FAQ
1. When was the first horse race in Saratoga?
The first horse race was held on August 3, 1863, to start a four-day meet that was put on by ex-boxing champion John Morrissey. The success of this inaugural event prompted him to enlist his friends John R. Hunter, William Travers (for whom the oldest stakes race in the country is named) and Leonard Jerome to establish the Saratoga Association, whose first actions were to build a new grandstand and track. And as they say, “the rest is history.”
SPAC is Saratoga’s unique, outdoor amphitheater and performing arts venue, nestled in the beautiful setting of the Saratoga Spa State Park. SPAC’s season runs June through the beginning of September with a few special events occurring during its extended season, before or after the regular season. It is proud to call itself the summer home of the New York City Ballet and Philadelphia Orchestra for over 40 years. It also hosts a number of festivals, events and pop/rock concerts through the summer months. SPAC administration office can be reached at 518-584-9330 or the Box Office during season at 518-587-3330. Visit our SPAC page for more information and insider tips.
For all classical shows, SPAC festivals and special programs, tickets can be purchased in person at the SPAC Box Office, located onsite, Monday through Friday from noon to 6:00 p.m. or Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. If there is an evening event, the Box Office will remain open until the performance begins. The Box Office is closed on Sundays unless there is a show, in which case it will open at 2:00 p.m. and remain open until the start of the show. The Box Office phone number is 518-587-3330. Tickets can also be purchased online through Ticketmaster or by calling 518-476-1000. For a list of events and performances, visit SPAC online. Tickets for all pop and rock concerts are promoted by Live Nation and can be purchased online.
The Saratoga Meet is a 40-day meet starting the end of July and closing on Labor Day. Dark Day, when no racing is held, is every Tuesday. There are a number of Grade 1 Stakes races, including the oldest American stakes race, The Travers. The New York Racing Association (NYRA) can be reached off-season at 718-641-4700 or 516-488-6000 and can be reached during the season at 518-584-6200. Visit our Saratoga Race Course page for more information and need to know facts.
General Admission and Grandstand tickets to the Saratoga Race Course can be purchased at the gate, opening at 11:00 a.m. on weekdays and 10:30 a.m. on weekends. Travers Day gates open at 7:00 a.m. You can apply for Reserved Seating by downloading an application form at NYRA online on their Saratoga “Tickets” page. Tickets can also be purchased through Ticketmaster.
The following locations are within about 15 miles from SPAC:
For a comprehensive list of lodging facilities in Saratoga, visit our Where to Stay page.
The Saratoga Springs City Center is situated at the Northern end of town on Broadway. It is physically attached to The Saratoga Hilton, formerly The Saratoga Hotel and can be reached at 518-584-4000. There are a number of hotels, inns and bed & breakfasts within close proximity. The following are hotels within a five (5) miles radius.
For a complete list of lodging facilities, please visit our Where to Stay page.
Yes. The CDTA has regular daily routes to Saratoga attractions, including shopping, Saratoga Gaming & Raceway and Skidmore College, with stops throughout downtown. There is a special summer Visitors Trolley with frequent stops at the Saratoga Race Course. The CDTA can be reached at 518-482-8822. Upstate Transit of Saratoga has regular commuter bus services and can be contacted at 518-584-5252. For long distance bus services, Adirondack Trailways and Greyhound have a bus terminal in downtown Saratoga. They can be contacted at 518-584-0911.
Visit our Transportation Tools page with links to all bus routes, trolley schedules, visitor maps and more.
The closest commercial airport is Albany International Airport (ALB), which is about 30 miles south of Downtown Saratoga Springs. Some of the airlines that service ALB include Delta, Northwest, Southwest, United and US Airways. There are bus services with regular daily schedules to Saratoga, as well as taxi, limousine and rental car companies on site. The airport can be reached at 518-242-2200. Call individual airlines for information. The Saratoga County Airport is limited to private, prop and jet aircraft. It is located in the Town of Milton and can be reached at 518-885-5354.
Amtrak is a National Rail Passenger Service with stations in Saratoga Springs (SAR), Schenectady (SDY) and Rensselaer - Albany (ALB). The Saratoga Springs Station is about one mile West of Broadway and has regular taxi and bus service to Downtown Saratoga. For more information, call 800-872-7245.
Our Travel Tools page has general driving directions, as well as an interactive map to help you customize your trip.
Saratoga has a number of area businesses and facilities that can keep you connected – if you want to, that is. We regularly update the list of locations, however, feel free to ask while or before you visit, as services might become available after posting the information.
The Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce and Saratoga.org can help you find everything you need to know about the county, community and city. Visit our Community page to find links to request a relocation packet or to search for jobs and real estate.
Saratoga is a stunning backdrop to make your special day perfect. So much so, that Saratoga has become a popular wedding destination, because of its charm and elegance. We have a Saratoga Wedding Guide online to help with the daunting task of finding everything from favors to food, photographers to flowers, and of course – the dress. Or you can download our Saratoga Wedding Brochure from our brochures page.
Saratoga has an organization that specializes in group business. The Saratoga Convention & Tourism Bureau is available to help with your conference needs from start to finish. They can be reached at 518-584-1531 or visit them online for more information and a list of their services.
Saratoga Springs is the perfect place to enjoy all four seasons. Located in the Northeast and in the Foothills of the Adirondacks, our fall foliage is breathtaking, winter snow is plentiful, spring bloom lines our streets and summer fun can be found at the Saratoga Race Course. Our lakes and parks are a few of Saratoga’s amenities that have year-round outdoor adventures.
