Saratoga Racing: Opening Weekend in the Books

SARATOGA SPRINGS — With Opening Weekend for Saratoga coming and going with less fanfare than usual, it comes as a surprise that NYRA saw a nine percent increase in total source income from last year’s Opening Weekend. While the lack of a live audience certainly hurt this number, it appears that Saratoga has done a good job allowing fans and competitors to still become immersed in the normal excitement and tradition that follows each Opening Weekend.

Fans lined the fences to the track this weekend to try and catch a glimpse of the horses despite New York’s call for no live audience. Their fiery passion for racing was only matched by the hot temperatures this weekend, reaching all the way up into the nineties during midday. As per Saratoga tradition, along with the weather comes races to match. There were plenty of hot races this weekend with 19-1 upsets and plenty of close Grade 1 and 2 races.

Many riders and trainers were feeling comfortable to be back at Saratoga. Seasoned horse trainer, Chad Brown, said regarding this notion of comfort, “NYRA has really done a good job… It feels very safe on the backside training in the morning. It’s well organized and I think it’s a very safe environment.” Being a native from Mechanicville, he’s well acquainted with the area but couldn’t help share his sentiments regarding the empty stadium mentioning, “It’s really nice to win this race but definitely a bittersweet day when this beautiful place is empty where I grew up… We’ll do the best we can and we’re grateful they’re running here. Hopefully, this is the only year we have to do this.”

Fans are taking every opportunity to get in on the action this season and one new way is through the ESPN 104.5, The Team radio broadcast. The broadcast will feature live coverage of the racing from Saratoga on the weekends starting at 1 p.m. These live broadcasts, presented by NYRA Bets, NYSCOPBA, and Bud Light, will be throughout the racing season and can be listened to via radio, online at 1045theteam.com, or by downloading 104.5, The Team app on mobile devices. 

When asked about the broadcast, NYRA Bets President Tony Allevato commented that, “we are excited to expand the opportunity for racing fans in the Capital Region to enjoy the audio simulcast of Saratoga Live this summer …Fans in the Capital Region will now have a trifecta of options to enjoy exciting thoroughbred action from Saratoga by watching on FOX Sports, streaming on NYRA Bets.com or listening on ESPN Radio.”

In addition to the radio broadcast, NYRA Bets is also looking to keep fans involved this season by promoting their official wagering app. For those looking to getting into horseplay, NYRA Bets is having a $200 promotional membership bonus with the code ESPN.

With Opening Weekend now in the books, racing at Saratoga will go into its usual schedule of racing Wednesdays through Sundays. Stay up-to-date with all things Saratoga by either catching the live TV broadcasts, tuning in to the radio broadcasts, or watching the streams online. For a complete broadcast schedule, check out the NYRA website at nyra.com/saratoga.