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Saratoga Race Course
Category: Arts & Entertainment Stadiums & Arenas Stadiums & Arenas [Edit]
267 Union AveSaratoga Springs, NY 12866
(518) 584-6200
- Good for Kids:
- No
29 reviews for Saratoga Race Course
29 reviews in English
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Review from Emily C.
San Jose, CA
1/3/2012
I remember as a kid, whenever ANYONE came to visit us in August, we had to take them to the track for breakfast and to watch the horses exercise. I grew up thinking that it was no big deal. Once I reached the drinking age, this area was my own little "discovery zone." So I have some fond memories and some not-so-memorable fondness of this place.
Since growing up, moving away, and living in two major metropolises, I've been back as an adult and only in the last 5-10 years have I grown to appreciate the experience and recognize how truly historic, lovely, and amazing a trip to the track in August can be. Thank goodness my sister still lives in the area and knows the ins and outs of everything here - parking can be crazy (look for small lots or areas on side streets. Pay the people who "rent" out their backyards for parking - it's worth it) and it's downright impossible to figure out how anything works around here. Betting? Food options? Tickets? how to get seats in the grass near the Paddock? Spinning for free giveaways? huh? My sister says that is on purpose and the locals and die-hard visitors are the only ones in the know.
But if you'd like to travel back in time, experience an historic place, see some of the most gorgeous creatures on earth (the horses aren't bad either ;)) and have some serious fun, brave the crowds and the heat and come here. Or you can go to the Disneyworld version - sans thoroughbreds. Your choice!
PS. Yes there is an actual DISNEYWORLD property that recreates Saratoga Springs! Now how is that for making the big-time! LOL! -
Review from Mike T.
Alexandria, VA
9/15/2011
Coming here for a day at the races is simply one of the best experiences you can have in the summer in this country. Saratoga Race Course, located in the scenic and historic town of Saratoga Springs, New York, is the oldest thoroughbred horseracing track in the country and you still get that old-timey feeling walking around the grounds. There are people picnicking in the vast backyard, local bands playing in the food stall area and people milling about the seating area (composed of the grandstand and clubhouse) either studying, betting or cheering on their horses. The atmosphere just can't be beat.
Horseracing has long been one of the great plebeian recreational activities around the world. And while it is here too, you can also get understand the reason why thoroughbred horseracing has been called, "The Sport of Kings." The grounds across the street from the main track look like they have been unchanged since the track's founding in 1863, and feature stables, a training track and facilities for the horse trainers and their staff. In the backyard on the main track grounds is the paddock where the majestic horses (and their jockeys) are paraded in front of the crowd prior to being taken onto the track itself for racing. The middle of the track area features landscaped grounds and a lake with a canoe in it painted in the colors of the last winner of Saratoga's biggest race, the Travers Stakes.
While you can eat and people-watch to your heart's content, most people come here to play the horses. Horseracing is the most interactive spectator sport because the betting on the horses is part of the game itself. There are few thrills in sports like betting on a horse and cheering it on to victory like you were the owner of the horse itself. And sometimes, if you are knowledgeable in the game and prepared with good information, you can actually take home more money than you came with. While you can thumb through a track program between races to help come up with betting picks, serious players buy a Daily Racing Form the day before they go to the track and study all the races so they are prepared to take on the crowd and make good bets the next day.
Although the crowds, prices and commercialism by the managing New York Racing Association have increased over the years (I hate new toteboard with commercials), even NYRA can't screw up an experience as good as this one as they have done with their other constituent tracks of Aqueduct and Belmont Park. Plus, they have done some good things like offer a "Breakfast at Saratoga" program and improve the food vendor quality. New for 2010 was a Shake Shack stand! So bring your kiddies, bring your wife - guaranteed to have the time of your life! -
Review from Jack M.
Boston, MA
9/6/2011
In all my long years being in Satatoga, I had never been to the races. I have family here, and Saratoga to me means my family's homestead from way back, houses long gone and farmland sold off. To you, Saratoga probably means the races, and it was only recently I went to see what all the fuss was about.
