Saratoga Race Course Clubhouse Reroof
Handcrafted Copper Roof Fits Historic Context At Storied Track
Preservationists have been united in their opposition to any changes at New York’s historic Saratoga Race Course that would compromise or negatively affect the track’s Victorian charm. And they seem so far to have friends in all the right places. As part of a recently completed round of improvements totaling $1.3 million, the grandstand’s 10,000 sq. ft. clubhouse roof was removed and replaced. And as before, it is topped again with hand-crafted copper standing seam. The system’s panels, as well as all necessary flashings, trim, gutters, etc., were fabricated and installed by WeatherGuard Roofing Co., a Tecta America Company, of Schenectady, NY. The 16 oz. copper chosen for the job was manufactured by Revere Copper—a Rome, NY, company with a rich history of its own. The material supplier was Admiral Building Products, also of New York.
Saratoga Race Course, located in Saratoga Springs in upstate New York, has been in operation since 1864. When people come to the track—whether vacationers, celebrities or the elite echelons of high society—they come not just to watch the ponies run, but to experience the atmosphere surrounding one of America’s iconic racing venues. Maintaining the track’s photogenic appearance was the highest priority with regard to the new clubhouse roof. “The integrity of the architecture and the historical character were paramount,” Saratoga Facility Manager Charles Wheeler has said of the project. With regard to the decision to match the original material, he said, “Copper was the only material on the list. There really was no other option.”
The New York Racing Association, of which Wheeler is a member, has operated the historic track for nearly a half century and scheduled the roof replacement and several other key projects for completion in time for the start of the 2007 racing season. Those other projects included the renovation of the horse barns, adding hot water in all restrooms, and the placement of 37 new covered television-viewing areas to make it easier for visitors to follow the action when not at trackside.
Despite the importance of the clubhouse roof project in the grand scheme of things, the work itself was business as usual for WeatherGuard. The company has a wealth of experience in the fabrication and installation of all types of metal roofing on all types of projects, including ones of an historically sensitive nature. “It went extremely well,” said Steve Bradt, the project manager. He concurred with the NYRA’s choice of copper for the project, saying it was “necessary for the historic preservation of Saratoga.”
About Saratoga Race Course
According to published information, the first thoroughbred meet at Saratoga Race Course was run August 3-6, 1863. Since 1864, the track has been the site of the Travers Stakes, the oldest major thoroughbred horse race in the United States. The track has two well-known nicknames—The Spa (for the nearby mineral springs), and the Graveyard of Favorites (for the upsets that have occurred there). Man o’ War suffered his only defeat in 21 starts while racing at Saratoga; Secretariat was defeated at Saratoga after winning the Triple Crown; and Gallant Fox was beaten by a 100-1 longshot in the 1930 Travers Stakes. The track has closed four times during its 144-year history, most recently on August 2, 2006, due to the heat wave that enveloped the Eastern Seaboard of the United States. It was also closed for three straight seasons during World War II, and for periods of time in 1911 and 1912 when the New York State Legislature outlawed all forms of wagering on horse racing. To learn more about the history of the track, visit the New York Racing Association website at www.nyra.com/Aqueduct/mediaguide/07MG%20-%20HistorySection.pdf, or Wikipedia at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saratoga_Race_Course.
Saratoga Race Course Preservation Efforts
The Saratoga Springs Preservation Foundation is using the internet to make a case for why contractual mandates are needed to ensure the historic character and architecture of the Saratoga Race Course will be preserved for generations to come. To learn more about the issue, and to view photos of the track’s most famous buildings and locales, visit www.historicsaratogaracecourse.org.
About Revere Copper
The history of Revere Copper Products dates back more than two centuries to Paul Revere, the master silversmith and celebrated revolutionary war patriot. Since the day Paul Revere rolled the first copper in the new world, Revere products have been used in an ever-growing number of industries, including construction. To learn more, visit www.reverecopper.com.
About WeatherGuard Roofing
WeatherGuard Roofing is a specialty roofing and sheet metal contractor serving the East Coast in commercial, industrial and residential markets. The company installs all major roof systems including standing seam metal and all phases of architectural sheet metal. To learn more, visit www.wgroofing.com.