Horses of Course

Other than sparkling mineral springs, Saratoga is best known for horses and racing. Signs of this passion are everywhere in Saratoga – from horse head bike racks downtown to posters, jewelry and fine art in the many gift stores, to a lovingly restored and very popular carousel in Congress Park, in the heart of Saratoga. The most obvious evidence of this devotion to all things equine, of course, is the Saratoga thoroughbred racecourse itself – referred to simply as “the flat track.” It’s America’s oldest, dating to 1864 (opened during the Lincoln administration) and still attracting crowds of up to 50,000. The sport’s best horses and their riders live, work and play in Saratoga for six weeks during the summer. Thirty six days of racing take place -- including the famous Travers Stakes race -- starting in late July and ending, always, on Labor Day. Just up the street, on Union Avenue, the National Racing Museum honors horses, owners, trainers and jockeys with colorful and interactive displays, including a mechanical racehorse that gives you a chance to experience what it’s like to ride.