Saratoga - One Day

[OverlayHunter]

The wife and I are going to try to make it to SAR on Labor Day. We've never been there before.

Can anyone suggest the latest we can get to the track and still get some reasonable choice of seating? We'd prefer general seating of some sort.

Do they have anything comparable to Keeneland's "bring your own" seats and sit along the rail?

Is the paddock easy to get to?

Anything important to know about parking? We'll have a large van (about 20 ft long).

Any problems or quirks or other important considerations to be aware of?

Anything we should try to see or do while there in the morning or after the races?

Thanks for the assistance.

[onefast99]

You can go there early in the morning and buy seats, but I would recommend calling the day before and seeing what is available. Like any other track a big stakes race day will diminish your chance of getting box seats. The parking isnt real bad you will need to duke someone $20 or more to park close. The paddock is a good size and they have a long fence that goes from the barn area to the paddock which is a good spot to look at the horses also. You will not be allowed into the paddock as they run a very tight ship at Saratoga, but it does get crowded so go right after the end of the last race, you will have about 30 minutes between races and plenty of time to see the horses in the paddock. Good luck!

[YokohamaMary]

The wife and I are going to try to make it to SAR on Labor Day. We've never been there before.

Can anyone suggest the latest we can get to the track and still get some reasonable choice of seating? We'd prefer general seating of some sort.

Do they have anything comparable to Keeneland's "bring your own" seats and sit along the rail?

Is the paddock easy to get to?

Anything important to know about parking? We'll have a large van (about 20 ft long).

Any problems or quirks or other important considerations to be aware of?

Anything we should try to see or do while there in the morning or after the races?

Thanks for the assistance.

If you are going the last week of the meet, things slow down quite a bit so your chances of getting decent seats increases. You can buy on the day of the races at the reserved seats booth very near the grandstand entrance (and there are always people standing around there in the morning selling their extra seats).

They have a nice backstretch tour in the mornings and also a tour of the oklahoma training track (but they may be over by labor day I forget) and they do a breakfast on the rail thing in the morning too (but the breakfast ain't cheap). The rail is usually pretty crowded and the folks that bring their own seats out on the apron usually sit way back away from the rail.

You should also see Siro's on the way out (home of the $89.95 cocktail). I have seen Siro's often from a pool of my own vomit.

[Bubbles]

Something about parking that may help you out: When I go, I park on the corner of Crescent and a street that runs adjacent to the clubhouse turn. It's a bit of a walk, but it's not excessive and it makes getting out infinitely easier.

[YokohamaMary]

Also, you can park that big rig for free if you want just after you exit the northway. As you head down union ave there will be a big dirt parking lot just on your left (very near the southbound onramp).

bit of a walk to the track but free and a quick exit to the northway.

[BillW]

street that runs adjacent to the clubhouse turn.

Nelson?

[ryesteve]

As you head down union ave there will be a big dirt parking lot just on your left (very near the southbound onramp).I don't think I've ever heard a highway shoulder referred to as "a big dirt parking lot" before :D

But yeah, just be careful not to pull too far forward down into the ditch... seems like there's always someone who discovers they're unable to back their way up again.

[Tom]

Last year I parked int he preferred lot, right across the street from the gate.
Short walk to Siro's, close to the paddock. Got there about 10-10:30 on a Saturday, parked right up front.

[onefast99]

Last year I parked int he preferred lot, right across the street from the gate.
Short walk to Siro's, close to the paddock. Got there about 10-10:30 on a Saturday, parked right up front.
If that is right next to catering tent it is a great spot for $20.

[point given]

sunday and monday of labor day weekend are not that crowded and seats are pretty easy to buy from folks at the rgandstand gate and under the canopy. Seats for grandstand in section M or N are half the price of the nearby clubhouse sections last section L. There is also music on the street corners of downtown saratoga that weekend around 8pm or so. Stay on the outskirts of albany to save $$ for motel near the airport. BYO food and drink but not in a cooler for seating in the stands. Go to the morning workouts ontrack and BYO coffee and donuts etc with DRF to handicap and watch the goings on. Also plan a morning to go to the Museum. Check out the NYRA site for saratoga stuff as well. www.nyra.com (http://www.nyra.com) upper left corner has the saratoga link to click on. Enjoy your trip, its a blast.

[Tom]

If that is right next to catering tent it is a great spot for $20.

Cjeaper than that - right directly across the street for the gate to the right - I parked right along side a barn. You go around the corner and make a right into the general parking and then your first right into Pref Parking, heading away from the Omaha track.

