Honoring winners. This fountain near the gate at Saratoga Race Course caught my eye as KP, Bake and I wound our way out. We stayed happily for seven of the 10 races. Bake was the big winner for the day, cashing frequently and enough to play with the track’s moolah. Yay, Bake. Everybody left with…

Party all sorts of ways. Of course there was a band to help Saratoga Race Course patrons behind the grandstand appreciate the between-race scene with their own gait. I did not trot past, more of a stroll.

Eat, drink and watch races. Thousands of folks take a seat at picnic tables, spread out the contents from their baskets and coolers, and take advantage of big screens and betting windows set up outside the grandstand. Path through the picnic. It’s an interesting place to throw a hootenany, indeed.

Hello, No. 7 horse! On our stroll behind the big grandstand at Saratoga Race Course, KP, Bake and I saw the horses on their pre-race stroll before they even reached the track. Grooms (not the wedding kind) and workers carefully led them along a roped-off path through spectators. Looking fast, No. 8. They are indeed…

Hoof prints. KP, Bake and I wanted to watch the horses being led one-by-one to the starting gate. Have a good race! So much of what goes on before and after the short bursts of racing is based on tradition, I mused to my friends as we took in our day at the races. Watching…

Historic spires. As KP, Bake and I watched the early races from our grandstand seats, we knew we wanted to take in some trackside action at Saratoga Race Course, too. The view up is pretty and majestic. Those spires, well, they might not be quite as nationally known as the ones at Churchill Downs in…

Post time parade. When great friend KP was visiting from Atlanta earlier this month, he threw out the idea for a couple-hour road trip to the east. Yes, a visit to see the horses go round at Saratoga Race Course was a good idea, Bake and myself agreed. Seats were a must, we thought, so…