Saratoga Race Course
About Saratoga Race Course
Saratoga Race Course —nicknamed the Spa— is located in Saratoga Springs, New York. It opened in 1863 and since this time, has developed a reputation as the "Graveyard of the Favorites" for the numerous upsets that have occurred there. Man O' War suffered his only defeat in 21 starts while racing at Saratoga and U.S. Triple Crown champion Gallant Fox was beaten by a 100-1 long shot named "Jim Dandy" in the 1930 Travers Stakes. Since 1864 the horse racing track has been the site of the Travers Stakes, the oldest major thoroughbred horse race in the United States. The Travers Stakes is the highlight of the annual summer race meeting at Saratoga.
Saratoga Race Track
As is the case with the other two tracks operated by the New York Racing Association - Aqueduct and Belmont Park - there are three separate courses at Saratoga:
- Main Track (dirt): a 1 1/8 mile (1,811 m) circumference
- Outer Turf Course: known officially as the Mellon Turf Course; 1 mile, 98 feet long
- Inner Turf Course: circumference is 26 feet (7.9 m) shorter than 7 1/2 furlongs (1,509 m)
Saratoga Race Course Schedule
Opening Day for the 2006 Saratoga meeting is Wednesday, July 26. Closing Day is Monday, Sept. 4.