SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. — Belmont Stakes is returning to the Saratoga Race Course for the third time this year, and the history of the iconic track brings light to the local charm the city and course have to offer.
The history of racing in Saratoga dates back to 1863, when bare-knuckle boxing champion John “Old Smoke†Morrissey first established the venue. At the old dirt track on Union Avenue, later known as “Horse Haven,†Morrissey staged a four-day meet, where more than 5,000 people came to watch and wager on the eight races, where approxiimately 27 horses competed.
“(Morrissey) was a politician, but also an opportunist and really saw a way to make money here in the Spa City because it was already at that time, the summer place to be because of the mineral springs,†Saratoga County Historian Lauren Roberts said. “You had a lot of people coming to this area — It was accessible by railroad pretty early on, so there were a lot of people here in the summertime, and I think Morrissey saw the opportunity to make money on those people, to relieve them of their heavy wallets by allowing them to bet on horse racing.â€
Morrissey recognized the track as a way to bring in local commerce, later purchasing 125 acres of land on the other side of Union Avenue and building an all-new grandstand. The local business mogul formed the Saratoga Association in 1864, and each year the track attracted more and more visitors, betting on the races.
“The racing season, the meets got longer, they attracted more and more horses,†Roberts said. “It's really one of the longest-running sporting venues in the United States in its history.â€
However, the track did see lows in addition to its highs. During World War II, the track went dark from 1943 to 1945 due to wartime travel restrictions and wartime bans. Since then, however, the track has grown exponentially each year.
Roberts added that part of Saratoga Race Course's charm is rooted in its historical nature. While tracks across the nation have trended toward modernization, Saratoga Race Course has made a commitment to preserving its historical qualities.
“I think part of the attraction to Saratoga is because it has retained a lot of its historic roots,†Roberts said. “A lot of other horse racing venues in the country have really moved towards modernization, but when you go to Saratoga, there are still several buildings from the mid-to-late 1800s that you could tell by the architecture where they are near the time of the beginning of the races themselves.
“You have all of these big names that were here — we have the Travers race. That's a nod to William Travers, who was part of the original group that formed the racing association.â€
The track also has a history of being a venue where several upsets have occurred. Over the years, the track has been dubbed the “Graveyard of Champions†— on Aug. 4, 1973, in the Whitney Stakes, weeks after winning the Triple Crown, favorite Secretariat was upset by a four-year-old gelding named Onion.
Roberts added that the Victorian nature of the track coincides with the unique architecture of Saratoga Springs' downtown charm.
“So many really famous horses have lost at Saratoga,†Roberts said. “It has kind of this charm about it, but also the idea that we have this great grandstand with this Victorian flair, which matches a lot of the architecture downtown in Saratoga Springs.â€
Ultimately, Roberts said, horse racing is embedded in Saratoga culture. She recalled three years ago when the Belmont Festival first came to the Spa City.
“I think it's been an honor for Saratoga,†she said. “I remember when they first announced the first one was coming, everyone was so excited about it…I don't think that's faded a couple of years down the line, because horse racing is really built into part of the Saratoga culture. A lot of people here are happy to have it.
“Of course, it is an economic boost, but also I think the rapport of Saratoga is heightened with having a Triple Crown race.â€
