Saratoga Race Meet and Racetrack

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.

Saratoga Racing Calendar

Saratoga’s Biggest Graded Stakes Races and Purses

The historic Saratoga Race meet includes 69 stakes worth $18.775 million in purses for betting. The biggest purses and graded races include:

Diana (G1), 1 1/8 miles for fillies and mares on the turf – $500,000
Jim Dandy (G2), 1 1/8 miles for 3-year-olds – $600,000
The Longines Test (G1), 7 furlongs for 3-year-old fillies – $500,000
The Whitney (G1), 1 1/8 miles for 3-year-olds & up – $1,200,000
Fourstardave Handicap (G1), 1 mile on the turf for 3-year-olds & up – $500,000
Alabama (G1), 1 ¼ mile for 3-year-old fillies – $600,000
Forego (G1), 7 furlongs for 3-year-olds and up – $600,000
H. Allen Jerkens Memorial (G1), 7 furlongs for 3-year-olds – $500,000
Ketel One Ballerina (G1), 7 furlongs for fillies & mares 3-year-olds & up – $500,000
Personal Ensign (G1), 1 1/8 miles for fillies & mares 3-year-olds & up – $700,000
Sword Dance (G1), 1 ½ miles on turf for 3-year-olds & up – $1,000,000
Travers (G1), 1 ¼ miles for 3-year-olds – $1,250,000
Woodward (G1), 1 1/8 miles for 3-year-olds & up – $750,000
Hopeful (G1), 7 furlongs for 2-year-olds – $350,000

