SARATOGA SPRINGS — Heat and humidity greeted thousands at Saratoga Race Course on Thursday, the first day of a racing season expected to draw large crowds to the historic track five days a week through Labor Day weekend.
First-time attendees joined annual veterans, many of whom lined up to be the first ones through the entry gates when they opened at 11 a.m., somewhat mirroring the start of the races they were soon to witness.
For many of the early birds, opening day has become a tradition.
Chris Landzi of Johnstown was one of the first fans inside. The owner of that city’s Partner’s Pub, Landzi said he has run a bus from the pub to the race course’s opening day for the last 15 years.
“We love every bit of it,” he said. “We’re gonna drink, we’re gonna make some money, we’re gonna hang out with our good friends.”
Mark Scott of St. Louis, another early arrival, said he hasn’t missed an opening day since 2011.
“My grandfather, who passed away in 2011, he made 79 consecutive opening days,” Scott said. “He passed away in April of that year, so we came up in August as a tribute to him and we’ve been doing it ever since.”
Trinda Sweeney of Gloversville said she has been a regular at opening day for the last “15 or 20 years.”
“I absolutely love the camaraderie of all the people,” she said. “I love how everybody comes in with a positive attitude and I absolutely love the atmosphere.”
At the end of a day that featured 10 races and an uncertain weather forecast, the New York Racing Association reported a daily attendance of 29,102, a slight increase over last year (28,466). Post times were pushed forward in an effort to avoid any severe weather, NYRA said.
Fans on hand were the first to encounter a new ticketing policy at the race course that combines admission to the grandstand…
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