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I LOVE IT. I went and it's so much fun! First off, the place is ENORMOUS. There's an enormous area surrounding the track itself where people set up their own chairs or sit at picnic tables and watch the races on outside monitors. There's an area out there where you can place bets. Other places sell beer. There's even a Dunkin Donuts here (limited menu). There is a section just inside the bleacher area where you can also place bets and get food. Then, there's another section where you pay $2 to get in, and this area under the bleachers is just a step above the "free" area, with outdoor seating right by the finish line, as well as tables and table-service. There are areas up above where the well-off sit in boxes and have their own private betting machines.
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The cast of characters here is unbelieveable. Millionaires in suits and dilapidated shoes (maybe they are his lucky shoes?). Owners. Guys chomping on cigars (Yes you can SMOKE here! YAY!). Women in outlandish hats. And regular schmucks like me hoping to get lucky.
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How did I do? I did very well. I made a real good chunk of change betting on a horse that has ties to my family. Yah, that's how I roll.
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I also like that the beer here is cheap - 3 bucks for a Coors Light. Compared to what I'm used to at Fenway, that's a bargain!
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You could very easily spend the day here - betting every 1/2 hour, drinking, eating, smoking, and people-watching. I can't believe it took me, an old "local" from back in the day, all this time to see what the fuss was about.Listed in: I heart Saratoga
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Review from Jason B.
8/2/2011
Having never in my life been to any spectator arena where you bet on things going around a track really fast, I'm glad that my first experience with such things was at Saratoga Springs. My good friend Nate brought me here recently, and all I kept thinking while I enjoyed the beers we brought in the cooler, while I wagered money on horses, while I purchased $3.00 Leinenkugel Summer Shandy on draft at a booth, was "Jeez, none of this would be legal in the Commonwealth."
But families had picnics at tables outside, folks of all ages, ethnic subsets and income levels seemed to be enjoying the various aspects of the place. There was plenty of free parking, lots of fun stuff to see, and let us not forget the delicious water coming from the underground spring, free to anyone with a drinking vessel.
What a great time this place is. Bet a few bucks, have a few beers, cheer for the ponies, and call it a day. Sounds good to me. -
Review from Matt C.
Hamden, CT
7/31/2011 2 Check-ins Here
With Poker and Ponies 12 behind us, further review is here.
Make sure to show up at 7AM precisely on the weekend to grab a table for the day (don't worry, you can leave and come back). Otherwise, if you show up at 7:15, there will only be one table left, and it will be in the sun all day.
Bring a cooler (no glass) with whatever suits your fancy. Enjoy the day, make friends with Marge (who will give you an insider tip on the 8th (But you will have to find her)).
Make some money, have a great time with your favorite people.
Just do it. -
Review from Toni T.
Gloversville, NY
7/27/2011
I feel my opinion of the track might be a bit skewed because I worked there for several years as a White Cap. I haven't worked there for 8 years but it still seems like work when I go there. I still enjoy myself though.
On a nice day with good weather it makes for a fun time. Seeing the horses, hearing everyone cheering, and hopefully winning a bit of money make for a good time. Buy a seat or make sure you get a picnic table. You are going to want a home base where you can sit because it makes for a long day if you have to stand the whole time and seating does fast.
The betting is very inexpensive (you can bet as little as a dollar on each race) and it is less than $10 to get into the races (last I checked).
The only cons are that there are a lot of smokers around, it can be a bit loud and smelly, and it can be very crowded on some days. All in all a good time though. -
Review from J.J. B.
Framingham, MA
8/2/2011
An American tradition that offers an experience for all, gambler or not.
Chill in the picnic area among the students, families and Jeter t-shirts. Sit in the grandstand with the baby boomers and social security checks. Lounge in the club house with the whales and trophy wives.
Man and beast, rich and poor, young and old, Yankee fan and Red Sox fan. The biggest freakin hats you've ever seen.
Sundresses. So many sundresses.
And a good time is had by all. -
Review from Molly O.
Saratoga Springs, NY
11/8/2010
Does the Track need reviews? I don't think so, but here goes, anyway:
Hello, awesome. $3 gets you, plus whatever amount of beer and food you want to bring, into the track. You can wander around the lawns, use the picnic tables, or set up your own, and stay all day.
If you want to booze it up with a big group, you can claim a table and watch the races on a big screen. Check out the horses coming from the stables to the track for their races - they come right through the grounds and these are some good-looking horses.
