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My enthusiasm for the National Museum of Racing
and Hall of Fame is so great that you’ll think I was paid to write this; but I
wasn’t … I even paid my own admission.
You’ve blown past it on Union Avenue a million times, you’ve seen the sculpture
of Seabiscuit out front and the 1/8 pole on the corner and you’ve said to
yourself, “Some day I really should go there”. Now, with the cold
weather and gray days, is the perfect time to go.
The building is deceptively small from the outside but cavernous inside and it
not only has the ubiquitous equine paintings and sculptures and trophies and
racing memorabilia but it has some of the greatest, most realistic exhibitions
I have seen in any museum anywhere in the world. The Museum gives you an
up-close and personal view of daily track life behind the scenes.
First you go into the Peter McBean Gallery that has paintings and sculptures
and memorabilia, among them Kelso’s five gold trophies, the teeniest saddle
you’ve ever seen (Johnny Loftus sat on it when he rode Man O’ War), beautiful
paintings of English racing from the mid-1800’s that show the “rocking
horse pose” of painting (all horses are in full stride, all four hooves
are in the air), bridles and shoes from famous Thoroughbreds. The gallery sets
you up for …
… the rest of the museum and the displays that will make you stop, look and
listen. There is a section of a starting gate, complete with natural sound
instructions from the starter to his assistant starters putting the horses into
the gates; an interactive gallery for children (“Horseplay”); a
section of the Jockeys’ Room; a weighing scale; the track Racing Secretary’s
office and an interactive tote board that explains to dummies like me how to
look at a board and how to put down a bet. Each display has life-sized
mannequins and authentic paraphernalia.
The Hall of Fame section has more than 100 silks displayed and a personal
plaque for each of the Hall inductees (186 horses, 88 Trainers and 95 Jockeys).
There is a Thoroughbred skeleton in the center of one room and a display that
traces the life of a Thoroughbred from birth to old age and there is even a
racing simulator.
There is much more to do and see … I left out the fabulous steeplechase
section and oh, yes, the Sports Illustrated cover with the photograph of
Robyn Smith, for which I managed find excuses to pass three times.
Something for everyone at the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame in
Saratoga, across the street from the race track. It will be time well
spent.
I owe myself another trip inside that building. I’ll even try to sneak some more photos!
Riders up! Great article, I’d love to read more–keep ’em coming, Mr. Peake. Saratoga.com: great catch, to get a writer with his creds, experience and love of horses.
Kudos, all around.
🙂