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The town’s mineral springs were believed to cure everything from skin ailments to heart problems. Visitors would partake in their waters, while afternoons revolved around the Saratoga Racetrack, where thoroughbred horses raced and fortunes were won or lost through betting. Opened in 1863, the Saratoga Race Course became a prestigious venue in American horse racing.
Luxury hotels like the United States Hotel, with 768 rooms and sprawling gardens, and the Grand Union, with a 54-piece orchestra, hosted thousands of elite visitors. Gourmet restaurants served delicacies like turtle soup, all beneath grand chandeliers and lush décor. Despite its opulence, Saratoga epitomized leisure and entertainment, gradually declining after the early 20th century as new destinations emerged and tastes changed.