Sunday, July 20, Saratoga Race Course will be packed with people checking out the place for the annual open house prior to the start of the racing season, which is Wednesday. At the open house, you get to see horses up close, eat food at stands set up by local nonprofit groups, check out what's new on the grounds and basically soak up the ambiance.
The only thing missing will be the real races and the opportunity to bet on them.
I'm interested in seeing the pavilion tents that will now be closed and air-conditioned, as well as the air-conditioned suite set up near the breakfast area close to the winners circle and the finish line.
Last summer I overheard a tourist say he was surprised the track wasn't air-conditioned. It really was hot. But, hello, Saratoga Race Course isn't an OTB parlor or a sports bar. It's a racetrack. Outdoors.
But if air-conditioning brings people to the track, what's wrong with that? There are still plenty of places in the stands, along the apron and in the picnic areas to sweat like crazy and pray for a breeze.