[BombsAway Bob]

Make a Big Day of it! If you park on NYRA property, it's only $10,& shady!
Get there before 9PM for best dibs; you can stake a seating area (picnic table covered with a tablecloth, or folding chairs & a cooler will reserve your spot).
It's a furlong from the parking lot to TLG & the Siro's Seminar @ 10:30pm.
The Racing Hall of Fame is a 16th of a mile walk from the lot; be sure to GO!!
An hour there seems like 10 minutes..Two hours is a safe time frame for visiting.
Saratoga Gaming & Harness is a half-mile south of The SPA; great new Buffet,
for less than a Double-Sawbuck!

[Figman]

That parking near the southbound Northway entrance is no more! If it was on the entrance to Yadoo, the parking lot has been recreated into a hilly section that eliminates cars (or anything else) from being parked there.

[OverlayHunter]

Thanks for all the great information. Truly appreciated.

Is I-87 the "northway"?

[Tom]

Big 10-4, good buddy.
Let them truckers roll!

:D

[BombsAway Bob]

Make a Big Day of it! If you park on NYRA property, it's only $10,& shady!
Get there before 9PM for best dibs; you can stake a seating area (picnic table covered with a tablecloth, or folding chairs & a cooler will reserve your spot).
It's a furlong from the parking lot to TLG & the Siro's Seminar @ 10:30pm.
The Racing Hall of Fame is a 16th of a mile walk from the lot; be sure to GO!!
An hour there seems like 10 minutes..Two hours is a safe time frame for visiting.
Saratoga Gaming & Harness is a half-mile south of The SPA; great new Buffet,
for less than a Double-Sawbuck!
of course, it's 9AM for parking, & 10:30AM for Siros...

[OverlayHunter]

I should have thought of this earlier.

Are there any public locations in Saratoga (not including hotel rooms) - at the track or outside of the track - to get wireless internet access on the Sunday before Labor Day and on Labor Day?

[BillW]

I should have thought of this earlier.

Are there any public locations in Saratoga (not including hotel rooms) - at the track or outside of the track - to get wireless internet access on the Sunday before Labor Day and on Labor Day?

Kinko's has been allowing access to people bringing their own computers (they charge to use their computers/printers).

[Pace Cap'n]

Cjeaper than that - right directly across the street for the gate to the right - I parked right along side a barn. You go around the corner and make a right into the general parking and then your first right into Pref Parking, heading away from the Omaha track.

That was Dutrow's spot.

[ManeMediaMogul]

Go to Del Mar instead.

You'll have much more fun.

[Tom]

Highlight map...

1 = Toga Tent
2 = Siro's (nea Nelson)
3 = Entrance gate
4 = Preferred parking

[Tom]

As seen by the Goodyear Blimp, Superman, and assorted birds...

[wr98]

We always park over at the Oklahoma track. Its about a 5min. walk over to the main track. I think they charge abot 10$ but im not sure.

[Ron]

General parking on NYRA property is free. Preferred and Trackside parking are 5 and 10 dollars, respectively. They have free shuttle buses in the general lots.

[menifee]

Thanks for all the great information. Truly appreciated.

Is I-87 the "northway"?

Yes.

[OverlayHunter]

Thanks, again.

Tom, thanks for the maps but I'm not clear about what they show. Does your numbered map show parking or internet access?

[the Bid]

You might also get WiFi in the coffee shops like Starbucks or at Borders Books in downtown Saratoga. That map showed parking. There is also a grandstand and clubhouse admission area just off Nelson, near Frank Sullivan St. if you choose to park on that side of the place. All along Nelson Ave there are lots and peoplke sell parking on their lawns and in their yards for assorted fees.

[point given]

maybe the public library or one of the nearby colleges for internet
http://www.sspl.org/services/computers/wireless/
but its labor day so they may be closed. you can always drive around with a wifi finder to seek out a connection or maybe one of the hotels ?

[OverlayHunter]

TB and PG, thanks. I'll poke around and see what I can come up with. It sounds likely that I'll stumble onto a signal somewhere.

[classhandicapper]

Go to Del Mar instead.

You'll have much more fun.

I might have agreed with that until they installed poly. Now I wouldn't even consider going to Del Mar over Saratoga.

[Indulto]

I might have agreed with that until they installed poly. Now I wouldn't even consider going to Del Mar over Saratoga.Lucky you have a CHoice. ;)

[point given]

I might have agreed with that until they installed poly. Now I wouldn't even consider going to Del Mar over Saratoga.

i'll go one better. after saratoga we used to go to the harness track to play delmar. now i'm not even interested and don't bother. :ThmbDown:

Like one top kentucky trainer said, " poly has turned more $200 bettors into $2 bettors "

[thespaah]

The wife and I are going to try to make it to SAR on Labor Day. We've never been there before.

