Published in Friday’s New York Daily News:
Season passes for the upcoming Saratoga meeting, which starts on Wednesday, are
on sale at Belmont through Sunday, closing day. The passes are available at the
Customer Service Center and cost $35 for the grandstand and $75 for the
clubhouse.
A friend and I make an annual pilgrimage to Belmont on my last day of work for the summer; I get out at 1:00, we fill the cooler, we head out for the final twilight card of the meet. Last year, I combined the celebration with the opportunity to buy my Saratoga pass before I headed upstate, and planned yesterday to do the same.
Approximately 4:40 Friday afternoon, just after the end of the fourth race, ground floor grandstand customer service desk.
“I’d like to buy a season pass for Saratoga, please.”
Customer service agent #1: “A what?”
“A season pass for Saratoga.”
“Oh, wait, yeah, I just heard something about that. Hold on, let me ask. Hey, what’s the deal with the passes?”
Customer service agent #2: “We don’t have any.”
Me: “You don’t have any?”
CSA #2: “We sold them all. There are none left. We sold the last ones just a little while ago. We’re sold out.”
“Sold out?”
“Yup.”
Hmm. Sold out. There’s a cap on Saratoga passes this year?
Let’s try the clubhouse.
“Hi, I’d like a purchase a season for pass for Saratoga, please.”
“We don’t have any left. They’re all in Saratoga.”
“They’re in Saratoga?”
“Yes, they brought them up to Saratoga. You can buy one there.”
“On opening day?”
“Yes.”
“So, I have to pay the admission to get into the track to buy a season pass?”
“Well, you might be able to get one on Sunday. Let me check. [A little computer research time.] Yes, you can get one on Sunday at the open house.”
“Until what time will they be sold?”
“Umm….I don’t know….let me check. [A little computer research time.] 4:00.”
“Do you know that it’s in the paper today that Saratoga passes are on sale at Belmont all weekend?”
Blank look.
Thank you very much.
Brooklyn Backstretch 
http://selfappointefancommittee.com
Why does this surprise you?
Unfortunately, this is not news. I think NYRA does a good job with the racing cards and love the actual physical NYRA tracks themselves, but the customer service is way under par-I have experienced the same think with the passes last year-except get this-it was at the open house at Saratoga when I was told they “ran out”. The reserved seating process is a joke, the dining reservations are more secretive than the Pentagon, and I always get the feeling when dealing with NYRA on customer service issues that if you “dont know someone” you get no where. This is not a good thing for keeping the average Joe/Jane coming back to the Track.
Doeas the average Joe/Jane EVEN go to the track anymore?-Winston
Customer service at its finest.
Three years ago,I asked the same question about having to pay addmission in order to buy an admission pass….same blank look. I think “customer service” people practices to achieve that look.Does NYRA still offer the yearly pass? Admission to all NYRA tracks for the year? If they do, bet that they can not find the informtion for it…If you need one picked up tommorrow – let me know. Would be happy to do it.We were thinking of attending this —“Joanne Yepsen said today she’s also looking for people interested in volunteering for the Thoroughbred Racing Fans Association to come out to Sunday’s open house for an orientation. It will begin at 4 p.m. in the B area of the carousel bar, she said. R.S.V.P. by calling Yepsen at 691-8024.”But did you hear about the new “Fan Club” that NYRA is having “NYRA Nation”….sounds like a reality show !!