A Day at the Races
Saratoga Springs and the Saratoga Race Course
There are some places where you go because you want to see the sights. Then there are places where the history, atmosphere, and tradition are so deeply woven into everything around you that you can't help but get caught up in it… Saratoga Springs, New York, is one of those places.
We had wanted to visit Saratoga Springs and the Race Course for quite some time. We’re not huge horse racing fans but the mystique and history of the town was all the reason we needed for a quick visit. So on Monday, August 24th, we headed three-hours north for a three-day visit to Saratoga and the surrounding area. Our plan was pretty simple: check out a new campground (Sun Retreats Adirondack Gateway), play a round of golf, and then spend a day in Saratoga checking out the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame, followed by an afternoon betting the ponies.
The National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame
Before our day at the races, we made time to visit the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame, located directly across Union Avenue from the racetrack.
The museum was founded in 1950 and originally opened in the Canfield Casino in Congress Park in 1951. It moved to its permanent location across from Saratoga Race Course in 1955, with the museum opening to the public there in 1956.
Walking through the museum really puts the history of Saratoga—and American thoroughbred racing—into perspective.
There are trophies, artwork, racing memorabilia, photographs, equipment, stories about legendary horses and jockeys, and exhibits covering centuries of racing history.
The museum's current Hall of Fame experience includes an immersive film and interactive displays featuring the Hall of Fame members. As of summer 2026, the Hall of Fame includes 233 horses, 112 jockeys, 105 trainers, and 55 Pillars of the Turf.
If you're interested in history, sports, or just cool old stuff, this place is worth a visit.
The Race Course…
The Race Course dominates the city landscape. Opened in 1863, it is the oldest thoroughbred racetrack in America. It’s immediately off I-87, exit 14, on Union Avenue. We arrived relatively early for our Museum visit, so traffic was minimal. Less than a quarter mile off the highway, we saw a school crossing guard step into the street to stop traffic. We waited patiently for the school kids to cross in front of us. Wait… what??? Those aren’t kids. They’re thoroughbred horses coming from the stables to the track for a morning workout.
After the museum we walked back to the Race Course to explore the grounds, find our reserved seats and figure out who we wanted in the first race.
Both of us had the memory of Dolly Parton on our minds, so the 5 horse in race 1, with the name “Dotsy” jumped off the page. Six to one odds. Why not bet her $2 across the board. Wouldn’t you know it… she won. One race in and we’ve got $22 in winnings. We won the 3rd race as well with another filly at $2 across. Boom! Another winner and another $26 in winnings. We hit an $2 Exacta in the 6th race along with $2 across on the winner “Secured Landing”. That was a total winnings of $36, so we finished the day with enough extra cash in our pocket for a happy hour stop on the way back to the campground.
Saratoga is a very relaxed, casual day at the races. The grounds offer a lot of ways to enjoy the races. The walk in and the paddock are very accessible. The food and beverage offerings are diverse and plentiful, even if a bit expensive. We had reserved grandstand seats that were very comfortable with an excellent view of the track (and an added bonus of being in the shade). The general admission ticket price is only $7 for a Wednesday, and many of those ticket holders picnic in the “Backyard” under the shade of the maples and oaks. It’s perfect for a family day at the races.
All in all our day at Saratoga was another excellent adventure for SkyDog! I’m sure we will do it again.
