New York State’s Saratoga Race Course has been compared to heaven and is sometimes called the “pearly gates of horse racing.”  “Home sweet Saratoga. RT @anthonyderico: The Pearly Gates of Horse Racing” was posted on Twitter by Meghan Butler on August 21, 2010. “Just 2 Weeks from today,the Pearly Gates of Saratoga open up for all of us!” was posted on Twitter by Horse Racing FanSite on July 7, 2017.
   
“Heaven’s nice, but it ain’t Saratoga” (said by a horseplayer to St. Peter at the pearly gates) is a related joke.
   
   
Wikipedia: Saratoga Race Course
Saratoga Race Course is a thoroughbred horse racing track located on Union Avenue in Saratoga Springs, New York, United States, with a capacity of 50,000. Opened in 1863, it is often considered to be the oldest major sporting venue of any kind in the country, but is actually the fourth oldest racetrack in the US (after 3rd oldest Pleasanton Fairgrounds Racetrack, 2nd oldest Fair Grounds Race Course, and oldest Freehold Raceway).
 
The Saratoga meet originally lasted only four days. The meet has been lengthened gradually since that time; for many decades, the meet lasted four weeks and began in late July or early August. The meet today lasts a total of 40 racing days, with races held six days per week, and traditionally spans from mid-July through Labor Day in early September.
   
Twitter
Meghan Butler
@MeghanButler
Home sweet Saratoga. RT @anthonyderico: The Pearly Gates of Horse Racing http://tweetphoto.com/40461738
12:20 PM - 21 Aug 2010
   
Twitter
Montgomery Inn
@MontgomeryInn_
Replying to @kendallkadish
Indeed it is, @sup_nmu. We hear St. Peter’s taken to serving it with Saratoga Chips to the fine folks waiting in line at the pearly gates.
1:14 PM - 10 Sep 2014
       
Twitter
GeosNews San Jose
@GeosNewsSanJose
Los Gatos, Saratoga: Don’t open those pearly gates yet ... husbands get a little extra time… #SanJose #news http://goo.gl/dJ2o2C
9:21 PM - 22 Jun 2016
   
Twitter
Horse Racing FanSite
@HorseRaceSite
More Horse Racing FanSite Retweeted Saratoga Slim
Exceptional 👍article,as the countdown to the opening of Saratoga’s ” Pearly Gates” lowers to 23!To reiterate,The Slimster is a top follow@@Horse Racing FanSite added,
Saratoga Slim
@SaratogaSlim
Who’s coming to #Saratoga for the big early Stakes races? Find out in my FIRST LOOK preview article here: http://racingdudes.com/2017-saratoga-first-look-1/ …
10:08 AM - 28 Jun 2017
   
Twitter
Horse Racing FanSite
@HorseRaceSite
Just 2 Weeks from today,the Pearly Gates of Saratoga open up for all of us!Meantime,it’s Twilight Friday,1st Post 3:05 Pronto at Belmont!
10:18 AM - 7 Jul 2017
   
Twitter
Angelo
@angman8
2 weeks the pearly gates of heaven open for 60 days of the best times in many people’s lives, Saratoga will be missing a few buddies tho
12:16 PM - 7 Jul 2017
   
Twitter
Horse Racing FanSite
@HorseRaceSite
More Horse Racing FanSite Retweeted Joe F
The anticipation of the opening of the Pearly Gates of Saratoga taken to an extreme level!Post Time now 5 hours away!Horse Racing FanSite added,
Joe F
@cybercuse
Christmas morning @msu1997 @pozzmiester @DanonymousMan @jmanmetsfan1 @ScottShap34 @albundypolkhigh @SaratogaSlim Let’s cash some tickets 💰🐎
8:02 AM - 21 Jul 2017
 
Twitter
Horse Racing FanSite
@HorseRaceSite
The official beginning of Spring in Horse Racing,is Opening Day at Keeneland, this Thursday (3PM Post)!
Exactly 100 Days until the first rite of Summer on the East Coast,the opening of the Pearly Gates of Saratoga @TheNYRA
6:51 PM - 2 Apr 2019
   
Twitter
Horse Racing FanSite
@HorseRaceSite
Countdown has reached 50 Days ( July 11th ), until the Opening of the “Pearly Gates” of Saratoga Racetrack! Procrastinators,Take Note?
12:43 PM - 22 May 2019
   
Twitter
Horse Racing FanSite
@HorseRaceSite
More Horse Racing FanSite Retweeted Kiaran McLaughlin
1 Long Month Countdown,until Pearly Gates of Saratoga Open!
Expecting the usual, highly productive Meet from Classy K🏇Mac and his Outstanding Stable, based out of Greentree!
Clifton Park,and Malta NY,most economical for Hotel Reservations!Horse Racing FanSite added,
Kiaran McLaughlin
@KPMRacingStable
Great to see all the positive renovations going on at Saratoga!
4:06 PM - 10 Jun 2019
   
Twitter
Horse Racing FanSite
@HorseRaceSite
More Horse Racing FanSite Retweeted Spa Infield Goose
High quality placing by Multiple Stakes Winner, English Soul, well prepped off the bench by The Young Gun, Ray @HandalRacing Filly is set up for a huge Saratoga Meet ( Pearly Gates Open 4 Weeks from Today)for @ZillaStable @ThomasH476 @Kitkat8298 @jmg27_janetHorse Racing FanSite added,
Spa Infield Goose
@SaratogaGoose
Go Soul!
6:46 PM - 13 Jun 2019