Every summer since 1863, the eyes of the horse racing world have been set upon Saratoga Springs.

For the next six weeks, this city in Upstate New York will be bustling with excitement as the population will triple. The meet is essential not just to the financial health of the city, but to the entire Capital Region.

Though the action goes far beyond Saratoga Springs as neighboring areas will benefit from the new visitors, the meet is at the center of it all. Racing begins Wednesday, July 23 and runs through Labor Day, Sept. 1.

“In 2007, the total handle on Saratoga (amount of money bet on races) was $582 million, which averaged out to $16,100,000 a day,” Hal Handel, the New York Racing Association’s Senior Vice President, said. “It’s just a staggering number.”

In addition to Saratoga, NYRA also runs Aqueduct Racetrack and Belmont Park downstate. NYRA has been running racing operations at Saratoga since 1955.

The Saratoga meet features major races such as the Whitney Handicap, Alabama Stakes and the historic Travers Stakes, which will be run for the 139th time this summer making it the oldest stakes race in North America.

Things at the racetrack officially get started this weekend with the 28th annual Saratoga Open House. The event runs from 11 a.m to 4 p.m. The free event features giant inflatables, carnival games, lively music, circus shows and an array of food and beverages - all to benefit local charities.

There will also be live steeplechase races as well.

The Open House offers patrons a glimpse of into the innerworkings of the track with free backstretch tours.

For more information about Saratoga Race Course, log onto www.nyra.com and check out our Starting Gate section on page 17 of this issue.