Saratoga, Wyoming
If you’ve ever driven through this small community of 1,700 or had the sincere pleasure of traipsing down Bridge Avenue destined for the Hotel Wolf and the reputed best bacon-wrapped filet in those parts, you’d get the sense that there is more here than meets the eye. So you’d ask around.
Head over to Duke’s Bar & Grill - just across the street - for an after-dinner dram and game of pool, you say?
What is this? I’m seeing posters on the walls of Duke’s telling tales of past annual pool tournaments called The Wyoming Open....previous winners by the names we all recognize: Morris. Van Boening. Deuel. Archer. Okay. What’s going on?
The game: Saratoga. The official rules can be found stapled to the wall and well-worn copies can be had over in the corner where the balls can be found. A unique game, huh? A hybrid game combining 8-Ball and 9-Ball? Shoot your group in sequential order before pocketing the game winning black ball. And what’s this....a unique ball set made “by Aramith”?
IMPORTANT NOTE: my Saratoga ball set pictured below includes both 7 balls so that folks can play any number of traditional 8-Ball games BUT are not used for the game of Saratoga - only balls 1 through 6 and a unique rack arrangement for the break.
Pick your cue. Chalk up. Let’s play!
The story is as interesting as the game and ball set. I could write pages of what I do know, but for sake of brevity with just enough to capture your attention and curiosity, I can tell you this: The mayor of Saratoga, Mr. Glode, dreamt up this game back in the early 2000’s and has since just finished the 11th annual Wyoming Open featuring the game of Saratoga amongst other game divisions that allow local players to hobnob and actually play with the pro players in town for a long weekend of great fun and great play.
I’ll follow up with more details shortly (PICS of the Saratoga set racked on the table for sure) as well as the evolution of this wonderful game variation for 8 and 9-Ball fans everywhere - along with an early version ball set that Mayor Glode created to begin this new game back in 2008.
Many, many thanks to Tournament Director, Mr. Thayer, for being so gracious and helpful getting an official Saratoga ball set to me for my collection and the chance to share this unique story and game! To Mayor Glode, I must tip my proverbial hat for bringing a vision to reality and allowing us all the chance to play and experience another fabulous game on the baize - and hopefully the next time I pass through Saratoga, WY, we will have a chance to play a few racks, sir
~ K.