Patrons crowd the picnic area at Saratoga Race Course during Saturday’s Belmont Day festivities.
An eclectic gathering of 50,000 people descended on the historic Saratoga Race Course for the 156th running of the Belmont Stakes on Saturday.
Several praised the track’s numerous clubhouse upgrades while keeping the building’s charm, as they celebrated Saratoga’s first-time hosting the final leg of the Triple Crown.
For many of the day’s patrons, this was not their first time visiting Saratoga to watch horse racing. However, the atmosphere on this day was undoubtedly altered by the once-in-a-generation event of attending the Belmont Stakes in Spa City. The 40-day Saratoga summer meet does not begin until July 11.
“It feels like we’re here too early,” joked Matthew Raymond, a longtime horse-racing fan from Pennsylvania who has been coming to Saratoga since the mid-1990’s.
Raymond and his group of friends were among those to set up outside the track’s main gate in the early morning hours on Saturday, all with the hope of reserving a picnic table for the day.
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“It’s a longstanding tradition to get here early and get a spot out back in the picnic area,” Raymond told The Post-Star. “It’s just odd to do it in June instead of August.”
The group makes an annual trek to the Travers Stakes — the most prestigious Grade 1 race at Saratoga — in late August.
From the NYRA Sky Deck, horses in Race 6 storm out of the gate and come down the home stretch.
A day originally forecast to be overcast with occasional rain showers blossomed into a sunshine-filled celebration that showcased the Saratoga Race Course as an ideal setting for premier horse racing.
Some fans said they hoped this Belmont Festival might be a trial run for future racing in Saratoga during the fall, including the Breeders Cup World Championships — a series of Grade 1 races over a two-day period that is held annually in early November.
Patrons enjoy the new Jim Dandy Bar in the clubhouse at Saratoga Race Course during Saturday’s Belmont Day festivities.
One of the day’s highlights was the new jam-packed Jim Dandy Bar, one of the more significant upgrades to the ground level of the venue’s clubhouse this offseason. The New York Racing Association also upgraded the clubhouse bathrooms.
The effort to modernize the amenities didn’t detract NYRA from maintaining the track’s charm and tradition.
“Fans will now enjoy a new horseshoe-shaped bar distinguished by its open and airy atmosphere and reflective of the original green and brown color scheme of Saratoga,” a NYRA press release stated about the renovations.
“It’s good to see (NYRA) keep the spirit of Saratoga alive and still bring a freshness to the vibe,” fan Glen Baldwin said. Baldwin traveled from Long Island.
The Jim Dandy Bar is “flanked by vintage scenes of Saratoga Race Course,” the NYRA press release said.
“As always, our goal is to offer fans an improved experience while balancing the history and tradition of this cherished venue. These are important investments which guarantee a successful future for Saratoga Race Course,” said David O’Rourke, NYRA President and CEO, in a statement.
Additionally, there were upgrades to the Finish Line Grill and Modelo Finish Line Bar in 2023. One of the future upgrades will be a new Clubhouse Grill. The Clubhouse Grill will be located across from the Jim Dandy Bar and feature an expanded menu of hot food, according to NYRA.
Another hit attraction at the track during Belmont Day was the virtual reality horse-racing attraction inside the open-air Walk of Fame.
Cullen Gardner and Clark Zelazo from the Springfield, Massachusetts, area compete in virtual reality horse racing at Saratoga Race Course, Belmont Meet.
Cullen Gardner and Clark Zelazo, friends from the Springfield, Massachusetts area, tested out the VR experience. The pair had a blast during the head-to-head simulation, bobbing the reins and whipping their animatronic horses.
“That was too fun,” Gardner remarked after he finished second in the race.
As for the Belmont Stakes itself, most of the patrons who spoke to The Post-Star commented that they believed Chad Brown-trained Sierra Leone would be the likely winner of the race. Brown is from nearby Mechanicville.
“Sierra Leone all the way,” Raymond said.
Dornoch, a 17-1 long shot ridden by jockey Luis Saez, was the Belmont Stakes winner, with Mindframe finishing second and Sierra Leone in third place.
Luke Mosseau is a reporter who covers Queensbury, Lake George and northern Warren Coutny. His beats are Business, Planning and Housing. Contact: 518-742-3224, lmosseau@poststar.com.
