NYRA Announces On-Sale Dates for Summer Meet, Reveals Details of July 4th Racing Festival
Photo of the Saratoga Race Course Marylou Whitney entrance via the New York Racing Association (NYRA).
SARATOGA SPRINGS — The New York Racing Association (NYRA) recently announced ticket and hospitality on-sale dates for the 2025 season at the Saratoga Race Course, which includes a special July 4th Festival as a prelude to the traditional 40-day summer meet.
The July 4th Racing Festival, typically held at Belmont Park, will take place from Thursday, July 3 through Sunday, July 6 at Saratoga while construction continues on a new Belmont Park. The 40-day summer meet will open Thursday, July 10 and continue through Monday, September 1.
Full-space group hospitality reservations are available beginning at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, March 5 for the 1863 Club, Paddock Suite, Surfside Party Deck at The Post, Spa Verandas, Big Red Spring and Festival Tent.
Saratoga Season Passes are currently on-sale and include complimentary admission for the July 4th Racing Festival. Season Passes are available for $95, the same price as last year, and include general admission for the July 4th Festival, in addition to the 40-day summer meet.
All tickets and hospitality for the July 4th Racing Festival and 40-day Saratoga summer meet will be available according to the following timeline:
March 5: Full-space private hospitality including luxury suites and the Rail at the 1863 Club; Spa Verandas, Surfside Party Deck, Big Red Spring and Festival Tent
March 19: Full-season reserved seating plans for the Clubhouse, Grandstand and Michelob Ultra Stretch
March 26: Partial-space group reservations for the Rail at the 1863 Club, Mionetto Easy Goer and individual tables within the Festival Tent
April 9: Weekly and flex reserved seating plans for the Clubhouse, Grandstand, Michelob Ultra Stretch, Miller Time Fourstardave Sports Bar and Pick Six Vodka Picnic Paddock; single-day reservations for the Founders Room and Clubhouse Box Seats
April 23: Dining reservations for the Turf Terrace, Porch and Club Terrace
April 30: Single-day reserved seats for the Clubhouse, Grandstand and Michelob Ultra Stretch
May 7: Single-day reservations for the Miller Time Fourstardave Sports Bar, Pick Six Vodka Picnic Paddock and Surfside Tailgate at the Turn
May 14: Single-day general admission tickets
July 4th Racing Festival Stakes Schedule
NYRA also recently announced the stakes schedule for the July 4th Racing Festival.
The festival begins on Thursday, July 3 with two stakes on tap in the Listed $150,000 Wild Applause for sophomore fillies traveling one mile on the turf, and the Grade 3, $175,000 Victory Ride for sophomore fillies sprinting 6 1/2 furlongs.
Friday, July 4 will feature a stacked card of five stakes races, headlined by the Grade 1, $750,000 Belmont Derby Invitational for sophomores going 1 1/8 miles on the turf. The program is supported by the Grade 2, $400,000 Suburban at 10 furlongs for older horses; the Grade 3, $200,000 Manila for sophomores going one mile on the turf; the Listed $150,000 Harvey Pack for older horses sprinting 5 1/2 furlongs on the turf; and the Listed $150,000 Schuylerville for juvenile fillies sprinting six furlongs.
Grade 1 action continues into Saturday, July 5 as sophomore filly turf routers take center stage in the Grade 1, $500,000 Belmont Oaks Invitational traveling 1 1/8 miles. Two other Grade 3 events are featured on the program in the $175,000 Kelso for older horses going one mile on the turf and the $175,000 Sanford for juveniles sprinting six furlongs.
The weekend closes out on Sunday, July 6 to conclude the 2025 Belmont at the Big A spring/summer meet.
Daily admission for the July 4th Racing Festival will be available for $7 when purchased in advance or $10 day-of.
For the complete stakes schedule for the July 4th Racing Festival, visit www.nyra.com/saratoga/racing/stakes-schedule/.