News & Notes: 2023 Events at Saratoga Race Course

SARATOGA SPRINGS – The New York Racing Association (NYRA) announced the lineup of new and returning attractions and events for the 2023 summer meet at historic Saratoga Race Course. 

Highlighted by the 154th edition of the Grade 1, $1.25 million Travers on August 26 and the Grade 1, $1 million Whitney on August 5, the 2023 summer meet will open on Thursday, July 13 and continue through Monday, September 4.

Following the four-day opening weekend, racing will be conducted five days a week, Wednesdays through Sundays, apart from the final week, when the meet will conclude on Labor Day.

Admission gates will open for live racing at 11 a.m. for all but Travers Day when gates will open at 7 a.m. With exceptions for Whitney and Travers Days and throughout Closing Weekend, first post time is 1:10 p.m.

The 2023 summer meet will feature the following events lineup:

Opening Weekend
Thursday, July 13 – Sunday, July 16

Opening Weekend will feature the traditional opening day graded stakes, the Schuylerville for 2-year-old fillies, on Thursday, July 13 and the first Grade 1 of the season, the Diana, on Saturday, July 15. The four-day annual celebration will be highlighted by live musical entertainment and a performance by the Islip Horsemen’s Association Drill Team on Saturday.

Week 1 Stake Races 

Tune-in to Talking Horses for in-depth analysis from handicapper Andy Serling and other guests.

*Mondays and Tuesdays = Dark Days. No racing.

Thursday, July 13

GIII Schuylerville: F2YO, 6 Furlongs – Dirt, Purse $175,000 

Friday, July 14 

Coronation Cup: F3YO, 5 1/2 – Turf, Purse $150,000

The Wilton: F3YO, 1 Mile – Dirt, Purse $135,000 

Saturday, July 15

GI Diana: F&M 4&UP, 1 1/8 – Turf, Purse $500,000

GIII Kelso: 4&UP, 1 Mile  – Turf, Purse $175,000
GIII Sanford: 2YO, 6 Furlongs  – Dirt, Purse $175,000

Sunday, July 16

GIII Quick Call presented by Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation: 3YO, 5 1/2 Furlongs – Turf, Purse $175,000

Wednesday, July 19

GI A.P. Smithwick Memorial (Steeplechase): 4&UP, 2 1/16 – Turf, Purse $150,000
NYSSS Statue of Liberty Division (R): F3YO, 1 Mile – Turf, Purse $150,000

Thursday, July 20

NYSSS Cab Calloway Division (R): 3YO, 1 Mile – Turf, Purse $150,000

Taste NY Pavilion

Every Thursday – Sunday beginning July 13

New York-made food and beverages will be available for sample and purchase at the Taste NY Pavilion, located inside Gate A at the Top of the Stretch, where fans can enjoy New York craft beer, cider, wine, spirits, cheese, chocolate and gelato. This year marks a decade since the launch of the Taste NY program. In honor of the anniversary, NYRA will be expanding its offerings to include two dozen featured products, from Long Island to the Adirondacks and the Capital Region to Western New York, as a showcase of the state’s robust food and beverage industry.

SARATOGA Breakfast and Breeding Farm Tours

Every Wednesday – Friday beginning July 14

Expanded for its second year, NYRA is continuing the Saratoga Breakfast and Breeding Farm Tour. Tours this year will be offered Wednesday through Friday throughout the meet. Wednesday tours will travel to Song Hill Thoroughbreds, while Thursday and Friday tours will visit Old Tavern Farm.

Guests will enjoy a buffet breakfast at Saratoga Race Course before taking a CDTA trolley to the designated farm, where they will participate in a 60- to 90-minute guided walking tour of a working thoroughbred breeding farm. Admission to the races in the afternoon is included in the package. Tickets, which are $85 for adults and $35 for children 12 and under, must be reserved in advance at NYRA.com.

SUNDAY BRUNCH AT THE RAIL OF THE 1863 CLUB

Every Sunday beginning July 16 

Fans are invited to enjoy a brunch buffet while experiencing The Rail at the 1863 Club, the first-floor banquet space at the 1863 Club. Tickets start at $100 and include admission, a table seat for the day, brunch buffet, soft drinks, two mimosa or Bloody Mary drink tickets per person, Post Parade program book, tax and gratuity. Reservations are available by calling the NYRA Box Office at 844-NYRA-TIX or online at Ticketmaster.com.

SARATOGA LOW ROLLER CONTEST

Every Thursday And Sunday beginning July 16

Horseplayers can enjoy the Saratoga Low Roller Contest held exclusively on-track every Thursday and Sunday at Saratoga Race Course. Fans can pre-register on contest days outside the Miller Time Fourstardave Sports Bar. There is a $40 buy-in, of which $30 will go to the player’s bankroll and $10 to the prize pool. The winner will receive a Saratoga Low Roller championship T-shirt in addition to the cash prize.

Berkshire Bank Family ZONE 

Fans will enjoy 40 days of the Berkshire Bank Family Zone, an interactive play area for children located near Gate A, which will be supplemented by Berkshire Bank Family Sundays.

Berkshire Bank Family Sundays – Every Sunday:

Berkshire Bank Family Sundays will feature a wide variety of free family-friendly activities, games, attractions and educational activities each Sunday inside the Berkshire Bank Family Zone, located near Gate A at the Top of the Stretch. New this year, each week will feature a different theme, including Beach Day, Sci-Fi Day, Carnival Day and Superhero Day.

Breakfast at Saratoga

Breakfast at Saratoga welcomes guests to enjoy a morning buffet at The Porch with a view of the thoroughbreds training on the main track. Breakfast is available every live racing day from 7 to 9:30 a.m., excluding Travers Day and Labor Day. 

Fans can also go behind the scenes with a free, guided backstretch tram tour, driven by CDTA. Tram tours run from 7:30 to 9 a.m. and depart from the clubhouse entrance approximately every 15 minutes. Tours are available on a first-come, first-served basis and are 45 minutes in length. Tours are available every live racing day with the exception of Travers Day and Labor Day.

Purdy’s Summer Concert Stage

The Purdy’s Summer Concert Stage will host live musical performances each afternoon of the season from popular local and regional bands, including The Garland Nelson Trio, The Hawthornes, ILL Funk, The Lustre Kings and Donna Tritico Band, among many others. This year’s summer music stage is presented by Purdy’s Discount Wine & Liquor in Saratoga Springs.

HANDICAPPING SEMINAR AND MEET-AND-GREET

Every Sunday beginning July 23

Enjoy your Sunday at the races in the Spa’s newest hospitality venue, the climate-controlled Paddock Suite, learning betting strategies and tips from expert handicappers. Guests will also be treated to a meet-and-greet with Saratoga Race Course’s new track announcer Frank Mirahmadi, along with a rotating cast of on-track talent, personalities and VIPs. Tickets can be purchased through Fevo.