Race Tracks > Saratoga Race Track
Last updated: August 30, 2022
Saratoga Race Course Track Facts
- Address: 267 Union Avenue Saratoga Springs, NY 12866
- Phone: (518) 584-6200
- Website: www.nyra.com/saratoga
- Main Track: 1 1/8-mile oval with seven-furlong chute; 4 percent banking on the turns; distance from final turn to the finish line is 1,144 feet.
- WTC Mellon Turf: The Mellon (Outer) Turf Course is a one-mile (plus 98 feet) oval; 4 percent banking on the turns; distance from final turn to the finish line is 1,144 feet.
- ITC Turf Course: The Inner Turf Course is a seven-furlong (plus 304 feet) oval; 4 percent banking on the turns; distance from final turn to finish is 1,164 feet.
- Oklahoma Training Track: One-mile oval with a quarter-mile chute; 2 percent banking on the turns; distance from final turn to the finish line is 990 feet.
- Oklahoma Turf Course: Seven-furlong oval; 2 percent banking on the turns; distance from final turn to the finish line is 1,024 feet.
- Oklahoma Steeplechase course: Six-furlong oval, five fences.
- Clare Court Training Track: Half-mile oval; 1.5 percent banking on the turns.
2022 Saratoga Stakes Schedule
| DATE | RACE | PURSE / RESTRICTIONS | SURFACE / DISTANCE |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thursday, July 14th | Schuylerville | $175,000 / F2YO | Dirt / 6 Furlongs |
| Wilton | $135,000 / F3YO | Dirt / 1 Mile | |
| Friday, July 15th | Coronation Cup | $150,000 / F3YO | Turf / 5 1/2 Furlongs |
| Forbidden Apple | $175,000 / 4&UP | Turf / 1 Mile | |
| Saturday, July 16th | Diana | $500,000 / F&M 4&UP | Turf / 1 1/8 Miles |
| Sanford | $175,000 / 2YO | Dirt / 6 Furlongs | |
| Sunday, July 17th | Quick Call presented by the Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation | $175,000 / 3YO | Turf / 5 1/2 Furlongs |
| Wednesday, July 20th | A. P. Smithwick Memorial (Steeplechase) | $150,000 / 4&UP | Turf / 2 1/16 Miles |
| Suzie O'Cain (NYB) | $125,000 / F3YO | Turf / 1 1/16 Miles | |
| Thursday, July 21st | Rick Violette (NYB) | $125,000 / 3YO | Turf / 1 1/16 Miles |
| Friday, July 22nd | Lake George | $175,000 / F3YO | Turf / 1 Mile |
| Saturday, July 23rd | Caress | $200,000 / F&M 4&UP | Turf / 5 1/2 Furlongs |
| Coaching Club American Oaks | $500,000 / F3YO | Dirt / 1 1/8 Miles | |
| Sunday, July 24th | Shuvee | $200,000 / F&M 4&UP | Dirt / 1 1/8 Miles |
| Wednesday, July 27th | Honorable Miss Handicap | $200,000 / F&M 3&UP | Dirt / 6 Furlongs |
| Thursday, July 28th | Birdstone | $200,000 / 4&UP | Dirt / 1 3/4 Miles |
| Friday, July 29th | Curlin (R) | $135,000 / 3YO | Dirt / 1 1/8 Miles |
| Saturday, July 30th | Alfred G. Vanderbilt Handicap | $350,000 / 3&UP | Dirt / 6 Furlongs |
| Jim Dandy | $600,000 / 3YO | Dirt / 1 1/8 Miles | |
| Sunday, July 31st | Amsterdam | $200,000 / 3YO | Dirt / 6 1/2 Furlongs |
| Bowling Green | $250,000 / 4&UP | Turf / 1 3/8 Miles | |
| Wednesday, August 3rd | Shine Again (R) | $135,000 / F&M 4&UP | Dirt / 7 Furlongs |
| Thursday, August 4th | Alydar (R) | $135,000 / 4&UP | Dirt / 1 1/8 Mile |
| Friday, August 5th | National Museum of Racing Hall Of Fame | $200,000 / 3YO | Turf / 1 Mile |
| Troy Stakes | $300,000 / 4&UP | Turf / 5 1/2 Furlongs | |
