Right out of the gate, the hallowed grounds of the Saratoga Race Course capture your attention.
It’s an exercise in sensory overload as the bold candy cane red-and-white striped awnings and the lush green grass of the track’s centerfield transport visitors back to a bygone era, when the hoi polloi strolled the grounds in fancy dress. Even a century later, it’s not surprising to catch a flash of finery as this upstate New York track swells to accommodate thousands of guests every day of the brief but thrilling race season.