First Time Visiting? 5 Tips on How to Enjoy the Saratoga Race Course

The Saratoga racing season is right around the corner and will be big. This month-long celebration has been anticipated yearly by locals and tourists alike, so you can bet that it’s an event you shouldn’t miss.

From the food to the horses, there are many things you can expect when coming to the Saratoga racing season. That said, if it will be your first time going to this event, then there’s a lot that you should know about.

Don’t worry, we’ll try our best not to overwhelm you because, in this article, we will be giving out tips on how to enjoy the Saratoga racing season to its fullest. Let’s start.

Know Your History About the Event

The Saratoga race course is the country’s first modern sports facility. It’s also one of the oldest extant examples in the country right now, so you can assume that it’s got a lot of history.

The race course opened on August 2, 1864, for a five-day meet. It’s a far cry from today, where the Saratoga racing season is seven weeks long every Wednesday from July to September. If you want a more in-depth history of Saratoga, you can visit NYRA or the New York Racing Association’s website. To say that history itself is interesting is.

Dress to Impress

If you’re wondering what outfit you want for the event, a simple casual outfit is enough to enjoy the racing season to its fullest. The best part about this event is that you can go all out and wear formal clothing. If you want a hat to finish the outfit, there are even stands out there selling fabulous hats you can buy to commemorate the event.

Where to Park

Unless you need special access to parking, you can go to the general parking area, where it’s free. We admit the walk can be quite lengthy from the parking lot to the races, but it won’t be boring because, on the way, you’ll pass by some stables where the race contenders will be staying until it’s their time to race. You can even interact with some horses if the owners allow you to. It’s like a meet and greet but with horses.

Make a Run For It

The event is perfect if you and your family want to picnic before the race starts. However, you have to run for it, and we mean that literally. It’s a tried and true tradition for regular attendees of the event. Is it necessary? No, but if you don’t do so, you will run out of picnic spots.

Even before the event starts, people will start lining up outside the area to secure a picnic spot for their loved ones. As the gate opens at 7 A.M, they will charge in the venue, lay down their picnic cloth, and lay claim to it for the rest of the day. Once a person claims a spot, they will be asked to leave and return at 11 A.M.

No one is allowed to lay another person’s spot. We’re pretty sure that it’s illegal, and needless to say, there have been fights over it over the years.

What Should You Bring?

The event area allows lawn chairs, coolers, blankets, and all types of liquors in the event area, but you know, don’t be too rowdy, or you’ll get kicked out or, worse, be apprehended by the police. However, you should know that glass bottles aren’t allowed, so you might opt for juice boxes for your drinks or crack open a cold one instead.

But if you aren’t there to have a picnic and aren’t planning to bring any food during the event, you might want to bring extra money for food and drinks. The prices on the food and drinks there aren’t as ridiculous, but they can still bore a hole in your pockets and wallets.

The Perfect Spot

If you can take it, you should take the seat as near as possible to the finish line. Most of the action happens there, like the guy with the bugle, the thundering hooves from the incoming horses on the last lap, and the group hug of the owners and trainers at the end of the race.

You can even spy on celebrities in their clubhouse to the right if you’re lucky enough. The track is a dartboard, and the seats near the finish line are the bullseye.

Final Words

There are a lot of things you should expect to enjoy at the Saratoga Race Course. Not only is the racing season great for the bettors, but it’s also a perfect time to enjoy the races with the family. And if you follow the tips we laid out for you in this article, you’ll have an even more fun time during the event.