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Photo: Peter Flass, CC BY 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons
A place to experience the history of one of Saratoga's most popular attractions, thoroughbred racing. Something for everyone with interactive exhibits, rare memorabilia, and equine art.
The National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame was founded in 1950 in Saratoga Springs, New York, to honor the achievements of American Thoroughbred race horses, jockeys, and trainers. In 1955, the museum moved to its current location on Union Avenue near Saratoga Race Course, at which time inductions into the hall of fame began. Each spring, following the tabulation of the final votes, the announcement of new inductees is made, usually during Kentucky Derby Week in early May. The actual inductions are held in mid-August during the Saratoga race meeting.
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formerly Saratoga Casino and Raceway
Harness racing and video gaming.
This museum is housed in an 1870 casino. It's not a must see for everyone, but if you are a history buff, and especially if you are from New York State or elsewhere in the region, it is very interesting to visit and a good value. A guided tour of the ground floor is included in your admission and adds a lot of context and value to your visit. Allow 2 hours or so to see the rooms; the artifacts from the casino and the grand hotels that served visitors to this town in its 19th-to-early 20th-century heyday before being torn down in the 1950s; information about some very notable citizens of Saratoga including the remarkable woman who founded the Daughters of the American Revolution, replete with documentation and their personal effects; and an exhibit about the Native tribes who inhabited the area. The staff are very happy to speak with visitors and share information, even at closing time.
Thoroughbred horse racing from late July to early September.
Despite the plethora of day spas around the city, this is the only place where you can relax in a natural mineral bath using water drawn straight from the ground. (It's mixed with hot tap water to bring it up to a comfortable temperature, though.) This facility was built in 1935 as part of the development of the park. While the mineral baths are their signature service, they also offer the standard menu of modern spa services: massages, facials, etc. The decor, with its aged porcelain fixtures and linoleum floors, may look a little institutional, but keep in mind any oxidation you see is natural, a result of iron in the spring water. And it's certainly the most authentic Saratoga spa experience you can get.