SARATOGA MEET OFF AND RUNNING!
Thousands of fans turn out for Opening Day fun
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. » Mike Holohan is a self-described slow starter when it comes to handicapping, as neither of his bets paid off in Friday’s first two races.
But the Clifton Park resident had a winning track experience any way, at a new seating area called The Stretch, one of two major new improvements fans noticed as the 2018 Saratoga Race Course season got under way beneath bright blue, sun-filled skies.
Holohan, one of thousands of fans on hand for Opening Day, watched races perched from a bar seat in the new viewing area, located in the grandstand near the top of the stretch.
“This is fantastic,” he said. “I came here just wanting to check it out. It’s above and beyond what I was expecting. There’s an iPad, so you can not only make bets, you can order food, too. If you’re not really interested between races you can watch TV. So I can watch ESPN, I can do anything I want.”
“I’ve been coming to the races for 15 years,” Holohan said. “I usually sit in the back yard with the tent and the cooler. I’ll definitely be coming back to this section, 100 percent.”
The Stretch has 32 new modern boxes, an upscale bar, a two-tiered dining area and 200 premium reserved seats, along with a large high-definition video screen and numerous televisions. Fans there even enjoyed live, toe-tapping music provided by the fivepiece band, Upstate Bluegrass.
“Every year we try to enhance the experience for our guests,” said Chris Kay, New York Racing Association pres-
ident and chief executive officer. “The big one this year is The Stretch. It’s a great area for people who want to have fun at the track with their friends and family.”
The second major upgrade, although not as glitzy, is perhaps even more impressive.
New copper roofing has been installed over the club terrace from the Easy Goer dining area, formerly known as the upper Carousel, all the way to the end of the clubhouse.
“If you walk underneath it, you’ll see we have these beautiful new wooden ceilings,” Kay said.
Copper roofing replaces former red-and white awnings over the club terrace.
“What’s most important is that when the meet ended previously, the awnings would come down because they were cloth,” Kay said. “When it rained or snowed, water would migrate toward the building. These new copper roofs are going to extend the building’s life by 50 to 60 years according to our engineers.”
More big changes are in store by this time next year as NYRA has announced plans for a new 36,000-square-foot structure, adjacent to the clubhouse, that will replace the temporary At the Rail Pavilion and trailers near the track’s clubhouse turn. Plans call for starting work this fall and having the job done in time for the 2019 meet.
“It’s going to be very difficult, but that’s our goal,” Kay said. “We have to get our permits. We’re going to get started as soon as we can.”
For now, everyone’s attention is focused on a jam-packed Opening Weekend that continues with the 80th running of the Grade 1, $500,000 Diana on Saturday, followed by the 102nd running of the Grade 1, $300,000 Coaching Club American Oaks on Sunday.
“We like the stakes races most and turf races,” said Dave Gardner of Guilderland. “My son, Dave Jr., and I always look forward to Opening Day. We’ve been horse players for 20 years. We probably come up 10 times, at least.”
Plenty of activity is planned off the track as well this weekend, such as the debut of Fashion Saturdays, a weekly event offering a boutique-style shopping experience with women’s and men’s apparel and accessories from local retailers. It’s scheduled for 10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the Saratoga Pavilion.
The meet’s first giveaway is Sunday, a Saratoga baseball cap, free with paid admission while supplies last. Redemptions will begin when gates open to the general public at 10:30 a.m.
The 27th annual Hat Contest is also scheduled for Sunday. Participants are invited to compete in three categories -- Uniquely Saratoga, Fashionably Saratoga and Kreative Kids. Registration will begin at noon under the grandstand. Competition will take place after the second, third and fourth races on the track apron for a chance to win a variety of prizes provided by the Saratoga Springs firm, Hat Sationa!
Good friends Mary Martin and Dr. Joy Lucas attended Marylou Whitney and John Hendrickson’s annual Opening Day party in large, colorful feathered hats.
“It’s not summer in Saratoga until Marylou’s luncheon at the track,” said Lucas, the veterinarian for Marylou Whitney Stables.
U.S. Rep. Paul Tonko, Assemblywoman Carrie Woerner, state Senators Kathleen Marchione, James Tedisco and Betty Little, and former state Senate Majority Leader Joseph L. Bruno were among the many invited guests.
Wilkins Byrd and Betty Witham, of Aiken, S.C., are in Saratoga as guests of Lucy Tower, whose late husband, Whitney Tower -Marylou Whitney’s nephew -- was National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame president from 1982-89.
“This was my dream to come here for the ballet,” Witham said. “And then to have racing, also, is especially wonderful.”