Saratoga Race Course

     Mike always wanted to go to Saratoga Race Course, so we went.  He's an old hand at the horsey business.  I, on the other hand, am a newbie.  Check out all the things I learned.

The gates open at 11:00 a.m.  We got there so early we were at the front of the line.  

Troy, a member of Security, was obviously happy to see us.  Every employee we met was SUPER nice.

   

We had time to kill from 11:00 a.m. to the first race at 12:25 p.m., so we shopped.  Race tracks were men's territory until 1875 when Colonel Meriwether Lewis Clark, Jr., founder of the Kentucky Derby, convinced upper class women that horse racing could be a classy event suitable for families.  Ladies showed off the latest fashions at Churchill Downs.  When the derby was televised in the 1960's, ladies attempted to be recognized on TV by wearing bigger, more flamboyant hats.  This "made in China" example at $150.00 gave me sticker shock.
     

Trying on is free!

There is so much horse themed artwork.

There were two groups performing all day.  This foursome did jazz and the other did calypso.

This is the silks room.  Silks are the costume that the jockey wears.  Each horse owner has his own colors and design.  There are 3,500 different silks at Saratoga.

Some tracks use rotating racks like the system used by dry cleaners.  It's done the old fashioned way (on hooks) at Saratoga.  The silks are grouped by color.  An owner might get a separate area outside color grouping if he races frequently.  A staff of two men run up and down the aisles, grabbing the outfits as needed.  They are able to wash and dry them between races since "silks" are really made of synthetic fabric these days.  Check this out: http://www.drf.com/events/top-10-most-eclectic-silks-racing-history

Here we are in front of the main dirt track.  There is a turf track inside the dirt track with a second turf track inside that.  The second turf track is used for steeple chase (jumping). 

Saratoga opened in 1863.  It is often called the oldest race track in the United States, but Freehold Raceway in New Jersey, operating since the 1830's, is actually the oldest track.  You can see that horse racing was a man's sport back in the beginning.

Readying the horses.

Horses parade along walkways that are only slightly farther than arms length from spectators.

Mike, heading for our seats under the roof.  We stayed here during the hottest part of the day.

Nice shot, huh?

This is the post parade, the formal presentation of the horses before the race.  The horse and jockey are accompanied by an escort called an outrider.

This is Race 6 being won handily by Coast of Sangria.  

That's not beer!  They spray water on the dirt between each race.

After the water, they prepare the surface of the dirt.

This high roller ($50.00 minimum) places his bet with a human.  Machines have replaced most of the tellers.

These ladies are sporting hats worthy of the clubhouse.

Baseball caps and beer.  Mike and I are grandstand folks.

This is La Madrina, winner of race 8.  The jockey is Javier Castellano.

Depleting our retirement fund $2.00 at a time - these are our losing tickets!