Early Mornings at The Spa

Everything about Saratoga Springs, NY during racing season is the best! (This includes visits to Ben and Jerry's after dinner!)

Perhaps my favorite is the race track in the early morning. The track is open to all at no cost - just walk in any time after the sun comes up (except Travers' Day), walk upstairs in the grandstand, find a seat - yes, you can even sit in the Phipps' box on the finish line if some one doesn't beat you to it - and watch the horses exercising and working. There is an announcer, Mary Ryan, who will tell you who the famous trainers, jockeys, exercise boys and horses are. (Pictured at the right trainer Tom Albertrani leading the Preakness winner Bernadini ridden by the exercise boy.)

If you would like to go First Class, there are tables and head waiters in tuxedos to seat you for a sumptuous buffet breakfast - the works - all kinds of fruits and juices, several types of eggs, bacon, sausage, potatoes, etc, etc. You can even order a Saratoga Sunrise, a special drink served in a souvenir glass, juice and "Oh be joyful!", if you are strong enough for that at 7 AM. (A Saratoga Sunrise souvenir glass is pictured at the bottom right. Cheers!) There's only two problems with breakfast - you can't really hear Mary Ryan, or really see the horses; but, you can eat downstairs and go upstairs after the break.

Second Class calls for stopping to pick up a coffee or tea and a Danish or a doughnut (at small cost) and carrying them upstairs to the seat of your choice. that way you won't starve, you will be able to hear Mary Ryan, and you will be able to see the horses. Some people even BYOB's - that is "Bring Your Own Breakfasts - to spread out in a front row box.

At 8:15 AM you are in for a Harrowing Experience! that is the tractors groom the race track with harrows to remove the early morning hoof marks. This takes about fifteen minutes; but, DO NOT LEAVE!

Often, well known horses who are going to "work", that is have a speed drill, will come out right after the track re-opens.

On Friday morning, we were fortunate enough to see Bernadini work. He is the threeyear old Preakness and Jim Dandy winner, who is the favorite for the Travers (The Mid-summer Derby), to be run on Saturday, August 26th. (At the left above, Bernardini, ridden by the exercise boy, works on the main track at Saratoga.),

Don't forget Steeplechase schooling on Mondays and Wednesdays in the infield at Oklahoma, the training track just across Union Avenue from the main race track.

The whole experience is really a DO NOT MISS and the dress code is blue jeans!