Top 10 Saratoga Race Course trip tips

Saratoga Race Course

In just over three weeks, Saratoga Race Course will start its season and I will be in attendance for opening weekend. After going a few times during the last couple of years, I found multiple ways to make the trip one to remember, including learning things to avoid. Here are 10 tips to consider if you are planning a bucket list trip to Saratoga.

10. Be prepared for the heat
Since the New York race track season runs from mid-July to early September, it is safe to expect some pretty warm to hot weather.

The last two years that I have gone, I have seen 90+ degrees and there was even concern on whether the races would take place one of the days due to mid-90-degree weather. Luckily, the races went off as scheduled, but plan ahead and be ready to be in heat for half a day.

No matter where you are sitting, you will find yourself in the sun at some point in the day so bring a hat, wear sunscreen and stay hydrated.

9. Get there early
I get it from my father, but I am the type of person who, if I am on time, I consider myself late. However; when it comes to Saratoga, it sure is helpful to get there early.

The track opens at 11 a.m. and my recommendation would be to get to the gate for opening. Yes, the races do not begin until 1 p.m., but if you try and get there closer to noon, you are going to find yourself in the middle of a madhouse. At 11 a.m., I have seen that finding parking is no sweat and you aren’t going to be stuck in a major crowd of people making their way into the track.

Give yourself an easier start to the racing day and get to Saratoga Race Course right at opening.

8. Friday races
If you don’t live in the area of the race course, make it a little weekend getaway. If you decide to spend a night or two around Saratoga, my suggestion would be to attend the Friday Races.

Personally, it takes me about three hours to drive to Saratoga and I have done this trip two different ways. I drove up Thursday night before and spent the night in Clifton Park area then went to the track Friday morning. However, I have also left very early on Friday morning and gone to the Friday races as well.

Whichever way you prefer to do it is up to you, but I do think Friday is the best day for races as its allows you to have a full Saturday of activities to round out your trip in the area.

7. Set a bankroll for the races
You have definitely heard this tip when it comes to table games and casinos, but it is just as important when it comes to horse racing: Set a bankroll for yourself.

Don’t go into it without a plan or an idea of what you are willing to lose. It is very easy to get lost in the day and if you do not keep track of where you stand, you could easily lose more than you plan to. One way of preventing that from happening is only have cash for what you are willing to lose, but again having that number set is priority number one before betting.

Hopefully, you don’t even come close to hitting that bottom line, but as all gamblers know, these losing streaks will happen eventually, so stay on top of it.

6. Spread your bets out over 9-10 races
A day at Saratoga is a long, but fun day. Depending on the day, you could be seeing nine or 10 races with that last one kicking off right around 5:30 p.m.

If you are a first-timer hitting the track, you might get sucked into the excitement early and bet heavier on some of the beginning races, but that could end up hurting our “setting a bankroll” item.
If you bet big early and go on a small losing streak, you may be tempted to continue betting on the remaining races and go over that limit we talked about. So, in addition to setting your limit, make sure you have a plan or strategy to spread that money over all the races in the day.

5. Saratoga Casino Hotel
If you are looking to continue gambling after the day at the track, you have a couple of options in the area.

Saratoga Casino Hotel features electronic table games, slots and more in the casino for you to enjoy. The resort also has live harness racing.

However, I will say, I have been to the live harness racing once and it wasn’t for me. The atmosphere isn’t as electric or fun as the thoroughbred track, plus the races seem slower to me. My opinion could have been affected since I went right after leaving Saratoga Race Course, so I went from six hours of racing to more horse racing.

That being said, Saratoga Casino Hotel also has a very nice restaurant, Morton’s the Steakhouse. I have been to this establishment twice and the Boston location several times. If you are a fan of a filet, you won’t be disappointed here.

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4. Check out Rivers Schenectady
During my trip to the track last year, on Saturday I made my way to Rivers Casino & Resort Schenectady to see what it had to offer, and I was impressed.

First of all, the cleanliness caught my attention right away at how nice everything was kept. Then, on a Saturday, I was extremely happy to find $10 blackjack tables. Having been to Las Vegas a few times in the last year and also living in Massachusetts with Encore Boston Harbor, $10 tables on the weekend isn’t the most common thing to find.

There is also a sportsbook here. Not the biggest sportsbook venue, but it gets the job done with the lounge chairs and plenty of TVs to check in on your wager.

3. Save your change
Hopefully you will be going up to the windows during the day to cash several bets and you will most likely be getting some change back. Some people may throw the change in their pocket or car and forget it is even there.

Let me give you a fun idea. Save the change after each bet you get back. Combine your change with the rest of your party at the track throughout the day. Use those combined coins and place a “community bet” for your table on the last race.

If that change was going to end up being forgotten about, you basically came away with a small free bet to use on the final race.

2. The Porch
Every year I have been to Saratoga, I have sat in the same spot. The Porch at Saratoga is a great place for your party to enjoy the day.

First of all, the location is great because it allows you to walk 15 feet from your table to the track’s rail and is right by the finish line. So as the horses make the turn and if you want to see your horse cash your bet up close and personal, you can.

Having a waiter or waitress at The Porch is also a plus so you don’t have to continue to go back and forth to the concessions. The betting windows aren’t more than a 30 second walk away from your table as well.

If I am at Saratoga for races, I can guarantee that you will find me either at a table at The Porch or up at the rail hoping my exacta box is about to cash.

1. Go to have fun
This is a trip you need to be going to enjoy the day and have fun no matter what. Don’t be going to the track with your main goal being to make money. It is a day to enjoy with friends or family and take in the excitement the venue has to offer.

It goes back to what I said earlier too. Be prepared to lose what you bet, if you aren’t ready to lose that money and you do, your day will be stained with frustration when it should be filled with making memories to bring home.

I haven’t had a trip yet where I didn’t leave wanting to stay longer. I’d recommend this trip to anyone I know, even if you aren’t big on betting or gambling, that really isn’t the main purpose behind it.