July 19 – September 2nd
A century and a half of racing history will come alive this summer when Saratoga opens its gates on Friday for the 40-day meet that brings together the finest horses, top jockeys, and best trainers in the country in celebration of the track’s 150th anniversary.
With the Grade 1, $1 million Travers on August 24 as its centerpiece, the 2013 meet offers 53 listed and graded stakes races worth $14.95 million. Supporting the “Mid-Summer Derby” are 15 additional Grade 1 races, beginning with the $300,000 Coaching Club American Oaks for three-year-old fillies on Saturday and concluding with the $300,000 Hopeful for juveniles on closing day, September 2.
This summer will see the usual plethora of classy juvenile races including the traditional six-pack of graded stakes: the Grade 3, $150,000 Schuylerville (Friday), Grade 2, $200,000 Adirondack (August 11) and Grade 1, $300,000 Spinaway (September 1) for fillies along with the Grade 2, $200,00 Sanford (Sunday), Grade 2, $200,000 Saratoga Special (August 11) and aforementioned Hopeful, taken last year by eventual juvenile champion Shanghai Bobby.
Top-notch turf racing is traditional at the Spa, with the Grade 1, $600,000 Diana for fillies and mares on July 27 and the Grade 1, $600,000 Sword Dancer Invitational on July 27 capping the multitude of daily grass race offerings. Steeplechase racing as well gets a chance to shine, with the top jumpers in North America and abroad assembling for the Grade 1 A. P. Smithwick Memorial on August 1 and the Grade 1 New York Turf Writers’ Cup on August 22. Bet on racing at Saratoga and all your favorite tracks for free right here on TwinSpires.com.
A trio of stakes races is on tap on Opening Day race card, two of which are of the graded variety – the $100,000 James Marvin S. (G3) going seven furlongs on the main oval and the $150,000 Schuylerville S. (G3).
Saratoga Race Course Wagering
The New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA) will present a $500,000 Guaranteed Late Pick 4 every Saturday at Saratoga Race Course and a $1 Million All Graded Stakes Pick 4 on Travers Day, August 24.
Although NYRA offers daily Pick 4’s on races 2 – 5 and the final four races of the day, the $500,000 guarantee applies only to the Late Pick 4 on Saturdays at Saratoga Race Course. The Late Pick 4 is a 50 cent minimum wager in which the bettor must correctly pick the winners of the last four races on the card, usually beginning with race eight.
On Travers Day, August 24, the guarantee will rise to $1 million in conjunction with the 144th running of the Grade 1, $1 million Travers Stakes. The Travers is supported by three additional graded events: the $500,000 Grade 1 Test, the $500,000 Grade 1 Foxwoods King’s Bishop, and the $250,000 Grade 2 Ballston Spa. The Late Pick 4 is scheduled to begin with Race 9 on Travers Day.
Handicapping Saratoga with Brisnet.comNorth 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/summer for savings plans on Ultimate PPs, Daily Selections, and ALL-Ways data files for the entire meeting. Buy any of the summer racing packages and receive Track Stats free!
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.
Saratoga Race Course 2013 Summer Meet
Dates: July 19 – September 2nd
Saratoga Race Course 2013 Summer Racing Schedule: 40 days. Friday, July 19 through Monday, September 2, Labor Day. No racing on Tuesdays.
Post Times: 1 p.m. Eastern. On Travers Day, Saturday, August 24, first race post is 11:35 a.m. For Twilight Racing, Friday August 30, first race post time is 2:30 p.m. On Labor Day, Monday, September 2, first post is 12:30 p.m.
Saratoga Race Course Track Facts and Information
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.
Saratoga Race Course Free Race Replays
TwinSpires.com brings you free live online horse racing and race replays from Saratoga and all you favorite tracks. Just type in what you want in our race replay library, click and four years of horse racing history comes to life. The same super quality audio and video resolution you see on our live feeds, captured for you to watch over and over again.
Bet on racing at Saratoga and all your favorite tracks for free right here on TwinSpires.com!
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