| Saturday, August 6th | Fasig Tipton Lure (R) | $135,000 / 4&UP | Turf / 1 1/16 Miles |
| Glens Falls | $250,000 / F&M 4&UP | Turf / 1 1/2 Miles | |
| Longines Test | $500,000 / F3YO | Dirt / 7 Furlongs | |
| Whitney Stakes (Breeders Cup Challenge Series) | $1,000,000 / 4&UP | Dirt / 1 1/8 Mile | |
| Caesars Saratoga Derby Invitational | $1,000,000 / 3YO | Turf / 1 3/16 Mile | |
| Sunday, August 7th | Adirondack | $200,000 / F2YO | Dirt / 6 1/2 Furlongs |
| Fasig Tipton De La Rose (R) | $135,000 / F&M 4&UP | Turf / 1 Mile | |
| Saratoga Oaks Invitational | $700,000 / F3YO | Turf / 1 3/16 Miles | |
| Wednesday, August 10th | Tale of the Cat (R) | $135,000 / 4&UP | Dirt / 7 Furlongs |
| Thursday, August 11th | Galway | $150,000 / F3YO | Turf / 5 1/2 Furlongs |
| Friday, August 12th | Evan Shipman Handicap (NYB) | $125,000 / 3&UP | Dirt / 1 Mile |
| John Morrissey Handicap (NYB) | $125,000 / 3&UP | Dirt / 6 Furlongs | |
| Johnstone Mile (NYB) | $125,000 / F&M 3&UP | Dirt / 1 Mile | |
| Union Avenue Handicap (NYB) | $125,000 / F&M 3&UP | Dirt / 6 Furlongs | |
| Saturday, August 13th | Fourstardave Handicap (BC) | $500,000 / 3&UP | Turf / 1 Mile |
| Saratoga Special | $200,000 / 2YO | Dirt / 6 1/2 Furlongs | |
| Sunday, August 14th | Mahony | $150,000 / 3YO | Turf / 5 1/2 Furlongs |
| Wednesday, August 17th | Jonathan Sheppard | $150,000 / 4&UP | Turf / 2 3/8 Miles |
| NYSSS Cab Calloway Division (R) | $150,000 / 3YO | Turf / 1 Mile | |
| Thursday, August 18th | NYSSS Statue of Liberty Division (R) | $150,000 / F3YO | Turf / 1 Mile |
| Friday, August 19th | Skidmore | $150,000 / 2YO | Turf / 5 1/2 Furlongs |
| Friday, August 19th | Summer Colony (R) | $135,000 / F&M 4&UP | Dirt / 1 1/8 Miles |
| Saturday, August 20th | Alabama | $600,000 / F3YO | Dirt / 1 1/4 Miles |
| Lake Placid | $200,000 / F3YO | Turf / 1 1/16 Miles | |
| Smart N Fancy | $150,000 / F&M 4&UP | Turf / 5 1/2 Furlongs | |
| Sunday, August 21th | Bolton Landing | $150,000 / F2YO | Turf / 5 1/2 Furlongs |
| Wednesday, August 24th | John's Call (R) | $135,000 / 4&UP | Turf / 1 5/8 Miles |
| Thursday, August 25th | Riskaverse (R) | $135,000 / F3YO | Turf / 1 Mile |
| Friday, August 26th | Albany (NYB) | $250,000 / 3YO | Dirt / 1 1/8 Miles |
| Fleet Indian (NYB) | $200,000 / F3YO | Dirt / 1 1/8 Miles | |
| Funny Cide (NYB) presented by Rood & Riddle Equine Hospital | $200,000 / 2YO | Dirt / 6 1/2 Furlongs | |
| Seeking the Ante (NYB) | $200,000 / F2YO | Dirt / 6 1/2 Furlongs | |
| West Point Handicap presented by Trustco Bank (NYB) | $200,000 / 3&UP | Turf / 1 1/16 Miles | |
| Yaddo Handicap (NYB) | $200,000 / F&M 3&UP | Turf / 1 1/16 Miles | |
| Saturday, August 27th | Ballston Spa | $400,000 / F&M 4&UP | Turf / 1 1/16 Miles |
| Forego | $600,000 / 4&UP | Dirt / 7 Furlongs | |
| H. Allen Jerkens Memorial | $500,000 / 3YO | Dirt / 7 Furlongs | |
| Personal Ensign | $600,000 / F&M 4&UP | Dirt / 1 1/8 Miles | |
| Sword Dancer Stakes (Breeders Cup Challenge Series) | $750,000 / 4&UP | Turf / 1 1/2 Miles | |
| Runhappy Travers | $125,0000 / 3YO | Dirt / 1 1/4 Miles | |
| Sunday, August 28th | Ballerina Stakes (Breeders Cup Challenge Series) | $500,000 / F&M 3&UP | Dirt / 7 Furlongs |
| Better Talk Now (R) | $135,000 / 3YO | Turf / 1 Mile | |
