Whether you call it the flat track or the Saratoga Race Course, one thing is for certain: it’s the place to be during the Spa City summer.
A crowd of all ages turned out at the track on Sunday, July 15, as NYRA, the New York Racing Association, hosted the course’s 32nd Open House. According to NYRA’s Director of Communications Dan Silver, there are about 2,000 people employed at the track by NYRA and their partners and during the meet, it will also be home to 1,850 horses.
The Open House provided a look into track attractions and information on the meet itself before gates swing open for the official season on Friday, July 20. This year’s meet runs through Labor Day, Monday, Sept. 3. On Saturday, July 21, and Sunday, July 22, the track will feature its traditional annual Hats Off to Saratoga Festival, where attendee will don their prettiest headdresses. It’s the first of many special track events.
“The Open House event not only welcomes people to the summer Saratoga season at the track but is also intended to generate much needed funds for worthy local charities,” said NYRA President and Chief Operating Officer Ellen McClain.
“Every year we raise about $15,000 for local non-for-profit groups through the purchasing of the very discounted food and beverage offerings,” said Silver.
Organizations that benefited from this year’s Open House include The Knights of Columbus, Saratoga Elks, The Girl Scouts of Northeastern New York and Saratoga Rowing.
What’s new for 2012
One of the things that NYRA is introducing this year in hopes of creating a kid-appropriate atmosphere is Family Friendly Fridays.
“Saratoga has the best jockeys, the best horses, the best trainers and we also have the best fans. At Belmont Park we do Family Fun Days on Sundays with face painters and pony rides … it’s going to be a similar type of thing occurring on Fridays,” said Silver. “It features Coca-Cola’s Best Bet Offer which includes adult grandstand admission, a post-parade program and a hot dog and a Coca-Cola all for $5.”
Vouchers for the offer can be found at participating retailers in the area and redeemed at the Reserved Seats Office.
Also new this year are a few food and beverage offerings, including a craft beer garden, which will “serve as the center piece of an enhanced signature hospitality area at the Carousel” according to a statement from NYRA officials.
“NYRA is constantly looking for ways to enhance the overall experience for track patrons. By combining the new beer garden with some of the track’s most sought after dining options, we intend to make the Carousel area a signature hospitality space for our guests,” said NYRAVice President and Director of Hospitality and Group Sales Stephen Travers.
The racing
While food, drink and fellowship are staples at the track, the main attraction is the horses and the racing. And few know that better than horse trainer Gary Contessa, who lives in Hoosick Falls and travels to Long Island and Fort Lauderdale, Fla. to train horses. He’s been around horses since he was a kid growing up on Long Island and has been training them for decades.
“The beauty of the Saratoga meet is that I can spend most of my time here,” he said, though he will also be making excursions to Belmont to check on his gang there.
“I get to the track around 5 (a.m.) and start the training for these horses for the day and the first horse hits the track at 5:30,” he said.
While there may be a set schedule for the day’s training, Contessa said that the schedule usually gets tweaked to meet whatever needs arise among his fleet. He attributes, at least in part being able to keep up with things to his iPhone for checking emails and messages. He also added that his day never really “ends.”
“Every horse is different. Certain horses you can’t train every day, they’re very fragile or their mind can’t handle it,” he said. “Some horses need more, some need less….you have to know your horse personally.”
A new year for an institution
This year’s meet marks the first Saratoga season since NYRA underwent a dramatic spring shakeup during which President and CEO Charles Hayward was ousted in the midst of a wagering scandal and Gov. Andrew Cuomo ordered a new leadership structure for the organization.
NYRA officials declined to discuss the matter in even broad terms, but Contessa doesn’t think recent events will put a damper on the meet.
“I believe all this negativity is just breeding more negativity.… But I see that behind the scenes that good things are happening. A new marketing man, new board of directors. … I think NYRA is undergoing a very positive change,” he said. “This is the greatest racing experience on earth…let’s hope that there’s a cease fire for the next six weeks…it will also take a long time to rebuild the trust people lost in NYRA.”
For more information on the track and the 2012 meet, visitnyra.com.
