For 10 years, we have traveled every summer to Saratoga Springs, NY, for a week of horses and history. As it has for so many, 2020 has interrupted our plans. As we did in April with our annual trip to Manhattan, we will take a virtual visit to Saratoga. Each day we will post a link to a video on YouTube highlighting what we would have enjoyed: a day at the races, a visit to the morning workouts at the track, one of the town’s fantastic restaurants, and some history of the “Summer Place to Be.” Each night we will be watching a different movie set in Saratoga, and we will let you see our watch list with a bit of commentary.
DAY 1 – Traveling to Saratoga
Video – Pictures of our trip on Amtrak from Richmond to Saratoga Springs, plus the Circular Manor, our bed & breakfast, and dinner at Osteria Danny.
Song: “Saratoga” from tonight’s movie of the same name.
DAY 2 – Opening Day at the Spa
Video – Pictures of our first full day at Saratoga, with the morning workouts, the historic race course, and dinner at Sperry’s.
Song: “Fugue for Tinhorns” from Guys and Dolls sung by the Andrews Sisters
DAY 3 – Friday at the Races
Video – Pictures from our Friday at the race track and dinner at the Blue Hen
Song: “Stewball (Was a Race Horse)” by The Hollies
Movie: A Slight Case of Murder (1938)
DAY 4 – Coaching Club American Oaks
Video – Pictures from past renditions of this race with some star fillies, such as Songbird, Abel Tasman and Monomoy Girl. Dinner at Fish at 30 Lake.
Song: “Run, Molly, Run” by The Kingston Trio
Movie: The Homestretch (1947)
DAY 5 – Sunday at the Spa
Video – Pictures from the Backyard and dinner at Salt & Char
Song: “Beer for My Horses” by Toby Keith & Willie Nelson
Movie: The Track at Saratoga: America’s Grandest Race Course (2013)
DAY 6 – Biking in Saratoga
Video – Pictures from our biking trip around Saratoga
Song: “Let the Big Horse Run” by John Stewart
Movie: Saratoga Trunk (1945)
DAY 7 – Walking in Saratoga
Video – Pictures from our walking tour of downtown Saratoga
Song: “You’re So Vain” by Carly Simon
Movie: It Ain’t Hay (1943)
DAY 8 – Lunch at the Turf Terrace
Video – Pictures from our last day at the track for this year
Song: “New York State of Mind” by Billy Joel
DAY 9 – Returning to Richmond
No video today, but the song for today is the Grateful Dead’s version of the George Jones song “The Race Is On”