SARATOGA SPRINGS — The 2023 summer meet at Saratoga Race Course is underway and will continue through Monday, Sept. 4. Racing will be conducted five days a week, Wednesdays through Sundays, apart from the final week, when the meet will conclude on Labor Day. Admission gates will open for live racing at 11 a.m. First post time is 1:10 p.m.
Week 6 Stake Races
*Mondays and Tuesdays = Dark Days. No racing.
Saratoga Live presents daily coverage of the summer meet at Saratoga Race Course on FOX Sports. For the complete Saratoga Live broadcast schedule, and additional programming information, visit NYRA.com/SaratogaLive.
Friday, August 18
Skidmore: 2YO, 5 1/2 Furlongs - Turf, Purse $150,000
Saturday, August 19
GI Alabama presented by Keeneland Sales: F3YO, 1 1/4 - Dirt, Purse $600,000
GII Lake Placid: F3YO, 1 1/16 - Turf, Purse $200,000
Sunday, August 20
Bolton Landing: F2YO, 5 1/2 Furlongs - Turf, Purse $150,000
Wednesday, August 23
John’s Call (R): 4&UP, 1 5/8 - Turf, Purse $135,000
GI Jonathan Sheppard: 4&UP, 2 3/8 - Turf, Purse $150,000
Thursday, August 24
GII Mohegan Sun Ballston Spa: F&M 4&UP, 1 1/16 - Turf, Purse $300,000
Coming Up: Saturday, August 26 - Travers Day
Gates open at 7 a.m.; Special first post time of 11:40 a.m.
Premium Giveaways
Friday, August 18 BUCKET HAT
The third giveaway of the season is a 100% cotton white bucket hat featuring the traditional red Saratoga logo.
Lustgarten Day
Saturday, August 19
Lustgarten Day honors the legacy of longtime NYRA trainer Dominic Galluscio with a day to support the Lustgarten Foundation, a non-profit organization whose mission is to advance scientific and medical research related to pancreatic cancer. Many of the sport’s most prominent trainers will sign autographs for fans at the Jockey Silks Porch from 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. with suggested donations to benefit the Lustgarten Foundation.
Military Appreciation Day
Thursday, August 24
Military Appreciation Day pays tribute to active military members and veterans in appreciation of their sacrifice and service to our nation with free general admission (proper ID required). All veterans and active-duty military will be honored with a special ceremony in the Winner’s Circle. The West Point Parachute Team, Color Guard and Band will perform.
Berkshire Bank Family Sundays
Every Sunday
The popular family-friendly weekly event features a wide variety of free activities, games, attractions and educational experiences from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Berkshire Bank Family Zone, located inside Gate A near the Saratoga Race Course Box Office.
Community Outreach Booth
As part of NYRA’s season-long commitment to spreading awareness of local non-profits, NYRA will again host one organization each day in the Community Outreach Booth, located adjacent to the Jockey Silks Room, inside Gate B.
Friday, August 18: CAPTAIN Community Human Services
Saturday, August 19: Lustgarten Foundation
Sunday, August 20: Disabled American Veterans – Albany Chapter
Wednesday, August 23: LifeWorks Community Action
Thursday, August 24: Albany VA Hospital
Purdy’s Summer Concert Stage
The Purdy’s Summer Concert Stage will host live musical performances each afternoon of the season from popular local and regional bands. This year’s summer music stage is presented by Purdy’s Discount Wine & Liquor in Saratoga Springs.
Friday, August 18: The Reese Fulmer Band
Saturday, August 19: The Alex Torres Latin Orchestra
Sunday, August 20: The Bluz House Rockers
Wednesday, August 23: Doc Scanlon
Thursday, August 24: Party of Three
Breakfast at Saratoga
Breakfast at Saratoga welcomes guests to enjoy a morning buffet at The Porch with a view of the thoroughbreds training on the main track. Breakfast is available every live racing day from 7 to 9:30 a.m., excluding Travers Day and Labor Day.
Fans can also go behind the scenes with a free, guided backstretch tram tour, driven by CDTA. Tram tours run from 7:30 to 9 a.m. and depart from the clubhouse entrance approximately every 15 minutes. Tours are available on a first-come, first-served basis and are 45 minutes in length. Tours are available every live racing day with the exception of Travers Day and Labor Day.
SARATOGA Breakfast and Breeding Farm Tours
Every Wednesday - Friday
Expanded for its second year, NYRA is continuing the Saratoga Breakfast and Breeding Farm Tour. Tours this year will be offered Wednesday through Friday throughout the meet. Wednesday tours will travel to Song Hill Thoroughbreds, while Thursday and Friday tours will visit Old Tavern Farm.
Guests will enjoy a buffet breakfast at Saratoga Race Course before taking a CDTA trolley to the designated farm, where they will participate in a 60- to 90-minute guided walking tour of a working thoroughbred breeding farm. Admission to the races in the afternoon is included in the package. Tickets, which are $85 for adults and $35 for children 12 and under, must be reserved in advance at NYRA.com.
Taste NY Pavilion
every Thursday - Sunday
New York-made food and beverages will be available for sample and purchase at the Taste NY Pavilion, located inside Gate A at the Top of the Stretch, where fans can enjoy New York craft beer, cider, wine, spirits, cheese, chocolate and gelato. This year marks a decade since the launch of the Taste NY program.
SARATOGA LOW ROLLER CONTEST
Every Thursday And Sunday
Horseplayers can enjoy the Saratoga Low Roller Contest held exclusively on-track every Thursday and Sunday at Saratoga Race Course. Fans can pre-register on contest days outside the Miller Time Fourstardave Sports Bar. There is a $40 buy-in, of which $30 will go to the player’s bankroll and $10 to the prize pool. The winner will receive a Saratoga Low Roller championship T-shirt in addition to the cash prize.
HANDICAPPING SEMINAR AND MEET-AND-GREET
Every Sunday
Spend a Sunday at the races learning betting strategies and tips from expert handicappers in the Spa’s newest hospitality venue, the climate-controlled Paddock Suite. Guests will also be treated to a meet-and-greet with Saratoga Race Course’s rotating cast of on-track talent. Tickets can be purchased through Fevo.
SUNDAY BRUNCH AT THE RAIL OF THE 1863 CLUB
Every Sunday
Fans are invited to enjoy a brunch buffet while experiencing The Rail at the 1863 Club, the first-floor banquet space at the 1863 Club. Tickets start at $100 and include admission, a table seat for the day, brunch buffet, soft drinks, two mimosa or Bloody Mary drink tickets per person, Post Parade program book, tax and gratuity. Reservations are available by calling the NYRA Box Office at 844-NYRA-TIX or online at Ticketmaster.com.
