Hundreds lined up early prior to the 9 a.m. opening, with many then running to secure their picnic table as soon as they could.
As women started making their way through the grounds many were sporting fascinators or hats, such as Hamilton, NY, resident Lisa Kenyon who donned a fascinator she wore to the Travers last year. The tan and fuchsia fascinator coordinated with the floral suit she found online. “At Saratoga everyone dresses for the races,” she said.
Numerous women wore bright florals for the races. Men also dressed up, many in collared shirts and bowler hats or fedoras. Kenyon and her husband Tom Nolan, who wore a floral button down and slacks, are season ticket holders for the regular meet at Saratoga.
Kenyon said she’s excited to be part of the history of the Belmont at Saratoga. “This is the best race course in the county and we’ve been to quite a few, there’s nothing that compares,” Kenyon said. As for the Belmont Stakes race, Kenyon said she’s rooting for Seize the Grey because his sire Arrogate set the Travers record in 2016.
A number of people the Gazette spoke to while waiting to get in said they too hoped for Seize the Grey to seize the win. Seize the Grey won the Preakness and has more than 2,500 owners through MyRacehorse.com .
Dan O’Neill, of Falmouth, Mass. was also excited to be at the track, not only for the races but to have some fun with his son. “My son’s getting married in June, it’s like a little bachelor party,” he said.
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