Friday highlights the 153rd racing preparations at Saratoga, lasting 40 days until September 5, while also celebrating the 175th Saratoga County Fair, which is set to last until next Sunday.
Every attendee to the races will receive a scratch-off lottery ticket whose prices will be redeemable for betting money and New York Racing Association memorabilia. Entrance is permitted starting at 11 a.m. on weekdays, 10:30 on weekends and 7 a.m. on Travers Day August 27, when Saratoga’s biggest race is held with a $1.25 million price. General admission for the races is $5, while entrance to the clubhouse is $8. The address is 267 Union Ave., Saratoga Springs, NY 12866.
The County Fair opens its gates at 9 a.m. to midnight. On Friday, attendants can enjoy the tractor pulls and a performance from Skeeter Creek at 7 p.m. Saturday will feature another series of Truck Pulls alongside Big Sky Country band, and lastly on Sunday, The North & South Dakotas plus Demolition Derby on the fair’s Live Music Pavillion.
General admission to the fair is $12, while those smaller than 52” while standing enter free. Seniors until 5 p.m. pay $5, and military personnel with ID also enjoy free admittance.
A good weekend to enjoy country activities
Saratoga is known for the quality of the racing horses competing in the tracks. It is known to be a circuit where unknown thoroughbreds may beat anointed stars. Although the main event is horse racing, attendees can enjoy many activities that the Saratoga country has to offer over the weekend and beyond.
Racing fans enjoy watching jockeys train on the nearby Oklahoma Track. The track is open for spectating from 7 to 11 a.m. every day for the duration of the races. But before watching horses do their thing, a whole and hearty breakfast ensues. Guests can head to the clubhouse and watch the thoroughbreds prepare for the races while they order a serving of Saratoga county breakfast. Adults pay $20 while children younger than 12 pay $10.
Jockeys are celebrities in the horse racing world. It is not uncommon to see people swarming jockeys to ask for autographs whenever they are spotted walking from the clubhouse to the jockey’s lounge.
To bet on the horses there are several options, ranging from simple to complex.
The simple bets are:
-Win: The horse wins
-Place: The horse ends first or second
-Show: The horse ends first, second or third.
-Across the Board: The same as betting for Win, Place, and Show on the same horse.
The minimum bet for each setting is $1. Now, for experienced people, here are also more complex bets:
-Exacta: Bet for the leading two horses in the correct order
-Quinella: Same as Exacta, but in any order.
-Trifecta: Bet for the leading three horses in the correct order.
-Daily Double: Bet for the leading horses of two consecutive races.
Now, for the ones feeling extremely lucky, there are two wagers in place. If the person wins, the prize sums up quite a substantial jackpot.
-Superfecta: Bet for the leading four horses in the correct order
-Grand Slam: Bet for a horse to be top three in three consecutive races.
Source: MassLive