We live 30 minutes from the Saratoga Racetrack so it’s mandatory to go at least once per summer. This year’s visit kinda freaked me out.
First, there is a NO CASH policy. No cash can be used for the entrance fee. No cash can be used to buy snacks. There was a reverse-ATM machine to turn your cash into a debit card to use at the track.
We bought a bottle of water and wanted to sit down to drink it and walked toward tables and chairs. The attendant jumped up and told us, “These are reserved.” A quick online search revealed that these chairs can be rented for $21. So it would cost ($42 plus tax!) to sit down and share a bottle of water.
Throughout the main building there used to be tons of plastic chairs to sit down and watch the races on the tv. There were a lot less chairs this year. I guess “free sitting” is on its way out.
We ordered cheeseburgers and a beverage, which came to 60 bucks and were told there is no place to sit down, but we can STAND at the tables nearby, which were pub height, which was so very nice of them. Eat your lunch standing up, you filthy animal!
Later we went out to watch where they bring the horses up the path for the next race. Overhead, a large black camera moved back and forth on a wire, surveilling the crowd. Later I noticed drones flying around by the finish line.
Speaking of the finish line– we always like to watch at least one race at the rail. You get a close up look at the horses coming in, and you can hear the hoofbeats and smell the dirt as it’s kicked up. This year, the area at the finish line was roped off; you could only stand over there if you bought a ticket to the grandstand, which we did not.
We have great memories of meeting friends at the track and enjoying the day. This year was not enjoyable, with one exception.
I texted an old friend we used to meet at the track. She jokingly replied, “Go with number 8.” The next race coming up, had a number 8 horse who was a 27-1 longshot. Hubby decided for a kick to place a bet for number 8 to show.
During the race, number 8 jockeyed back and forth between 3rd and 4th place. For one whole minute, it was exciting. We might actually win! But as the race ended, number 8 had fallen way back, and finished almost last.
I don’t know if we will be returning to the track next year. It might be better to keep the memories of what used to be.
SueAnn Porter 