You can stand right at the rail of the track, with a $6 beer and a $2 bet and yell at the horses as they race past (my favorite). This, of course, involves being close to other people. (Yikes?) You can take a seat in the grandstands for a few dollars more and get some shade.
If you'd like, you can make a day of it, put on your best hat, and sit in the fancy seats.
The best bet, though, is morning workouts. From 7-9:30AM, you can eat breakfast and watch the horses. Is there anything more Saratoga than that? -
Review from Benjamin S.
Brookline, MA
3/30/2009
Who gives a shit about horse racing?
This is easily the best people-watching spot on Earth. Rich, poor, fancy, plain, everyone is here to get down and have a good time. And you can bring your own beer! As long as it's in cans. Imagine walking around with a cooler on wheels, packed with the cheapest, cheapest light beer you can find. Crack one open in front of the Police without concern.
What a concept. -
Review from Degenerate S.
Downingtown, PA
11/14/2010
One of the most beautiful tracks in the country, even though it has become more commercial and less glamorous. You can do the picnic thing - nothing wrong with that. But if you want to people watch - you can't beat the clubhouse. On any given day, you will run into world leaders, rock stars, and other assorted bon vivants. In addition, some of the best horses in the world come here to play out the drama that is racing.
Sorry, even though there is plenty of park-like atmosphere, I've never agreed that a racetrack (or any gambling venue) is appropriate for children - hence the NO on good for kids. -
Review from Victor L.
Brooklyn, NY
8/22/2007
This is always bank when it comes to local fun. It's probably the one thing in the area that actually gets attention outside of a 45 minute radius; for city folk it's a great option, especially because it's supported by Saratoga, which is a great town with lots to do.
Parking is always crappy, but I suggest taking a Friday and parking in the adjacent neighborhood and heading over to the track. It's set up very plainly, you walk into the courtyard and grab a hot dog and feel touristy and whatnot, but you get to the track and it's really really pretty, underground you can grab a beer, the paper, take a look at the odds, and just have fun betting a couple bucks on a trifecta upstairs before you take a seat. All kinds of people show up; I actually see more mullets than anything else, but businessmen and sporting sophisticates show up in spades as well. I don't know too much about horse racing, and even less about betting. All the combinations really confuse me to no end, but at least I tried.
When it's sunny, the track is blazing with glory. Seriously it's such a historic place, and back when upstate was more of a glamorous area 50's style, this was a centerpiece and still is. The greens are trimmed, the dust bites of history, and everyone is really into it. Can't go wrong. -
Review from Marcus D.
8/23/2010
How can anyone have a bad time here? Unless you are a degenerate gambler and are the type that goes through discarded betting slips cast away on the floor, desperately searching for a win, I guess.
We came here for the "Alabama," sat in the clubhouse section, drank beers, bet a few bucks here, won a few bucks there, and came out a winner.
As a side note, the women here, even if they are plain janes, are all hot - the hat makes the outfit, ladies (and I'm not talking about baseball caps, I mean real hats, the types that only ladies should wear). -
Review from Lauren B.
Boston, MA
10/5/2007
Summer in Saratoga is so different than the rest of the year as the people who own the mansions and the apartments that they lease to students (who sometimes throw parties and ruin furniture) return to their properties, frequent all the upscale restaurants on Broadway and turn Saratoga into a happening place. (Note: in the winter it's just drunk Skidmore kids piled into the local bars).
In my four years at Skidmore I only went to the racetrack once (it's not open during the academic year) and had such a good time! It was 90 degrees and everyone on the ground was sweating in tank tops and screaming at the horses while the upper echelon of people who summer in Saratoga were well dressed up in their best and mildly applauding.
I think I won $6 (not really a gambler) but that's not why I went to the races- it's worth it just for the people watching, drinking and jumping up and down when your horse wins. -
Review from Crystal C.
Albany, NY
3/9/2009 1 photo
The track is the reason Saratoga is what it is. If the track wasn't there, Saratoga wouldn't be the nice kept city it is, it would be just another uncared for, unkempt upstate ny town. Like Schenectady. Maybe worse.
There is nothing better than spending a day at a picnic table at the track with good friends & taking in the historic atmosphere.
