How to do a race day right at Saratoga's 2018 meet

Saratoga Race Course is steeped in history and tradition, yet each year it changes with the times a bit in an effort to offer some of the modern necessities. Those who have the chance to go to the Spa on a regular basis develop traditions or experiences that they look forward to every time they visit.

This year, racing at Saratoga begins on Friday and kicks off the finest what I believe to be the finest Thoroughbred meeting in the country. As the barns fill with horses from all over the country, jockey Jose Ortiz will defend the leading jockey title that he won last year against the most competitive rider colony in the world. Todd Pletcher was able to wrestle the leading trainer crown back from Chad Brown.

In the 40 days of racing, there will be 69 stakes run with $18.85 million in purses. Of those, 35 are graded, which include 16 Grade 1 events. The Travers, which is the signature race at the upstate New York track, will be held on Saturday, August 25, as part of a card with five other Grade 1s.

I have been going to the Spa over a period of 40 years, and I’d like to share a list of some of my traditions and other recommendations for racing fans:

Attending workouts is a must. Lots of tracks have a breakfast program where you can experience training, but they don’t compare to what happens at Saratoga in the wee hours of the morning.

The Oklahoma Training Track, across Union Avenue from the main track, is surrounded by the barns of big-name trainers like Brown, Pletcher, Bill Mott, Christophe Clement, Shug McGaughey and D. Wayne Lukas. You can stand right at the rail next to the trainers and see the jockeys as they shuttle around the track in their golf carts, going from barn to barn to exercise prospective mounts.

Watching the horses work at the main track offers another very different experience. Most days there is an announcer to help you identify the stars of racing on the track. On the front side you can enjoy the action in a more comfortable setting. Bring some breakfast treats and your past performances with you, or buy them at the track and sit in one of the owners’ boxes in the clubhouse. There in the creaky wooden grandstand with the rows of ceiling fans spinning, you feel special in a way that is hard to describe until you actually get there.

Patrons must leave the track after training is complete and then re-enter when the gates open. If you are going to return for the races, you can leave your car parked for free by Oklahoma and walk over to the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame for a couple of hours.

During my first trips to Saratoga, it became a tradition to visit the Big Red Spring in the far corner of the back yard to the right of the paddock. My track buddy insisted that bad luck would come our way if we skipped taking a drink of the mineral spring. A splash or two on the face and hands was certain to ensure that it would be a good day of betting. Big Red gives you an understanding as to why "the Spa" earned its nickname.

If you have children with you, Saratoga is a place where many youngsters become racing fans because of the access that they have to the jockeys after a race. When the riders walk from the track through the stands, it has become tradition that they sign autographs for the young fans and at times give out racing goggles.

For many of my closest racing track friends, a cup of clam chowder is a traditional meal at the track. Even on the hot summer days, chowder is a must. There is a Chowder Bar on ground level underneath the grandstand by the sixteenth pole. Give it a try.

Relatively new to Saratoga is the Paddock Bar, which is located adjacent to the saddling area. It’s a great place to get a drink and watch the horses get ready for a race, then see them parade right by on their way to the track. Without access to the paddock itself, this bar area gets you as close as possible to all of that action.

Every inch of empty space in the backyard area is covered with picnic tables that are available on a first-come first-served basis. The picnic area is enormously popular among Saratoga regulars. The tables are free of charge on all days except the Travers. Even if you opt for a reserved seat in the stands, it is worth a stroll through the picnic area.

Enjoy your visit to Saratoga whether it is your first time, or if you go up every summer. Soak up the history of racing at the Spa and be sure to do your part to add to the traditions so important at Saratoga.