Saratoga Springs, New York

June 10, 1996


by Patricia Hennessy

This article originally appeared in NORTHEAST WEEKEND FLYERS, the magazine of recreational flying in the northeast, and is reprinted here by permission.

Horses thunder around the far turn, their hooves beating almost as fast as your heart. You watch your favorite colors come into the homestretch, just a wish and a nose behind the leader. Win or lose, you leave elated at your first visit to Saratoga racetrack.

In it's heyday in the 1890's, the racing season at Saratoga was the social center for New York society. It still is. When you finish your day at the track you can stroll along Broadway, Saratoga's main street, with its turn-of-the-century buildings and intriguing shops. Or explore the menus of the dozens of restaurants in the downtown area. At the Olde Bryan Inn, a short block off Broadway, you can relax in a cozy room that has hosted diners since 1773.

Flying to Saratoga County

A pleasant flight on a summer afternoon, Saratoga is easily overlooked as a destination for New Englanders, yet it's right in our backyard. To approach the airport, stay on the east side of the Hudson river until you're north of the Albany Class C Airspace. Saratoga County Airport lies just beyond Albany's Airspace, so once you cross the river, keep below 2000 feet. While you'd expect the Hudson to make an easy landmark, remember that you're not looking for the mighty river you see flowing under the George Washington bridge. North of Albany the Hudson is seldom more than a narrow stream; from 2000 feet it looks like a country creek.

Saratoga County Airport is located 23 miles North of the Albany VOR, on the 06 radial. Runway 5/23 is 4700' x 100'; runway 14/32 is 4000' x 100'. Lying on the broad, flat plain of the Mohawk Valley, Saratoga has easy approaches with no obstacles, but watch out for gliders in the vicinity of the airport. Saratoga is one of the prime gliding centers on the East Coast. If you come from the northeast, you'll pass over the city of Saratoga Springs with its oval racetracks. The airport is five miles southwest of the city. The unicom at 122.8 is monitored during business hours, from 7:30 in the morning until dusk, seven days a week, year round.. Jet A and 100LL fuel is available at Richmor Aviation, the FBO, and there's plenty of tiedown space in front of their building. During August there is a $5 landing fee for twins and a $10 fee for jets. Overnight tiedowns are $5. Richmor does have a courtesy car, and they can usually provide a ride to and from a restaurant. Several are within a mile of the airport.

Getting Around

If you're planning on going into town for the day, its best to go by taxi. The cost is around $10, plus $2 a head for additional passengers. Tom Miller, the airport manager, says that if you call when you're about 15 minutes out, the folks at Richmor will have a cab ready to meet you when you land..

Enterprise Rent-a-Car offers pick up and delivery at the airport, but you must call ahead for reservations. The cost for a car is from $32.99 to $69.99 per day with unlimited mileage.

Places to See

Saratoga boasts of both a harness and flat track, each with a separate season. The Saratoga Harness Raceway operates year round, except December. Post-time is 7:45 PM. You may call for racing days. Flat track racing is held at the Saratoga Race Course which is the nation's oldest thoroughbred track founded in 1863. The thoroughbred races start the last week in July and run through the last Monday of August. This is Saratoga's high season. Races are held from Wednesday to Monday with a post-time of 1 PM. The season's culmination comes with the Travers Stakes and the Hopeful, which run on the last two Saturdays in August.

Editor's note:
The 1996 racing season has been extended from July 26 to Labor Day.

Be sure to make reservations ahead of time if you're planning on staying overnight in track season. Not only do hotels and guest houses fill up, but you may find some August prices are more than double their off-peak rates!

While the track is Saratoga's most famous attraction, Richmor reports that many pilots head for the Saratoga Performing Arts Center. Located just over three miles from the airport in the Saratoga Spa State Park, SPAC, as it's commonly called, is a favorite destination for bikers. SPAC is the June home of the New York City Opera. In July it hosts the New York City Ballet, in August the Philadelphia Orchestra. Guest artists, offering everything from classical to jazz to rock, perform throughout the warm months. Pack a picnic lunch to enjoy on the lawn while the orchestra plays.

The National Museum of Dance lies around the corner from SPAC, next door to Lincoln Baths, where you may still "take the waters," as society matrons did a hundred years ago. The museum has four spacious exhibit halls devoted to professional American dance. There is also a shop and cafe on site. The museum is open from May to September from 11 AM to 7 PM.

With a similar eye for convenience, The National Museum of Racing is just across from the main entrance to the thoroughbred racetrack. Here you will find racing memorabilia as well as paintings, photos and trophies from some of the most famous thoroughbred horses. The museum is open daily from 10 AM to 4:30 PM and Sundays from 12 to 4:30 PM.

If you'd like a sense of the glories of Saratoga's past, stroll down Union Avenue from the track to Congress Park, enjoying the colorful beds of flowers and the Victorian homes that line the street. In Congress Park the Casino Museum, which was once a working Casino, gives you a taste of the luxury of that era. The exhibits show 19th century resort life in Saratoga. During high season the museum is open daily from 9:30 AM to 4:30 PM.

With so many enticements within walking distance, you may want to check on the getaway packages offered by local accommodations.

Where to Stay

It's no exaggeration to say that the Saratoga area boasts hundreds of places to stay. The ones listed below are personal favorites, within walking distance of both the track and downtown Saratoga.

Where to Eat

Saratoga, compact though it is, offers all the eating places of any city. There are, within walking distance along Broadway, a Dunkin' Donuts, Kentucky Fried Chicken, Friendly's, Brueggers' Bagel Bakery, Subway and several pizza places. In addition to these we have some favorites:

All of the restaurants above accept credit cards.

Saratoga Springs Information

Tourist Information



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