Pottheiser Photo

NYRA announces food and beverage highlights for 2023 Summer Meet

by Pat McKenna

The New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA) today announced a food and beverage lineup at Saratoga Race Course featuring a wide variety of meals, snacks and drinks for the 2023 summer meet.

Fans can indulge in an array of new, specialty menu items at track concessions and innovative offerings at Saratoga’s three restaurants: The Turf Terrace, Club Terrace and The Porch. The Saratoga Sunrise, the signature drink of Saratoga Race Course, made with Belvedere vodka, orange juice and grenadine, will be available in all dining areas and at select bars.

Fans will also benefit from significant renovations and improvements to two of the most popular concessions at Saratoga Race Course: The Finish Line Grill & Pizza, and Modelo Finish Line Bar. Steel framed glass, white tile, metal paneling and stained wood will bring a clean and fresh design aesthetic to these centrally-located stands. Digital menu boards and displays, supplemented by multiple points-of-sale, will contribute to improved speed of service. 

The renovation to the Finish Line Grill includes 2,450 square feet of floor area including enlargement to the food preparation spaces allowing for increased production capability, new warming displays, beverage coolers, and an all-new pizza machine, cooking grill and kitchen hoods.

Sponsored by Modelo, the official import beer of Saratoga Race Course, the Finish Line Bar will offer well-lit counter service and a handsome display wall at the back bar. Fans will be able to choose from a wide selection of beers and spirits, including Modelo, Corona, Premier and beer cocktails featuring Modelo Especial and Casa Noble tequila.

Inspired by the timeless architecture of the grandstand and resulting in a more modern, brighter and accessible area while maintaining Saratoga’s historical character, these upgrades mark the first in a series of scheduled improvements and renovations to Saratoga’s concessions and bars in the coming years.

This season at Saratoga, fans will have their choice of more than 40 different food options, numerous specialty drinks and an expansive selection of beers, seltzers and canned cocktails.

A new Grab-N-Go Market has been added in the backyard, while the famous Carnegie Deli will be featured at an expanded list of locations where fans will consume part of the 48,000 pounds of carved turkey breast and 7,000 pounds of hot pastrami served on track this season.

Saratoga’s legacy includes the notable distinction as the birthplace of America’s favorite snack – the potato chip, affectionately known as The Saratoga Chip. Each day, the culinary team will use 480 pounds of potatoes to make these famous chips.

For the first time, Saratoga will offer a backyard convenience shop stocked with essentials. The list includes sunscreen, 20-pound bags of ice, first aid kits and a picnic kit including plates, napkins, cutlery and cups. Ponchos, for that occasional pop-up shower, will also be available, along with bug spray.

Concession Highlights:

Fans will get a taste of New York and Saratoga Springs with local favorites featuring:

• Signature Pizza: Italian Artisan Style Pizza Crust with House Tomato Sauce, Olive Oil, and Mozzarella Cheese, with or without Sliced Pepperoni
• Adobo Chicken Tacos: Braised Garlic and Chili Marinated Chicken with Pico De Gallo, served on a warm Tortilla
• Chicken Parmesan Sandwich: Crispy Chicken with Roasted Marinara Sauce, Melted Mozzarella, and Parmesan Cheese on a soft roll 
• Carnegie Deli: A NYC Staple, your choice of Brined, Seasoned, or Smoked Pastrami stacked high with Dusseldorf Mustard or cured and slow cooked Corned Beef layered on Rye with Sour Pickles 
• Saratoga Chips and Dip: Our Homage to the Original Saratoga Chip with our Special Seasoning Blend and Signature Caramelized Onion Dip 

Restaurant Offerings:

From fresh herbs to Hudson Valley berries, these dishes highlight locally sourced produce. Offerings in dining spaces include:

• Gazpacho with Crab: Spanish-inspired chilled soup with Summer Tomatoes, Cucumber, Jalapeno, Sherry Vinegar, and Extra Virgin Olive Oil with Sweet Blue Crab
• Avocado Salmon Bowl: Faroe Islands Salmon, English Cucumber, Carrot, Shaved Radish, Brown Rice with Avocado Lime Vinaigrette and Crispy Onion
• Strawberry Basil Shortcake: Macerated Strawberries with Basil and Lemon Zest, Fresh Baked Shortcake, layered with Whipped Cream

Taste NY Pavilion:

New York-made food and beverages will be available for sample and purchase at the Taste NY Pavilion, located inside Gate A at the Top of the Stretch. Fans can enjoy New York craft beer, cider, wine, spirits, cheese, chocolate and gelato. This year marks a decade since the launch of the Taste NY program. In honor of the 10-year anniversary, NYRA is expanding its offerings to include two dozen featured products, from Long Island to the Adirondacks and the Capital Region to Western New York, as a showcase of the state’s robust food and beverage industry.

The 2023 Taste NY lineup includes:

• Hard Cider: Indian Ladder Farms and Nine Pin
• Craft Beer: Bolton Landing Brewing Co., Brooklyn Brewery, Common Roots Brewing Co., Druthers Brewing Co., Frog Alley Brewing Co., Montauk Brewing Co., Northway Brewing Co., Brewery Ommegang, Paradox Brewery and Saranac Brewery
• Wines: Mazza Vineyards
• Spirits: Cooper’s Daughter Spirits, Cooperstown Distillery, Great Jones Distillery, Hercules Mulligan Co. and Pick Six Vodka
• Food: Saratoga Chocolate Co. and Argyle Cheese Farmer of Hudson Falls

Highlighted by the 154th edition of the Grade 1, $1.25 million Travers on August 26 and the Grade 1, $1 million Whitney on August 5, the 2023 summer meet at historic Saratoga Race Course will open on Thursday, July 13, and continue through Monday, September 4.

Following the four-day opening weekend, racing will be conducted five days a week, Wednesdays through Sundays, apart from closing week, when the meet will conclude on Labor Day. 

For more information about Saratoga Race Course visit www.NYRA.com.