Saratoga Springs Preservation Foundation Hosts A Tour of World Race Courses

[Saratoga Springs, NY] On Thursday, August 5, 2010, the Saratoga Springs Preservation Foundation will present “England to Dubai: A World Race Course Tour” in conjunction with a silent auction, at 7:00 p.m. at the Fasig-Tipton Pavilion on East Avenue. Paul Roberts of London-based Turnberry Consulting will take racing fans on a tour of the world’s greatest racetracks, tracing the development of race courses from their historical antecedents in ancient Rome and Lebanon and their formal beginnings in England to Meydan in Dubai today.
Charles Hayward, President and CEO of the New York Racing Association (NYRA), will introduce Mr. Roberts. Mr. Roberts, an international expert on race courses and their history, is an advisor to Ascot and York in England and currently serves as an advisor to NYRA on plans for improvements to Aqueduct Racetrack, Belmont Park, and Saratoga Race Course. He will discuss the different race courses around the world including those in Europe; South America; Hong Kong; and the United States. He will also touch on the importance of the Saratoga Race Course in the development of race courses that followed.
The presentation will take place at 7:00 p.m. at the Fasig-Tipton Pavilion at 250 East Avenue and is a part of Fasig-Tipton’s 90th annual selected yearling Sales Week that is taking place now and concludes with the New York-bred preferred yearlings sale on August 7-8. The event will serve to educate the community as well as provide a wonderful opportunity to see the recent changes and upgrades made to the Fasig-Tipton Pavilion.
“The Foundation is pleased to be able to contribute to the Fasig-Tipton Sales Week and partner with NYRA to educate the public about the historic development of race courses, especially since the Saratoga Race Course has played such an important role in Saratoga Springs’ rich history and tradition,” said Samantha Bosshart, Executive Director of the Saratoga Springs Preservation Foundation.
Additionally, fans can bid in a silent auction on A Royal Ascot saddlecloth along with a photograph of Yeats winning the Ascot Gold Cup for the fourth time in June 2009 that shows an Ascot saddlecloth; an “Ascot the History” book; an Ascot Racecard, from 28th September 1996, signed by Frankie Dettori – the day he won all seven races on the card; a NYRA saddlecloth; two Victoria Racing Club saddlecloths including one worn by C’est La Guerre in the Melbourne Cup, signed by the jockey, plus a commemorative race card of the day and certificate of authentication for the cloth; and a York Racecourse jacket. All proceeds from ticket sales and the silent auction benefit the Saratoga Springs Preservation Foundation, which was founded in 1977 and promotes the preservation and enhancement of the architectural, cultural and landscaped heritage of Saratoga Springs.
Tickets for the event, presented by the Saratoga Springs Preservation Foundation and co-sponsored by the Fasig-Tipton Company and NYRA, are $10 and will be available that evening at the door. For any additional questions, please contact the Saratoga Springs Preservation Foundation at (518) 587-5030.