Upgrades, New Fees for Seating at Saratoga
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Customers at Saratoga Race Course this summer will find the signature of its current leadership boldly on the historic track's 147th race meet, which begins July 24.
At a press conference in Saratoga Springs, N.Y., on June 22, New York Racing Association executives previewed this year's meet, with an emphasis on hospitality and big-event racing. Among the most significant changes patrons will find are in the Carousel, a seating and simulcast area on the ground floor of the grandstand, and in the backyard, where previously free, first-come, first-served seating will now be available by reservation for a fee.
The lower level of the Carousel, a formerly free simulcast area, is undergoing a complete renovation into a sports bar with 40 high-definition televisions showing a variety of sporting events, a selection of craft beers, and what NYRA president and chief executive officer Chris Kay called "premium hospitality."
Tables are available for reservation at the NYRA box office or through Ticketmaster for prices ranging from $35 for a weekday table for four to $125 for a table for six on Travers Stakes (gr. I) day Aug. 29.
One hundred additional picnic tables will be placed in the track's backyard picnic area, available for reservation every day. Previously, all tables in the backyard were free and unreserved, with the exception of 100 tables on Travers day. Eight hundred and fifty tables will still be available without a fee, NYRA said.
Picnic table reservations are $40 on weekdays, $60 on weekends, and $100 on Travers day.
Several years ago NYRA began offering reserved picnic tables for $100 on Travers day, with proceeds going to backstretch charities. The donations to charity ended in 2013.
This year racing's meet will no longer begin with its unofficial kick-off event, an open house the Sunday before opening day that had been a community staple for several decades. In addition to exhibition races and family-oriented events, local non-profits held fund-raising and awareness events at the open house.
NYRA chief experience officer Lynn LaRocca said the event required a significant investment of time and resources on the part of the non-profits, often, she said, for a small return. NYRA has offered the non-profits an opportunity to reserve a day at the track's community outreach booth in lieu of the open house.
Kay also highlighted the summer's two big racing days, the Whitney Racing Festival Aug. 8 and Travers day, both Saturdays.
"We have made improvements to Travers Day to keep in line with the creation of our 'must-see' events," said Martin Panza, NYRA senior vice president of racing operations, in a press release. Panza didn't attend the press conference.
The Personal Ensign Stakes and the Forego Stakes (both gr. I) have been added to the Travers card, both with increased purses. The Whitney Racing Festival will feature the Whitney Handicap and the Test Stakes (both gr. I) and the Fasig-Tipton Waya Stakes (gr. IIIT).
Few graded stakes will be run on weekdays at Saratoga this summer, though NYRA has moved two giveaway days, traditionally held on Sundays, to weekdays this year. Giveaway items include a Saratoga baseball cap (Sunday, July 26), a cooler bag (Monday, Aug. 3), an umbrella (Wednesday, Aug. 19), and a long-sleeved T-shirt (Sunday, Sept. 6).
Kay said more than 2,000 season passes had already been sold and that a cap for season passes is currently under discussion. Season passes are available at NYRA's website and at Stewart's Shops in upstate New York.
Kay also said that should Triple Crown winner American Pharoah make an appearance in the Aug. 1 Jim Dandy Stakes (gr. II) or Travers, attendance would be capped, though he said that the number of attendees has not been determined.
Following a social media outcry about customer service during and after the 2014 Belmont Stakes (gr. I), in which California Chrome attempted to win the Triple Crown, this year NYRA instituted a 90,000 cap attendance for American Pharoah's ultimately successful attempt to become the 12th Triple Crown winner.