Tag: A Look Back

A Look Back: Reviewing Guest Picks for the 2024 Travers Stakes

This year’s Triple Crown was a mixed bag, but the Travers was so stacked that it felt more like a Breeders’ Cup race. Of course, when handed one of the most competitive fields in Travers history, Paddy’s Picks guests predictably zeroed in on one very unique angle.

For the record, I don’t hold it against anyone who immediately latched on to Thorpedo Anna in the 2024 Travers. The story of a filly beating the boys on this massive stage was a scintillating one, and I repeatedly asserted that she had the talent to back it up. She was an excellent bet to win this race and proved it. The problem is that I produce articles compiling a large number of picks, and the quality of the article suffers a bit when more than half of my beloved guests pick the same horse. The fact that this was backlogged with two other articles didn’t help matters. read more

A Look Back: Reviewing Guest Picks for the 2024 Belmont Stakes

The Belmont Stakes is the final leg on the Triple Crown trail, but in the 2024 Paddy’s Picks backlogged triathlon, it’s the middle jewel, and a special one at that. For the first time in the history of the American Triple Crown, the 2024 Belmont Stakes was held at Saratoga Racecourse in Upstate New York. For any racing fan, it was the must-see event of the year. I stood beside my sister, Emma, and her friend, Niko, in the 161-year-old grandstand as the horses entered the final stretch. 

There’s another story attached to this memory, one I mention among my guests’ picks. As the three of us looked for a spot with a view of the track, however, the most notable sensation was the awe-inspiring energy from the gathering crowd. It reminded me of photos of World Series games, when people crowded on top of surrounding buildings to get a peek of the field while countless others gathered around radios outside local shops. It was idyllic pandemonium. read more

A Look Back: Reviewing Guest Picks for the 2024 Preakness Stakes

Editor’s Note: Special thanks to Esme Bleecker-Adams for her illustration in this article’s featured image.

The 2024 Preakness Stakes occurred five months ago. The 2024 Belmont Stakes occurred two weeks after that. The 2024 Travers Stakes occurred in late August. Paddy’s Picks guests provided analysis for all three races, and everyone’s favorite editor slacked off in his publishing duties.

To provide some semblance of a defense for myself, these guest articles have become rather difficult to write after four years. Most of you have already been introduced; you all have distinct personas and narratives on this site after making dozens of picks. Your motivations and quirks have been defined. My job is to add more paint to the picture, but at this point, it feels like I’m just cramming details into crowded corners.  read more

A Look Back: Reviewing Guest Picks for the 2022 Cigar Mile

Who wants an introduction? This article is nearly 9,000 words long and it’s taken me two weeks to put together, but if an introduction is what you all want, then I’m more than happy to provide. I wish I could hear all of you clamoring.

As is always the case in these guest articles, I asked too many people to pick the winner of a high-profile horse race. I introduce them, they make a pick and explain, and then I either dole out quaint praise or hard-hitting criticism. This time, it was the G1 Cigar Mile at Aqueduct, an excellent dirt race that lived up to the hype despite a short field. read more

A Look Back: Reviewing Guest Picks for the 2022 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe

On Oct. 1, I asked far too many people to pick the winner of the 2022 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe. I was sick at the time and looked forward to weeks of productivity after my health improved. A Paddy’s Picks guest article felt like light work.

I remained extremely ill for another four days in October and didn’t fully recover for another week. Shortly after I returned to class, my most important source for a big assignment at Columbia canceled on me, forcing me to ditch a month’s worth of research and start over one week before my deadline. To be candid, at around the same time, I fell back into a bit of a slump in terms of mental health, something I can be candid about with my dear readers without fully addressing on this horse racing website. While that was going on, the Mets lost to the San Diego Padres in the Wild Card and I had to put on a brave face after Game 3 while a room full of anti-Met fans berated me without fully understanding the rules of baseball. read more

A Look Back: Reviewing Guest Picks for the 2022 Travers

An apology and explanation are in order. The Travers Stakes occurred on Saturday, Aug. 27, and since that day, I’ve worked tirelessly to complete this guest analysis article and appease my tens and tens of voracious readers. Unfortunately, between schoolwork at Columbia, a part-time job and a number of social engagements, I haven’t had my usual amount of time to dedicate to crafting an 8,000-word document for hard-hitting racing analysis.

Though it took longer to complete than it normally would, I can assure readers that my effort and the efforts of my thoroughly entertaining guests are not lacking in any way as autumn closes in on the racing season. Life just gets in the way sometimes. read more