Can anyone suggest the latest we can get to the track and still get some reasonable choice of seating? We'd prefer general seating of some sort.

Do they have anything comparable to Keeneland's "bring your own" seats and sit along the rail?

Is the paddock easy to get to?

Anything important to know about parking? We'll have a large van (about 20 ft long).

Any problems or quirks or other important considerations to be aware of?

Anything we should try to see or do while there in the morning or after the races?

Thanks for the assistance.
Your best bet is to buy seats from people not planning to attend the days races. Most times the actual seat owner is the one selling. Look for them near admission gates. If you insist on buying form the track, unused seats go on sale at 8am the day of the event. Cash only.
http://www.nyra.com/Saratoga/GeneralInformation/Tickets/Tickets.shtml
Personal chairs are permitted only in the backyard of the track. No chairs may be brought into the grandstand or grandstand apron.
Yes the Paddock is easy to get to and viewing is fine. Although the horses may be a bit of a distance away should the trainer prefer to saddle in the enclosure at the far end of the paddock.
Your vehicle is quite large..I suggest parking across the street in the Oklahoma track lot.
Take a stroll down Broadway, Saratoga Spring's main drag....Go to the National Racing Museum which is on Union Ave across the street from the Grandstand entrance...
It's Closing weekend. Crowds are usually thin so you'll have plenty of room to strecth your legs. Have fun!!!

[thespaah]

I don't think I've ever heard a highway shoulder referred to as "a big dirt parking lot" before :D

But yeah, just be careful not to pull too far forward down into the ditch... seems like there's always someone who discovers they're unable to back their way up again.Only the cheapest of the cheap park by the Northway..Yeah it's free ..But the walk a mile to the track....

[ryesteve]

Only the cheapest of the cheap park by the Northway...Or, someone who doesn't want to spend 45 minutes on Union Av. trying to get back to the highway after the races are over...

[YokohamaMary]

Or, someone who doesn't want to spend 45 minutes on Union Av. trying to get back to the highway after the races are over...

Correct on both accounts gents. I am cheap (also fat and ugly) and don't like sitting in traffic jams. However you left out one of the other bennies of parking all the way down by the highway, you walk by some of barns on the backside, you get to see them purty horses cross the track from the Okie side.

What? Nobody thinks smelling manure is fun? I guess you must be parking your buts in the clubhouse with the bigshots and the hoi polloi. :cool:

Enjoy your champagne and your neckties, I'll be going braless in the grandstand with my big middriff sticking out at you guys. Try not to whistle because I do bite (hard).

[eastie]

there is only one lot .....the closest one to the track and the tent. great place to go between races for a little puff.

[melman]

NYRA has jacked up the price for box seats (five per box) last year it was $20 this year it will be $75 per day, NOT including the $5 clubhouse admission. These prices are for WEEKDAYS if your there on a weekend be prepared for a layout of $175 and that's for the cheapest box seats available. They are real "fan-friendly" at the "new" NYRA uh?? Nice percentage increase for one year.

[the little guy]

NYRA has jacked up the price for box seats (five per box) last year it was $20 this year it will be $75 per day, NOT including the $5 clubhouse admission. These prices are for WEEKDAYS if your there on a weekend be prepared for a layout of $175 and that's for the cheapest box seats available. They are real "fan-friendly" at the "new" NYRA uh?? Nice percentage increase for one year.


There is so much wrong with this I wouldn't even know where to start. But, hey, congratulations for a terrific post. I laughed.

[Spendabuck85]

There is so much wrong with this I wouldn't even know where to start. But, hey, congratulations for a terrific post. I laughed.

I agree, terrific post as in NY Post.

[melman]

little guy===Next time you see Ed Fountaine you can laugh in his face as this is where I got the information.

[the little guy]

little guy===Next time you see Ed Fountaine you can laugh in his face as this is where I got the information.

I never said the actual information wasn't somewhat correct...it was misleading however. But, that isn't even the point.

I saw Ed a couple of times today.

[thespaah]

Correct on both accounts gents. I am cheap (also fat and ugly) and don't like sitting in traffic jams. However you left out one of the other bennies of parking all the way down by the highway, you walk by some of barns on the backside, you get to see them purty horses cross the track from the Okie side.

