Travers question

[31lengths]

Are tickets to the Travers easily accesable? Or do I need to secure one before I book my flight/hotel?
Having never been there I wasn't sure how they worked big races like that.

Thanks in advance.

[boswd]

It depends, you can always go General Admission and pay the $3 and pick a spot in the backyard or go to the bottom level of the Clubhouse or just be a general railbird.

for a reserved seat that may be tough but go here www.nyra.com and find out more details on a grandstand seat.

[31lengths]

Originally Posted by boswd

It depends, you can always go General Admission and pay the $3 and pick a spot in the backyard or go to the bottom level of the Clubhouse or just be a general railbird.

for a reserved seat that may be tough but go here www.nyra.com and find out more details on a grandstand seat.

Thanks. Yes, the reserved seats are sold out. I called them earlier. I just dont want to get shut out if I'm flyin' up from Florida.

[saratoga guy]

Originally Posted by 31lengths

Thanks. Yes, the reserved seats are sold out. I called them earlier. I just dont want to get shut out if I'm flyin' up from Florida.

The facility itself doesn't "sell out" if that's what you mean. Getting a reserved seat in the clubhouse or grandstand might be difficult -- although you can probably shop around and find some for sale in the "after market".

But you can always get into the grounds by paying the admission price. Then you can spend the day walking around -- finding a spot here and there to "take a load off" during the day.

Or, go out and buy a cheap lawn chair and carry that into the track and plant yourself somewhere in the backyard.

[XIIPointStables]

I'm sure others will agree - Travers is insane.

In terms of the GA, it's a mess. People (myself included) line up about 4:45 outside the gates to run in at 6AM and grab a table in the backyard.

If you don't care about a table and still want a good GA seat, bring a lawn chair but still get there early when the gates open. Every other day of the meet, I'd day you'd be fine leaving the chair with a paper on it and coming back later in the day. But Travers day is for tourists and they don't always obey the usually Saratoga rules.

If you want a seat seat the after-market is the way to go. But it ain't cheap unless you get real lucky.

That's all i got.

Ticketsattheraces.com still had some Travers tix when I was on their site yesterday. Varying locations and prices.

[31lengths]

Originally Posted by XIIPointStables

I'm sure others will agree - Travers is insane.

In terms of the GA, it's a mess. People (myself included) line up about 4:45 outside the gates to run in at 6AM and grab a table in the backyard.

If you don't care about a table and still want a good GA seat, bring a lawn chair but still get there early when the gates open. Every other day of the meet, I'd day you'd be fine leaving the chair with a paper on it and coming back later in the day. But Travers day is for tourists and they don't always obey the usually Saratoga rules.

If you want a seat seat the after-market is the way to go. But it ain't cheap unless you get real lucky.

That's all i got.

So what would you suggest for getting in?
I called the track who said that I could go to the Holiday Inn the night before the Travers and the sell reserved seating. I have no problem being a rail bird or hanging out at that back yard. I just want to make sure Im in, I guess.

Thanks, Leo

[31lengths]

Originally Posted by XIIPointStables

I'm sure others will agree - Travers is insane.

In terms of the GA, it's a mess. People (myself included) line up about 4:45 outside the gates to run in at 6AM and grab a table in the backyard.

If you don't care about a table and still want a good GA seat, bring a lawn chair but still get there early when the gates open. Every other day of the meet, I'd day you'd be fine leaving the chair with a paper on it and coming back later in the day. But Travers day is for tourists and they don't always obey the usually Saratoga rules.

If you want a seat seat the after-market is the way to go. But it ain't cheap unless you get real lucky.

That's all i got.

Do the gates open at 6 or 7 am? I think the web site said 7 on Travers day.

Also what time do they open on the Friday. The site conflicts about that as well. Going to try to hit the museum as well.....any suggestions on whats the best time to do that? I land in Albany at 130 pm ish and would like to try to get there on that day but dont know if I'd be pushing it.

Thanks again.

[31lengths]

Originally Posted by saratoga guy

The facility itself doesn't "sell out" if that's what you mean. Getting a reserved seat in the clubhouse or grandstand might be difficult -- although you can probably shop around and find some for sale in the "after market".

But you can always get into the grounds by paying the admission price. Then you can spend the day walking around -- finding a spot here and there to "take a load off" during the day.

Or, go out and buy a cheap lawn chair and carry that into the track and plant yourself somewhere in the backyard.

having never been there....what is the "backyard" of which everyone speaks of?

[boswd]

The backyared is the area behind the grandstand and clubhouse. It's a park that has picnic tables, access to the paddock, Hundreds of TV's everywhere including a Couple very LARGE tv's, they have betting windows and SAM machines back there. You can bring in your own food and beer, wine or whatever you drink. you can always walk up to the rail and watch them live and come back to your spot. It has kiosk's shops that sell all sorts of mechandise and food/drink vendors. It's awesome. I love the backyard.