Located in Saratoga Springs, the Saratoga Racecourse goes way back to 1863, when the very first thoroughbred racetrack was opened. It was a meet that lasted four days and its success gave birth to the Travers Stakes the very next year. Apart from being regarded, arguably, as the third oldest horseracing track in the country, Saratoga Racecourse is widely known as the country’s oldest venue for any organized sports.
The course has three tracks. The dirt track is 1,811m long while the turf track runs for 1mile. The inner turf is 1,408m long. The Racecourse hosts Grade I, II and III races as well as ungraded and steeplechase races. Major stakes races held at the Saratoga Racecourse include the Travers Stakes, the Alabama Stakes, the Hopeful Stakes and the Whitney Handicap, which is a qualifier for the Breeders’ Cup Classic. The racing season begins in July and runs until September.
Only the best have the courage to compete at the historic grounds of the Saratoga Racecourse and this forms part of the story behind its nickname. The racecourse earned its name ?he Graveyard of Champions” when an unlikely horse defeated the then Triple Crown winner in 1930. This was again repeated in 2015 when the TC winner, American Pharaoh, lost at the Travers Stakes.
The racecourse has also featured in scenes in a number of movies including Saratoga, Ghost Story, Seabiscuit, Billy Bathgate, The Horse Whisperer and My Old Man. Authors like Ian Fleming, Stephen Dobyns and Edna Ferber have also etched the beauty of the
racecourse into their words.
Thinking of spending time at the Clubhouse this season? Point to note: stick to the proper dress code. Nothing short, whether it is tops or bottoms. Same applies to the Luxury Suites and the Box Seats. No jeans either at the Box Seats.