By Shenandoah Briere
The Daily Gazette, Schenectady, N.Y.
Saratoga Springs, N.Y. — It was a parade of fashion as fans teemed through the gates opened early for Belmont Stakes Day at Saratoga Race Course on Saturday.
Hundreds were lined up outside prior to the 9 a.m. opening, with many running to get their picnic table as soon as they could.
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As women started making their way through the grounds, many were sporting fascinators or hats, such as Hamilton resident Lisa Kenyon, who was donning a fascinator she wore to the Travers last year. The tan and fuschia fascinator coordinated with the floral suit she found online.
“At Saratoga, everyone dresses for the races,” she said.
Numerous women were wearing 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 was wearing a floral button down and slacks, are season ticket holders for the regular meet at the Spa.
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, were hoping to see Seize the Grey win. Seize the Grey won the Preakness and has more than 2,500 owners through MyRacehorse.com.
Dan O’Neill of Falmouth, Massachusetts 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.
He said he’s likely going to bet on Mystik Dan for the big race.
“I hit him on the [Kentucky] Derby,” he said, noting he won $654 on a $2 quinella.
O’Neill said he loves the atmosphere at Saratoga Race Course.
“We really like the community,” he said.
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