Campaign for Better Dress-Codes at Saratoga

[Linny]

I don't think Saratogabrit meant that all of racing's ills would be cured by a lack of baggy nylon basketball pants in the paddock.

Maybe I'm old but I DO get dressed up for racing. I have no problem with a PADDOCK dress code, as 'Brit mentioned. If you are walking around inside the saddling paddock, is it too hard to but on khakis rather than jeans? I think also that some of the "enforcement" of dress codes are subjective. I was one denied admission to the paddock because my (then) 4 year old son was in shorts. He was in khaki shorts with an oxford shirt and tie! He was 4!! It was 100 degrees!! I was fine with it until I realized that a certain trainer, who's son is the same age as mine was in the paddock, holding his kid, dressed exactly the same as mine! My credentials are as "legal" as his are. I spoke to the head of paddock security who admitted me, as usual.

I agree about the clubhouse vs grandstand dress code as well. Why call one area a "clubhouse" if the rules are the same as the other side of the fence?

For "special" meets like Saratoga, Keeneland and Del Mar it seems like dressing up is part of the tradition. I don't "judge a book by it's cover" and assume that jeans/Tshirt = lowlife, yet it is nice to adhere to certain traditions in certain places.

As for Aqueduct, well I LOVE the place. I may stroll the paddock at the Spa in August but I'll also visit the below ground, frozen, rubber paved paddock of the Big A in winter. Aqueduct isn't Saratoga, it's not trying to be. But when I get to the paddock there, I'll be wearing nice dress pants, boots and the warmest coat I can find. It's nice to walk into Equestris for the price of admission to the Spa Grandstand, get a great table overlooking the track (and Runway 7 west) with a betting machine and access to 20 simulcasts at the table.