The 2026 Saratoga Race Course Season in Review

Some may be happy it’s over, some are glad it happened, others are sad it won’t return, but one thing is for sure: this summer meet was the longest in the race course’s 163-year history. The original meet was scheduled for 51 days, however heavy rain caused a cancelation on Wednesday, July 29. After 50 racing days, the Saratoga Race Course concluded as usual on Labor Day, Monday, September 7. 

Highlights from the historic season include:

• Paid attendance exceeding 1 million fans for the 11th consecutive year and total wagering handle of more than $900 million.

• The Grade 1 Travers Stakes featured a deep and accomplished field headlined by Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes winner Golden Tempo and Preakness winner Napoleon Solo. However, it was the Brad Cox-trained Leading Change who emerged victorious under Manny Franco in front of a crowd of 47,659 on Saturday, August 29.

• Reigning Horse-of-the-Year, Sovereignty, returned to Saratoga Race Course with an emphatic victory in the Grade 1 Whitney Stakes on Saturday, August 8. With his Whitney victory, Sovereignty earned a “Win and You’re In” berth to the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Classic in October at Keeneland.

• Manny Franco claimed the Angel Cordero, Jr. title as leading rider; Chad Brown captured the H. Allen Jerkens training title; and Klaravich Stables secured the meet’s leading owner title.

• Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher earned his 6,000th career victory in North America during the summer meet, when Versailles Road captured the finale on Whitney Day, Saturday, August 8.

• Jockeys Luis Saez and Hall of Famer Javier Castellano reached significant career milestones during the summer meet, recording the 4,000th and 6,000th victories of their respective careers.

• Fans enjoyed FIFA World Cup 26 Viewing Parties bringing the excitement of the global soccer tournament to the Spa during the summer meet.

• Saratoga welcomed on Whitney Day members of the United States Women’s Olympic gold medal-winning hockey team, Haley Winn and Hayley Scamurra, along with Katie Million, the team’s general manager.

• The second annual Corgi Cup returned to Saratoga, bringing dozens of four-legged competitors and their enthusiastic supporters to the Spa. Kona, a five-year-old Corgi from Smithtown, NY, was this year’s winner.

• Saratoga hosted its second annual NYRA STAR Kids Day, featuring a wide variety of family-friendly activities and attractions for its youngest fans, and its traditional Military Appreciation Day and First Responders Day to celebrate and honor those who serve our nation and our communities.

Those locals who perpetually avoid the eccentricity elicited by the horse racing scene can return to their normal activities now. 

Next year the newly constructed Belmont Park will reopen downstate, and the Belmont Stakes will return to its home after spending the past three years occurring in Saratoga. 

This means the racing calendar will slim down to 40 days next year. 

While some locals may revel in the fact that next year the racing season will slim down, it is undeniable that the Belmont Stakes Racing Festival brought an unprecedented economic surge into the region.

“Prior studies report the Saratoga Race Course has a $370 million economic impact over a 40-day meet, which means about $9 million per day. With 50 racing days this year, our region likely experienced a more than $450 million economic benefit from the extended meet and the chance to host the Belmont Stakes Racing Festival at Saratoga one last time. Local business owners from our retail and hospitality sectors report that it was a busy summer in Saratoga, and city sales tax collections were up this year through June and July versus prior years,” said Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce President Todd Shimkus. “The question everyone’s now asking is ‘What do we do to top this in 2027?’ That is perhaps the best indicator of how vital the summer meet is to our local and regional economy.”