Saratoga Race Course - Physical Attributes

Physical Attributes

As is the case with the other two tracks operated by the New York Racing Association — Aqueduct and Belmont Park — there are three separate tracks in the main course at Saratoga Race Course:

• A main (dirt) track, which, like that at Aqueduct, has a 1 1⁄₈ mile (1,811 m) circumference;
• A 1 mile 98 feet outer turf track known officially as the Mellon Turf Course, in honor of the Mellon family, whose members include prominent Thoroughbred owner/breeder Paul Mellon and his father Andrew Mellon, a former United States Treasury Secretary;
• An inner turf track, the circumference of which is 26 feet (7.9 m) shorter than 71⁄₂ furlongs (1,509 m).

Steeplechase races are also run at Saratoga Race Course and may take place on either of the turf courses, depending on the distance of the race. Additionally, there is the Oklahoma Training Track, which is across Union Ave. from the main course. It is used for warmups and training. The Oklahoma track site was the original track used for racing from 1863 until 1909, (then known as Horse Haven) when the currently-used grandstand track was opened.

A former distinctive feature of Saratoga Race Course's dirt track was the Wilson Mile chute, which branched off from the clubhouse (first) turn at a 90 degree angle. After the 1971 meeting, its use was suspended; following a brief resumption during the late 1980s and early 1990s, it was dismantled, leaving no distance available for dirt races at one mile. A similarly-designed chute is still in use at Ellis Park Racecourse, a racetrack in Kentucky, and is the only such chute of its kind that can be found at any North American track today.

The grounds at Saratoga Race Course contain several unique features. Patrons can get close up views of the horses being led to the paddock as the path from the stables runs through the picnic grounds. There is a mineral spring called the Big Red Spring in the picnic grounds where patrons can partake of the water that made Saratoga Springs famous. A gazebo is a prominent feature on the infield and a stylized version of the gazebo is part of Saratoga Race Course logo.

Saratoga Race Course is rich with tradition. A lake in the middle of the track contains a canoe that is painted annually in the colors of the winning stable for that year's Travers Stakes winner. Also, prior to each race a bell is hand rung at exactly 17 minutes prior to scheduled post time for each race. This is to call the jockeys to the paddock.

A new addition in recent years has been "twilight racing", where the first race post time is at 2:45 PM. After its introduction in 2006, it was expanded to the first and last Friday of the meet.