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Step 1
Book your reservations ahead of time. Saratoga Springs is not a big town at all. There is a college, the racetrack and not much else. But when racing season begins July 23, the town is transformed into a booming metropolis. Many horse players choose to rent houses for a week or for the season and the area hotels will all be booked. So if you are planning on making your way up to the track, plan accordingly.
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Step 2
Arrive early. Unlike many of the tracks around the country, Saratoga draws a lot of people almost everyday of its 41-day meet. This means that in order to get a good seat, you should show up early to the track and get the type of seat you want. General admission is just $3 and premium seating gets more expensive as you get closer to the action and the finish line.
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Step 3
Eat breakfast at the track. One of the best options that Saratoga offers is an exciting, fun opportunity called Breakfast at Saratoga. It's a chance to arrive extra early to the track (7:00 a.m. - 9:30 a.m.) and enjoy a wonderful breakfast buffet at a modest price ($14.95). Besides the great breakfast, you'll also get the chance to watch the horses work out in the mornings and take tours of the paddock and backstretch areas before the racing day begins.
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Step 4
Dress appropriately. Unlike other tracks, Saratoga has clung to its racing roots very closely and has a decently strict dress code. If you are just visiting the grandstand, the dress is casual and you should aim for comfort. But if you are sitting almost anywhere else, you will probably be asked to adhere to a certain code. Many of the areas call for men to wear suits and ties and the women to wear nice dresses. So consult the website or call the track for your section's specific dress code before you leave the house. Of course, women are always encouraged to wear hats.
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Step 5
Get to the track on Travers Day. The Travers is arguably the biggest race of the meet and a direct precursor the most lucrative U.S. race of the year, the Breeder's Cup Classic. Each year, the Travers features the best older horses in the nation as they prep for the most important race of the year. There is no doubt however, that while Travers Day might be the best day to be at the track, it is the busiest. If you are going to go on Travers Day, call ahead and make sure of all of the particulars because often things are different on this big day.
