Home to the oldest thoroughbred race course in the country,
Saratoga Springs will host the third leg of the Triple Crown,
the Belmont Stakes, on Saturday, June
8.
(The Belmont racetrack in NYC is undergoing renovations and the famous race had to be moved this year to another location.)
Saratoga has a long history of being the summer resort of choice for
the world's rich and famous.
Blessed with gorgeous Adirondack mountain scenery,
abundant natural mineral springs and a relatively short drive from
New York City, Saratoga was also the site of the Battle of Saratoga,
the "turning point" of the American
Revolution.
Beginning in 1864, the newly-built racetrack along with the introduction of lavish spring baths and opulent gambling houses enticed a number of wealthy families to build summer homes in Saratoga.
To this day, summer residents include Vanderbuilts, Whitneys, Rockefellers and scores of other well-heeled families who spend the season
relaxing and hosting incredibly magnificent, jaw-dropping parties.
Many, many celebrities are spotted daily at the track or in town.
Remember Carly Simon's song You're So Vain?
"Well, I hear you went up to
Saratoga, and your horse naturally won"
The Saratoga "season" refers to the time frame when the track is open.
For over 100 years, the track was open only during the month of August.
In recent years, New York State has allowed the season to be
expanded
for the entire eight weeks of summer.
A great boost for the economy of Saratoga, a sleepy town of 25,000
when Jackie was growing up there in the 1960s and 1970s.
The racetrack provides thousands of jobs for
everyone,
not only for the local businesses but also for the high school and college kids
who work the service jobs and can easily earn tens of thousand dollars in tips during the season!
