The National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame will play host to numerous events during the upcoming Saratoga Race Course summer meeting, as well as offer several programs and new exhibits. Please visit www.racingmuseum.org for a complete listing of events and activities.
National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame events calendar:
Wednesday, July 13 — Museum Members Opening Reception: Betting on America: The Immigrant Experience and the Hall of Fame and Jim Raftery: A Turfotos Retrospective.
We welcome Museum Members in for a first look at the Museum’s new summer exhibits, Betting on America and Jim Raftery: A Turfotos Retrospective. Reception features light refreshments and is business casual. Thank you to sponsors Saratoga Eagle, Jackson Family Wines, and Mazzone Hospitality.
Time: 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Members Only. To become a museum member, call (518) 584-0400 ext. 112.
Saturday, July 16 — Saturday Morning Social, presented by Julie and Co. Realty
Join Museum staff for complimentary coffee and donuts courtesy of Julie and Co. Realty, a book signing with Mary Perdue, author of the new book “Landaluce: The Story of Seattle Slew’s First Champion,” and a handicapping seminar with Mike Beer of Daily Racing Form. Books will be available to purchase in the Museum’s Gift Shop. Special thank you to Saratoga Spring Water for supplying this event and Equibase for the past performance of the day.
Time: 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. (Handicapping seminar, 10 a.m.). Cost: Free to attend.
Tuesday, July 19 — Racing Partnership and Syndicate Night
Learn how to get involved in thoroughbred ownership from some of the top partnerships in the game. Sixteen leading racehorse partnerships are scheduled to attend. There will be giveaways, complimentary refreshments graciously donated by Saratoga Eagle and Price Chopper, and an opportunity to meet representatives from the following participating partnerships: Bona Venture Stables, Bond Racing Stables, Brown Road Racing, Celtic Magic Thoroughbreds, Dream Maker Racing, Essence of Thoroughbreds, Flying Partners, Hibiscus Stables, Magdalena Racing, MyRachorse, Sackatoga Stable, Shooting Star Thoroughbreds, Starlight Racing, StarLadies Racing, Taylor Made Partnerships, and West Point Thoroughbreds.
Time: 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Cost: Free to attend. Location: Hall of Fame.
Saturday, July 23 — Saturday Morning Social, presented by Julie and Co. Realty
Join Museum staff for complimentary coffee and donuts courtesy of Julie and Co. Realty, a 30-minute presentation with Saratoga Springs-based historian Charles Kuenzel on Hall of Fame trainer James E. “Sunny Jim” Fitzsimmons, and a handicapping seminar with Mike Beer of Daily Racing Form. Special thank you to Saratoga Spring Water for supplying this event and Equibase for the past performance of the day.
Time: 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. (Handicapping seminar, 10 a.m., Kuenzel presentation at 10:45 a.m.). Cost: Free to attend. Location: Hall of Fame.
Saturday, July 30 — Saturday Morning Social, presented by Julie and Co. Realty
Join Museum staff for complimentary coffee and donuts courtesy of Julie and Co. Realty and a showing of the 33-minute documentary “Mill Reef: A Legacy of Heart.” Special thank you to Saratoga Spring Water for supplying this event.
Time: 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. (Movie to begin at 10 a.m.). Cost: Free to attend. Location: Hall of Fame.
Saturday, July 30 — Racing and Rosé Fashion Show
With Saratoga Living magazine and Miss Scarlett Boutique, featuring special guest Carson Kressley.
Join TV personality Carson Kressley for a fashion show and brunch party at the Museum featuring racing-inspired designs by Miss Scarlett’s Jen Marcellus. The VIP ticket includes early arrival at 10:30 a.m. to meet and mingle with TV personality Carson Kressley — best known for Queer Eye for the Straight Guy and RuPaul’s Drag Race — and receive a signed portrait and the opportunity to take a photo with Carson. The main event Starts at 11 a.m. — sip on bubbly and rosé from Mionetto and La Crema, snack on tea sandwiches, muffins, coffee cakes, bagels and cookies from Bocage, Sweet Mimi’s and Uncommon Grounds, and wander around an art pop-up of equestrian art by Janet Crawford. Around noon, the racing-inspired fashions of Jen Marcellus will take center stage, as ladies from Saratoga and the racing world present a first-of-its-kind fashion show through the Sculpture Gallery. All guests will receive a racing- and fashion-themed gift bag from Miss Scarlett Boutique and a wrap “tiny” scarf from Chateau du Cheval, goodies from the Museum, a copy of Saratoga Living’s track issue and more.
