NYRA this week "revived its redevelopment plans" for Saratoga Race Course by "setting a public hearing on a project that would dramatically expand the clubhouse at the track's rail," according to Dennis Yusko of the Albany TIMES UNION. NYRA "wants to replace the At the Rail Pavilion tent and temporary luxury suites at the Spa's clubhouse turn with a three-story hospitality building containing a 500-seat room and party suites." The association announced a May 28 public hearing "to discuss the new trackside building with the public." NYRA said that the new structure and other proposed renovations at the 152-year-old track "would provide fans broader service choices and an enhanced experience at a time when the racing industry is changing." A preliminary design for the building "calls for a large space with 500 seats on the ground level, 12 suites with capacity for 20 people on the second floor, and three to six suites with capacity for 20 to 50 people on the top floor." Patios "would provide views to the track, paddock and horse path, which would separate the new building from the Spa's existing clubhouse." The At The Rail building "is the most significant -- and visible -- element" of up to $100M in renovations to the Saratoga property that NYRA "identified four years ago" (TIMESUNION.com, 4/29).
