Tours Galore: NYRA and Song Hill Offer Behind-the-Scenes Looks at Horse Farms 

SARATOGA SPRINGS — The New York Racing Association (NYRA) recently announced the return of its popular summer morning excursion, reimagined for 2026 as the Saratoga Breakfast and Thoroughbred Farm Tours (formerly known as the Breakfast and Breeding Farm Tours) with a refreshed lineup that spotlights aftercare and welcomes the program’s first stallion operation.

This year’s series introduces two new participating farms, including a leading aftercare organization and a stallion farm, and welcomes back two longtime favorites. 

The 2026 series will get underway on Opening Day of the Saratoga summer meet, Friday, July 3, and continue weekly through the final Sunday of the season, Sept. 6. Tours are offered every Thursday through Sunday during the summer meet except for Saturday, July 4, and Saturday, Aug. 29 (Travers Day).

This year’s new-look weekly lineup features Old Friends at Cabin Creek on Thursdays, marking the program’s first dedicated aftercare partner; Old Tavern Farm on Fridays; Sugar Plum Farm on Saturdays; and Ironhorse Stallions on Sundays, introducing the tour’s first stallion operation.

The Saratoga Breakfast and Thoroughbred Farm Tour experience includes a buffet-style breakfast at Saratoga Race Course available from 7 a.m. to 9 a.m. against the backdrop of morning training on the main track. Fans then board a CDTA trolley at 9:15 a.m. for a scenic round-trip ride to that day’s featured farm, where they will experience a 60 to 90-minute guided tour, before returning to Saratoga for an afternoon of live racing. Each tour accommodates up to 52 guests. A portion of proceeds from each ticket sold will be earmarked to support the New York Thoroughbred Breeders (NYTB) scholarship fund.

Tickets are on sale now and may be purchased at NYRA.com.

One of the major additions for 2026, Old Friends at Cabin Creek, is an aftercare facility that provides a lifetime sanctuary for retired racehorses. Nestled in the countryside of Greenfield Center, fans can experience a picturesque ride each Thursday and an intimate look at equine retirement. Guests will have the opportunity to meet several of the farm’s beloved and accomplished residents, such as 2018 New York-bred Horse of the Year Diversify, whose resume includes graded stakes wins in the 2018 Whitney and Suburban and 2017 Jockey Club Gold Cup. Fans will also get to see 2007 New York Horse of the Year Naughty New Yorker; 2011 Preakness Stakes participant King Congie; and 2006 Gotham Stakes winner Like Now, all while learning about the importance of aftercare.

Sundays feature Ironhorse Stallions, marking the tour program’s first dedicated stallion farm and providing fans with access to one of New York’s most compelling sires, Bucchero. A dual graded stakes-winning sprinter, Bucchero made 31 career starts and has since developed into a leading sire, whose offspring include Book’em Danno, winner of the 2025 Eclipse Award for Champion Male Sprinter. Now standing in New York after five seasons in Florida, Bucchero enters this next phase of his stallion career as a cornerstone of Ironhorse Stallions.

Located in nearby Schuylerville across from the scenic Hudson River, Ironhorse Stallions represents a full-circle moment for Bucchero, who was originally purchased and raced by the Ironhorse partnership. The stallion has quickly risen to prominence, finishing as the leading sire by earnings in New York in 2025. Known for his versatility, consistency, and ability to produce open-company runners, Bucchero was just recently named 2025 Sire of the Year on May 11 by the NYTB.

Visitors will have the opportunity to meet Bucchero while learning about modern stallion management, breeding strategy, and the expanding influence of New York’s breeding program.

Additional details about the 2026 Saratoga Breakfast and Thoroughbred Farm Tours, including a full schedule and ticket information, are available at NYRA.com.

Song Hill Thoroughbreds Opens Farm Gates for Public Walking Tour Experience

Song Hill Thoroughbreds will soon welcome guests to its working thoroughbred farm for an exclusive, behind-the-scenes walking tour.

The tour, to be held on the day before the 2026 Belmont Stakes at Saratoga Race Course, is scheduled for 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. on Friday, June 5 at the farm’s Saratoga County location at 290 County Road 75 in the town of Stillwater.

The guided experience offers visitors a rare opportunity to explore the world of thoroughbred racing from the ground up — beginning with breeding and foaling through the development and training process that prepares horses for the racetrack.

Guests will tour the farm grounds, visit barns, and meet broodmares and foals while learning about the daily operations of a professional thoroughbred breeding and racing facility. The event is designed for both longtime racing enthusiasts and newcomers interested in learning more about the sport and the care involved in raising elite equine athletes.

“This tour gives people a chance to experience the heart of Thoroughbred racing up close,” said Grace Bond of H. James Bond Racing Stables. “We’re excited to share the work, dedication, and passion that go into developing racehorses from the very beginning.”

The outdoor walking tour lasts approximately 90 minutes. Comfortable footwear is recommended. Doors open at 9:45 a.m., and free parking will be available onsite. Attendees should note that participation involves visiting an active horse farm and requires acknowledgment of the farm’s liability waiver.

For tickets and additional information, visit www.eventbrite.com/e/song-hill-thoroughbreds-walking-tour-tickets-1989111368649.