I had business in Saratoga Springs on Wednesday — returning some old pictures from the old Gazette’s wildly popular history page. And a quick “hello” to my old friend Beverly.

The “hello” took place at Saratoga Race Course, and also featured greetings for Beverly’s two fine children, Misha, 14, and Jane, 12.

Beverly is a $2 bettor, and likes the chance to wager a couple bucks and perhaps win a couple more. That’s why she’s on the favorites, and that’s why she was on Dean’s Kitten in the fourth.

The “Kitten” went off at less than 2-1, and paid a paltry $5.40 for Beverly’s hard-earned dough. The profit was only $3.40 and yes, I know the old horse player’s saying — “A short price is better than a long face” — but I generally try to find a runner with higher odds. That means a higher price on the tote board after the race.

Anyway .... Beverly’s excellent progeny can’t wager on their own. They’re too young for Saratoga — and every other race track in America — and their allowances are better spent on more wholesome products. But that doesn’t mean an agent provocateur can’t step in and offer the kids free $2 bets.

That’s what happened. I said the lad and lass could pick one each from the nine-horse field in the fifth, and their bets would be covered by the “Type A to Z” creative team. I mentioned my weakness for a solid price horse over a favorite. “You always want to beat the favorite,” I told the youngsters, beginning my spiel of corruption.

Now, I have a relative who works at a Truly Unique newspaper in Albany, and he writes about horses all the while, when he’s not screwing around with violinists and alligators. “Timmy likes Rosie’s Promises,” said Beverly, who must have admired the 2-1 odds.

Ugh. 2-1!

I was leaning toward Eager Emma, a horse from Nick Zito’s barn. I’ve long admired Nick’s gang of runners, and also admired the 6-1 odds “Emma” was offering.

“I have a friend named Emma!” Jane said.

“Well, this is your horse!” I said. “You’re getting a good horse at a good price.”

Young Misha bought my plan about beating the fave, but decided to hop on Two Moons at 8-1. I took the kids’ dreams to the betting window and made a down payment on their future enjoyment of race tracks. And I also slipped the teller another $2 ... I had to invest on Nick’s horse myself.

Well, the race went off. Emma and the Moons gave us runs for our cash. But it looked like they were third and fourth, respectively, as they passed us on the rail. We didn’t see it, but Emma finished like a rocket and edged past Chernobyl Princess at the wire. I guess she was Eager after all!

The horse backed by my relative finished third.

Jane was amazed. “I won?” she said. “No — WE won,” I answered.

Emma had started the race at 7-1, and returned $16.40 to Jane and me. Poor Misha missed out, but at least he had acquitted himself with honor. He had tried to beat the big favorite!

I cashed in for Jane, and she was glad to have $16 for her August shopping trips. After her big score, she was through betting for the day. Smart kid.

And I couldn’t let Misha leave the track with that “long face,” so I slipped him $10 from my winnings.

“There’s always another race, kid,” I said.

All in a day’s corruption.