True, there can be handfuls of people there on any given day who treat the track like a big frat bbq, but all in all, that atmosphere is magically indescribable.
The food vendors are overpriced, but that's something that kind of seems on par for outdoor summer events. If you want to have a fun, inexpensive day at the track I suggest getting there EARLY to snag a picnic table, bring in your own food & drinks, and save your hard earned money for all those lucky ponies. -
Review from Caleb B.
Los Angeles, CA
6/12/2008
Having lived in Los Angeles for a little while I'm often asked (by one of the voices between my ears) "what is it that I most miss about home?" Then one voice replies to the other "that places where you go 150 miles from New York City and back 150 years in time." Saratoga, The August Place To Be (TM.)
I miss the track. What better venue for the Sport of King's than here? (If you say Hollywood Park I'll smack you.) Hope to see you soon Track.
_C$ -
Review from Kelly S.
8/31/2007
I have been coming to this track since I was in college to make some money on the ponies. OK, I lied. I meant "lose" money on the ponies. This is the most beautiful track in the country. There are families picknicking, old men betting their last $2, and rich folks watching their million dollar investments come in first or last, as the case may be.
I had lunch "at the rail" tent on this last trip. A huge buffet lunch and table service for the drinks. The tent is hot, steamy and crowded. I definitely would not go on a weekend. It's truly a hot mess, but you don't have to mingle with the unwashed masses. -
Review from Alysse J.
Franklin Square, NY
1/4/2009
This track is my home away from home. I can't imagine a summer without Saratoga. It has something to offer everybody. First, for the racing fan, it's in my opinion the pinnacle of American racing. The racing is first class and steeped in tradition. It's the best six weeks of the year for me.
Even if you're not really a fan of the horses (you will become one here!), it's a nice inexpensive way to spend the day if you know how to. First off, general admission is cheap, far cheaper than a ball game would be. You can bring in snacks and lunch to avoid high concession prices, but there are some food items you don't want to miss out on such as the new Saratoga Restaurant Row. Of course you can bet the ponies (make bets as low as $2 if you don't want to spend too much money but still have the added excitement of cheering your horse and rider home), but there are often other things to do. If you check the website (http://www.nyra.com) you can find out what is going on each day during the meet. There are family days, give away days (a free item with each paid admission), other theme days, everything!
Parking isn't too big of a problem, either. Again, unlike at major sporting events, parking can actually be done completely free of charge and you get the added bonus of seeing the historic backside (barn/stable area) of the track.
I think one of the best parts of racing is the accessibility for fans. Buy your kids a program and they can spend time before and after the races getting the jockeys to sign it. How likely are you to get an autograph at the ball park?
So if you want a fun day outside on a beautiful summer day, go to Saratoga. There's so much to do you will want to come back. -
Review from Franco C.
8/5/2007
This is the race track you want to go to if you want to go to see a horse race.
Way better than Aqueduct or Belmont. The grounds are gorgeous, the clientele is 20 notches above the usual dregs that are found at the other tracks - you can actually bring the family to Saratoga track and enjoy a day out.
The review area is easy to get to and allows you to view your horse of choice before you bet.
Parking sucks but then again the season is short so I utilize the people in the neighboring streets who use their lawns as parking lots- quicker and easier to get out of later in the day when you are done making your gambling donations.
Want a sure fire tip on how not to lose your money?? Don't bet! But hey, why not toss a few bucks on one of the ponies and see what happens. -
Review from Pinky and the B.
New York, NY
8/25/2010 3 photos
I can't believe there are only 19 reviews! I became interested in Saratoga due to reading the book Sea Biscuit. It is a riveting emotion filled story and one of my favorite books. I do not gamble and did not bet on the horses. I just wanted to be at the race track and have that experience. We did several tours of the track and saw some races which were really exciting.
I am pretty sure I will never make it to Kentucky and wanted to see a nice track. The only other track I have seen is Belmont which is run down and depressing. I know many people are into the track for the betting and money but I have no interest in that. My interest is in the horses themselves.
The costumes for lack of a better word that people wear are really entertaining. It is almost like the Easter parade in the city.
The track and grounds are clean and beautiful. It was so nice to see families having picnics on the grounds.
Everything there (because of the short season I assume) is over priced from hotels , to restaurants to anything you buy on the grounds. It is just like any amusement park that is seasonal.
