Golden Tempo Leads Betting Lines as Favorite for the Travers Stakes

The Travers Stakes, which is the oldest stake race for three-year-olds in the country, is set for Saturday, Aug. 29. The race is named after William Travers, the first president of Saratoga Race Course. Traver’s horse, Kentucky, won the inaugural race in 1864. 

This year’s betting favorite is Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes winner, Golden Tempo, at 5/2 odds. The Travers will be Golden Tempo’s first start since the Belmont Stakes, following recovery from a bacterial infection which caused him to miss the Jim Dandy.

Jim Dandy winner and closest betting rival, Renegade, sits at 3/1 odds. Renegade started as the Kentucky Derby morning line favorite and led momentarily in the stretch. However, a last to first surge saw Golden Tempo take the Derby. 

The previous Travers winner, Sovereignty, also won the Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes. Will Golden Tempo be able to match Sovereignty in the Travers? The bookies seem to believe. 

Each year the Saratoga Canoe, which floats in the infield pond, has been painted with the Travers-winning owner’s colors. This tradition started in 1962 when patrons returned to the race course to find the original blue paint had been covered with the colors of Calumet Farm, whose horse Beau Prince won the year prior. 

Tune into the Travers, post time 6:35 p.m., to find out what color the canoe will be next year.