A lot of people have stopped by barn 70 at Saratoga Race Course to get a glimpse of Maimonides, the Bob Baffert-trained favorite for Monday’s 103rd running of the Grade 1, $250,000 Hopeful for two-year-olds at seven furlongs.

Today’s visitors included more than a dozen students and several rabbis from Maimonides Hebrew School of Albany.

The field trip was a welcome diversion for students and teachers. On Wednesday, a fire gutted the school’s storage trailer which held, among other things, 70-year-old pews intended for a planned addition to the school.

After Baffert welcomed the group to the barn, the children took their places around Maimonides’ stall. While some students were petting their new favorite horse and others held a sign that read, “MAIMONIDES IS A WIN WIN!,“ Rabbi Israel Rubin read the following:

“Moses Maimonides lived 800 years ago, from 1135 to 1204. He was among the greatest sages, but you don’t have to be Jewish to love and respect Maimonides. He was the chief rabbi of Cairo and the Sultan’s doctor, and the owners of this horse are Egyptian. Maimonides was respected and honored by both Jews and Arabs.

“Now hold your horses! You won’t find Moses Maimonides here at the racetrack. The real Maimonides excelled in other fields. He spent time teaching Torah, and as a doctor to heal the sick and guide the healthy.

“We from Albany’s Maimonides School are proud to see our name all over the races. Now, many more people know that Maimonides existed and are learning to spell and to pronounce his name right!”

Maimonides (pronounced My-MON-a-deez) is owned by Ahmed Zayat, the CEO and Chairman of Al Ahram Beverages, a major beverage manufacturer and distributor in Egypt. Earlier this summer, he sent several Zayat Stable runners to Saratoga from Del Mar, citing his preference for racing on dirt surfaces.

Today begins Final Stretch Weekend at Saratoga Race Course, and through Monday, Labor Day, which is the final day of the meeting, Saratoga will offer an array of musical performance throughout the backyard and under the bandstand, which located near the clubhouse escalators.

Today’s music included Reggie’s Red Hot Feetwarmers, Ernie Munick, and Dan Levinson.

On Saturday, racing fans may enjoy the music of Capital Brass, Quickstep Band and Doc Scanlon’s Rhythm Boys.-Sunday, the music of Saratoga Bluegrass and Captain Squeeze and the Zydeco Moshers will resonate from the track. Finally, on Monday, the Peter Davis Quartet and Ernie Williams will help conclude the final day of the 139th Saratoga Race Course meet.

The music will continue downtown on Saturday and Sunday nights as the City of Saratoga Springs and the New York Racing Association host the annual Downtown Music Festival. More than a dozen acts featuring reggae, jazz, blues and pop music will line Broadway from 7 p.m. - 11 p.m. to herald the waning days of the Saratoga summer meet.

Families are the focus at Saratoga Race Course on Sunday and Monday for the annual Family Fun Fest to benefit the Ronald McDonald House Charities of the Capital Region.

The two-day festival will take place on Sunday, from 10:30 a.m. – 5 p.m. and Monday, from 11 a.m. – 5 p.m., during which time, the backyard area will host a variety of family-friendly attractions such as carnival games, face painting, caricatures, spin art, giant inflatables and pony rides. Juggler and stilt walker “Sparkles” will entertain both young and old, and the Backyard Circus will provide family amusement.

Families can also climb Coca-Cola’s inflatable rock wall, try the Adrenaline Rush obstacle course, or bounce in the Bounce Around house.

Proceeds from activities at the Family Fun Fest benefit Ronald McDonald Charities of the Capital Region. The non-profit organization provides comfort, support and respite for families of seriously ill children in a compassionate, home-like environment.

Racing fans are invited to celebrate Labor Day at the track with an all-American Labor Day barbeque at the Paddock Pavilion and At the Rail Pavilion on Monday. The fare features traditional favorites such as hamburgers, hot dogs, chicken, salad, and much more. The barbeque costs $20 for adults and $14 for children ages 3-12, which includes Clubhouse admission and an official “Post Parade” program.

For tickets and further information, call 518-584-6200 ext.4476