History & Culture · Capital Region
Saratoga Race Course: summer racing since 1863
Saratoga Race Course has been running summer thoroughbred racing on Union Avenue since 1863, from early July through Labor Day.
Published June 21, 2026 · Last verified June 21, 2026
Saratoga Springs has a summer sound: hooves, grandstand noise, and Union Avenue traffic on race days. Saratoga Race Course opened in 1863, giving the city a sporting tradition with very deep roots. John Morrissey put together the opening race card, and the meet has been a fixture here ever since.
The track sits on Union Avenue and runs a thoroughbred meet that stretches from early July through Labor Day. It started as just four days of racing long ago and now fills most of the summer. The grounds are about more than the races too, with dining, family activities, and a free kids club.
The Race Course is run by the New York Racing Association (NYRA), which also operates Aqueduct and Belmont Park. Saratoga is the summer stop of the three, and locals will tell you the energy on a big race day is hard to beat.
That is why the track feels like more than a sports venue. For a few weeks each year, it changes Saratoga’s pace: breakfast tables, porch rentals, traffic, hats, and plenty of conversations start orbiting the racing calendar.
Where to see it
Saratoga Race Course is at 267 Union Avenue, Saratoga Springs. The summer thoroughbred meet runs from early July through Labor Day. Buy tickets and check meet dates, gates, and parking at nyra.com/saratoga.