This unheralded immigrant soon began a breeding career that launched the sport of standardbred racing in America. When Messenger died in 1808 he was buried with full military honors. Horses were our first sports heroes. Eager crowds approaching 100,000 would gather to watch fabled horses race in the 1800's. Today, our equine athletes are no less revered.
More American museums celebrate horse competitions than any other sport.
Inside the brick building across from the Saratoga Race Course the Museum winds in a racing oval around a central courtyard. Gracing the courtyard is a statue of Triple Crown winner Secretariat. On the front lawn sits an eighth pole that was on Belmont Racetrack when Secretariat won the Belmont Stakes by a remarkable 31 lengths in 1973. Inside the Museum, entered through an actual starting gate, the highlight is the extensive Hall of Fame honoring horses, jockeys and trainers on black, brown and green plaques in illuminated booths. Fans can summon information on their favorite inductees or any of America s 130 racetracks from computerized video monitors in the booths.