The Saratoga meet is winding down and that means Mike Stango's mornings are booked solid. Stango is the co-owner of Westerleigh North, one of several equine transportation companies moving race horses out of Saratoga as the summer comes to a close.

“Going back is a little bit more intense because everybody is looking to get out within the same two or three days,” Stango said of closing weekend. “Coming up they are kind of staggered.”

A former thoroughbred trainer in the 1970s and 80s, Stango started the van company almost 30 years ago.

"I wanted to stay in the game and the business and I managed to find a way," Stango said.

Westerleigh North makes between 15 to 20 runs a summer between Saratoga and tracks all over the country.

“I have a very good clientele base, which I am very proud of,” Stango said. “Some of the biggest names in the business that I’ve been servicing for 25 to 30 years now.”

Some of his equine passengers are the sport's biggest stars. 

“You are dealing with very, very valuable animals,” Stango said. “I don’t want to know if I’m moving a $1 million horse or a $2 million horse, I just want to take care of every horse the same.”

Stango's big vans carry eight horses at a time while the smaller have room for four.

“Each horse has its own compartment and there are a lot of safety measures that are built into it," Stango said.

The cargo hold is setup like a traveling barn with everything geared toward safety and comfort. 

“If they are comfortable, they are going to get to where they are going less stressed out," Stango said, who used to drive his own vans before he hired more staff. “The one thing I tell my drivers is pretend you have a bunch of loose eggs in the back of your truck and your objective is to get where you are going without breaking one egg. That’s how I want you to drive your horses.”

With three decades and countless miles behind him, Stango takes pride in his long journey.

“Coming around here and being around the horses and the people, I enjoy hanging out and having a good time and getting the job done,” Stango said.

While hundreds of horses will leave Saratoga over the next few days, many will stay at the Oklahoma Training Track well into the fall.

To see our coverage of Saratoga's racing season, click here.