The sounds of the buglers and opening of the starting gate kicks echoing across the Saratoga Race Course Thursday means the start of a brand new racing season. There is always a lot of excitement leading up to the first post time on opening day, which starts an annual 40-day summer season.
Overnight rain and humidity were not an obstacle for some dedicated horse racing fans who showed up hours before the gates opened at 7 a.m.
“We don’t miss opening day,” said Bill Cole, a horse racing fan from Gansevoort. “It’s the first of 40 days.”
For many, it’s tradition, lining up outside during the pre-dawn hours of opening day at The Spa.
“You got the picnic tables, you can roam around and don’t have to gamble a lick,” Cole said. “You can just sit here and people watch all day.”
He said he's among the first few through the main gate every year, racing to secure favorite spots.
“We were figuring it out in line: It’s been 12 years now, so it’s definitely at this point a tradition,” said John Murray, another fan from East Greenbush. “Same group of guys and we look forward to it every year.”
The first trip to the winner’s circle of the summer meet went to 8-year-old Empty Tomb, ridden by jockey Jaime Torres and trained by Robert Falcone.
“I just have to give the credit to Robert Falcone and the team,” Torres said. “They did a good job with the horse.”
While Torres was off to a strong start, not so much for fans like Joanne Dymond.
“The one horse I picked already got scratched, so I'm on a roll,” said Dymond, laughing.
She came with her husband and some friends. Luckily, there were 11 races on the card for opening day, so plenty of waging opportunities, or maybe something else.
“The people watching, relaxing, hanging out with friends, good times,” Dymond said. “It's just a good time.”
Echoing across the grounds will be the voice of Frank Mirahmadi, marking his second year as the track’s announcer.
“Unlike places around the country that have race tracks, this whole city and community is all about the horse racing,” he said. “You run into fans [and] can feel the passion.”
For some, the good times actually started a few weeks ago, when the Belmont Stakes was in town. Those fans were now looking to turn four days of fun into 40.
“The crowd was unbelievable. Just the energy and the crowd, it's just nothing like it,” said Ted Plass, a fan from Baltimore, who attended the Belmont Stakes. “And it's at Saratoga.”
It was an adjustment for fans and trainers, as well. But now they are settling in for the traditional eight weeks of racing.
“Just did things a little bit differently this year,” Falcone said. “I think getting up early was a bit of a big help. And it feels great.”
That passion was evident early Thursday morning. Once everyone was settled, the handicapping began.
“For some reason, the people who take the long shot and the favorites seem to do better than I do,” Cole said.
Murray added, “I looked at a few," Murray said. "Gotta dig in here this morning, but feeling pretty good.”
Opening weekend will feature seven stakes races, highlighted by today's Schuylerville Stakes, won by The Queens M G. The 2-year-old fillie is trained by Saffie Joseph Jr. and jockeyed by Dylan Davis.
Rain from Wednesday’s severe weather moved all of Thursday’s turf races to the main track. But other than that, opening day was dry.
Two more stakes races are on the schedule for Friday: the Wilton and Coronation Cup. Post time is 1:10. Saturday's Diana race, which features a $500,000 purse.
After a four-day opening weekend, racing takes place Wednesday through Sunday. Other highlights for the season include the Whitney Stakes on Aug. 3 and the Travers Stakes on Aug. 24.
The summer meet will run through Labor Day.