News & Notes: Week 6 Events at Saratoga Race Course

The New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA) today announced the lineup of attractions, entertainment, and events for the 2025 summer meet at historic Saratoga Race Course.

Highlighted by the 156th edition of the Grade I, $1.25 million DraftKings Travers on Saturday, August 23, and the Grade I, $1 million Whitney on Saturday, August 2, the 40-day summer meet will open on Thursday, July 10 and run through Monday, September 1.

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

First post will be 1:10 p.m. every day except Saturdays, when first post will be 12:35 p.m. The only exceptions are Whitney Day featuring a 12:05 p.m. first post and DraftKings Travers Day with first post at 11:40 a.m. Post times for Labor Day weekend will be announced at a later date.

Admission gates will open for live racing at 11 a.m. for all but Whitney Day, when gates will open at 10 a.m. and DraftKings Travers Day, when gates will open at 9 a.m.

Lustgarten Foundation and Alabama Day:

Saturday, August 16

Saratoga Race Course will honor the legacy of beloved trainer Dominic Galluscio with a day to benefit the Lustgarten Foundation, a nonprofit organization whose mission is to advance scientific and medical research related to pancreatic cancer. Many of the sport’s most popular trainers will sign autographs for fans with suggested donations to benefit the Lustgarten Foundation in Galluscio’s memory. 

New York Breds in the Spotlight:

Thursday & Friday, August 21-22; Sunday August 24

Travers Week features numerous stakes to showcase the depth of the New York breeding program with a pair of $200,000 New York-bred events taking center stage on Thursday, including the Albany presented by The Albany Distilling Company and the Fleet Indian. The state-bred action resumes on Friday with two $150,000 tilts in the Seeking the Ante and the Yaddo presented by STIHL. A pair of $150,000 state-bred races closes out the week on Sunday, including the West Point Handicap and the Funny Cide presented by Rood and Riddle Equine Hospital. 

Stake Races

FRIDAY, August 15

Smart and Fancy: F&M 4&UP, 5 1/2 Furlongs- Turf, Purse $150,000

Saturday, August 16

Alabama (G1) pres. by Keeneland Sales: F3YO, 1 1/4 – Dirt, Purse $600,000

Skidmore: 2YO,  5 1/2 Furlongs – Turf, Purse $150,000

Sunday, August 17

Bolton Landing: F2YO, 5 1/2 Furlongs- Turf, Purse $150,000

Wednesday, August 20

Jonathan Sheppard Memorial (G1): 4&UP, 2 3/8 – Turf (Steeplechase),
Purse $150,000

thursday, august 21
Albany (NYB) pres. by Albany Distilling Company: 3YO, 1 1/8 – Dirt,
Purse $200,000