Fasig-Tipton barn project connects track neighborhood with sidewalks

SARATOGA SPRINGS - When Fasig-Tipton takes its first yearling bids this August, it will have room for more horses.

The century-old thoroughbred auction is building a 2,850 square-foot, 19-stall barn at the corner of Case and George streets, just opposite its auditorium.

The Saratoga Springs City Planning Board approved the project unanimously last week, the city's Principal Planner Kate Maynard said.

"The barns will look very similar, architecturally and style-wise, to the ones they now have on Madison Avenue," Maynard said. "The Planning Board also like that the project includes enhancements like sidewalks, street lighting, fencing and trees. It adds to the connectivity of the neighborhood."

Right now there are no sidewalks on the 0.4 acre, empty lot. During the track season, fans walk down the middle of the road there. Maynard said a sidewalk would alleviate the safety issue. She also said that the Planning Board sees the new barn as blending well with the overall neighborhood.

"It's a track friendly area," she said. "The Planning Board did not have a lot of questions. They saw it as a straight-forward project."

President Boyd Browning said the expansion will allow Fasig-Tipton to sell more horses.

"We are trying to position ourselves in the marketplace in Saratoga," Browning said. "We are bullish and see our future sales, long-term and short-term, growing. It's not a dramatic change. It's more incremental, but it will expand our two yearling sales."

The barn is expected to ready by the time the track opens on July 20. The Fasig-Tipton yearling sales are set for Aug. 6 and 7 and again on Aug. 11 and 12.

LA Group of Saratoga Springs is the lead agent for the project.