For more than a hundred years, horses were saddled in Saratoga’s backyard, under the trees; no fences or other barriers separated the horses from the customers who wanted to see them.
Security concerns ended this practice in the mid-1980s, and since then, horses have been saddled in the paddock adjacent to the backyard, just behind the clubhouse.
Saratoga’s paddock is legendarily beautiful, and before each race, hundreds of fans line up to get a look at the horses, to take photos, and to assess the horse’s ability to win the race, though in recent years, customer access to paddock views has been impeded by encroaching hospitality tents and a set for NYRA’s television productions.
This year’s reserved tables will further reduce available space for bettors and fans to catch a glimpse of the horses. Probably the best place to view the action in the Paddock is from inside the bar under the Paddock Tent Entrance to the paddock is restricted to those with a credential or a badge.
