Saratoga Admission 2023

[Tape Reader]

The jockeys exit the winners circle through the clubhouse.

My grandchildren anxiously await their favorite jockey for an autograph which they usually provide. Some give goggles.

An especially famous jockey once promised my 7 year old granddaughter “after the next race little girl. I need them for that race” which he won.

There are not always “little children” shouting to the jockeys. These are those that I want separation from.

Charge more for the clubhouse and less for the grandstand and all will be happy.

[Suff]

Saratoga used to be bachelor party , heavy drinking, cocaine with all night dice & card games. That was 1980's-90's. Those same maniacs are now Sober chill Grandfathers. Today's Saratoga is clean, polite society.

Saratoga is family friendly.

[Rutgers]

Another great racetrack tradition goes by the wayside: Sneaking in the clubhouse without paying the exchange.

[lamboguy]

if you have a license to own horses, you don't get charged to walk in.

[Brass Hat]

Originally Posted by Suff

Saratoga used to be bachelor party , heavy drinking, cocaine with all night dice & card games. That was 1980's-90's. Those same maniacs are now Sober chill Grandfathers. Today's Saratoga is clean, polite society.

Saratoga is family friendly.

MMM...as long as you are not near the top of the stretch or wander around those tents there. There are still a good number of drunken bros, I assume the proud students of Skidmore.

Also had a fight near where we sit a few years ago during the Travers, before the actual race. Came back to my seat, the police were arresting people. A guy laid out a guy who had been arguing with his daughter at the tote machine.

[Suff]

Originally Posted by Brass Hat

MMM...as long as you are not near the top of the stretch or wander around those tents there. There are still a good number of drunken bros, I assume the proud students of Skidmore.

Also had a fight near where we sit a few years ago during the Travers, before the actual race. Came back to my seat, the police were arresting people. A guy laid out a guy who had been arguing with his daughter at the tote machine.

[Suff]

Daily, NYRA closes Saratoga at 10am. All the people who come for breakfast and tours are asked to leave. Security funnels people out while loudspeakers say Get out.

[the little guy]

Originally Posted by Brass Hat

MMM...as long as you are not near the top of the stretch or wander around those tents there. There are still a good number of drunken bros, I assume the proud students of Skidmore.

Also had a fight near where we sit a few years ago during the Travers, before the actual race. Came back to my seat, the police were arresting people. A guy laid out a guy who had been arguing with his daughter at the tote machine.

Yeah, I don't think there are a lot of drunken bros at Skidmore ( even if they were in session during the meet ).

[lex]

I don't think this will have a huge impact on people worried about the riff raff. Seems like they lowered the dress code a long time ago and most people have paid to go in there before and found it's not a huge deal. Or maybe it's just my take since I've gone since I was a kid and I'm happy to sit there, the grandstand or out in a lawn chair. I'd prefer that they find a way for my short self to be able to see the races.

[CheckMark]

Originally Posted by lex

I don't think this will have a huge impact on people worried about the riff raff. Seems like they lowered the dress code a long time ago and most people have paid to go in there before and found it's not a huge deal. Or maybe it's just my take since I've gone since I was a kid and I'm happy to sit there, the grandstand or out in a lawn chair. I'd prefer that they find a way for my short self to be able to see the races.

When I went to Saratoga for the first time last year the "Clubhouse" folks were mostly dressed in casual clothing and not dress code attire (some did sport that though)

[lamboguy]

Originally Posted by CheckMark

When I went to Saratoga for the first time last year the "Clubhouse" folks were mostly dressed in casual clothing and not dress code attire (some did sport that though)

if you are in the paddock or saddling area there is a dress code, like no shorts

[CheckMark]

Originally Posted by lamboguy

if you are in the paddock or saddling area there is a dress code, like no shorts

Ah so that is why the security guard looked at me funny that day walking around that area

no shorts= no no

[Brass Hat]

On one of the last Thoroughbred Racing Fans of New England trips to Saratoga I wore shorts. Friend had a horse in the Castle Village partnership running that day and invited me to the paddock but the guard would not let me in because of the shorts. Have always worn long pants to the track since, no matter how hot.

[molson721]

AND racing wonders why it is losing fans! I've read the comments of those that are in support of this but I wonder if you are clueless!

Casinos let you park for free, let you in for free and AND GIVE YOU FREE DRINKS because THEY MAKE MONEY ON YOUR WAGERING! Is the higher admission price resulting in the takeout at Saratoga being lowered? NO Are Casinos closing and costing themselves money by giving away these freebies that race tracks DON'T give you?

WAKE UP PEOPLE. I've heard the STUPID argument that fans pay high entrance fees to see a baseball or football game (which I don't have to pay any takeout fees or need to wager on as a fan of my team)so I should expect to pay an entrance price to see racing?? WRONG. Saratoga racing is not enjoyable if I don't wager on the races so does anybody go there to not wager? TAKEOUT is where the money is made

Racing was not on TV very much during its heyday in the 50's-70's because the racetracks thought it would hurt attendance, how did that help the sport? Charging for parking and admission is something racetracks do but not casinos! WAKE UP!

Saratoga is the best way to bring new fans to the game but having fans start off $10,$20 $30 or more in the hole(depending on family or group size) for the opportunity to enter a track so you can wager on races with high takeouts is not a way to bring in new fans! There is a reason why so many tracks have closed(Arlington, Hollywood, etc) and the casino bailouts can only last so long!

WAKE UP PEOPLE THAT SUPPORT HIGHER ADMISSIONS! The game is dying and this is the type of reasons why! The $2 bettor can fall in love with this sport if they are not overcharged to try it out just like I did 30 years ago! When will racing ever learn? The betting whales are not the backbone of the sport, the little guy is and once again, racing is doing its' best to eliminate the little guy!
Please excuse some spelling and grammatical errors as I was ready to go to bed when writing this but the message is not WRONG! Raising admission to ANY track is not good for the sport that has high takeout on wagering!

[dilanesp]

Originally Posted by molson721

Casinos let you park for free, let you in for free and AND GIVE YOU FREE DRINKS because THEY MAKE MONEY ON YOUR WAGERING!

I know people say this a lot but parking hasn't been free at the big Las Vegas casinos for years, for much the same reason that Saratoga charges a higher (though TBC not nearly as high as other major league sports) admission charge.

Prices are set by supply and demand. And ANY intelligent person would run NYRA's pricing in exactly the same way NYRA runs it-- you can come right in to Aqueduct in the winter but have to pay a substantial charge to go to Saratoga.

I have always been something of a Philistine when it comes to Saratoga-- I've never quite understood the point. I like new things and comfort over old stuff and antique charm, and i'd rather pay $100 for a summer afternoon at Del Mar than $10 for one at Saratoga.

But obviously a ton of people have a great time going up to Saratoga and the way you convert that into revenue is by charging them for the experience. Good for NYRA.