Saratoga will begin a number of upgrades to the historic paddock mutuel building on the racetrack's grounds, it was announced Tuesday. The project, slated to begin in November, will update the building to feature a new slate roof and will also repair and replace the current rafters. The last series of renovations completed on the building was in 2004. The improvements are set to be complete in advance of the beginning of the 2017 meet.
“We at the New York Racing Association have great respect for the history and traditions of our three racetracks, including in particular Saratoga Race Course, the oldest active sporting venue in America,” said NYRA CEO and President Chris Kay. “Our efforts to renovate the mutuel barn roof are consistent with the investments we have made over the last several years, and the investments we will make in the future, to ensure that all of our guests have a great experience at the Saratoga Race Course, and are able to better appreciate the history and the tradition of this revered sporting venue.”
The 15,400 square-foot paddock mutuel building, which is located in the center of the track grounds, was built in 1902 and originally used as a saddling shed for horsemen to complete the pre-race saddling ritual in lieu of the open-air paddock area when inclement weather arose. The building was converted to racing offices and mutuel bays in the 1970s. The structure is recognized for its dramatic roofline, which features wood trusses with iron tie rods.
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