SARATOGA SPRINGS — The 2023 summer meet at Saratoga Race Course is underway and will continue through Monday, September 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. (with exceptions for Whitney and Travers Days and closing weekend; Travers Day gates will open at 7 a.m.) The 2023 summer meet will feature the following events:
Week 2 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, July 28
GII Amsterdam: 3YO, 6 1/2 Furlongs - Dirt, Purse $200,000
Saturday, July 29
GI Alfred G. Vanderbilt Handicap: 3&UP, 6 Furlongs - Dirt, Purse $350,000
GII Jim Dandy presented by DK Horse: 3YO, 1 1/8 - Dirt, Purse $500,000
Sunday, July 30
GII Bowling Green: 4&UP, 1 3/8 - Turf, Purse $250,000
Wednesday, August 2
De La Rose (R): F&M 4&UP, 1 Mile - Turf, Purse $135,000
Thursday, August 3
GII Glens Falls: F&M 4&UP, 1 1/2 - Turf, Purse $250,000
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. On Opening Day, NYRA will host Jewish War Veterans Post 36 – Saratoga Springs, a leading Veterans Service Organization that supports and advocates for all uniformed service members, veterans and their families.
Friday, July 28: North Country Wild Care
Saturday, July 29: Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund
Sunday, July 30: Christie’s Heartoberfest
Wednesday, August 2: Saratoga WarHorse Foundation
Thursday, August 3: Saratoga Senior Center
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, July 28: Dealt The Blues
Saturday, July 29: ILL Funk
Sunday, July 30: Wyld Blu
Wednesday, August 2: Johnny and the Triumphs
Thursday, August 3: The Lustre Kings
PERMANENTLY DISABLED JOCKEYS’ FUND AWARENESS DAY
Saturday, July 29
Uniting with racetracks across the country to support the Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund (PDJF) Day, riders at Saratoga Race Course will participate in a host of activities to raise awareness and funding for the PDJF. Highlighting the day’s events will be a special autograph session with members of the Saratoga jockey colony at the Jockey Silks Room Porch from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. with suggested donations to benefit the PDJF.
Saratoga Jockey Trading Cards:
Fans will be given the opportunity to purchase a pack of five jockey trading cards for $5, with a limit of three packs per person. Similar in design to baseball trading cards, the limited-edition cards will feature 20 of Saratoga’s active and most popular jockeys. All proceeds to be donated to the PDJF. Jockey cards are randomly sorted in each pack and feature the jockey’s picture and home country flag on the front and personal details and racing statistics on the back. Representatives from PDJF will be on site collecting donations and selling the jockey trading card sets inside Gate A near the Taste NY Pavilion beginning at 11 a.m. while supplies last.
HANDICAPPING SEMINAR AND MEET-AND-GREET
Every Sunday
Enjoy your Sunday at the races in the Spa’s newest hospitality venue, the climate-controlled Paddock Suite, learning betting strategies and tips from expert handicappers. Guests will also be treated to a meet-and-greet with Saratoga Race Course’s new track announcer Frank Mirahmadi, along with a rotating cast of on-track talent, personalities and VIPs. Tickets can be purchased through Fevo.
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. For July 28, the theme is Saratoga’s Got Talent, and will feature a DIY craft station, giant mural, break dancers, games and relays.
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.
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 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.
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.
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.
