There are few more popular locations to visit to watch horse racing across the world than Saratoga. The Spa is visited by hundreds of thousands of visitors annually, with many more expected across 2024 and 2025 due to the fact that it will pick up ten of the Grade Ones that would typically be staged at Belmont Park.
Among those include the prestigious Belmont Stakes, which will round off the Triple Crown series. You can bet on the 2024 Belmont Stakes online here.
There has never been a more popular time to enjoy a day at the track, and there is so much more to enjoy around the local area, such as one of the unearthed gems in the New York area.
Saratoga Race Course
There are few more popular tourist attractions in the local area than Saratoga Race Course, with the track having been welcoming visitors since August 1863. The track is at the very heart of the city, with every visitor being encouraged to take in a day at the races by locals.
The Spa is considered to be among the oldest sporting venues within the United States, but it is in fact the fourth oldest racecourse to still in operation after Pleasanton, Fair Grounds, and Freehold Raceway. Saratoga opened with a four-day meet in the 60s, before the calendar was expanded between 1962 and 1990 with the meet lasting for four weeks.
Nowadays, racing at the track runs for 40 days, with action on the course five days per week between July and early September. Few race days on their annual schedule are as popular as the Travers Stakes, which is largely considered to be the summer Derby for horses aged three. Other prominent races that are held at the track include the Whitney Handicap and the Jockey Club Gold Cup.
Yaddo Gardens
Saratoga is an incredibly popular spot to visit across the summer months, and there are few better places to sit back and relax than Yaddo Gardens. The location can be found in the artists’ community of Yaddo, which is a 400-acre estate in the region.
The mission of the location is very simple, as it aims to ‘nuture the creative process by providing an opportunity for artists to work without interruption’. Yaddo Gardens is very much in keeping with the rest of the city of Saratoga, as there is visibly a massive artistic impact in the region.
The gardens have been home to some of the most talented people from the region throughout history, with stars from the world of film, music, and painting all spending time at the location.
Such has been its historic mark that stars from the region have cited the gardens as an influence for their award-winning art. So far, people housed at Yaddo have won over 80 Pulitzer Prizes, 24 National Book Critics Circle Awards, and 49 Whiting Writers’ Awards.
Saratoga National Historical Park
One of the most popular tourist attractions to visit in the city is the Saratoga National Historical Park. This location is found in the small town on Stillwater, which is 30 miles of Albany.
It holds historical relevance, as it preserves the site of the Battles of Saratoga. The battle was the first significant victory of the American Revolutionary War in 1777, as the American army forced the British to surrender. In turn, it saw the French recognize the United States as independent.
It was authorized as a New York state preserve in 1927, with the Battlefield being made part of the National Park System eleven years later. It is a must-visit location for all tourists looking to learn more about the significant history of the local region. The tour begins with a 20-minute film, before a self-guided tour is offered to walk around the National Historical Park.
Congress Park
Congress Park is another very popular tourist hotspot in the region, with the Park and Canfield Casino covering 17 acres of the region. The location was previously the site of the Congress Hotel, while it was also the Congress Spring Bottling Plant.
The Casino played a huge role in the success of the local region, as it attracted the rich and famous to visit the Spa during its peak years of popularity. Congress Park is straightforward to find for all visitors, as it is located between Broadway, Spring Street, and Circular Street. The
Park was first opened in 1913, and it attracts visitors all year round.
A must-see attraction within the park can be found on the north side, with the carousel having roots that date back throughout history to Coney Island in 1904. Following restoration, it was re-opened to the public in 2002. The water fountains are also a must-see attraction, with one of the most popular situated around The Spirit of Life, which was created by Daniel Chester French as a memorial to Spencer Trask.