Thoroughbred racing is not the only thing Saratoga Springs, NY is famous for. Presently, four nights a week there is a thunder of hooves and wheels amid the screams of drivers and cracking of whips, under the brilliant lights at Saratoga Gaming and Raceway. Since 1941, Saratoga Raceway has hosted live harness racing at their night track. It was among the first tracks in the U.S. to offer pari-mutuel wagering.
Currently, racing is going on anywhere from three to five times a week (depending on the season), mostly year-round, usually consisting of thirteen fast-paced races.Although no longer part of Grand Circuit racing, video lottery profits have enabled the racing plant to boost purses. Purses have climbed in the past few years from three million dollars more than triple that amount being projected in the upcoming racing seasons. Additionally, the track has replaced Grand Circuit races with local races: the Virginia O'Brien Pacing Series, and the Harold Story trotting series brought out the very best top local racers behind the starting gate this spring. Additionally, the raceway hosts New York's finest Standardbreds by featuring New York Sire Stakes races from June through September.From its inception, the ˝ mile oval has been considered to be one of the loveliest tracks in the country.
Recently, the track was professionally re-graded and resurfaced. This will hopefully enable horses from the 5th to 8th holes to better compete with horses on the inside. It may also allow for even faster times in the upcoming seasons. Perhaps a horse may soon come along who beats Horse of the Year Bunny Lake's track record of 1:52.
2.But the track is not the only thing that has been improved upon lately. Since the advent of video lottery terminals in the new "racino," the track grounds are continually being updated and upgraded to enhance their beauty.
Flowers brighten not only the infield, but are profuse throughout the grounds. The infield also boasts two fountains and shrubbery in the forms of "Saratoga" and a horse head, and there's still also a few of the traditional evergreens towering over the scene. Besides this, the track still has on its grounds its own Hall of Fame, which is an interesting tour of some of the best drivers and horses to grace the track over the years--from daring driver Stanley Dancer to the champion horse Albatross.
Whether you are a race fan, horse lover or just want to learn more about the sport, this little gem is an excellent place to visit. It is located at the back of the grounds, next to the Jefferson Street entrance.Saratoga Raceway is making a comeback, but the track still has a ways to go to regain some of its former glory.
The raceway saw its heyday in the mid-1970's, drawing huge crowds and the top Grand Circuit drivers. In 1984, the track introduced simulcasting to induce thoroughbred bettors to the harness races. Gradually though, with competition from outside simulcasting outlets--such as Off Track Betting, and other new age diversions, the raceway began winding down.
At the time of this writing, the lower clubhouse and other areas related to racing have seen no significant renovations in many years--despite the millions being pumped into the adjoining casino.For instance, the ladies lounge in the lower clubhouse remains unchanged since the 1970's., and the overall décor--although recently re-touched with paint--also retains its same old tired character. The old outdoor betting windows on the north side of the track had been undergoing construction (now stalled), and for months have looked like something left over from Hurricane Katrina.
Although the grounds staff is superb at what they do, there doesn't seem to be enough of them to keep the paddock area as spiffy as it once was. Peeling paint and a general run-down appearance is what greets visitors to the north side of the track, giving the impression of a grand old dame that has fallen on hard times. Instead of a family area on paddock side of the grounds, there is now space for a beer tent.
Which highlights yet another problem: it is that the track is not as family friendly as it used to be. Sunday racing is a thing of the past, and matinees are only run on the occasional holiday that falls on a weekday, making it difficult for families to bring their children to the track. Family fun day's, with tours of the backstretch and treats for the kiddies, seems to have been pushed aside in favor of the money adults are bringing in to the facility. In the past, one of the advantages of patronizing the lower clubhouse was that ladies and children were not readily exposed to coarse language, gross behavior and close encounters with obnoxious drunken louts. This is no longer the case--particularly in the bar area.
The "F" word is heard with tiring frequency, as well as every other conceivable foul word in the book. Sometimes the gamblers get so noisy and rowdy, that it's virtually impossible to hear yourself think. These days, there's really no difference at all between crowds in the general grandstand and the clubhouse--or for that matter, the bar patrons in the clubhouse and the livestock in the backstretch.
In other words, the old-time clubhouse standards of respectability and class are long gone. Apparently, with the withdrawal of admission fees, certain basic behavioral standards--which "guests" were expected to adhere to in the past--have also flown out the window.One of the unfortunate side effects of a race track turned casino, may possibly be that management becomes more interested in the money people bring in, rather than creating a family/community friendly (and a simply more polite and respectable) atmosphere. Additionally, since the coming of the "racino," the raceway no longer hosts equine-related charity events or other community events.
Harness racing patrons cannot purchase racing-related gifts and souvenirs. No longer are there music festivals or craft fairs. Sadly, the impression many older track patrons and horsemen alike seem to hold, is that it's all about the gambling now.
Most of the money being pumped into the track for future investment seems to be pointed to the slot gamblers, with plans in the works to add a hot new trendy night club and an additional food outlet. But racing continues to bring out the die-hard fans, and the bigger and bigger purses being offered, and dedicated work by long-time staffers, are continuing to draw better horses and drivers--which means (to quote an old advertising slogan) that in the near future, perhaps once again at Saratoga Raceway, race fans will be saying: "harness racing is action!".
.Miss Golash works in Saratoga Springs, NY and resides with her cats in Lake George, located in New York's beautiful Adirondack Mountains. She is a small town girl, a native of Menands, NY. Nancy graduated from Adirondack Community College in 2003, and continued with her education in Public Relations/writing at Castleton State College in Vermont.A lifelong horse lover, Nancy enjoys getting to see trotters and pacers working out and racing daily at Saratoga Raceway.
By: Nancy Golash
