June 22 2013: Ryan Hunter-Reay, driver of the No. 1 DHL Chevrolet, during the IZOD IndyCar Series Iowa Corn Indy 250 at Iowa Speedway in Newton, Iowa.

And finally, big Z (she's as tall as many draft horses, but doesn't move like one!). I thought she must have gone around the backstretch to warm up, but it turned out she'd been stopping to pose all the way along the track--and did so again right where I was standing.

SUFFOLK DOWNS - August 5, 2018 - Race 9

STARTER OPTIONAL CLAIMING - Thoroughbred

FOR THREE YEAR OLDS AND UPWARD WHICH HAVE STARTED FOR A CLAIMING PRICE OF $5,000 OR LESS IN 2017-2018 OR CLAIMING PRICE $10,000. Three Year Olds, 120 lbs.; Older, 124 lbs. Non-winners Of A Race Since July 5 Allowed 3 lbs. Claiming Price $10,000. Claiming Price: $5,000

Six Furlongs On The Dirt Track Record: (Canal - 1:08.20 - May 14, 1966)

Purse: $35,000

Weather:Clear Track:Fast

Off at: 4:28 Start: Good for all

4 - Appealing Future (Ocasio, Luis)

3 - Hard Hitter (Hernandez Sanchez, Andy)

2 - Honorable Service (Gonzalez, Silvestre)

SUFFOLK DOWNS - August 5, 2018 - Race 9

STARTER OPTIONAL CLAIMING - Thoroughbred

FOR THREE YEAR OLDS AND UPWARD WHICH HAVE STARTED FOR A CLAIMING PRICE OF $5,000 OR LESS IN 2017-2018 OR CLAIMING PRICE $10,000. Three Year Olds, 120 lbs.; Older, 124 lbs. Non-winners Of A Race Since July 5 Allowed 3 lbs. Claiming Price $10,000. Claiming Price: $5,000

Six Furlongs On The Dirt Track Record: (Canal - 1:08.20 - May 14, 1966)

Purse: $35,000

Weather:Clear Track:Fast

Off at: 4:28 Start: Good for all

4 - Appealing Future (Ocasio, Luis)

3 - Hard Hitter (Hernandez Sanchez, Andy)

2 - Honorable Service (Gonzalez, Silvestre)

SUFFOLK DOWNS - September 2, 2017 - Race 6

CLAIMING - Thoroughbred

FOR THREE YEAR OLDS AND UPWARD WHICH HAVE NOT WON TWO RACES IN 2017 OR WHICH HAVE NEVER WON FOUR RACES. Three Year Olds, 121 lbs.; Older, 124 lbs. Non-winners of a race since August 2 Allowed 3 lbs. Claiming Price $5,000. ( C) Five And One Half Furlongs On The Dirt Track Record: (My Tee Time - 1:03.45 - June 23, 2014)

Purse: $22,500

Weather:Clear Track:Fast

Off at: 3:08 Start: Good for all

12 - Two Step Temper (Otero, William)

9 - Academic Affair (Barbaran, Erik)

10 - Secretive (Piermarini, Tammi)

We were 10 feet from the track, on a flatbed semi trailer, in the Patten cat motorcoach spaces. Great place to see the race, in the backstretch. Tony Stewart won the race in 07

Feb 12, 2009; Daytona Beach, FL, USA; Nascar Sprint Cup Series driver Bill Elliott (21) sits on the backstretch after a transmission problem during race one of the Gatorade Duel at Daytona International Speedway. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-US PRESSWIRE

June 22 2013: Will Power, driver of the No. 12 Verizon Team Penske Chevrolet, during the IZOD IndyCar Series Iowa Corn Indy 250 at Iowa Speedway in Newton, Iowa.

June 22 2013: Will Power, driver of the No. 12 Verizon Team Penske Chevrolet,during the IZOD IndyCar Series Iowa Corn Indy 250 at Iowa Speedway in Newton, Iowa.

SUFFOLK DOWNS - July 9, 2017 - Race 6

CLAIMING - Thoroughbred

FOR THREE YEAR OLDS AND UPWARD WHICH HAVE NEVER WON TWO RACES. Three Year Olds, 119 lbs.; Older, 124 lbs. Non-winners of a race since June 9 Allowed 3 lbs. Claiming Price $16,000 (Preference Will Be Given To Horses Which Have Not Started For Less Than $10,000. The Same Preference Will Be Given To Horses Which Have Started For Less Than $10,000 And Since Then Have Finished 1st, 2nd, Or 3rd For $10,000 Or More.). (NW2 L) Claiming Price: $16,000

About Seven And One Half Furlongs On The Turf Track Record: (Times Ahead (IRE) - 1:32.40 - September 3, 1988)

Purse: $27,500

Weather:Clear Track:Firm

Off at: 3:24 Start: Good for all

4 - Sir Ray (Cedeno, Carol)

Dead heat 1 - Summer Spice (Esquivel, Emmanuel)/3 - Magna Fortune (Rivera, Edwin);

6 - Thirsty Donnerstag (Silvera, Ruben)

Ryan Blaney limps back to the pits fit a bit of damage from the first backstretch accident.

