Story: Horse Racing at Historic Saratoga

Celebrate summer this year by taking in something a little more lively than a flower festival. August is the month for the summer thoroughbred racing calendar at Saratoga in upstate New York. Known as thoroughbred racing’s most historic track, Saratoga is an ideal destination. Watch some of the best thunder around the nation’s oldest racetrack. When the horses run, every day and night is like a carnival with plenty of opportunities for action, excitement, and fun. Stay for a weekend or make a whole week of it.
Don’t worry if you don’t understand the races. The famed Saratoga, described as the “summer place to be,” is for everyone. In fact, Saratoga has never lost any of the luster that made it an attraction years ago to dignitaries and celebrities. It has distinguished itself as a hotspot—the place to be seen.
It’s a wonderful time of year in a historic place where horses and people from all walks of life, including some of the world’s top owners, trainers and jockeys, converge yearly for the racing season. Since 1863, when Saratoga first opened, great superstars have charged down the stretch in celebrated races.
Saratoga hosts a calendar of events each year, including the Travers Stakes. The oldest major thoroughbred horse race in America, it’s named for William R. Travers, who with John Hunter and former American heavyweight champion John Morrissey built the track. Travers Weekend is one of the largest throughout the season drawing thousands of people.
If you love horseracing, you can breakfast at the track, dining by the rail as the horses are exercised, and listen to the experts as they tell you about the morning workouts. Or head across the street before post time where you’ll be dazzled by the display of colorful silks worn by renowned jockeys on display at the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame
Take a tour of the backside where horses are stabled and cared for. I’ve worked with horses assisting trainers at Calder Race Course, Gulfstream Park, and Hialeah Race Course in South Florida, and I must say that the backside is an interesting part of the racing community. You can watch a morning workout sessions, when admission is free.
Special events abound in Saratoga during the month of August offering plenty more to go along with horse-related attractions. For all the excitement the races unleash on Saratoga, visitors will still be able to enjoy quiet escapes. A walk through the Saratoga Spa State Park, just outside the city, is especially serene. You’ll find 2,200 acres of swimming, golf, tennis and trails. At the Saratoga Performing Arts Center you can catch a performance, or bring a blanket and listen beneath the stars to some of the best in classical, pop and jazz. Relax in mineral waters at one of the two bathhouses in the park. This will give you an idea of what’s attracted people to the area for over 300 years. Tan yourself at Saratoga Lake, put in a round or two at the Saratoga National Golf Course, or visit one of the many museums where art lovers will find numerous spectacular exhibits. Get in some shopping in beautiful downtown (winner of the National Historic Trust’s Main Street Award). The area is filled with charming shops, restaurants, and captivating architecture.
Saratoga Springs also has an exciting gaming and entertainment complex, featuring the newest technology combined with the classic tradition of live harness racing.
Every town—and I consider myself fortunate to have been able to see so much of our country—has it’s own history; its own personality, and other virtues like friendship and personality. Saratoga is a wonder to behold.