The barns were nearly empty.
That will change soon enough.
The seats were empty.
That will change on July 15.
Thoroughbred training began at Saratoga Race Course this weekend, and, on Monday morning, several horses from James Bond’s barn galloped over the main track, while renovation work continues at the Oklahoma Training Track on the other side of Union Avenue.
The barns will continue to fill up this spring, and the Oklahoma is scheduled to open for training in a few weeks. The New York Racing Association, meanwhile, expects to get guidelines from the state soon, perhaps this week, on what procedures and protocols it will need to follow to let spectators attend the races again.
Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced [on April 14th] that racetracks in New York could re-open to 20% capacity as of this Friday, which means that Saratoga fans, shut out of the track in 2020 because of the COVID-19 pandemic, will be able to attend the 2021 meet. The familiar sight of horses on the track Monday will be joined by the familiar sound of fans when the 153rd meet opens on July 15, a welcome development for those who race, as well as those who watch…