For tickets and more information please visit: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/racing-and-rose-fashion-show-brunch-party-with-carson-kressley-tickets-368321418277
Monday, August 1 — Amplifying the Future of Racing Educational Symposium
Free program with Amplify Horse Racing and Together for Racing International. Stop by for a meet and greet and educational program to engage the thoroughbred racing industry and Saratoga Springs community in ways to work together. There will be refreshments, a survey for attendees, and a raffle/drawing for a unique item/experience.
Time: 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Location: Hall of Fame.
Friday, August 5 — Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony
The Museum inducts the 2022 Hall of Fame class. The ceremony will also be live streamed at racingmuseum.org. The class of 2022 is comprised of racehorses, Beholder, Hillsdale, Royal Heroine, and Tepin; trainer Oscar White; and Pillars of the Turf James Cox Brady, Marshall Cassidy, and James Ben Ali Haggin.
Time: 10:30 a.m. Cost: Free to attend (limited seating). Location: Fasig-Tipton, 153 George Street, Saratoga Springs.
Saturday, August 6 — Saturday Morning Social, presented by Julie and Co. Realty
Join Museum staff for complimentary coffee and donuts courtesy of Julie and Co. Realty, a Hall of Fame inductee autograph signing, and a handicapping seminar with Mike Beer of Daily Racing Form. Special thank you to Saratoga Spring Water for supplying this event and Equibase for the past performance of the day. Hall of Fame members scheduled to appear will be announced in late July.
Time: 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. (Handicapping seminar, 10 a.m., autograph session, 10 a.m.). Cost: Free to attend.
Friday, August 12 — 46th Annual Museum Ball
By invitation only. For more information, contact (518) 584-0400 ext. 100.
Saturday, August 13 — Saturday Morning Social, presented by Julie and Co. Realty
Join Museum staff for complimentary coffee and donuts courtesy of Julie and Co. Realty and a handicapping seminar with Mike Beer of Daily Racing Form. Special thank you to Saratoga Spring Water for supplying this event and Equibase for the past performance of the day.
Time: 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. (Handicapping seminar, 10 a.m.). Cost: Free to attend.
Friday, August 19 — Smash Burger Fundraiser
Visit Saratoga Smashburger between 11 a.m. and 7 p.m. and Smashburger will donate $2 for every entrée or kids meal ordered to the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame! Mention this promotion at the register when placing your order.
Time: 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Location: Saratoga Smash Burger, 46 Marion Avenue, Saratoga Springs (518) 871-1801.
Saturday, August 20 — Saturday Morning Social, presented by Julie and Co. Realty
Join Museum staff for complimentary coffee and donuts courtesy of Julie and Co. Realty, a book signing with Michael Veitch, author of the new book “Legacy of Excellence: Thoroughbred Racing in Saratoga Springs 1956-2008,” and a handicapping seminar with Mike Beer of Daily Racing Form. Books will be available to purchase in the Museum Gift Shop. Special thank you to Saratoga Spring Water for supplying this event and Equibase for the past performance of the day.
Time: 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. (Handicapping seminar, 10 a.m.). Cost: Free to attend.
Monday, August 22 — ThoroFan Racing Trivia Night
The National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame will be partnering with ThoroFan for “Trivia Night at the Museum.” Contestants can compete individually or as a team (maximum of four people) for great prizes. Prizes will be awarded to the winner of each of three rounds, as well as to the overall points winner for the event. For more information, visit thorofan.com.
Time: 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Cost: $15 Museum members, $25 Non-members.
Friday, August 26 — Travers Eve Members Wine and Cheese Night
Celebrate the racing season at the Museum on Travers Stakes eve. Enjoy refreshments in the Museum’s Cornelius Vanderbilt Whitney Courtyard with fellow Museum members and racing enthusiasts.
Time: 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Cost: Free for members, $10 for non-members. RSVP to Tricia Warrens at (518) 584-0400 ext. 112 or at twarrens@racingmuseum.net
Saturday, August 27 — Saturday Morning Social, presented by Julie and Co. Realty
Join Museum staff for complimentary coffee and donuts courtesy of Julie and Co. Realty, and special guest analysts for a casual discussion of Travers Day racing action at Saratoga with Mike Beer of Daily Racing Form. Special thank you to Saratoga Spring Water for supplying this event and Equibase for the past performance of the day.