SUFFOLK DOWNS - June 10, 2018 - Race 6

MAIDEN CLAIMING - Thoroughbred

FOR MAIDENS, THREE YEARS OLD AND UPWARD. Three Year Olds, 118 lbs.; Older, 124 lbs. Claiming Price $16,000. (If deemed inadvisable by management to run this race on the Turf, it will be run on the main track at One mile.). Claiming Price: $16,000

About Seven And One Half Furlongs On The Turf Track Record: (Times Ahead (IRE) - 1:32.40 - September 3, 1988)

Purse: $30,000

Weather:Cloudy Track:Firm

Off at: 3:14 Start: Good for all

3 - Repetitious (Worrie, Andre)

5 - Egolyan Son (Pedroza, Brian)

4 - Stormy Forecast (Marin, Augusto)

Pony rides and games at Suffolk Downs for the 75th anniversary crowd. Horses from the second race return to the backstretch.

June 22 2013: Will Power, driver of the No. 12 Verizon Team Penske Chevrolet, signs autographs for fans during the IZOD IndyCar Series Iowa Corn Indy 250 at Iowa Speedway in Newton, Iowa.

SUFFOLK DOWNS - September 2, 2017 - Race 11

CLAIMING - Thoroughbred

FOR THREE YEAR OLDS AND UPWARD WHICH HAVE NOT WON TWO RACES IN 2017. Three Year Olds, 121 lbs.; Older, 124 lbs. Non-winners Of A Race Since August 2 Allowed 3 lbs. (NW2 9M) Claiming Price: $7,500

About Seven And One Half Furlongs On The Turf Track Record: (Times Ahead (IRE) - 1:32.40 - September 3, 1988)

Purse: $25,000

Weather:Clear Track:Firm

Off at: 5:26 Start: Good for all

6 - Boppin Anda Weavin (Barbaran, Erik)

7 - Chamois (Amiss, David)

5 - Cosmo the Comet (Baez, Jose)

Jeff Gordon making a run for the front of the pack as they speed around the backstretch.

We sat in the air conditioned grand stand. Decent seats -- $50 each

Tim's car was hooked up and just outmuscled everyone else down the backstretch

Spec Racers and open wheel cars down the long backstretch

SUFFOLK DOWNS - July 9, 2017 - Race 7

CLAIMING - Thoroughbred

FOR THREE YEAR OLDS AND UPWARD WHICH HAVE NOT WON TWO RACES IN 2017 OR WHICH HAVE NEVER WON FOUR RACES. Three Year Olds, 119 lbs.; Older, 124 lbs. Non-winners Of A Race Since June 9 Allowed 3 lbs. Claiming Price $5,000.

One Mile On The Dirt Track Record: (Back Bay Brave - 1:35.20 - July 12, 1986)

Purse: $25,000

Weather:Clear Track:Fast

Off at: 3:56 Start: Good for all

8 - Banner Bill (Piermarini, Tammi)

7 - Ride This Train (Fox, Kris)

3 - Bake Shop (Esquivel, Emmanuel)

SUFFOLK DOWNS - July 8, 2017 - Race 6

CLAIMING - Thoroughbred

FOR THREE YEAR OLDS AND UPWARD WHICH HAVE NEVER WON TWO RACES. Three Year Olds, 119 lbs.; Older, 124 lbs. Non-winners of a race since June 8 Allowed 3 lbs. Claiming Price: $5,000

Five And One Half Furlongs On The Dirt Track Record: (My Tee Time - 1:03.45 - June 23, 2014)

Purse: $22,500

Weather: Clear Track: Fast

Off at: 3:04 Start: Good for all

4 - Condo King (Arroyo, Angel)

7 - My Cotton Jones (Rivera, Edwin)

6 - Saratoga Shiner (Silvera, Ruben)

mountaineer racetrack, flying g racing

Gareth Dowse guides ALLMYROWDYFRIENDS, #2, along the backstretch in the 6th.race, a 1-Mile Pace, during the Landmark Stakes Races for Two-Year Olds at the Goshen Historic Track, as part of their Grand Circuit Racing Week on Thursday, July 2, 2008. ALLMYROWDYFRIENDS won the race in 2:03.3 Times Herald-Record/CHET GORDON

Josh Belter's car number 16 on the backstretch. Birmingham International Raceway at the Alabama State Fairgrounds, Birmingham, Jefferson County, Alabama. July 3, 2008. (TC)

June 23, 2013: James Hinchcliffe, driver of the No. 27 GoDaddy Chevrolet, won the IZOD IndyCar Series Iowa Corn Indy 250 race at Iowa Speedway in Newton, Iowa.