If you are from the city you will be interested to know there is a Shake Shack and Blue Smoke that opened this summer at the track.
This is a nice over night trip for families, couples for anyone.Listed in: Excape from New York
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Review from Ryan H.
Albany, NY
5/13/2005
I didn't know a thing about horse racing before I went to the Saratoga racetrack. In fact, I still don't. I think "trifecta" is when you bet on what horses will come in first, second, and third. But you don't have to know anything to have a fun afternoon here. You don't even have to be rich! In fact, it's better if you're not rich, because all the rich women are made to wear big ugly hats. All you need is two dollars, and you just bought yourself a horse. If that horse wins, you get some money. I have no idea how much. But you can yell and scream at those horses and pretend it's going to be a lot. Then when it's all done you try and leave like the million other people trying to leave at the same time. And if you're rich, you eat at some expensive restaurant in Saratoga Springs. But if you're not, you drive all the way home and make a cheeseburger.
I'll see you... at the races! -
Review from Nick P.
Saratoga Springs, NY
8/3/2009
Assuming all places get 5 stars to start and loose ground from there, here is how I rate the track:
-1 for $6.75 can of bud light
+1 bring your own beer
-4 if I loose all the races for the day
+1 for the hats (by hats I mean the splendor of all the ladies and their outfits)
+1 giveaway day
-1 weird dudes in visors, shorts, flip flops and black socks
+1 if I win even one race
+5 if i win more than i came with (only happened once)
-1 if I have to park far away
+1 I can ride my bike there now
+1 chowda and chips
+1 travelling musicians
-1 a line at the ATM / fees - credit cards are virtually ignored
+ 1 conspicuous display of wealth
- 1 making me feel poor
+1 beautiful animals, as many as 100 horses a day racing for my pleasure
-2 have we enslaved an entire population of horses for gambling?
-1 rainy days at the track
+1 The track is sophisticated somehow
-1 the track is totally low rent somehow
+1 lovely place to spend the afternoon with friends
+2 gambling is exciting (roll your program and hit something)
-1 loosing blows
+1 the smell of horse poop -
Review from laura o.
Ballston Lake, NY
8/2/2009
This review is for Breakfast at the Track.
Hubby and I got up early this morning to visit the clubhouse for breakfast and the backstretch tram tour. We arrived not really knowing what to expect but found workers to be knowledgable and helpful.
At the host station in the clubhouse there is a sign that says"$15 per person minimum and a $5 per person table charge will be added to the bill." This does not apply to breakfast.
Breakfast is $14.95 per person you pay your server.
While it is novel to have breakfast right there in the clubhouse watching the horses and ponies exercise the food was severely lacking.
The buffet was not great. Scrambled eggs were cooked in vats and were a bit dry. One was plain the other had salmon in it. The bacon was chewy, like it had been microwaved. The sauseages were ok. They had tortillas stuffed with ham and eggs, served with salsa. It was made yesterday and kept warm. The huge fresh fruit display and cold pastry table saved the morning.
Hubby's milk for cereal was sour.
All in all, I don't reccomend actually paying to eat here.
However. The track grounds open early and you can bring your own breakfast to watch the horses and ponies exercise for free. Parking is $10 trackside but is refundable if you leave by 10 a.m.
There is no charge to go onto the grounds before 10 a.m. but you must exit at 10 a.m. and go through the turnstile to stay for the races.
There is a tram tour that is free and runs daily starting at 7:30 a.m. The last tour is around 9 a.m. It picks you up at the main gate and drives you to the backstretch. Then a guide walks you through the grounds and the tram takes you back to the main gate. The whole thing takes about 45 minutes and is very cool. Four stars for the tour and the learning experience. -
Review from Ian W.
6/24/2008
AND THEYRE OFF!!!!!!
Droves of vehicles race up the Northway to Exits 13N and 14. Saratoga is definitely the August place to be! People from all over the area and from the City flock here and the traffic getting here can get very heavy. Parking can be a nightmare in the main parking lots, so I suggest parking in the neighborhood, west of the entrance gate, where residents open up their lawns as pay parking lots, which are quick and easy, in and out with no troubles.
