*Key: GI= Grade 1 Stakes | GII= Grade 2 Stakes | GIII= Grade 3 Stakes
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 5 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 11
Evan Shipman Handicap (NYB): 3&UP, 1 Mile - Dirt, Purse $125,000
GII National Museum of Racing Hall Of Fame: 3YO, 1 Mile - Turf, Purse $500,000
Union Avenue Handicap (NYB): F&M 3&UP, 6 Furlongs - Dirt, Purse $125,000
Saturday, August 12
GI Fourstardave Handicap (BC): 3&UP, 1 Mile - Turf, Purse $500,000
GII Herb Moelis Memorial Saratoga Special: 2YO, 6 1/2 Furlongs - Dirt, Purse $200,000
Galway: F3YO, 5 1/2 Furlongs - Turf, Purse $150,000
Sunday, August 13
Mahony: 3YO, 5 1/2 Furlongs - Turf, Purse $150,000
Wednesday, August 16
GI Jonathan Sheppard: 4&UP, 2 3/8 - Turf, Purse $150,000
Suzie O’Cain (NYB): F3YO, 1 1/16 - Turf, Purse $125,000
Thursday, August 17
Rick Violette (NYB): 3YO, 1 1/16 - Turf, Purse $150,000
Premium Giveaways
Friday, August 11
PERFORMANCE T-SHIRT PRESENTED BY FOX SPORTS
The second giveaway of the season: a red, performance T-shirt, emblazoned with the Saratoga, NYRA Bets and FOX Sports logos. The 100% polyester moisture-wicking material will help Saratoga devotees stay cool all season long.
Adirondack Day
Wednesday, August 16
Presented by the Adirondack Regional Tourism Council, Adirondack Day will include interactive exhibits inside the Taste NY Pavilion highlighting the seven New York counties that comprise the Adirondacks, supplemented by craft beverage tastings, cheese samples, apples, reenactors, live music and more.
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.
NEW YORK Thoroughbred Aftercare Day
Thursday, August 17
Thoroughbred Aftercare Day pays tribute to an array of organizations involved in finding new homes and careers for retired racehorses. The featured race will be the Rick Violette Stakes, named for the late NYTHA President who was a founding member of the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance (TAA).
Stewart’s Shops Day at the Races
Thursday, August 17
Stewart’s Shops will celebrate its longstanding partnership with Saratoga by providing free ice cream for horse racing fans, while supplies last.
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.
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 Sunday, Aug. 13, the theme is Sci-Fi Day and will feature a sci-fi DIY craft station, virtual reality space pods, giant games and more.
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.
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 11: School of Music at Caffe Lena
Saturday, August 12: Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation
Sunday, August 13: Disabled American Veterans – Troy Chapter
Wednesday, August 16: Stephen Siller Tunnel to Towers Foundation
Thursday, August 17: TAKE2 Second Career Thoroughbred Program/TAKE THE LEAD
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 11: The McKrells
Saturday, August 12: IMI
Sunday, August 13: The Switch
Wednesday, August 16:
The Franklin Micare Band
Thursday, August 17:
Steve Candlen Jazz Quartet
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.
