Saratoga Race Course

Saratoga Race Course

Gate A entrance to the race course
LocationSaratoga Springs, New York, U.S.
Coordinates43°04′18″N 73°46′07″W / 43.07167°N 73.76861°W / 43.07167; -73.76861
Owned byState of New York
Operated byNew York Racing Association
Date openedAugust 3, 1863 (161 years ago) (1863-08-03)
Screened onMSG Plus (restricted to cable systems in New York City, Northern/Central New Jersey, Fairfield County, Connecticut, and Northeastern Pennsylvania)
Capital OTB via WXXA Channel 23.2)
NYRA.com/NYRA Now app (Internet)
Altitude Sports (Rocky Mountains)
Fox Sports 2
Fox Sports Ohio
Fox Sports West and Prime Ticket (Southern California)
Fox Sports San Diego
NBC Sports Network[1]
NBC Television
Course typeFlat/Thoroughbred
Notable racesTravers Stakes (G1)
Whitney Handicap (G1)
Alabama Stakes (G1)
Jockey Club Gold Cup (G1)
Official website

Saratoga Race Course is a Thoroughbred horse racing track located on Union Avenue in Saratoga Springs, New York, United States. Opened in 1863, it is often considered to be the oldest major sporting venue of any kind in the U.S.[2] It is the fourth oldest racetrack after Pleasanton Fairgrounds Racetrack (1858),[3] Freehold Raceway (1854) and Fair Grounds Race Course (1852).[4]

The Saratoga meet originally lasted only four days.[5] The meet has been lengthened gradually since that time. From 1962 to 1990, the meet lasted four weeks and began in late July or early August. In 2010, the meet expanded to 40 racing days, with races held five days per week. It lasts from mid-July through Labor Day in early September.[6]

  1. ^ Belmont Park TV Schedule
  2. ^ Olmsted, Larry (29 May 2013). "Nation's "Oldest Racetrack" Turns 150 And Plans Summer Of Fun". Forbes. Retrieved 20 June 2013.
  3. ^ "Alameda County Fair Horse Racing". www.race-track.info.
  4. ^ Gardner, Matt (2013-04-01). "Fair Grounds Race Course: A Story Of Survival". SBNation.com. Retrieved 2024-06-11.
  5. ^ Hotaling, p. 43.
  6. ^ "A new length for Saratoga's racing season". Times Union. 8 October 2009. Retrieved 28 August 2021.