Saratoga Race Day & Paving Nostalgia: From Cobblestone Roads to Smooth Driveways in Albany, Colonie & Schenectady
Happy Whitney Day at Saratoga Race Course! Today marks the 98th running of the Grade 1 Whitney Stakes, run at 1⅛ miles, with a $1 million purse—featuring top-tier contenders like Sierra Leone and Fierceness.
But while the horses thunder on the main track, it’s worth remembering how far the roads leading to this historic venue have come—from rough stone to refined asphalt.
From Cobblestone to Blacktop: Roads of Saratoga
Back in the early 1900s, Troy–Saratoga roads were often cobbled or dirt. Today, thanks to regional paving efforts, most main streets are paved, navigable, and smooth. Yet around town—especially near cottages in Geyser Crest or historic homes off Union Avenue—you may still spot gravel and old cobblestone driveways.
That contrast is a reminder: just like the past roads, some properties around Albany, Colonie, and Schenectady still need paving transformations to match modern standards.
What’s Happening Today at Saratoga
It’s Whitney Day 2025, Saturday, August 2—one of the marquee weekends of the Saratoga meet.
Attendance events include a Best in Pink fashion contest, Hall of Fame poster signing, and charity meetups honoring the Whitney legacy.
Pet a retired thoroughbred in “Horse Sense” between noon and 2pm—classic Saratoga traditions.
The race itself honors decades of Whitney family involvement in American racing, named after William Collins Whitney, and a tribute to the late Marylou Whitney, Saratoga’s “social queen.”
Why This Matters to Homeowners and Businesses
Just as Saratoga has upgraded its infrastructure—from cobblestone to commercial-grade asphalt—so too can your curb appeal undergo a modern transformation.
At Egan Paving, we celebrate that same shift:
Helping historic Albany homes upgrade driveways without losing character
Modernizing Colonie parking lots for stores and offices
Restoring Schenectady business lots with proper drainage and smooth surfaces
Driveways are often overlooked—until they’re bumpy, cracked, or dug by ice and rain.
🎶 Summer Events & Saratoga Vibes
Whitney Day highlights only scratch the surface of Saratoga’s summer scene:
Jim Dandy Stakes just wrapped on July 26, with Kentucky Derby/Bronx winner Sovereignty taking the day.
Next up: the legendary Travers Stakes on August 23
Meanwhile, music concerts and community events dot downtown Saratoga nearly every weekend
— think live performances at Congress Park, outdoor dining along Broadway, and open-air markets
It’s a celebration of summer—just like when families come together to pave their driveways or lots before fall sets in.
Paving Lessons from Saratoga’s Roads
Good drainage keeps pavement intact
Cobblestone roads once handled runoff poorly. Today’s asphalt requires proper base, grade, and slope—just as we ensure with every drive or lot.
Appearance means pride
The same way Saratoga polished its streets to match its elegance, modern pavement enhances curb appeal and usability.
Routine maintenance avoids full rebuilds
Just as city maintenance preserves race track roads, a small repair early prevents full repaving later. Cracks? Seal them. Edge failing? Reinforce. Surface uneven? Resurface before winter.
Why Local Matters
If your lot or driveway is older than 20 years—still uneven, stone-based, or lacking drainage—think of it like a remnant cobblestone lane. It worked then. It doesn’t now.
We serve:
Albany neighborhoods like Center Square, Normanskill, Guilderland
Colonie corridors near Wolf Road, Latham, Sand Creek
Schenectady Olde English, downtown business strips, and Rotterdam roads.
We bring modern asphalt solutions to properties that need it most.
One Last thing..
On this Whitney Day, we celebrate tradition, history, and performance. But as pavement professionals, we’re just as proud of smooth, safe roads and beautifully paved driveways across the Capital Region.
If your asphalt feels more like a 19th-century lane than a Saratoga boulevard—maybe it’s time for the transformation.
