It seems like only yesterday the horses left the gates for the very first time, but the Saratoga Race Course is nearly 150 years old. It’s sesquicentennial (sess-kwa-sen-TEN-ee-ull. Impress your friends) birthday will be August 3, 2013…and such a big number deserves a big celebration.
Not just one big celebration, but organizers are planning five months of events between May and September 2013 (if I was 150, I would demand no less).
The events, part of “Saratoga 150”, which is much more pronounceable than sesquicentennial, will showcase Saratoga’s racing and other-than-racing history.
Though the race course was opened in 1864, the first race was held a year prior, with just 5,000 attendees (compared with today, where racing can attract more than ten times as many).
Now, a hundred and a half years later, the Saratoga 150 planning committee is envisioning events which celebrate both the old and the new, sometimes together (like an ice-cream eating contest…1864-style).
Beginning this fall, following an announcement that will outline a forum for presenting ideas, the committee will be open to submissions from organizations about event ideas and offers to host.
There will be a launch of digital and social media initiatives to promote the event, which will draw heavily on volunteering.
For more information on events, how to volunteer, how to submit an idea, and other questions, email info@saratoga150.com.
Do you have a great idea for the Saratoga 150 celebration? What are you looking forward to most? Please share with us!
