It's the 3 H's -- horses, handicapping and history -- that are the fundamentals in Saratoga Springs, New York. Get an insider's view during the six-week summer meet by touring the stables, watching workouts and attending the famous yearling auctions. Enrich your knowledge by exploring the history of the sport through its museums and learning about the art of handicapping at free seminars. Spend your evenings at certain hot spots and you'll be rubbing shoulders with jockeys, trainers and owners and exercise riders. What better way to learn the secrets of Saratoga?

The Horses

Horses are everywhere in Saratoga Springs – from a mirrored statue on Broadway to race horses prancing across Union Avenue from their stable to the track. To see them up close, enter the track for free every raceday morning from 7 until 10 a.m. to watch the morning workouts. Since there are stakes races every day at Saratoga, chances are good of seeing a celebrity horse prepping for a big race. You might even spot a famous jockey trying out a new mount. To help you know who’s who, Mary Ryan, a New York racing fixture, provides a commentary. A breakfast buffet on the Clubhouse porch gives you a ringside view, but you’ll have to dip into your pockets for that.

Another excellent freebie, the tram that takes you over to the “back side,” as the stable area is called, is always crowded. It starts from the main clubhouse gate and runs every raceday, weather permitting, from 8:15 to 9:00 a.m., on a first-come-first serve basis, so get there early. If you’ve never had a chance to see how racehorses are cared for, this is a must. Over 1,800 horses are stabled at Saratoga during the summer. There is a groom and a hot walker for every four to five horses, as well as exercise riders, farriers, vets, etc. The track provides the outriders, clockers and other staff to manage the bustle Keep an eye on the golf carts zipping around the stable area – you might see famous faces, as trainers go to watch their horses. Some of the trainers ride their pony horses to the track (the term “pony” originates from “ponying,” the racing term for leading another horse and has nothing to do with size), including top trainer Todd Pletcher in his signature fringed blue suede chaps. Even those pony horses might once have been famous. Steeplechase trainer Tom Voss rides his former champion John’s Call out to the track to watch his horses work. Another popular figure to watch out for is Angel Cordero, Jr., a Hall of Fame rider who is now a very successful jockey agent, often surrounded by a group as he tell a story with his famous sense of humor.