Hockey gold medal-winning team to coincide with the 40th running of the Lake Placid.
Mark Johnson and John Harrington will be at Saratoga and will pose with fans for photos for approximately 45 minutes, take part in the ceremonial call for “Riders Up” prior to the Lake Placid, and award the trophy to the winner of the race.
Johnson is currently head coach of the University of Wisconsin Badgers women's hockey program and just recently became a horse farm owner. He is best known as the leading scorer for the 1980 US Olympic Hockey Team.
Harrington, who is currently head coach of the Minnesota State University Mankato Mavericks women's hockey program, tallied an assist on the game-winning goal versus the USSR widely known as the “Miracle on Ice” game.
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