Last year, Turf History Times launched a line of “Saratoga Horse Racing History: The John Morrissey Years (1863-1877)” postcards to honor the memory of Morrissey, the founding father of Thoroughbred racing in Saratoga Springs, New York. This month, two new limited edition cards have been released to celebrate the 156th running of the Belmont Stakes at Saratoga Race Course on June 8, 2024. These cards feature Harry Bassett, one of the earliest winners of the Belmont Stakes in 1871 and a hero of the Saratoga track, while the legendary “Old Smoke” Morrissey also makes an appearance in the cards’ historic stories.

The backside of each card includes several lines of additional text detailing Harry Bassett’s career, as well as a Currier & Ives image of the Hall of Fame champion in the corner stamp spot. A total of six postcards, including the two new ones released this year, as well as a sticker that matches an 1863 Saratoga race meet announcement, are available two ways: online in our TURFHISTORYTIMESShop on Etsy, and in Downtown Saratoga Springs at The Dark Horse Mercantile retail store at 445 Broadway.

If you missed last year’s initial series of cards, read more about them here.