In 1987 Carol Candler Smith wrote her master's thesis in regional planning at Cornell on the barns at the track. (The ones around the Horse Haven track - now paved over - and the Oklahoma track were all constructed between 1840 and 1913.) NYRA wasn't around then. She had to work hard to do her research using analyses of construction techniques to determine the period of construction.
"There is little information available from the current owners of the facilities, the New York Racing Association (NYRA)." Then in a footnote she explains why. "Mr. Costello formerly of the NYRA, suggested that the NYRA had few records, if any, that he might recall. Present resident manager John Mangona confirmed that no such records were available. Howard Reilly, long-time NYRA employee suggested that some portion of the Saratoga Racing Association records were discarded in 1963 when storage was cleared from the grandstand near the old betting ring that was demolished."
In the BloodHorse of July 13, 1985, the article "Changing The Spa" by Donna Ross gives an account of a lawsuit brought in Freburay prior to the commencement of a $17-million dollar construction project.
...in a laswsuit that was settled out of court in March. Preservation society member Julie Hoxsie, a horsewoman and Skidmore alumna alumna, who lives near the track brought the suit, suggesting that the NYRA had not adhered to State Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQR) procedures. The SEQR mandates comprehensive review of any significant changes to a National Register site.
...a stipulation signed by all parties. The NYRA agreed to comply with the guidelines of the SEQR, the State Historic Preservation Act, and the funds enabling legislation.
In the files of the Saratoga Springs Preservation Foundation is a letter dated April 15, 1985 from Julie Hoxsie to William Levin, Chairman of the Board of the New York State Thoroughbred Capital Investment Fund complaining that NYRA was not complying with the stipulations and that
In fact, it appears that the Fund cannot control even those actions of the Racing Association for which the Fund holds the direct authority and bears full responsibility.