Time: 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. (Handicapping seminar, 10 a.m.). Cost: Free.
Monday, August 29 — “If I Could Ride” film showing
A story of two teenage girls with totally different backgrounds. Jodie Brown was born with a physical disability. She and her mother, along with her grandfather, live on a dilapidated old farm. With the recent passing of her dad, Jodie’s mom, Sandy, works two jobs to make ends meet. Jodie’s first love is horses, and her dream is to someday ride horses and eventually compete in horse shows. However, physical disabilities and financial problems make this vision seem quite impossible.
Bridgett Van Heusen lives a complete opposite life, residing on a beautiful farm and having a championship horse as well as a talented horse trainer. Both of her parents are involved in everything but their daughter’s love. Bridgett is an extremely talented rider, competing in local and national horse shows, having continued success.
Witness how fate brings together these two distinctly different young girls. See the magnificence of unconditional love that transcends physical and emotional trials throughout the film. This family film has many of life’s lessons and can be enjoyed by the entire family.
Time: 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Location: Hall of Fame. Please visit racingmuseum.org for more details (coming soon).
Saturday, September 3 — Saturday Morning Social, presented by Julie and Co. Realty
Join Museum staff for complimentary coffee and donuts courtesy of Julie and Co. Realty, a special meet and greet with retired racehorse Frazil (winner of 20 races in New York and now a standout dressage competitor), a book reading with Maddy Zanetti and local celebrity Upset, and a handicapping seminar with Mike Beer of Daily Racing Form. Special thank you to Saratoga Spring Water for supplying this event and Equibase for the past performance of the day.
Time: 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. (Handicapping seminar, 10 a.m.). Cost: Free to attend.
Ongoing programs
Oklahoma Training Track Tours: Available June through October, this exclusive, 90-minute behind-the-scenes walking tour of Saratoga Race Course’s famous training site offers guests the opportunity to experience the morning workouts and includes Museum admission. Reservations required (no children under the age of 10 permitted).
Cost: $15 adults, $10 seniors and students, 50 percent off for Museum members. Reservations and additional details: call (518) 584-0400 ext. 103.
Tom Durkin Museum Tours: Join legendary race caller Tom Durkin for a unique and entertaining tour experience of the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame. These special tours last one hour and include a showing of the Museum’s new signature film, What It Takes: Journey to the Hall of Fame.
Dates: Beginning July 14, Wednesday through Sunday (no tour August 5). Cost: $30 Museum members, $35 Non-members. Reservations and additional details: call (518) 584-0400 ext. 103.
Current exhibitions
Betting on America: The Immigrant Experience and the Hall of Fame: An in-depth exhibit chronicling the lives and impact on the sport of the Hall of Fame inductees born outside of the United States. The exhibit features interactive content, artwork, memorabilia, photography, and much more to tell the inspiring stories of the foreign-born members of the Hall of Fame.
Location: McBean Gallery. (Opens July 14)
Jim Raftery: A Turfotos Retrospective (from the collection of Barbara D. Livingston): A look at the remarkable career of photographer Jim Raftery, featuring iconic images of the racing scene Raftery covered for more than half a century.
Location: von Stade Gallery. (Opens July 14)
The Paintings of Richard Stone Reeves: A selection of paintings by legendary artist Richard Stone Reeves from the Museum Collection, featuring Hall of Fame racehorses such as Cicada, Exceller, Gallorette, Ruffian, Susan’s Girl, and Sword Dancer, among others.
Location: Link Gallery.
Charles H. Thieriot Collection: A permanent exhibition featuring a variety of paintings from the masters of British sporting art.
Location: McBean Gallery.
The Edward P. Evans Gallery: This space allows the Museum to highlight more of the treasures from its diverse permanent collection and honor the legacy of Mr. Evans and his passion for the sport of thoroughbred racing. Current featured exhibits include Selections from the Edward P. Evans Trophy Collection, The Triple Crown, Selections from the James E. “Sunny Jim” Fitzsimmons Collection, The Legacy of Man o’ War, The Grand National, Tiffany & Co. in the National Museum of Racing Collection, and A Salute to Hollywood Park. New for 2022, Fifty Years Ago, an exhibit highlighting the racing achievements of 1972 and displaying the Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes trophies won by Hall of Fame horse Riva Ridge.
For more information about the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame, including upcoming events, please visit www.racingmuseum.org or call (518) 584-0400.
Contact: Brien Bouyea
(518) 584-0400 ext. 133
bbouyea@racingmuseum.net