News - Season Begins

This year, a more lenient dress code has been enacted for some areas of the track, but elegant attire is still expected in some areas.

“It has always been a tradition to dress formally at the track. There is a certain elegance in horseracing,” NYRA spokesman John Lee said. “Some people look at it as a special day out. It became an event where people tended to put on their best. With Saratoga’s history, a lot of people try to keep the tradition alive.”

He added though, that Saratoga Rack Track wants to welcome an entire range of visitors, from the elegant to those who wish to have a casual day of racing and relaxation.

“That’s just the way that the world is going and we hope to accommodate that,” Lee said. “We do hope to maintain the level of elegance in some areas that Saratoga is known for.”

It’s not unusual to see women in huge, unique hats, as that has always been a tradition for thoroughbred horseracing.

Natalie Sillery, owner of Saratoga Trunk, designs her own hats and never makes two of the same.

“It’s just a race track tradition. They are fashionable and functional. I’d put money on the fact that some women buy their hat and base the rest of their outfit around it,” she said. “They are the best bet for women.”