At the backstretch, Saratoga Race Track, Saratoga, NY

June 8 2013: during qualifying for the NASCAR Nationwide Series DuPont 250 at Iowa Speedway in Newton, Iowa.

SUFFOLK DOWNS - August 5, 2017 - Race 10

ALLOWANCE OPTIONAL CLAIMING - Thoroughbred

FOR THREE YEAR OLDS AND UPWARD WHICH HAVE NEVER WON A RACE OTHER THAN MAIDEN, CLAIMING, OR STARTER,OR STATE BRED OR WHICH HAVE NEVER WON TWO RACES OR CLAIMING PRICE $25,000. Three Year Olds, 120 lbs.; Older, 124 lbs. Non-winners of a race since July 5 Allowed 3 lbs. Claiming Price $25,000 (NW1 X)

About Seven And One Half Furlongs On The Turf Track Record: (Times Ahead (IRE) - 1:32.40 - September 3, 1988)

Purse: $45,000

Weather:Cloudy Track:Good

Off at: 4:42 Start: Good for all

5 - Yes I See (Marin, Augusto)

6 - Unusual Fleet (Panell, Dyn)

7 - Quality Asset (Vargas, Jr., Jorge)

The backstretch of TMS .

Saint Vincent de Paul - Turkeys for the backstretch workers of Golden Gate Fields with Chaplain Rob, then Ceara brought a huge amount of food & socks collected by the students of the School of the Madeleine!

The backstretch routine for Journalism after galloping at the Saratoga Race Course in Saratoga Springs, N.Y. on May 28, 2025

Gary Johnson/Eclipse Sportswire/CSM

SUFFOLK DOWNS - July 7, 2012 - Race 3

CLAIMING - Thoroughbred

FOR THREE YEAR OLDS AND UPWARD. Three Year Olds, 119 lbs.; Older, 124 lbs. Non-winners of two races since June 7 Allowed 2 lbs. A race since May 7 Allowed 4 lbs. Claiming Price $12,500 (Races where entered for $10,000 or less not considered in estimating allowances). (If deemed inadvisable by management to run this race on the Turf, it will be run on the main track at Five Furlongs.). Claiming Price: $12,500

About Five Furlongs On The Turf Track Record: (Bishop Ridley - 57.20 - July 19, 1987)

Purse: $15,500

Weather:Cloudy Track:Firm

Off at: 1:40 Start: Good for all

6 - National Hero (Ramos, Hector)

2 - Noble Tiger (Davis, Jacqueline)

5 - Swampy Town (Panell, Dyn)

SUFFOLK DOWNS - September 2, 2017 - Race 11

CLAIMING - Thoroughbred

FOR THREE YEAR OLDS AND UPWARD WHICH HAVE NOT WON TWO RACES IN 2017. Three Year Olds, 121 lbs.; Older, 124 lbs. Non-winners Of A Race Since August 2 Allowed 3 lbs. (NW2 9M) Claiming Price: $7,500

About Seven And One Half Furlongs On The Turf Track Record: (Times Ahead (IRE) - 1:32.40 - September 3, 1988)

Purse: $25,000

Weather:Clear Track:Firm

Off at: 5:26 Start: Good for all

6 - Boppin Anda Weavin (Barbaran, Erik)

7 - Chamois (Amiss, David)

5 - Cosmo the Comet (Baez, Jose)

June 8 2013: during qualifying for the NASCAR Nationwide Series DuPont 250 at Iowa Speedway in Newton, Iowa.

SUFFOLK DOWNS - August 5, 2018 - Race 3

CLAIMING - Thoroughbred

FOR THREE YEAR OLDS OR FOUR YEAR OLDS AND UPWARD WHICH HAVE NOT WON TWO RACES IN 2018 OR WHICH HAVE NEVER WON FOUR RACES. Three Year Olds, 120 lbs.; Older, 124 lbs. Non-winners Of A Race Since July 5, 2018 Allowed 3 lbs. Claiming Price $5,000. ( C) Claiming Price: $5,000

One Mile On The Dirt Track Record: (Back Bay Brave - 1:35.20 - July 12, 1986)

Purse: $30,000

Weather:Clear Track:Fast

Off at: 1:51 Start: Good for all

8 - Got Even (Piermarini, Tammi)

9 - Secret Secret (Whitacre, Grant)

7 - Hondo Gusto (Perez, Luis)