Saratoga Springs Preservation Foundation Lauds Racecourse Agreement

The Saratoga Springs Preservation Foundation is very pleased that Governor Spitzer and the State Legislature reached an agreement on resolving the future of thoroughbred racing in the Spa City. Included within the bill that was enacted last week were provisions calling for an inventory of all structures and landscape attributes on the grounds of the historic track in Saratoga Springs, as well as review of NYRA’s capital plan for the Saratoga Racecourse by the State Historic Preservation Office. The Foundation had been working with State government to ensure that measures aimed at protecting the historic nature of the track and its environs were part of the overall legislation which granted NYRA a twenty-five year franchise to operate the track.
“We’re quite happy that the legislation indicates an awareness on the part of State government that the Racecourse and adjoining lands contain buildings and landscapes that are historic treasures and need to be protected”, said the Foundation’s Acting Executive Director, Marjorie King Martin.” We want to thank Senator Joseph Bruno, Assemblyman James Tedisco, Mayor Scott Johnson and Supervisor Joanne Yepsen for the efforts on behalf of Racecourse preservation. We look forward to working with the State Historic Preservation Office to ensure these important landmarks of Saratoga’s illustrious racing history are preserved for future generations.”
Under the terms of the bill, a local advisory board will be created, made up of representatives appointed by the Mayor, the County Board of Supervisors and NYRA. The board will work with the State Historic Preservation Office to conduct a comprehensive historic resources inventory of all track property structures and landscape feature, including their physical condition. Those aspects of the property which are of historic, architectural or cultural significance may be advanced by the board for consideration for inclusion in the National and State Registers of Historic Places and in local historic districts.