Sports

Saratoga Race Track Celebrates 150th Anniversary

Secretariat famously lost to Onion at Saratoga, affectionately called the "Graveyard of Champions."

By Philip R. Devlin

As the year 2000 approached, people became reflective about the 20th century. Many stories were written about the "Top 100" of practically everything during the 20th century: books, movies, songs, athletes, etc.

Sports Illustrated was part of that trend, naming the top 100 sporting venues of the century. Checking in at #10 on the venues list was Saratoga Race Track in upstate New York — a place near and dear to many Connecticut residents.

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Popularly known as "The Spa," Saratoga celebrates its 150th anniversary this summer, as the racing season began Friday, July 19, and continues through Labor Day, Sept. 2. It is the oldest sports venue in the country, having opened up exactly a month to the day after Pickett's Charge at Gettysburg.

The mineral springs in Saratoga were thought to be beneficial for one's health; thus, wealthy people like the Vanderbilts flocked to upstate New York to rejuvenate themselves. To provide for a little entertainment, a race course was built. It has been operational ever since and remains a powerful draw to many people in the region, especially to residents of nearby states. Racing, however, is only part of Saratoga's allure.

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Like history? Then go to Saratoga. Within the 42 square miles of Saratoga Springs itself and nearby to it are more than 1,000 listings on the National Historic Register! One of the most important battles of the American Revolution took place there; in fact, most historians regard the Battle of Saratoga as the turning point in the War For Independence — a battle in which two Connecticut regiments lost more men than any other regiments present in the battle. 

Like the arts? Then go to Saratoga. Take in a concert at the magnificent SPAC — the Saratoga Performing Arts Center. It's a natural amphitheater built into the Spa State Park. SPAC hosts a wide range of events: jazz, chamber music, rock concerts, opera, and ballet. The acoustics there are exceptional. 

SPAC is adjacent to the National Museum Of Dance as well — the site for the Saratoga Arts Celebration on Aug. 17 and 18 this year. The Arts celebration is a juried fine arts and crafts festival — one of the finest in the country. If you like collectable books and prints, visit the Lyrical Ballad Bookshop on 7 Phila Street downtown. Located in an old bank building, it's one of the great used bookstores in the Northeast.

Like racing? The best thoroughbred racing in the United States occurs during the six-week Saratoga meeting. Racing occurs each afternoon during the meeting, except for Tuesdays. It culminates with the Travers Stakes in late August — also known as the "Mid-Summer Derby." The three different winners of the Triple Crown races this past spring — Orb, Oxbow, and Palace Malice — are expected to run in a thrilling renewal of the oldest stakes race in America. If you prefer harness racing, that's available, too, on almost everyone evening at the local harness track under the lights.

The motto for Saratoga Springs is "Health, History and Horses" — the three H's. Scenes from the hit movie "Seabiscuit" were filmed here, as well as an early scene in the James Bond adventure "Diamonds Are Forever." Saratoga is also the setting of Sherwood Anderson's 1921 short story "I Want To Know Why" — a story of a young man's obsession with horse racing and the lesson of betrayal that he learns. 

Secretariat — the only non-human on ESPN's list of the Top 100 Athletes of the 20th Century (#35 on the list) — raced here. He famously lost to Onion at the "Graveyard of Champions" — another one of Saratoga's nicknames. 

But whether you enjoy horse racing or not, there is something for everyone in the Saratoga region — especially this summer during the sesquicentennial celebration of the oldest and most storied racetrack in America. To get there, follow legendary columnist Red Smith's famous advice: " From New York City, you drive North for about 175 miles, turn left on Union Avenue, and go back 100 years."


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