MICRO ADVENTURES

*This trip was taken last summer and was posted on a now deleted Substack account, so I am reposting here for posterity and for your enjoyment and information!

The Saratoga Race Track, located in Saratoga Springs, New York is one of the oldest sporting venues in the country. I live only 2.5 hours away but visited for the first time last summer. The racetrack is a fun outing for all budgets. Read on for some of my recommendations for other first time visitors. 

In 2025 the Saratoga Race Track’s season ran from July 10 through September 1. During this time period there were horse races every Wednesday through Sunday. Expect less crowds on the weekdays.

There are two major horse races during the season - The Whitney Stakes and the Travers Stakes. If you are not a big horse racing fan you may want to avoid visiting on these days as there are massive crowds.

We visited on a Friday in August. We arrived at the race track at 10:45 AM and had to wait on line for a few minutes until the gates opened at 11 AM. Most days the first race doesn’t post until 1:10 PM, however double check the first race time for the day of your visit.

Admission:

General admission tickets can be purchased the day of at the gates. However, if you want reserved seating at the Clubhouse or in the Grandstand, you may want to purchase tickets in advance. 

General Admission: At the time of our visit, general admission was $10 per person. This includes access to the Rivers Casino Backyard, Clubhouse (standing room only to watch the races), Grandstand and trackside apron.

Visitors are permitted to bring chairs and coolers into the racetrack. It is tradition that the gates open at 7 AM when guests can “claim” one of the many picnic tables by laying a tablecloth out. Although everyone has to leave at 10 AM, the table will be reserved when the gates reopen at 11 AM.

Reserved Seats: The Grandstand and Clubhouse provide a seating option for those that want a reserved seat. While all the seats in the Clubhouse are covered, the first several rows of the Grandstand are not.

Parking:

Like admission, there is parking available at the race track for all budgets. The general race track parking lot entrance is located off East Avenue on Potato Chip Lane, across the street from the race track. At the very end of the general parking lot there is free parking available. This does require a bit of walking to get to the track. We opted for the $5 parking area. There was also a $10 parking area in the same lot. Trackside parking is available, though I am not sure of the cost. Local residents also allow parking on their lawns for a fee.

Tours:

There are several different tours available at the race track including a Breakfast & Breeding Farm Tour, Backstretch Golf Cart Tour, Paddock Tour and a Walking Tour. These each have different prices.

Since this was our first trip to the race track, my husband and I opted to do the Walking Tour. These tours depart every 30 minutes from 9:00 AM until 3:30 PM, almost every race day. It costs $15/adult and free for children 12 and under. The tour is approximately 45 minutes long. 

We had arrived to the track early so we signed up for the 11:30 AM tour. Since our tour took place before the races started we were able to visit the winner’s circle (and ring the bell!) and climb up to the Steward’s Walk for an amazing view of the track.

Our tour guide was so informative. We learned so much about the history of the venue as well as the operations. This helped us plan our day and to know what was going on. I highly recommend this tour, especially for first time visitors.

Food:

Just like any other sporting venue, the food at the racetrack is expensive. There are options for all diets. Since coolers are allowed, I recommend bringing lots of beverages and snacks. If I visit again, I will likely pack my lunch and then go out to dinner in town.

My husband and I shared an order of Loaded Chowder Fries (it seemed the most interesting) from the Surfside Chowder Shack and a lemon Italian Ice from Papa Rosso.

Betting:

You can’t visit the race track and not place any bets! Programs are available for purchase if you want to see the lineup for each race and see stats. Some people select their horses by their names. Some people study stats and odds. We did not buy a program and placed our bets by the ever-changing odds posted on the many television screens. Sometimes we even randomly picked numbers.

The wagering windows are the only locations at the Track that take cash. There are also many self-service terminals where guests can place bets. We found it easier to go to the window. Bets can be as low as 10 cents for a Superfecta (correctly identifying the first four race finishers) or a $1 for a Win, Place Show bet. We usually placed a couple of $2 wagers per race. We won a couple of wagers earning change or a couple of bucks. But for us, it was all about the fun of the bets and seeing if we won, than trying to win big money.

Tips:

*Wear comfortable shoes! We did a lot of walking throughout the day!

*The race track is a cashless facility. Admission and any food or beverage purchases require a credit, debit or mobile pay option.

*Stand by The Horse Path to see the groomers walk the horses to the Paddock area.

*Check out the Paddock area before each race to see the jockey mount their horse before the race.

*Watch the races from different areas. Stand at the rail for an up-close viewing. Head up to the Clubhouse to see a full view of the track. 

*The dress attire depends on your seating area. If you are doing general admission or the Grandstand, shorts and t-shirts are fine. For any other seating areas, collared shirts with slacks are required for the men and dresses or dress slacks are required for women. Wearing a hat is also highly encouraged!