NYRA Photo

​NYRA introduces Saratoga Breakfast and Breeding Farm Tour for 2022 season

by Pat McKenna and Mark Bardack

Photos from today’s event at Old Tavern Farm are available at: https://nyra.box.com/s/30dcype7zjn13iumkmb3zbvgap2sbue5

Saratoga Race Course to offer fan package featuring breakfast at the track and trolley ride to a nearby thoroughbred breeding farm on Fridays beginning July 15

The New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA) today announced plans for the first-ever Breakfast and Breeding Farm tour package at Saratoga Race Course. The Saratoga Breakfast and Breeding Farm tour, presented by the Capital District Transportation Authority (CDTA), will be offered every Friday, beginning July 15, and will accommodate up to 40 guests.

The all-inclusive fan experience package features: 

• Buffet breakfast at Saratoga Race Course
• Opportunity to watch world-class thoroughbreds during morning training
• Round-trip, open-air trolley ride from Saratoga Race Course to Old Tavern Farm
• 90-minute guided walking tour of an active thoroughbred breeding farm
• Admission to Saratoga Race Course

The Saratoga Breakfast and Breeding Farm package is available for $55 for adults and $25 for children 12 and under. Tickets are available on a first-come, first-serve basis for each weekly Friday tour, beginning July 15. Tickets may be purchased at NYRA.com.

“The inaugural Saratoga Breakfast and Breeding Farm package is an exciting behind-the-scenes opportunity for visitors to Saratoga to experience a different aspect of the sport,” said NYRA Vice President of Communications Pat McKenna. “To be able to combine morning training with a visit to a breeding farm followed by an afternoon at the races is a trifecta fans won’t want to miss.”

The package begins with Breakfast at Saratoga, featuring a buffet breakfast at Saratoga Race Course between 7 a.m. and 9:30 a.m. with a backdrop of world-class thoroughbreds participating in morning training. Guests can arrive at any time for breakfast during these hours. 

Following the conclusion of breakfast at 9:30 a.m., fans will board an open-air trolley, courtesy of CDTA, at the clubhouse entrance and embark on a 15-minute ride along picturesque Saratoga Lake to Old Tavern Farm for a 90-minute experiential and educational walking tour of one of the region’s premier breeding farms. Fans will arrive back at Saratoga Race Course at approximately 11:45 a.m., well in advance of post time for the start of racing at approximately 1 p.m.

Established in 2016 by Walt and Michelle Borisenok, Old Tavern Farm is a private boutique thoroughbred-breeding operation in Saratoga Springs, N.Y. Located just minutes from historic Saratoga Race Course, Old Tavern Farm has been developed into a state-of-the-art facility focused on the breeding and sale of thoroughbreds to compete at the highest levels of the sport. The name Old Tavern was derived from the 19th century tavern that once graced the property. 

“We are honored to be part of this exciting new initiative in partnership with NYRA, the New York Thoroughbred Breeders and CDTA,” said Old Tavern Farm founder and owner Walt Borisenok. “We hope those who take advantage of this opportunity may become lifelong fans of the sport while others may gain a greater appreciation for how thoroughbred racing supports our local economy. And we hope all will simply enjoy the chance to see these remarkable animals at their earliest stages of life on a working breeding farm.”

“The Saratoga Breakfast and Breeding Farm tour is a fantastic new addition to the Saratoga experience highlighting the importance of the New York State breeding industry,” said Najja Thompson, Executive Director of New York Thoroughbred Breeders, Inc. “Thanks to Old Tavern Farm, one of the leading thoroughbred farms in our state, and our partners at NYRA, visitors to Saratoga this summer will be able to see a side of the sport that might otherwise remain behind closed doors.” 

In the Capital Region alone, Saratoga Race Course is responsible for an economic impact of nearly $240 million and supports the employment of more than 2,000 full-, part-time and seasonal workers, according to the Saratoga County Industrial Development Agency. 

Additionally, findings from a joint study by The New York State Thoroughbred Breeding and Development Fund, The New York Thoroughbred Breeders, Inc. and The New York Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association reveal that the equine industry is active in each of New York State’s 62 counties and is responsible for the preservation of as much as 1.3 million acres of greenspace.

The Saratoga Breakfast and Breeding Farm tour is presented by CDTA. In addition to transporting guests to and from Old Tavern Farm aboard a classic, open-air trolley, CDTA is the presenting sponsor of Breakfast at Saratoga, which is offered daily at Saratoga Race Course from 7 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. (excludes Runhappy Travers Day).

“We are proud to expand our partnership with NYRA to include this new offering alongside Old Tavern Farm for the 2022 racing season,” said CDTA’s Director of Business Development Jonathan Scherzer. “This new experience will connect fans and visitors to the historic Saratoga Race Course and the rich history of horse racing in a new way. We are looking forward to welcoming everyone on board our iconic trolley for a new Summer in Saratoga experience.”

Highlighted by the 153rd renewal of the Grade 1, $1.25 million Runhappy Travers on August 27 and the Grade 1, $1 million Whitney on August 6, the 2022 summer meet at historic Saratoga Race Course will open on Thursday, July 14, and continue through Monday, September 5.

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

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