| Wednesday, August 31st | With Anticipation | $175,000 / 2YO | Turf / 1 1/16 Miles |
| Thursday, September 1st | P. G. Johnson | $150,000 / F2YO | Turf / 1 1/16 Miles |
| Friday, September 2nd | Lucky Coin | $150,000 / 4&UP | Turf / 5 1/2 Furlongs |
| Prioress | $250,000 / F3YO | Dirt / 6 Furlongs | |
| Saturday, September 3rd | Flower Bowl Invitational Stakes (Breeders Cup Challenge Series) | $600,000 / F&M 4&UP | Turf / 1 3/8 Miles |
| Jockey Club Gold Cup (Breeders Cup Challenge Series) | $125,0000 / 3&UP | Dirt / 1 1/4 Miles | |
| Saranac | $200,000 / 3YO | Turf / 1 1/16 Miles | |
| Sunday, September 4th | Spinaway | $300,000 / F2YO | Dirt / 7 Furlongs |
| Monday, September 5th | Bernard Baruch Handicap | $200,000 / 3&UP | Turf / 1 1/16 Miles |
| Hopeful | $300,000 / 2YO | Dirt / 7 Furlongs |
Saratoga Racing and Track History
The Saratoga Race Course is located in Saratoga Springs, NY. The tracks first-ever thoroughbred meet was in August, 1863 a month after the Battle of Gettysburg. Although Saratoga Race Course is considered the third oldest race track/course in the U.S., by many accounts, it is the oldest organized sporting venue of any kind in the country.
Referred to as “The Spa” (for the nearby mineral springs), the Saratoga Race Course is the gold standard and the world’s most accomplished thoroughbreds have raced on the hallowed ground.
The Travers Stakes is the oldest major thoroughbred horse race in America. Nicknamed the Midsummer Derby, the Travers brings together the greatest three-year-old horses to the race course to compete for the $1.25 million purse.
Saratoga is operated by the New York Racing Association (NYRA), and there are three separate tracks in the main course at Saratoga Race Course:
- A main (dirt) track, which is a 1 1/8-mile (9 furlong) oval. It has a 4 percent banking on the turns and the distance from final turn to the finish line is 1,144 feet.
- The Mellon Turf Course (outer) is a 1-mile (8-furlong) turf track, and has the same banking on the turns and distance from the final turn to the finish line as the main dirt track.
- The Inner Turf Course is a 7 furlong oval with the same banking on the turns and a distance from the final turn to the finish line of 1,164 feet.
Saratoga is home to some of the best racing, and betting, in the world. The Saratoga Race Course is also the oldest track in the U.S. Voted one of the top-10 sports venues of the 20th Century by Sports Illustrated, Saratoga is truly a historical jewel, and a race course that brings many of the best horses, jockeys and trainers to compete every summer.
Saratoga also has a peculiar reputation as the “Graveyard of Champions.” Four historic upsets have contributed to Saratoga’s reputation as the course where champions go to lose. They include:
1919 Man ‘o War – One of greatest race horses of all time, he won 20-of-21 races with his only loss at Saratoga.
1930 Gallant Fox – The second Triple Crown champion in history, Gallant Fox lost as heavy favorite to 100-1 long shot Jim Dandy, a race since bearing his name.
1973 Secretariat – Just a few weeks after winning the 1973 Triple Crown, Secretariat lost the Whitney Stakes to a little-known horse named Onion at the Saratoga Race Course.
