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Saratoga Race Track

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Experience Superior Horse Racing Action at Saratoga Race Track

Saratoga Race Track is a 350-acre race track located in Saratoga Springs, New York. A typical season at Saratoga race track starts from late July to early September.

Saratoga race track is one of the most historic race tracks in the world. In fact, it is the oldest horse race track in America. Saratoga race track keeps its prominence in the industry by being the summer home of choice by the racing set. For six short weeks, the best thoroughbreds in training assemble on the small town of Saratoga Springs in New York, to race before huge crowds at the grandmother of America 's horse tracks.

Saratoga race track is the home of the Travers Stakes, America's oldest stakes race, and one of New York's biggest mid-summer derbies. In fact, Travers weekend is the biggest weekend of racing during the entire Saratoga race track meet. Another big draw to Saratoga race track is the Whitney Handicap.

Saratoga race track boasts of a turn-of-the-century Victorian setting, and is acknowledged to be one of the most elegant race tracks in America.

Recent racing greats that have shown their mettle at Saratoga race track are With Anticipation, Sightseek, Voodoo Dancer, Empire Maker, Peace Rules, and local hero Funny Cide.

Saratoga Race Track History

Saratoga Springs hosted the first thoroughbred race in America in 1847. Harness racing was also held at the place that same year. However, it wasn't until the time of the Civil War that entrepreneurs entered the sport and began treating it as a business -- organizing and promoting betting on racing by the general public.

Two men, John Hunter (later the first chairman of the Jockey Club) and W. R. Travers (owner of the horse that won the first Travers Stakes), with cooperation from NY State Senator John Morrisey, conceived the idea of a race track at the popular summer health resort in Saratoga Springs . The first national thoroughbred race took place during a four-day experimental meet at Saratoga race track, which opened on August 3, 1863.

Travers, Hunter, Morrisey, and Leonard Jerome (the founder of the old Jerome race track in the Bronx ) presided over that inaugural meet. It turned out to be a big success, and they decided to expand it the next year. The meet was moved across the street to its present location in order to accommodate the large crowds and enlarge the track.

Saratoga race track flourished in the succeeding years. Throughout the years, Saratoga race track earned the moniker "Graveyard of the Favorites" as legendary horses Man O' War, Gallant Fox and Secretariat were defeated by unknowns and largely unheralded opponents when they participated in major meets at the track.

Big races have been held at the Saratoga race track since its establishment more than a century ago, a testament to Saratoga's grand stature and staying power in the industry.