I’m 20 minutes away from Saratoga Springs right now, and we are planning on camping somewhere there, and visiting some racing stuff. 
For sure, we are going to see The National Museum of Racing (and the racing simulator!), but is there anything else horse-related worth seeing? If possible, maybe give a link… :winkgrin: Are there any races at the track right now I could go watch?
Thanks,
HunterJumper<3
The meet closed on Sept 2nd, so no racing. Also, the racing museum is apparently closed until Wednesday the 24th, per their website, probably due to the burglary that just occurred there.
Not horse related, but Saratoga Spa State Park is pretty cool. It has geysers, springs, and the old mineral baths. http://www.nysparks.com/parks/saratogaspa
Racing ended on Labor Day, but there are horses around as the training center is open. The Museum has been closed for a bit after a smash and grab theft last week. I think that they reopen next week. I have heard rumors that they are planning to open the Oklahoma training track area to visitors during training hours. If you are there on Monday or Tuesday morning you might see some BNTs as many come up from downstate on Sunday to oversee training on Monday and Tuesday. Last Monday saw about 15 graded winners train including Royal Delta and Capo Bastone, recent G 1 winners.
The harness track is still racing and is just down the road from the thoroughbred track. Sunday post time is 12:15 pm and there are 13 races scheduled. http://saratogacasino.com/Home.aspx
I watched works at the Oklahoma track (the original track, located across Union Ave from the main track) the day after racing was over. There is an entrance on East Ave for the viewing tower next to the Oklahoma track. You should be able to enter through there. The guards at the gate on Union for the Oklahoma track will tell you you don’t have permission to enter through there. But there should be a guard at the gate on East Ave near the viewing stand. Or at least that’s how it was. You may get a different answer depending on which guard you talk to. 
But the fellow on East Ave when I stopped by told me works would be open until mid October - think your best bet would be to try that entrance.
Also, check out Old Friends at Cabin Creek. http://www.oldfriendsequine.org/newyork.html
Don’t remember the name of it, but there is one book store on Broadway (or Phila St?) that has loads of horse books.
There are a few breeding farms in the area - around Stillwater/Saratoga Lake area. And McMahon’s on Fitch Rd. But these are drive-bys, not touristy stops to pet the horses.
And you can walk past the Fasig-Tipton sales pavilion and stable area on the other side of East Ave from the Oklahoma track. Actually you could just stroll up there after seeing the Racing Museum.
Have fun.
The bookstore is Lyrical Ballad, it’s at 7 Phila St, just east of Broadway. I agree about a visit to Old Friends Cabin Creek. It’s a beautiful spot. It’s only about 10 minutes outside of town.
@CVPeg, the Oklahoma isn’t the original track. It was built in about 1901 or so. The Horse Haven track is the original. Some of it remains but it’s mostly paved now.
Yeah - guess I just read that Linny - after years of thinking it otherwise. Hard to break an old habit/thought.
There was also a rodeo outside of town on Friday nights. I don’t remember exactly where. It was one of those that was so bad (cowboy quality, not animal treatment) that it was funny.
The Yaddo Gardens are lovely and not far from the track; I have photos I took of the four season statues in my living room.
Rodeo is just off of I87 at exit 12. It’s about 10 minutes from town. Not sure the schedule though. If you are into tack shopping (and who isn’t?) check out the selection at the Cheshire Horse of Saratoga. They are on Geyser Rd about 5 minutes outside town.
[QUOTE=Linny;7182343]
@CVPeg, the Oklahoma isn’t the original track. It was built in about 1901 or so. The Horse Haven track is the original. Some of it remains but it’s mostly paved now.[/QUOTE]
Where is that? Is that the path that runs along the schooling area by the horse show rings?
[QUOTE=MHM;7184526]
Where is that? Is that the path that runs along the schooling area by the horse show rings?[/QUOTE]
Yes. It encircles many of the oldest barns. If you are in the parking area for the show and cut through into the barn area on that side of Union Ave (the ones reserved for race horses during the shows) you have crossed it. It was a gallop track up into the 70’s. The oldest barns are those in a rather haphazard array closest to East Ave. They were there before the first meeting, as part of the fairgrounds and harness meeting. As you get closer to the show grounds, within the belt of the old track, the barns become more orderly. Those date to the late 1800’s. The barns up beside Oklahoma date from the early 1900’s.
[QUOTE=Linny;7185025]
Yes. It encircles many of the oldest barns. If you are in the parking area for the show and cut through into the barn area on that side of Union Ave (the ones reserved for race horses during the shows) you have crossed it. It was a gallop track up into the 70’s. The oldest barns are those in a rather haphazard array closest to East Ave. They were there before the first meeting, as part of the fairgrounds and harness meeting. As you get closer to the show grounds, within the belt of the old track, the barns become more orderly. Those date to the late 1800’s. The barns up beside Oklahoma date from the early 1900’s.[/QUOTE]
That’s really interesting. Then the track you have to watch to cross sometimes if you’re driving on the grounds towards the Oklahoma track? I was beginning to think you meant the old track way over behind the main track - where the tunnel is by the Nelson Ave barn entrance.
Would be fun to walk through the grounds sometime when everyone’s gone with the whole history of what barns went up when… May/may not get an owner’s card again - depends on a coming 2yo’s soundness/talent/partnership set-up…
You’ll have to do a COTH tour someday, Linny.
[QUOTE=CVPeg;7185190]
You’ll have to do a COTH tour someday, Linny. ;)[/QUOTE]
I would sign up for that! :yes:
CVPeg, when you enter the Oklahoma side at the guardshack just across from the backyard entry to the track, you do cross over the original track, twice. When you are in the infield area, the oldest barns are those to your left. There is a building used by facilities of a greek revival style that is believed to date to the 1830’s! It’s right along that path from Union toward Oklahoma, opposite the pony barns and tracktor storage.
If you enter the backstretch from East Ave. that roadway runs between the old track and Oklahoma.
The Clare Court pony track (near the Nelson Ave gate was originally the private training track of August Belmont, who owned that property. I think it was built in the late 1800’s, maybe the ‘90’s. Man O’ War was stabled there when he came to Saratoga as a yearling. Im not sure when the property was purchased by the track.
Opposite Nelson Ave from those barns are the lovely barns of Sanford Court. Built by the carpet/textiles family from Amsterdam, whose name is memorials in the Sanford Stakes. The barns can be fully closed, have wide shedrows and very high ceiling and huge stalls.
Taking notes, Linny, for the next run up there…
Give me a heads up when you are coming CVPeg!
[QUOTE=Linny;7186525]
Give me a heads up when you are coming CVPeg![/QUOTE]
Will do, Linny!
