Saratoga Race Track

Saratoga Race Track is situated in upstate New York in Saratoga Springs, and was opened in 1863, making it the oldest sports venue in the United States.

The official name is Saratoga Race Course though most people refer to it simply as Saratoga.

Saratoga Race Track

The meet runs in the summer months from late July to early September and coincides with the Del Mar meet in Southern California and indeed competes with it as the premier summer racing meet.

The upcoming 2010 meet commences in late July and ends in early September, and coincides roughly with the Del Mar meet. The 2010 season for the Saratoga Race Course begins with opening day on Friday, July 23 and ends with Closing Day on Monday (Labor Day), September 6, 2010.

A number of prominent Grade 1 races are held here each year, including the Travers Stakes, sometimes known as the mid-summer derby, since 1864 which is the oldest thoroughbred race horse in America. A canoe anchored in the lake in the infield is traditionally painted with the colors of the Travers Stakes winner.

It also features the Kings Bishop Stakes for 3-year-olds at seven furlongs on the dirt, the Test Stakes, which is the also a Grade 1 stakes at seven furlongs on the dirt, but for 3-year-old fillies.

The Whitney Handicap for 3-year and older horses is the premier handicap race of the meet and is contested at a distance of 1 1/8 miles on the main dirt track. The purse is currently $750,000.

The leading jockey at Saratoga for 2009 was Ramon Dominguez who won 17% of his races, finished with 45 wins from 260 starts, though Alan Garcia finished with 40 wins from only 202 starts, which gave Garcia a higher win percentage at 20%Linda Rice captured the trainer title for the 2009 Saratoga meet, winning 20 races in just 75 starts, for an impressive 27% win percentage.

The 2010 meet commences in late July and ends in early September, and coincides roughly with the Del Mar meet.

Saratoga Race Track

The main dirt track is a One and one eighth's Mile, oval. Just inside the dirt track is the Mellon Turf Course, which is a One Mile and 98 feet oval, and inside that is the inner turf course which is seven furlongs and 304 feet in circumference. The distance from last turn to finish line is 1,144 feet.

Tom Durkin has called the races at Saratoga since 1990.