My buddy and I have been coming to Saratoga for many years, usually on the weekends during the course of the track season. The grounds are nicely kept at the track. We'd place our bets, walk around the grounds to see the horses, take a sip at the spring (the water tastes funky), and people watch. When were ready to settle in, we'd grab some hot dogs and beers and head to the Granstand seats or up to the Clubhouse (reserved seats) for a $2 upcharge. My buddy is quite an expert at horse racing and betting and helps me out big time understanding the combinations such as a Trifecta. We won $50 last year. It's a fun afternoon of watching horse races and rooting for our picks.
I love the Sunday Giveaways, which offer cool Saratoga items such as bobbleheads, t-shirts, caps, umbrellas, blankets, folding chairs, cooler bags, and more. I have to admit I'm a Spinner, which is someone goes through the admission gates repeatedly to obtain multiple coupons for giveaway items. Coupons for giveaway items can be redeemed at the Big Red Spring and at the Top of the Stretch. I'll spin enough times to get the items needed for myself and my family and friends. Other folks will spin hundreds of times and sell the items on eBay for a profit. When the line is too long at the General Admission ($3) gates, I'll go through the Clubhouse Admission ($5) gates, which tend to be shorter. For those who don't care to wait in long lines, there are special "no giveaway" gates and inside the track, there's a special line to purchase the giveaway items. It's a fun and exciting tradition I've been doing for over 10 years and will continue to do. -
Review from Dave C.
Raleigh, NC
5/23/2010
If you are ever in Saratoga over the summer this is a must see place. I will drive all the way to Saratoga to go to the track and just have a good time. The food and drinks are good, the betting can be small or large (your choice) and all in all its just a really good time.
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Review from Matthew P.
Philmont, NY
6/16/2008
Nothing beats the Saratoga Race Course during the summer season. So much fun...great for families, big gatherings or even going by yourself. My kids love going to the track to see the horses close-up and help me pick the winners. The track is great and as Caleb B. says, you feel like you go back 150 years in time. You can bring in your own cooler filled with food and beverages and enjoy the best race horses, jockeys, trainers in the country for about 6 weeks. The track is closed on Tuesdays.
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Review from Ray A.
Everett, WA
8/27/2008
Saratoga Racetrack, another one of those places and things that I must do whenever we fly back east. Unfortunately it is only open a limited time each year, but oh what a time it is. This place was my first introduction to live horse racing and boy did it make an impression. Now, just like any big fanfaire, there is a lot of food and gift booths, people and of course horses and jockeys. It is all about the atmosphere, and the betting. I never realized losing my $$ could be so exciting, but winning is so much more fun! I've come to realize that there is no clear science when it comes to betting on the ponies. Every year I've tried something different. One year it was all about the odds, the next year it was the jockey, another year it was the long shots, I always bet on the names of the horses that I like, then there was the year that I went off what the experts in the local paper's picked. Yeah, I still work for a living.
Regardless, it is always a fun and exciting experience being track side as you watch your favorite horse in the final stretch.
I have yet to try our local track here in Washington, or any other track for that matter, but Saratoga will always be my top pick.Listed in: YMMV, Now I need my own show and get…
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Review from howard n.
Rancho Cucamonga, CA
9/3/2009
Place was amazing! Not the cleanest place in the world but what can you expect from a racetrack. They allow you to bring your own beer and do almost what ever you want inside ( trust me, went to a bachelor party there). There are vendors outside for more appetizing meals but overall, definitely worth the trip. Probably will be up there again someday, hopefully soon. Be careful though, on a big race weekend, lots of drunken agressive frat yuppies always trying to start something. They need to get life!
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Review from Steve W.
Andover, MN
8/2/2007
Like Ryan I know nothing about horse racing and I probably never will. And if it wasn't for a work meeting that we had in Saratoga I would probably have never visited this place, but I have to say....it's quite the experience. The pagentry, the history and the people watching are what makes this fun for me. The horse racing is just kind of a side thing, but there are people from all over and all walks of life and it is just fun to sit back and take it all in.
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Review from Joe L.
Syracuse, NY
9/14/2009
loved this place. all walks of life here too - i'm a big fan of people who dress up and keep it classy though. i didn't win anything, but had a really great time watching the races and taking in the atmosphere. highly recommended. i'll be back next year.