What? Nobody thinks smelling manure is fun? I guess you must be parking your buts in the clubhouse with the bigshots and the hoi polloi. :cool:

Enjoy your champagne and your neckties, I'll be going braless in the grandstand with my big middriff sticking out at you guys. Try not to whistle because I do bite (hard).
I go clubhouse all the time..Never wore a tie to the track. Ever..

[Zaf]

Agree with BombsAway Bob, get there 9AM, for $10 you get a premium spot , just paces away from Siro's & the track. I have blown out of there , on Travers, Alabama Day without a hitch, straight shot to the Northway or downtown. Well worth the 10 bucks.

Z

[BombsAway Bob]

i'll go one better. after saratoga we used to go to the harness track to play delmar. now i'm not even interested and don't bother. :ThmbDown:

Like one top kentucky trainer said, " poly has turned more $200 bettors into $2 bettors "
Saratoga Gaming & Harness wagering area upstairs is nice...New Flat Screens everywhere... Super Giant Buffet downstairs..Huge Nightclub... "Poker" machines pay 89%, & a genie pops up if you throw away a losing hand & fixes it for you...Royals come in clubs...all machines run off one main computer for payouts (NY State Lottery run), unlike casinos in Conn. Fun way to spend evenings.. open:10am til 2am -Live Bands during meet
their website is www.saratogagamingandraceway.com (http://www.saratogagamingandraceway.com)
BEST PUBLIC RESTROOMS in SARATOGA, by far, if needing a pit stop before day at the track

[cj's dad]

is the most overrated race track in America- no A/C --- dealing with New
Yorkers at the windows--- the best track in America (IMO) is Keeneland followed by (very closely) Oaklawn.

[YokohamaMary]

I go clubhouse all the time..Never wore a tie to the track. Ever..

Okay, you're okay then. :jump:

[jognlope]

Wish Mom weren't in the nursing home. Up until she was 82 she would go to the track with me, even if she had incontinence and had to wear a diaper. We always situated ourselves right by the bathroom. She used to hang out at Monmouth in her 20s and do show bets all day and actually made her living on that. At the Spa I would pull over and leave her in a chair by the gate, go down and park and walk back. She would be fine sitting there with her NY Post. One time I was at the betting window and she got up too fast and feel flat down. All sorts of people came up and helped her up. I guess we have hard bones in my family. I've fallen 3 times off a horse but no broken bones yet, maybe I should be knocking on a lot of wood right now because I'm getting up there.

I love the Spa. It has a magic in the air. I hope your parking works out. You will have the magic too. Don't forget to the listen to Tom Durkin's "and have an enjoyable day at .......

the (pregnant pause) spaaaaaaaahhhh."

[Zman179]

is the most overrated race track in America- no A/C --- dealing with New
Yorkers at the windows--- the best track in America (IMO) is Keeneland followed by (very closely) Oaklawn.

Air conditioning at an open-air racetrack? Ummm, ok. Anyway, what do you expect from a 140 year-old grandstand?

And as far as Del Mar goes, I've heard that Del Mar has a wonderful ambience to it. Only thing is that Saratoga doesn't force feed you a daily diet of $10,000 claimers and maiden claimers. Saratoga gives you the best quality racing on the continent.

[YokohamaMary]

Air conditioning at an open-air racetrack? Ummm, ok. Anyway, what do you expect from a 140 year-old grandstand?

And as far as Del Mar goes, I've heard that Del Mar has a wonderful ambience to it. Only thing is that Saratoga doesn't force feed you a daily diet of $10,000 claimers and maiden claimers. Saratoga gives you the best quality racing on the continent.

Guys, if you don't know off the top of your head that California just sucks in general then all I have to say is please enjoy your beach.

[YokohamaMary]

is the most overrated race track in America- no A/C --- dealing with New
Yorkers at the windows--- the best track in America (IMO) is Keeneland followed by (very closely) Oaklawn.

Keenland is probably the most boring racetrack in America. It has absolutely no electricity period.

[Zman179]

Guys, if you don't know off the top of your head that California just sucks in general then all I have to say is please enjoy your beach.

Northern and Southern California should just be two separate states.

I must admit that I loved going to Santa Anita. It's the nicest track in the country IMO.

[Vinman]

OverlayHunter.....

Parking.....

I've been parking at the SPA since 1993 and I'm going to give you the best parking place money can't buy.

First, scroll back to the local diagram posted by Tom on 7/6. Find the intersection of Nelson Ave & Wright St in the lower left hand corner. What you want to do is drive to the left on Wright St, away from Nelson and keep going about 5 blocks until you hit the intersection of Wright and Jefferson. Turn left on Jefferson (you'll see the garden apts on your right) and look for a spot on either the right or left side of Jefferson, depending on what day of the week it is, as they only allow parking on one side. The further down you go toward Crescent St, the easier the pickings should get. Turn right on one of those side streets down toward Crescent if you don't see anything on Jefferson.

