Whether it’s home or a summer home the NYRA guest services staff is here to help
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. » Saratoga Race Course offers something for everyone, whether you have been a life-long resident of the Spa City, visited throughout the years, or call it home for the summer, the track is where it’s at.
For those who also enjoy lending a hand to tens of thousands of strangers each summer, those are the smiling faces belonging to the red NYRA polo shirts and gold badges that are emblazoned with Guest Services on them as they are truly there to help you.
Kathleen King has called Saratoga her home during the summer since her retirement and the thought of working at her summer place to be seemed almost natural.
“I was a little bored and I really needed some extra money to go traveling all winter,” Kathleen King, who is originally from Oswego said. “We used to come here on our own and I love the Saratoga Race Track, so I said ‘Why not get a job.’ I love horses, I enjoy people.”
Once the season ends and the weather starts to turn, her plans will change for the second year in a row and the phrase ‘How can I help you?’ will take on a new meaning.
“I’m retired so I can make money to travel in the winter and see my grand-babies on the west coast,” she said Monday morning where a steady stream of track goers were looking for where to turn in their voucher for the Saratoga Race Course giveaway umbrella.
“We’ve had a lot of people ask where the live tellers are, where the ATMs are, where to get a good slice of pizza or a hot dog?,” King said.
Even though she was familiar with Saratoga Race Course as a visitor, last year she did some of her own research to better help the guests.
“I had to walk around a lot. I would take a map and make my own notes where everything was,” King said.
For long-time Saratoga Springs resident, retirement led to another job if not summer career for clubhouse supervisor Linda Jordan.
“When I retired in 2005 I was bored to death, I needed something to keep me busy and I found the track,” Linda Jordan said. “I went to the 2006 job fair and I talked to Linda Davis before I even filled my application out and we chatted and she said ‘I think guest services is what you want.’
“I had no idea what I wanted and she was right,” Jordan said. “I wanted to deal with people, I wanted to be around people, I like helping people, I love problem solving and I’ve been here ever since.”
Jordan arrived in Saratoga Springs in 1967 and was a physical education teacher at Saratoga Springs High School and then worked for Transitional Services for 20 years.
As a frequent guest of the race course Jordan knew her way around, but still took an opportunity to learn about her summer job site.
“I was here for the Alydar, Affirmed race (1978) and I worked at the Wishing Well restaurant for many years in August so I was involved with race track people,” Jordan said. “I didn’t know the history until I really got here.
“I wasn’t aware of how much history is here until I started working here. I knew it was old, but I wasn’t aware of the real history that I know now.”
Jordan has heard thousands of various questions through her 10-plus years in the club house information booth, but she has her favorite…
“So many first timers ‘What do I do? Here I am? What should I do? What do you think I should do?” Jordan said. “I tell them to go in the backyard, go to The Big Red Spring, walk around the paddock, go down to see the Walk of Fame, the silks room, and explore that part of it. Stand by the rail back there and watch the horses as they bring them in, the jockey path, coming right through the crowd.
“I explain about the 17 minute bell (to post time), Sam’s (the bugler) his 10 minutes (warning), I just try to give them a flavor so when they hear the bell they know what it means.”
When in doubt, look for a red polo and a smile, it’s usually right underneath that sign that says ‘May I help you?’