Summer Happenings at the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame

SARATOGA SPRINGS — The National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame has introduced new tours and events for the summer racing season. This will be the first summer track season at Saratoga that the Museum and Hall of Fame is open, following recent renovations.

The Museum and Hall of Fame opened back up on Sept. 5, 2020. Included in the renovations was digitalizing the Hall of Fame. Jockeys and trainers have long careers, and according to Cate Masterson, Director of the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame, not only has digitalizing the Hall of Fame allowed them to save space for future members, but it is easier to update the accomplishments of said jockeys and trainers. 

Some other notable things the Museum has to offer this summer are as follows: 

Tom Durkin, legendary track announcer, will be giving guided museum tours Wednesday and Sundays through Sept. 6, and Oklahoma Training Track tours will also be offered through Sept. 

Author signings will include Bill Heller signing copies of “Fred Hopper: The Extraordinary Life of a Thoroughbred Legend” on Friday, July 23 from 10 a.m. to Noon, and Lenny Shulman signing copies of “Head to Head: Conversations With a Generation of Horse Racing Legends on Friday, July 30 from 10 a.m. to Noon. Both books will be available for purchase in the Museum’s gift shop. 

For its summer film schedule, the Museum’s new signature film, What It Takes: Journey to the Hall of Fame, will be shown eight times daily at half past the hour beginning at 9:30 a.m. with a final showing at 4:30 p.m. 

Upcoming this summer also, is the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame induction ceremony that will be open to the public and free to attend. The ceremony is scheduled for Friday, Aug. 6 at Fasig-Tipton. Seats are limited and available on a first come, first serve basis. Doors will open at 9:30 a.m., and the ceremony will begin at 10:30 a.m. It will also be livestreamed on the Museum’s website. 

“The Museum would like to thank Fasig-Tipton for their longtime support and use of their beautiful facility for the Hall of Fame ceremony, especially as they celebrate their 100th year of the Saratoga Sale this summer,” said Masterson. “It’s a special place to host such an important event as the Hall of Fame ceremony. We are really looking forward to honoring the 2020 and 2021 inductees on Aug. 6.”

This induction ceremony will honor both the 2020 and 2021 Hall of Fame classes. The 2020 inductees include racehorses Tom Bowling and Wise Dan; jockey Darrel McHargue; trainer Mark Casse; and Pillars of the Turf Alice Headley Chandler, J. Keene Daingerfield, Jr., and George D. Widener, Jr. The 2021 class is comprised of racehorse American Pharaoh, and trainer Jack Fisher and Todd Pletcher. 

Reservations are required and space is limited for tours. To book tours and for more information regarding these special events, contact the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame at 518-584-0400 or visit their website at www.racingmuseum.org.