You should easily be able to park that baby without having to do a mega-walk to the track. If you park at say, Jefferson & Steele, we're talking about 10 minutes or less to the Wright St track entrance across Nelson Ave.

Now watch, everyone will start doing this and I'll be the one who has to megaschlep from that dirt lot off 87.....LOLOL.

Seats.....

I've been a Clubhouse season ticket holder for over 10 years. I'm just now in the process of selling the ones I'm not going to use myself. The seats are located in section K, Row L, the last row of the section, very well protected from the elements, between the 1/8 and 1/16 poles. Almost directly in front of these seats are two overhead TV's which will enable you to call every finish as well as Tom Durkin. The other monitor carries the main simo signal "du jour", usually Monmouth.

Being in the last of just 12 rows on the Clubhouse side will enable you to have your friends stop by and chat right behind you without blocking anyone's view. Since the seats are in mid row (seats 8-11) you won't often have to get up and let people by you.

There is also a huge bank of self service betting terminals right behind these seats. The infield tote board is virtually dead center in front of you. You're also just steps from the crossover to the Grandstand and the escalator to the main floor.

I actually have my 4 Labor Day seats still open at face value of $15 per seat. Overlayhunter gets first crack at those. Please let me know ASAP if you're interested.

Here's the complete list of dates I have open as of right now......

Wed, 7/23 (Opening Day)
Thurs, 7/24 - Sanford Stakes for 2yo
Mon, 7/28 - Amsterdam Stakes
Wed, 7/30
Thurs, 7/31

Thurs, 8/7
Wed, 8/13 - Adirondack Stakes for 2yo Fillies
Mon, 8/18 (Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest)
Wed, 8/20

Mon, 8/25
Thurs, 8/28 (NY Turf Writers' Steeplechase)
Sun, 8/31 - Two graded stakes & Giveaway day
Mon, 9/1

All seats are $10 except for 8/31 and 9/1 which are $15, all face value. Buyers for all 4 seats get preference for any date. First come basis. Any questions, I'll get right back to you here.

Have a great day.....at the SPAaaaaaaaahhhhhhh......

Vinman

[Vinman]

While we have this SPA topic going full blast, I thought it would be a good time to post a few cool "Things to do" while in town. Here's three that came to mind...........

o An after dinner nightcap at the Adelphi Hotel, either at the bar or in the backyard area.....under the stars, of course.

o A morning drive out to Saratoga Lake.....over the cute "Erector set" bridge and take 9P all the way around....then come back the same way. Boat rentals available by the bridge.

o Take a ride by the "Ultra McMansions" on North Broadway. You'll pass the lawn jockey with the black silks & red cap in front of the Phipps relatively modest home on the left as you go up toward the Skidmore College entrance, where you turn around. This Grey stone "Megahome" they built a few years ago on the lower part of No. B'way takes the grand prize for excess. Looks like it was built with hedge fund $$$.

Those are the first 3 that come to my mind. If everyone posted their "top 3", or even just one, we'd have quite a list.

Vinman

[jognlope]

The trail system in Adirondack state park is great. I went up one, they can be up to 8 miles, up a mountain. Well marked. If you register with NYS Dept of conservation, a ranger will come by and check on you. Once up the mountain there are wonderful ponds full of trout. Serenity and quiet until the night, and then all sorts of "we are the night" animals can be heard scurrying about. Magical.

[OverlayHunter]

Vinman - Thanks for the truly informative and helpful posts. Please check your email.


jognlope - I agree. It's been many, many years since I've backpacked in the area but I have great memories of it (except the night I slept in a lean-to and was awakened by a mouse "waltzing" on my face). FWIW, Saratoga is the first stop for us for almost 3 weeks in Maine (Rangely area, Baxter State Park, Bar Harbor and a few other stops). We'll be camping about a week in Baxter to get a peace, quiet, and solitude "fix" - no electric, no cell, no wi-fi, etc. Just delicious sights, sounds (including absolute quiet), and smells in a place where no one can contact you.

[JMG]

A good place to park a big rig is on Monroe St on the corner of Crescent where Leon's restaurant is.

As for the ultra mansions when you take a ride out to the lake, at the Saratoga National Golf Club turn right on route 65 Meadowbrook Rd and left onto to Beacon Hill road. A nice little house assessed for 21 million dollars and across form it a new one twice the size that my daughter is convinced is a hotel.:D