Albany is centrally located in New York State, right off of Northway I-87, making it easy for day trips.  The Saratoga Gaming and Raceway is famous throughout the country for its thoroughbred horse racing venue.  To get to the Saratoga Gaming and Raceway follow I-87 to exit 13N towards Saratoga Springs.  From there follow US-9 North for a couple of miles.  Once you hit Crescent Avenue, turn right and follow this for about a mile.  The Saratoga Gaming and Raceway entrance will be on your left side.  Live harness racing begins in March and runs through mid December. 

The Saratoga Gaming and Raceway has a popular reputation for being the most gorgeous ½ mile track in the United States.  The facility is located in a very peaceful country setting which adds to the beauty of the course.  The tradition of harness races dates back to 1941 when the public for the first time attended a race progam called the Saratoga Harness.  This raceway is the third oldest harness track, and it also was the first racetrack designed specifically for the purpose of pari-mutuel racing.  Each year attendance for these races had increased and as the popularity of the sport increased so did the size of the facility.  In 1973, off track betting was introduced right when the attendance of the Saratoga Harness started an unexpected decline.  In order to make up for lost revenue, in 1978, winter harness racing began which for the first time made the racetrack season a year long event.  As attendance continued to decline in the 1980’s and 1990’s, the Saratoga Gaming and Raceway introduced live daily broadcasts of thoroughbred and harness races in order to draw in more crowds. 

In 2002, the New York State Legislature passed a bill allowing video gaming at New York State racetracks.  The Saratoga Racetrack opened the Racino in 2004 with the hopes of revivng the raceway.  The Racino is a 100,000 square foot video gaming facility that offers state of the art entertainment.  There are 1700 gaming machines, three full service bars, two hot dog stands, Jackpot’s Deli, the Garden Buffet and also the famous Fortunes Restaurant which gives you a bird’s eye view of the track while you eat.  The Racino also houses a two story Vegas-style nightclub called Vapor.  The extra revenue the Racino has brought in has allowed for increased funding for larger cash prizes for the racing events, which in turn has attracted even more exciting competition.  When the racing season is over people can still visit the Racino, which is open seven days a week from 10:00AM-2:00AM year round.  So whether its gaming that excites you or horse races, the Saratoga Gaming and Raceway has something for everyone!

Address:  342 Jefferson St. Saratoga Springs, NY 12866-5158
Phone:  518-584-2110
Email:  http://www.saratogagamingandraceway.com