National Museum of Racing/Hall of Fame

From Historic Saratoga Race Course it was a short stroll to the National Museum of Racing/Hall of Fame. We were greeted by a long line up of lawn jockeys, each dedicated to an actual jockey.

Steve on the sidewalk next to a row of colorful lawn jockeys at the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame

Colorful Greeters

Welcome to the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame

National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame

Portrait of Paul Mellon by William Franklin Draper (American, 1912-2003) Oil on canvas painted in 1977

Top hat, riding boots photo and caricature on display at National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame

Personal items belonging to Paul Mellon

Dark gray silk shirt with yellow cross in a display case at the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame

Paul Mellon Silks, England

Beautifully landscaped, the contemporary brick building welcomes you to the bright and stunning museum within. The mission of the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame, as per their website, is to preserve and promote the history of thoroughbred racing in America and honor the sport’s most accomplished participants in the Official National Thoroughbred Racing Hall of Fame.”

History

Pair of bronze sculptures representing Belmont Stakes winners at the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame

Arts and Letters and Run the Gantlet

In 1950, headed by Cornelius Vanderbilt Whitney, a group of people who were well know in the realm of thoroughbred racing founded the National Museum of Racing. They chose Saratoga Springs, New York for its location because it’s the home of the oldest thoroughbred racetrack in America.

Small bronze horse sculptures that are awards at the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame

Eclipse Awards

After a stint in a temporary location at the Canfield Casino in Congress Park, that began on August 6, 1951, the Museum moved to its permanent location in 1955. It has continued to expand through the years, both in size and scope. Now it occupies a sprawling 45,000 square foot building.

Painting of a horse named Arts and Letters hanging in the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame

Arts and Letters 1971, Oil on board, by Susan L. Crawford (British, b. 1941)

Cornelius Vanderbilt Whitney was selected to be the first president of the Museum. He served from its inception in 1950 until 1953. The current president is John Hendrickson. He has served since 2017.

Impetus for Hall of Fame

Engraved silver platter awarded to the Belmont Stakes winner at the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame

1969 Belmont Stakes Trophy award to Arts and Letters

The Saratoga Association, which owned and operated the Saratoga Race Course, gave the project its first gift of $5,000. A steward for the Saratoga Association, Harold O. Vosburgh, donated the very first piece of memorabilia, which was a shoe for the legendary horse Lexington.

Skeleton of a horse in motion on display at the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame

Anatomy of a racehorse

Right from the get-go the Museum was popular, attracting more than 8,000 visitors in its first year. Then the announcement came that the Museum would move to a structure being built to house it permanently.

Plaster sculpture of a mare and her nursing foal.

Mare and Nursing Foal 1971 by Harry LaMontagne, medium – plaster

A Saratoga resident, James E. Benton, was thrilled. But he felt the building should also house a Hall of Fame. So he sent a letter to journalists Nelson Dunstan and Gene Ward, He making an eloquent plea, noting that “some aspects of Saratoga were changing — the demise of the Grand Union and United States hotels, for example — but that tradition was an important part of the area and racing.”

Angular silver and gold trophy on display at the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame

Triple Crown Winner Secretariat’s Preakness Stakes Trophy

“If a board of turf writers, for instance, were to elect annually to the Hall of Fame one or more jockeys, horses, or trainers, it would be of national importance,” Benton wrote. “An annual special award would be coveted.”

Hall of Fame announced

Trophy's of Secretariat and blue and white silks of his jockey on display at the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame

Some of Secretariat’s trophies along with his jockey’s silks and boots

When 1955 rolled around, it was announced that the new building would also include a Hall of Fame!

Painted display case with shelves holding assorted shot glasses at the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame

Commemorative Shot Glasses

Since thoroughbred racing in America had been a part of life since colonial days, they knew that had quite a bit to catch up on. In order to do that, they decided that the first group of inductees to the Hall of Fame would be made up of horses that had raced before 1900. Along with them they would induct jockeys and trainers who were no longer active.

Black menu board with yellow writing, circa 1910 on display at the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame

Hungry? Jamaica Race Track Menu Board, circa 1910

The National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame’s permanent home had its ground breaking at the end of November 1954. And the following April the cornerstone was laid. On August 16, 1955, the Governor of New York, W. Averell Harriman, presided over the formal dedication and ribbon cutting.

Dishes and menus on display from race track restaurant on display at the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame

Race track dining was an elegant affair

The National Museum of Racing opened to the public on June 2, 1956. The building, which was designed by New York City architect Augustus Noel, cost $300,000.

Continuous expansion

Display case of assorted trophies from Florida horse races

Florida Horse Racing Trophies

In 1957, the building added the first addition, called the Patrons of the Turf Gallery. A third wing was added in 1979 which became the home of the Hall of Fame.

Colorfully painted fiberglass horse sculpture representing 150 years of horse racing

Honoring 150 years of horse racing!

The Museum still continues to evolve. The new Hall of Fame Education Experience opened to the public in 2020. That $20 million project includes a wonderful new immersive film and state-of-the-art interactive Hall of Fame plaques for all 478 inductees.

Bronze statue of horse Seabiscuit just outside the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame building on a patio of pavers.

As we left the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame, Seabiscuit whinnied goodbye

To quote the website: “As the Museum changes with the times, it continues to be a dynamic and integral part of the vibrant game it celebrates. Its core mission — to chronicle and promote the rich history of one of America’s most spectacular sporting pastimes through educational experiences — continues to inspire racing fans and cultivate new ones.”