To find the current temperature and seven-day outlook in Saratoga Springs, visit our Travel Tools page and click on Weather. To find out more general facts about Saratoga County, including average seasonal temperatures visit our Saratoga County Information page.
Yes. Saratoga Springs and Saratoga County do not stop when the thoroughbreds leave and the snow flies. Saratoga is a year-round resort with a number of events, festivals, and activities happening every month of the year. For a list of events, visit our Events Calendar. Broadway (the main street through the city) with shops and boutiques, restaurants and galleries is alive and bustling every day of the week. Saratoga is famous for its mineral springs and spas. With over a dozen museums and historical sites, including State and National facilities, there is always something to do. The kids won’t get bored with all the great children’s activities. Plus, the State and National parks are great resources for outdoor fun all year long.
Absolutely! Saratoga is a great family-oriented destination with a number of events and festivals for kids and adults to enjoy. Any day of the year you can walk down Broadway and find a family with stroller and dog in tow, experiencing everything that Saratoga has to offer. Not only is Saratoga kid-friendly, it is also an educational experience with over a dozen national and state museums and historical sites, many of which have specific programs and activity areas designated for little ones. You can find everything Just For Kids in Saratoga.
Without a doubt! Downtown is alive and always has something going on at night, all year-round. Saratoga has numerous bars, restaurants and pubs on Broadway and side streets, where you can find an array of different genres from jazz to folk, rock to pop, and so much more. Saratoga has become synonymous as a music hub for up-and-coming artists, such as Sarah Pedinotti, a local jazz favorite who has been critically acclaimed by Billboard Magazine. Our Caroline Street is best known to be lined with bars and clubs, including Tin ‘N’ Lint where Don McLean first wrote the lyrics for “American Pie.” Saratoga is also home to the oldest continually operating coffeehouse in the country - Caffé Lena, where Bob Dylan played one of his first appearances and Don McLean first sang “American Pie”, as well as the likes of Arlo Guthrie, Emmylou Harris, Ani Difranco and so many others. Saratoga also boasts a new night club, Vapor Night Club at Saratoga Casino & Raceway, where you can enjoy live entertainment from local and national musicians or join the dj dance parties. Saratoga doesn’t stop when the sun goes down.
A number of brochures and guides, including shopping, restaurants, museums, weddings and more can be downloaded from our Visitor Brochures page. You can also request via this online form that a Visitor Packet be sent to you or you can call 800-526-8970.
Yes. The Adirondack Park boundary, also known as the “Blue Line,” encompasses all of the Adirondack Mountain ranges, plus the surrounding areas. A portion of Saratoga County is located within that line. Saratoga is commonly referred to by locals as being in the “Foothills of the Adirondacks.”
Yes. The Hudson River is the boundary between Saratoga and Warren Counties to the North and Saratoga and Washington Counties to the East. The Hudson River flows south to Troy where it meets and joins the Mohawk River and then continues South towards New York City.
No one thought that a “gathering” of American Rebels could overturn the strong British military forces. On October 17, 1777 British General John Burgoyne surrendered to American General Horatio Gates after a number of small battles, referred to as The Battle of Saratoga. These battles took place on the present site of the Saratoga National Historical Park, and gave the Americans the momentum and much needed boost to morale that would lead to the final outcome of American Freedom. Thus, The Battle of Saratoga has been labeled “The Turning Point of The American Revolution” and has been determined by many historians to be one of the top 15 battles in world history. You can learn more about this historical moment on our Battle of Saratoga page.
Yes. Abner Doubleday was born in Ballston Spa, NY on June 26, 1819.
There are no hot springs in Saratoga. The mineral springs here are naturally carbonated cold mineral springs which are heated to bath temperature at area spas.
Horses are everywhere. It is even in our city’s motto – Health, History and Horses. You can always find something related to horses or horse racing in Saratoga on a year-round basis.
Of course, the high time for horses is during the summer months when the Saratoga Race Course’s season is in full-swing. What a lot of people do not realize, is that thoroughbreds will call Saratoga ‘home’ for their training months prior to and after the meet. Recent Horse of the Year award-winner, Curlin, has trained in Saratoga for the past two years. You can watch exercise sessions on the Oklahoma Track or the Flat Track. For two weeks in August the famed Fasig Tipton Horse Sales showcase thoroughbred yearlings for auction that someday may be future hall of famers or are a direct descendant of a past champion. During the summer, you can also catch live Saratoga Polo action, which has been a Saratoga tradition for over 100 years. It has been said that Saratoga’s summer population more than triples if you add the thousands of horses to the census.
Saratoga Casino & Raceway features harness racing all year, taking a short break in the month of January. Being an OTB facility, you can also see or bet on just about any live or simulcast race happening across the country. Just outside downtown, you can take a driving tour through the scenic and beautiful farmland and see the pastures and barns where thoroughbreds begin their lives, including Kentucky Derby Winner, Funny Cide.
If you still haven’t had enough horses, a visit to the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame will teach you everything there is to know about champion thoroughbreds, plus the history of horse racing, which Saratoga has played a big part in making. You can try your hand at being a jockey with the horse simulator ride. Or take a walk downtown and admire the artistic expressions in our horse statues, shop in a tack store, or find the perfect horse souvenir or gift in one of our many specialty shops.
If you cannot find something to do with horses, then you are not in Saratoga.
Public restrooms can be found at the Saratoga Springs Visitor Center, The Saratoga Arts Center, Saratoga Springs City Hall, and The Saratoga Springs City Center.
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