The anniversary of a devastating tragedy in horse racing is approaching, a day etched in the memories of all who witnessed it at Saratoga. For trainer Melanie Giddings, August 5th of last year represents one of the darkest moments in the history of upstate racing. In a fleeting instant, her promising filly, Maple Leaf Mel, transitioned from a seemingly certain winner of the Grade I Test Stakes to a horse suffering a catastrophic injury just before the finish line, an injury from which she could not be saved.
Giddings’ stable is currently thriving, with 42 horses under her care and ambitions for several wins at Saratoga. However, these successes cannot fully erase the profound impact of that fateful day. “I don’t think you’ll ever get over something like that,” Giddings shared, reflecting on the loss of Maple Leaf Mel. “She was a pretty special filly, but even if she were just a $5,000 claimer it would also have been a tragic thing. We are in this sport because we love the horse and we don’t want to see any of them get hurt.”
Owned by retired NFL Hall of Fame coach Bill Parcells, Maple Leaf Mel had already demonstrated her exceptional talent well before the Test Stakes. Entering the race with a perfect record of five wins in five starts, she had secured victories in the Grade III Victory Ride Stakes and the Grade III Miss Preakness Stakes, establishing herself as one of the fastest 3-year-old fillies in training.
The Test Stakes appeared to be a coronation for Maple Leaf Mel for the vast majority of the race. She was on track for victory until suffering a devastating breakdown in her right front leg mere inches from the wire. The experience was a jarring emotional descent for Giddings. “It was pretty much a feeling of shock,” the 40-year-old trainer recounted. “I took a filly into a race that I thought was going to win. It went from a real high, to, literally, rock bottom and I couldn’t believe that it actually happened.”
Giddings noted that Parcells, who had named the filly after her, was also deeply affected by the incident. “For Bill Parcells, it was obviously hard for him,” she stated. “He spent a lot of time and money in this business looking for a special horse. We were really enjoying having her. It would have been his first Grade I win and he was looking to have a real big summer here in Saratoga and the rest of the year and then looking forward to Breeders’ Cup.”
The official winner of the Test Stakes was Pretty Mischievous, trained by Brendan Walsh. In a display of remarkable sportsmanship, Walsh chose not to have a winner’s circle photo taken and, the following day, presented Giddings with the traditional blanket of flowers. “It was really nice of him to do that,” Giddings acknowledged. “Brendan is a good-hearted person himself. I’ve known him for a while, back when he was working with Eddie Kenneally. He takes great care of his horses and I know it was hard for him to see that as well. None of us ever want to see that. At the end of the day we are competitors, but we are all doing it for the same reason and when something like that happens it affects everybody.”
[Melanie Giddings, accompanied by her dog Reece and pony Gordo, the morning after last year’s Test Stakes. | Sarah Andrew photo
Initially reluctant to discuss the race in the immediate aftermath, Giddings has since found a measure of comfort in sharing her story. She described one of the more challenging moments over the past year as attending the New York-bred awards ceremony. “It was hard when I had to go to the New York-bred ceremony and they honored her and she won all sorts of awards,” Giddings recalled. “But it just shows you how good she really was.”
Giddings anticipates a more positive Saratoga meet this year, with several promising horses set to compete. She has already achieved success, with Leon Blue placing second in a maiden race on July 24th, and a promising debut from first-time starter Elemiah. She expressed optimism about other horses in her stable that are expected to run before the meet concludes.
However, Giddings acknowledges that finding another horse like Maple Leaf Mel is a rare occurrence. “She was just pretty special all around,” she concluded. “You knew she was special from the start and those horses are very rare. She’s a once-in-a-lifetime horse, to be honest with you.”
