Derby Trail Forums - The Saratoga Experience In 78 Hours

So it’s just another Weds day morning for me. I get up early like always, brew the cup of coffee I need to function and start thinking about my day. I am off work for a while, so I have nothing but time. Well, this particular morning I decided to take a trip to a small town in Ohio and shop for some antiques. So, I turn on my computer and am checking some of the sites I check daily and decided to check the weather forecast for the Albany area as I decided after I did my antique shopping I would head to the local track to watch and wager on Saratoga. Well, the weather forecast looked great for the next couple of days. Next thing I know I am doing laundry, packing my bags and headed to Saratoga!

I’ll start with what the experience was like at Saratoga and then share what the trip was like to and from as well as some of the other sites and sounds I took in. I drove into Saratoga on Route 29. Once I entered the town I stopped in the first gas station I saw and the first thing I saw was The Saratoga Special, a daily newspaper dedicated to the happenings at the track. Its free and a pleasure to read! I knew then I was right were I wanted to be. When I drove up to the grounds I was awe struck plain and simple. A beautiful park, the barns, the atmosphere, the grandstands I had seen on TV so many times, the entrance, the people on the park benches etc etc.. Got a half decent parking place and off to the races!

The facility is not what I expected, so much better! Firs thing I wanted to accomplish was reserved seating and was very fortunate to secure some decent seats in Section P on the aisle for Friday. Made my way to the track and was just speechless to finally see the track in all its glory. The stands were ¾’s full, on a Thursday none the less, and there was this “buzz” in the air (it might have been in great part all the “coolers” so to speak). Literally speaking I was in heaven. What a sight the track is. The tree lined backstretch, the water and flowers in the infield, the turf courses just great on the eyes. Underneath the grandstands and thru out it is a fair like atmosphere but different, a good different. Next thing I see is a Carolina BBQ stand so I make the trip over and low and behold but the first person I recognize is Steve Byk. I meet him for the first time and am excited to finally put a face to a name. Steve you are a heck of a nice guy, so glad I got to meet you after several years. While I am on this subject I was also able to meet Ateam, Sniper and Payson. All super nice folks and glad to meet you all. By the way thanks Joey the BBQ chicken was great!

Plenty of tellers and I never had to wait more then a minute or so to place a wager. Obviously that must be different on Saturday and Sunday. I quickly learned that you need to pack a cooler cause a bottle of coke would run you $4, but if you wanted a bottle of water a quick trip outside the track across Union Ave you can snag one for 50cents or a buck. NYRA has plenty of goodies to buy all over and decently priced. Some other cool vendors set up all over the grounds as well. Just a great time. So cool how all those people just lug in their coolers, lawn chairs etc and just chill out all afternoon under the trees and watch the racing action on the televisions spread out all over the backside of the grandstands. I prefer to see the action live and from the grandstands but hey to each his own.

I got to spend a little time walking the barn areas and just love how folks can just take it all in. Did not go far back, just spent a little time walking around the Sciacca barn area and a few others in that general vicinity. Big difference to say the least seeing horse flesh at Saratoga up close then the tracks I frequent like the River Downs of the world. Amazing animals and I could spend days just sitting in a lawn chair watching them thru the day.

The trip to and from was filled with learning experiences. I have never traveled the New York Thruway, I-90 before, so I was in for a shock with the toll costs. I did not leave Columbus, Ohio until after 6pm and was ready to find a room around Buffalo. Well, after numerous stops and close to $20 later in toll fare I arrived in Victor, New York after 2am dog tired. Early wake up call was needed and I was up and east bound just a short couple hours later. Thursday night after the races I headed north thanks to a suggestion from another Derby Trail regular Gander and secured a hotel room in Queensbury. What a delightful town! I ended up driving around a little that evening and was just taken back by the beauty of the area, the lakes, mountains older homes just a great sight to behold! I also got to see the Harness track, a nice setting but the casino is not my cup of tea. Heading out of Saratoga Friday I opted to take the southern route thru Binghamton. Again beautiful country! Spent the night in Binghamton and then headed to Watkins Glenn. Never seen the road course before and it was what I expected, nothing to write home about but you gotta love the cattle farm right across the street. A side note, Tioga downs is a nice little facility as well! A quick stop at Presque Isle downs to watch and wager on The Whitney and Arlington Million (lost both races) and then it was time to head home.

In conclusion I would be amiss if I did not share one more thing about New York. I have spent, up to this point, only a week in Albany and a week in Buffalo in 1999. Both times I was very uneasy about the people in New York as I encountered numerous folks who were rude and just unpleasant to be around. So it was with a little apprehension that I made this trip not knowing what to expect from those “New Yorkers”. I never once, the whole time I was there, encounter a rude or unpleasant person. In fact, most everyone when they learned I was out of town went out of their way to help make this experience a pleasurable one. The small things that add up, the smiles, handshakes, holding the door open, enjoy your stay etc etc..

I hope and plan on making a return trip to Saratoga before this meet is up. It is my favorite place to be now, far eclipsing any track I have been to. Churchill Downs outta send all their employees to Saratoga cause those folks, them “New Yorkers”, know a thing or too about customer service. And just being genuinely nice.

Lastly, I am so happy that when I called my Grandmother and asked her if she would be willing and able to leave for a few days to go to Saratoga, a place she has wanted to see for years, she said yes. Time spent with family amongst fine folks like everyone who made this trip a trip to remember!