A Day at the Races Part 2

This week saw the end of the Saratoga Racing season and the beginning of school for most kids in these parts. So much trauma in one short week!

Here are more sights of Saratoga to ease you through.

An awesome artist, Celeste Susany. (And my mom's favorite Saratoga artist!)

Watching the action from the picnic tables.

Even the New York Times made an appearance!

The Paddock area.

 

 

 

Saratoga is known for her mineral springs. These naturally carbonated springs have been raved about for hundreds of years. The Mohawk tribe (of whom Kateri Tekakwitha was a member. She is the first American Indian to be canonized, which will happen this year on October 21st.) and Iroquois tribe believed that the springs had healing powers and both bathed in the waters and drank from the springs. Early American settlers to the area took the same advantage of the springs as did people throughout the decades, and today there are 17 public springs still located in the area.

The Race Course is no exception to the spring frenzy. The track has its own, located near the paddock area. The Big Red Spring is named after two famous chestnut race horses nicknamed 'Big Red' by racing fans. Man O'War and Secretariat were champion race horses who ran at Saratoga and are considered #1 and #2 respectively in the list of top 100 race horses of the twentieth century.  

Just be sure to bring your own bottle!

 

 

As long-time fans of New York City's Shake Shack, we were delighted when they opened up shop at the track a few years ago in the Post area.

 

In case you were wondering what Santa does during his summer vacation, here's a hint.

The Saratoga Arts Council commissioned life-sized fiberglass horses that have been displayed throughout Saratoga in years past. Here, here, here and here are some pictures others have captured of them. I'll end with a picture of the painted pony that stands outside the main gates of the track.

Until next year!