Experience Superior Horse Racing Action at Saratoga Racecourse

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

Saratoga racecourse is one of the most historic racecourses in the world. In fact, it is the oldest horse racecourse in America. Saratoga racecourse 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 racecourse.

Saratoga racecourse 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 racecourse meet. Another big draw to Saratoga racecourse is the Whitney Handicap.

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

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

Saratoga Racecourse 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 racecourse at the popular summer health resort in Saratoga Springs . The first national thoroughbred race took place during a four-day experimental meet at Saratoga racecourse, which opened on August 3, 1863.

Travers, Hunter, Morrisey, and Leonard Jerome (the founder of the old Jerome racecourse 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 racecourse flourished in the succeeding years. Throughout the years, Saratoga racecourse 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 racecourse since its establishment more than a century ago, a testament to Saratoga's grand stature and staying power in the industry.