I owe John (Old Smoke) Morrissey, as do any horseplayers or horse lovers worth their salt. He was an accomplished man: a gambler, casino owner, boxing champion and congressman. But 150 years ago, Old Smoke did something truly special when he held a race meeting in a little patch of horse heaven in upstate New York.

In the decades since, summer at Saratoga Race Course has meant hope and renewal and history and community for the simple souls who care deeply about fast horses. It is thought to be America’s oldest sports arena, after all, and we know its rhythms in our hearts. The voice of New York racing, Tom Durkin, won’t have to tell the crowd on Friday at the first race what to do.

“They’re off at Saratoga,” the crowd will roar as the horses break from the gate.

There have been countless bon mots written over the years about the allure of a town that once a year puts the old, beautiful, often flawed sport of thoroughbred racing front and center. Leave it to Red Smith to have captured its appeal perfectly 50 years ago when the Spa, as it’s known, celebrated its 100th anniversary.