By Mason Quigley

Tucked into the charming town of Saratoga Springs, New York, lies a storied horse racing track that has defined and developed the sport into what it is today. 

In the mid-1800s, Saratoga Springs became a popular summer vacation spot for many wealthy families in America. Through its early connection with America’s upper class, Saratoga became a hotspot for gambling and tourism, along with attracting people to its natural mineral springs, which are the origin of the town’s name. Although an appealing town for vacations, Saratoga was looking for an attraction that could become its calling card. In 1863, that changed when John Morrissey, a future New York state senator, organized a race between local thoroughbred horses only a month after the Battle of Gettysburg. This race drew five thousand attendees, who gambled on the races held at the track. Demand for horse racing quickly grew following the introduction of racing in Saratoga. To adhere to these demands, Morrissey met with some other wealthy and powerful individuals to form the Saratoga Racing Association. Following the induction of this new association, their first action was to buy one hundred twenty-five acres of land and build grandstand seating, creating the original Saratoga Race Course. 

Photo courtesy of The Saratoga Arms Hotel.

The Saratoga Springs Race Track claims to be the oldest sporting venue in America, which has allowed the track to accumulate some impressive accolades, races, and trademarks. What started as an intimate space that held 4,500 people has now expanded to a grand 50,000-seat stadium. The track and surrounding area have had a multitude of renovations and updates over the years. Some of these updates include the addition of new grandstands, multiple clubhouses, and betting rings, along with the Saratoga Walk of Fame, and “The Stretch,” the scenic entrance point to the track. Saratoga has emphasized maintaining the integrity, structure, and appearance of the track to high standards, aiming to preserve the history while creating the best possible experience for attendees. The Saratoga track has even gained international recognition for its beauty and historical significance. In 1999, the track was listed as a top ten sports venue in the world by Sports Illustrated. As a true honor, Saratoga took its place as one of the best sporting venues, along with legendary hotspots such as Augusta National, Fenway Park, Lambeau Field, and Wembley Stadium.

William Travers, one of the founding members of the Saratoga Racing Association, earned an annual race named after him. The Travers is the oldest thoroughbred horse race in America that still runs today. However, The Travers is not the only notable race to take place in Saratoga. This year, the Belmont Stakes, the final leg of the Triple Crown races, will be held at the Saratoga Race Track for the first time ever, on June 8. 

The Triple Crown races are the three most important races in the world of horse racing. The Kentucky Derby, The Preakness Stakes, and The Belmont Stakes make up the three tracks of the crown. Similarly to a major in golf or a grand slam in tennis, the three legs of the Triple Crown are always under the microscope, with much more pressure and higher stakes. Some of the world’s greatest thoroughbreds have run the track at Saratoga over time, including Triple Crown winners Secretariat, Seattle Slew, and American Pharaoh along with legendary Man O’ War. 

Photo credit: DiscoverSaratoga.org.

The hallowed grounds of Saratoga have become known as a landmark of American culture. In 1919, Saratoga hosted a race in which a horse named Upset defeated the then-undefeated and legendary Man O’ War, creating the alternative definition of the word “upset” in the English language. Other than being the home of the first-ever upset, Saratoga has another nickname, “The Graveyard of Champions.” The track was labeled The Graveyard of Champions in 1930 when Gallant Fox, a Triple Crown winner, was defeated by a horse called Jim Dandy, an underdog with 100-1 odds going into the race. Through stories such as these, Saratoga has created an aura that exudes elegance, prestige, and history as the birthplace of one of America’s oldest sports. 

The aura that permeates the Saratoga race track has gone beyond the small town and made its way to the big screen. Filmmakers around the world have filmed movies about and at Saratoga; Seabiscuit, Saratoga, Ghost Story, and My Old Man have all been shot at the historic site, adding to the fanfare. 

For many people reading this, Saratoga may sound like a more impressive version of a horse track that, although old, offers little other than history. Yet Saratoga offers aspects and insight into the race that cannot be found anywhere else. Before races at the track, every horse walks through the crowd, where spectators can stand side-by-side with some of the most beautiful horses in the world, who may one day go on to run in the Kentucky Derby or other Triple Crown races. 

My mom, Amy Quigley, was born in Glens Falls, New York, in 1974. She grew up in upstate New York with her younger sister, Andrea, and her mom, Jean. The winters are frigid, and it’s cold in the fall and most of spring, but in the summer, for a few months, upstate New York is beautiful. The best part of my mother’s upstate summers was packing the car to spend their free time at the race track in Saratoga, only thirty minutes away, every August. The Saratoga track served as the perfect backdrop for my mom to spend her childhood, creating memories and stories that she still cherishes today. She said, “It’s a unique experience. Most Americans have been to a baseball game or watched a football game, but a lot of people haven’t been to an old-school horse race, so I feel that it’s unique to where I came from, that I was lucky to have been a part of.” 

She loves everything about Saratoga, from the beautiful architecture to the people in it. The town served as her summer escape from Glens Falls. She said, “We would always go on Sundays. And it was only on Sundays when I was a kid. The slogan is ‘The August Place to be.’” She loved to see the natural beauty of the horses up close and the exhilaration of watching them race, but also the overall experience of being at the track. When I asked her about her favorite part of those days at the track, she told me, “We didn’t have much money, but my mom would let us bet on the races. Even though you had to be 18, we would bet, and we were clearly way younger.” 

Brian and Amy Quigley on their wedding day. Photo courtesy of the Quigley family.

Many years later, my parents were planning their wedding. At the time, the happy couple lived in New Jersey while working in New York City, and they wanted a wedding close to the area. After one conversation, there was no question of where the wedding would be held. My mom had brought my dad to the track many times while dating, and he, of course, recognized the beauty in Saratoga for himself. 

My parents would later get married in town at Saratoga, a place that means so much to my mom. When I asked her why they chose Saratoga, she said, “There were a lot of logistical factors, but more, it embodied where we were at that time in our life. We wanted it to be a place that embodied fun and how we like to celebrate.” My parents wanted everyone to take home a small taste of Saratoga with them, so as their party favor, everyone received a box of Krispy Kreme doughnuts and a copy of the movie Seabiscuit.

The Quigley family visiting The Hall of Springs, the Saratoga landmark and location of Brian and Amy Quigley’s rehearsal dinner. Photo courtesy of the Quigley family.

Growing up in Richmond, Virginia, my mom was adamant that my brothers and I learned the meaning of Saratoga and its importance to our family. From a young age, we made at least one trip every year to visit my grandmother in Glens Falls and stop at the track for a day. My mom said that she wanted us to have a similar experience to what she was given as a kid. Even though she often refers to us as “southern boys,” some of my fondest childhood memories were spent at the track, and I’m proud to say that I have been to many Saratoga races.

My brothers and I always enjoyed spending time at the track. We had space to run, see the horses up close, and we even got to place a few bets on the horses. Betting on the races was always my favorite part; even though I never bet on a horse that won, my middle brother Carter (‘26) did. 

Saratoga is a landmark that can only be appreciated by the people who spend a considerable amount of time there. To me, Saratoga is one of the most beautiful places in the world, it will always be important to my family and many others.

Featured image credit: Boston Public Library.