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Saratoga Race Course, Saratoga Springs, NY

Photo: Hayden Soloviev, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons. Cropped and resized.

AttractionsIconicHistory Buff

Saratoga Race Course

267 Union Ave · Saratoga Springs, NY

Why you should go…

Saratoga Race Course opened on August 3, 1863, and is often considered the oldest major sporting venue in the United States. General admission gets you into the backyard, clubhouse, grandstand and trackside apron, and you are welcome to bring a picnic basket, cooler and lawn chairs. A hand-rung bell sounds 17 minutes before each race to call the jockeys to the paddock. The Travers Stakes, first run in 1864, is the highlight of the meet.

  • #horse racing
  • #thoroughbred track
  • #travers stakes
  • #summer meet
  • #picnic

Good to know

General attractions guidance

Habits that pay off across this whole category, not rules for this one venue. Always check the official site for the specifics.

  • Book the time slot, not just the ticket

    Timed entry is now the norm at big-draw attractions, and online tickets are often cheaper than the gate.

  • Grab the daily schedule on arrival

    Feeding times, keeper talks, and shows run on a posted timetable that changes day to day.

  • The first hour is the quietest

    Queues build through late morning and peak after lunch, so an early start buys you the shortest waits.

  • Budget past the ticket price

    Parking, lockers, strollers, and food inside the gates are common extras worth planning for.

What's around here?

The closest stops to Saratoga Race Course, ordered by straight-line distance. A few more like it, plus some different kinds of fun so you can build a full day.

  • Sport & Outdoor
    Outdoor Adventure

    Saratoga Spa State Park

    Under $25

    Sample mineral springs, hike about 12 miles of trails and swim in historic pools at this landmark park.

    2.3 mi awaySwitch it up: Sport & Outdoor

  • Sightseeing
    Local Gem

    Lake George, New York

    Free

    Adirondack lake town with a mountain-ringed lake, historic forts, and a lively lakeside strip.

    22 mi awaySwitch it up: Sightseeing

  • Sightseeing
    Outdoor Adventure

    Rensselaer County

    Free

    Official visitor guide to Rensselaer County, NY's Hudson Valley outdoor recreation, farms, and local attractions.

    24 mi awaySwitch it up: Sightseeing

  • Sightseeing
    History Buff

    Hildene, The Lincoln Family Home

    $25–$50

    Tour Robert Todd Lincoln's Georgian Revival summer home, its formal garden, goat dairy farm and a restored Pullman car.

    35 mi awaySwitch it up: Sightseeing

  • Attractions
    Family Favorite

    ECHO, Leahy Center for Lake Champlain

    Under $25

    Explore a lakefront science center with hands-on exhibits, live animals and aquariums devoted to Lake Champlain.

    101 mi awayMore like this

  • Attractions
    Family Favorite

    Ben & Jerry's Factory

    Under $25

    Take a 30-minute guided ice cream factory tour with a sample, then visit the Flavor Graveyard for retired flavors.

    102 mi awayMore like this