{"id":32475,"date":"2018-08-09T12:53:50","date_gmt":"2018-08-09T16:53:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.saratoga.com\/saratogabusinessjournal\/?p=32475"},"modified":"2018-08-09T16:53:42","modified_gmt":"2018-08-09T20:53:42","slug":"panel-on-horse-racing-extols-the-virtues-of-saratoga-on-the-eve-of-the-2018-season","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.saratoga.com\/saratogabusinessjournal\/2018\/08\/panel-on-horse-racing-extols-the-virtues-of-saratoga-on-the-eve-of-the-2018-season\/","title":{"rendered":"Panel On Horse Racing Extols The Virtues Of Saratoga On The Eve Of The 2018 Season"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"\"
Diversify races to victory on Aug. 4 in the 91st running of the Grade 1 Whitney Stakes at Saratoga Race Course. The Whitney typically draws the most fans outside of the Travers Stakes.
Courtesy NYRA<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

By R.J. DeLuke<\/p>\n

\u201cThere\u2019s a reason why the Hall of Fame is here,\u201d said Tom Bellhouse, CEO of West Point Thoroughbreds, an ownership consortium, on the day before the 2018 meet began at Saratoga Race Course.<\/p>\n

He was speaking at the National Racing Museum and Hall of Fame on Union Avenue in Saratoga Springs, where the Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce had organized a panel to speak about the historic race track.<\/p>\n

\u201cSaratoga is our mecca,\u201d he said of the local track and its importance in the industry not only nationwide but worldwide. \u201cThis is where it really counts.\u201d<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Similar sentiments came from Tom Morley, a trainer from England that has been on the Saratoga circuit for eight years.<\/p>\n

From opening day through Labor day, \u201cit is game time,\u201d he said. \u201cThere\u2019s nothing better in America that gets our juices going. Only Saratoga does that … There\u2019s no atmosphere like there is here.\u201d He said the competition \u201cis as tough as it gets.\u201d<\/p>\n

Another panelist, Marianne Barker, co-owner of the Impressions of Saratoga gift shop on Broadway,\u00a0 <\/span>said. \u201cThis is our busiest season … This is our Christmas. We look forward to this every year. This is where we shine and what we really work toward all year long.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s infectious,\u201d said Brian Straughter, president of Turf Hotels and chairman of the Chamber board of directors. \u201cOur hotels function better when we are working hard.\u201d The hotels during the meet surpass 90 percent occupancy at times, he noted.<\/p>\n

Morley and Bellhouse commented on the future of the horse racing industry. Both said Saratoga is in a very strong position, but on the whole, it\u2019s important to get young people interested in racing and do things to get them to become the fans and bettors of the future.<\/p>\n

\u201cI believe the future is bright,\u201d Bellhouse said.<\/p>\n

Opening Day at Saratoga Race Course generated all-sources handle of more than $20.2 million, the second consecutive season that wagering exceeded this milestone figure, according to the New York Racing Association that runs the race course, as well as Belmont Park and Aqueduct downstate.<\/p>\n

On-track handle was $54 million, an increase of nearly 8 percent over 2017.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s great to be back at Saratoga for another season of the best thoroughbred racing in the world supported by great fans. Opening Day is always special, and this year was made even more so with the debut of our new hospitality area called The Stretch,\u201d said NYRA CEO and President Chris Kay after the successful opening. \u201cThe weather could not have been more perfect as we look forward to a tremendous summer meet featuring the greatest owners, trainers, jockeys and horses in the sport.\u201d<\/p>\n

In addition to The Stretch, capital improvements at Saratoga this season include the continuation of efforts to restore copper that historically bordered the slate-covered roof on buildings throughout the property. Copper today extends along the exterior of the Clubhouse from the Easy Goer to the Club Terrace, which is designed to help preserve and protect the building from inclement weather.<\/p>\n

NYRA also welcomed Berkshire Bank to serve as the official partner of the Saratoga Family Zone. The Berkshire Bank Family Zone is a smoke- and alcohol-free interactive play area with an oval multi-lane running track, a miniature replica starting gate, a \u201cselfie\u201d photo station and educational panels designed to teach children about the life of a race horse. New features for the 2018 season include a complimentary phone charging station, courtesy of Berkshire Bank, and a giant Adirondack-style chair designed for photo opportunities.<\/p>\n

The meet runs through Labor Day, the highlight being the Travers Stakes that will be run on Saturday, Aug. 25.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

By R.J. DeLuke \u201cThere\u2019s a reason why the Hall of Fame is here,\u201d said Tom Bellhouse, CEO of West Point Thoroughbreds, an ownership consortium, on the day before the 2018 meet began at Saratoga Race Course. He was speaking at the National Racing Museum and Hall of Fame on Union Avenue in Saratoga Springs, where […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":196,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[7],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-32475","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-business-news"],"yoast_head":"\r\nPanel On Horse Racing Extols The Virtues Of Saratoga On The Eve Of The 2018 Season - Saratoga Business Journal<\/title>\r\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\r\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.saratoga.com\/saratogabusinessjournal\/2018\/08\/panel-on-horse-racing-extols-the-virtues-of-saratoga-on-the-eve-of-the-2018-season\/\" \/>\r\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\r\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\r\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Panel On Horse Racing Extols The Virtues Of Saratoga On The Eve Of The 2018 Season - Saratoga Business Journal\" \/>\r\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"By R.J. DeLuke \u201cThere\u2019s a reason why the Hall of Fame is here,\u201d said Tom Bellhouse, CEO of West Point Thoroughbreds, an ownership consortium, on the day before the 2018 meet began at Saratoga Race Course. 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