SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. -- It was a serene sight on the track as horses took their early morning stroll, but there was no steady pace outside the tracks gates.

“It was crazy! You get trampled and you don't have exact money, you're gonna get crushed in there. It’s like running with the bulls. It really is," said Amanda Califono.

Saratoga's bull race began at 7 a.m. on the dot. The mission: find the perfect picnic spot.

"A friend of a friend got it for me at 5 a.m.,” said Scott Louis.

“So you're just here sitting pretty?” our reporter asked.

“Yup. I relieved her about an hour ago and I'm here for the long haul until I go home and get ready,” Louis said..

"We had a line that was two lines that went to one, which is a bad thing apparently. When I got here I just looked around. All I know is one table, one person," said Kate Strom.

These guys had it lucky. All they had to do was show up.

Johnnie Gurdo camped overnight. He's a true team player. Thirty-five people relied on him for the perfect picnic spot.

"I've told everybody this year, I'm retired after this year. I'm going to be one of the first ten people in line, I'm going to get our spot, next year I'm going to hand the trophy over to somebody else. To take care of the tradition," Gurdo said.

And Gurdo was one of the first fans through the gate. Now all that's left to do is place some winning bets.