2015 American Pharaoh – The Triple Crown winner won 9-of-10 career races after his initial maiden debut. That loss was in front of a record crowd in the Travers Stakes where he finished a close second to Keen Ice, cementing Saratoga’s reputation as the “Graveyard of Champions”.
Saratoga’s Significance for Handicappers
Saratoga is the highlight of the summer racing calendar on the East Coast. Beginning in late July, the 40-day meet runs through Labor Day and serves as challenging handicapping exercise with terrific betting opportunities. Along with New York-based runners, horses from all over North America, as well as international shippers, will point toward the strong racing fare.
And coupled with enormous daily handle and large fields, Saratoga often offers value for horseplayers with the right opinion.
Handicapping
Tools: Ultimate Past Performances from TwinSpires and Brisnet feature BRIS Class, Pace and Speed Ratings that can be a valuable tool when handicapping races. Additional data, including trainer, jockey, track bias and pedigree stats, allow further inspection into key details and Ultimate PPs also contain a predictive Prime Power Rating for every horse that’s started. Ultimate PPs are free to TwinSpires.com players when they wager on the track and day of the product purchased.
Late Pace numbers in turf routes: BRIS Late Pace Ratings are arguably most important in turf routes, with horses waiting until the latter stages to offer their best. Saratoga features two turf courses and horses with triple-digit Late Pace numbers can have an edge in two-turn events. More races were held on turf than dirt races during the 2016 meet.
Horse-for-the-course angle: Fourstardave and Quick Call aren’t remembered for their exploits at other tracks, but they’re memorialized with stakes races at Saratoga after displaying a tremendous affinity for the venue. Individual records (track, distance etc) are listed in the Ultimate PPs and it’s prudent to be aware of horses that have run well locally because they can display dramatic improvement from recent efforts elsewhere. The same applies to horses with little previous success as they can prove vulnerable if entering with good form from Belmont or another track.
Different dimensions: One-turn specialists can be exposed at Saratoga given that Belmont Park runs most its dirt routes – races at a mile, 1 1/16 miles and 1 1/8 miles — at one turn. Saratoga doesn’t offer any one-mile or 1 1/16-mile races – dirt routes are held around two turns at distances of 1 1/8 miles or longer – and handicappers can take advantage by locating horses who have run well at two-turn distances previously.
Handicapping Saratoga with Brisnet.com
North America’s most prestigious race meeting kicks off on Friday, and the best reports in the business are available at Brisnet.com.
Those planning to play the majority of the Saratoga season should check out Brisnet.com for savings plans on Ultimate PPs, Daily Selections, and ALL-Ways data files for the entire meeting.
Whether you play every day or any day, though, Brisnet.com has the information you need to cash in big at Saratoga and all your favorite tracks.
Best Bets
Identifying best bets is important because successful horseplayers will leverage their strongest opinions on a program instead of wagering the same amount on every race.
Developing a game plan is simple: determine your best bets on the program and attack accordingly. Best bets can be “singled” in multi-race wagers like the Pick 3 and Pick 4, where stringing together winners is of critical importance. Singling allows you to utilize more horses in other contentious races.
TwinSpires.com is the place to bet races from Saratoga and horseplayers can rely on a wealth of reports, including Daily Selections and Workout Reports from Brisnet.com, to help take the guesswork out of selections.
Saratoga Race Course Exotic Wagering
- $1 – Rolling Daily Double beginning in Race 1.
- $1 – Exacta on all races.
- $1 – Quinella on races two and four.
- $1 – Rolling Pick 3 beginning in Race 1.
- $0.50 – Pick 4 on races 2-5 and last four races.
- $0.50 – Pick 4 on races 3-6 and last four races when steeplechase is first race.
- $1 – Trifecta on every race with five or more betting interests (stakes, allowances and handicaps with five or more betting interests will offer trifecta betting).
- $1 – Superfecta on every race with 6 or more betting interests.
- $1 – Pick 5 beginning in race 1, except on Steeplechase days when it starts in race 2.
- $2 – Pick 6 on last six races.
- $1 – Grand Slam begins on the fifth (nine-race card), sixth (10-race card), and seventh (11 race card) race.