This is the only thoroughbred racing a New Yorker can reach this weekend: Aqueduct ran its last live race in June, and the rebuilt Belmont Park does not reopen until later in September. Closing weekend is also the meet at its best, with two Grade 1 juvenile stakes that regularly produce the following spring's classic contenders. Amtrak drops you a short ride from the gate, so it works without a car.
What to expect
Gates open a little over an hour before the first race and the grandstand apron fills fast on a holiday weekend. Between races the paddock walk-over is the thing to watch, and the backyard picnic tables are first-come. Expect a full stakes card each day, longer lines at the windows before the feature, and a slow, cheerful exit toward the Union Avenue shuttle afterwards.
Good to know
- Car-free is straightforward: Amtrak's Adirondack and Ethan Allen Express run from Moynihan Train Hall to Saratoga Springs station.
- From the station, local CDTA buses and the seasonal Saratoga trolley connect to downtown and the track.
- A complimentary shuttle runs to and from the Union Avenue drop-off point, across from Gate A.
- The meet's final day is Labor Day Monday - after that there is no live racing here until next summer.
- Picnic tables in the backyard are unreserved and go early on a holiday weekend; bring a blanket as backup.
- Reserved seating and the clubhouse sell out for the stakes days well before the gate opens.
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Common questions
Can I get there from New York City without a car?
Yes. Amtrak runs from Moynihan Train Hall to Saratoga Springs on the Adirondack and Ethan Allen Express routes, and CDTA buses, the seasonal trolley and the track's own Union Avenue shuttle cover the last couple of miles.
What are the big races this weekend?
The Grade 1 Spinaway for two-year-old fillies on Saturday, and the Grade 1 Spendthrift Farm Hopeful alongside the Grade 3 Prioress on Sunday. Labor Day closing day carries the Gio Ponti and Funny Cide stakes.
Why is a track upstate on a New York City board?
Because the city no longer has one. Aqueduct held its final day of live racing in June, and the rebuilt Belmont Park does not reopen until later in September, so Saratoga is the nearest live thoroughbred racing available this weekend.
