Several steeplechase jockeys will participate in an autograph session at Saratoga Race Course on Thursday afternoon, Aug. 26, outside the Silks Building behind the historic New York track’s grandstand. The autograph session is sponsored jointly by the National Steeplechase Association and the Steeplechase Owners and Trainers Association with the support of the sport’s top riders and the New York Racing Association.
The autograph signing will be held in conjunction with the $100,000 New York Turf Writers Cup, a Grade 1 race on the National Steeplechase Association’s annual calendar. It was staged for the first time in 1938 at Saratoga, and the 2010 edition will be its 69th running.
Among the jockeys expected to participate in the Turf Writers are Paddy Young, the reigning champion jockey by victories; Danielle Hodsdon, who led the earnings board last year; new arrival Brian Crowley, who has two victories and a second at Saratoga this year; Carl Rafter, who ranks second in this year’s rankings by wins; and Jeff Murphy, who regularly ranks in the top five.
Available for fans will be autograph cards with the top jockeys’ photo portraits, copies of the American Steeplechasing annual covering the 2009 racing year, and several 2010 steeplechase calendars.