Date	Race	Grade	Purse	Restrictions	Surface	Distance	2017 winner
Friday, Jul 20	Lake George	3	$150,000	F3YO	Turf	1 1/16	Proctor’s Ledge
Friday, Jul 20	Schuylerville	3	$150,000	F2YO	Dirt	6 Furlongs	Dream It Is
Saturday, Jul 21	Diana	1	$500,000	F&M 3&UP	Turf	1 1/8	Ladi Eli
Saturday, Jul 21	Sanford	3	$150,000	2YO	Dirt	6 Furlongs	Firenze Fire
Sunday, Jul 22	Coaching Club American Oaks	1	$300,000	F3YO	Dirt	1 1/8	Abel Tasman
Monday, Jul 23	Caress		$200,000	F&M 4&UP	Turf	5 1/2	Miss Ella
Wednesday, Jul 25	Honorable Miss Handicap	2	$200,000	F&M 3&UP	Dirt	6 Furlongs	Paulassilverlining
Thursday, Jul 26	A. P. Smithwick Memorial (Steeplechase)	1	$150,000	4&UP	Turf	2 1/16	Swansea Mile (IRE)
Thursday, Jul 26	John Morrissey (NYB)		$100,000	3&UP	Dirt	6 1/2 Furlongs	Celtic Chaos
Friday, Jul 27	Curlin		$100,000	3YO	Dirt	1 1/8	Outplay
Saturday, Jul 28	Alfred G. Vanderbilt Handicap	1	$350,000	3&UP	Dirt	6 Furlongs	El Deal
Saturday, Jul 28	Amsterdam	2	$200,000	3YO	Dirt	6 1/2 Furlongs	Coal Front
Saturday, Jul 28	Bowling Green	2	$250,000	4&UP	Turf	1 3/8	Hunter O’Riley
Saturday, Jul 28	Jim Dandy	2	$600,000	3YO	Dirt	1 1/8	Good Samaritan
Sunday, Jul 29	Shuvee Handicap	3	$200,000	F&M 3&UP	Dirt	1 1/8	Paid Up Subscriber
Monday, Jul 30	Coronation Cup		$100,000	F3YO	Turf	5 1/2	Morticia
Wednesday, Aug 01	Shine Again		$100,000	F&M 3&UP	Dirt	7 Furlongs	Carina Mia
Thursday, Aug 02	Birdstone		$100,000	3&UP	Dirt	1 3/4	Hard Study
Friday, Aug 03	National Museum of Racing Hall Of Fame	2	$200,000	3YO	Turf	1 1/16	Bricks and Mortar
Saturday, Aug 04	Fasig-Tipton De La Rose		$100,000	F&M 4&UP	Turf	1 Mile	Thundering Sky
Saturday, Aug 04	Fasig-Tipton Lure		$100,000	4&UP	Turf	1 1/16	Zennor
Saturday, Aug 04	Fasig-Tipton Waya	3	$200,000	F&M 3&UP	Turf	1 1/2	Estrenchada (ARG)
Saturday, Aug 04	The Longines Test	1	$500,000	F3YO	Dirt	7 Furlongs	American Gal
Saturday, Aug 04	Whitney	1	$1,200,000	3&UP	Dirt	1 1/8	Gun Runner
Sunday, Aug 05	Alydar		$100,000	4&UP	Dirt	1 1/8	Rally Cry
Sunday, Aug 05	Troy Handicap		$200,000	3&UP	Turf	5 1/2	Green Mask
Monday, Aug 06	NYSS Cab Calloway Division		$100,000	3YO	Turf	1 Mile	Race Cancelled
Wednesday, Aug 08	Quick Call		$100,000	3YO	Turf	5 1/2	Blind Ambition
Thursday, Aug 09	NYSS Statue of Liberty Division		$100,000	F3YO	Turf	1 Mile	Lover’s Key
Friday, Aug 10	Tale of the Cat		$100,000	3&UP	Dirt	6 Furlongs	Stallwalkin’ Dude
Saturday, Aug 11	Adirondack	2	$200,000	F2YO	Dirt	6 1/2 Furlongs	Pure Silver
Saturday, Aug 11	Fourstardave Handicap	1	$500,000	3&UP	Turf	1 Mile	World Approval
Sunday, Aug 12	Saratoga Special presented by Coors Light	2	$200,000	2YO	Dirt	6 1/2 Furlongs	Copper Bullet
Monday, Aug 13	Saratoga Dew (NYB)		$100,000	F&M 3&UP	Dirt	1 1/8	Literata
Wednesday, Aug 15	Bolton Landing		$100,000	F2YO	Turf	5 1/2	Mark X Press
Thursday, Aug 16	Union Avenue (NYB)		$100,000	F&M 3&UP	Dirt	6 1/2 Furlongs	Picco Uno
Friday, Aug 17	Skidmore		$100,000	2YO	Turf	5 1/2	Flameaway
Saturday, Aug 18	Alabama	1	$600,000	F3YO	Dirt	1 1/4	Elate
Saturday, Aug 18	Lake Placid	2	$300,000	F3YO	Turf	1 1/8	Proctor’s Ledge
Sunday, Aug 19	Summer Colony		$100,000	F&M 3&UP	Dirt	1 1/8	Verve’s Tale
Monday, Aug 20	Evan Shipman (NYB)		$100,000	3&UP	Dirt	1 1/8	Diversify
Wednesday, Aug 22	John’s Call		$100,000	3&UP	Turf	1 5/8	Infinite Wisdom
Thursday, Aug 23	New York Turf Writers Cup	1	$150,000	4&UP	Turf	2 3/8	Diplomat
Thursday, Aug 23	Riskaverse		$100,000	F3YO	Turf	1 Mile	Defiant Honor
Friday, Aug 24	Albany (NYB)		$250,000	3YO	Dirt	1 1/8	Twisted Tom
Friday, Aug 24	Fleet Indian (NYB)		$200,000	F3YO	Dirt	1 1/8	Sunset Ridge
Friday, Aug 24	Funny Cide (NYB)		$200,000	2YO	Dirt	6 1/2 Furlongs	Aveenu Malcainu
Friday, Aug 24	Seeking the Ante (NYB)		$200,000	F2YO	Dirt	6 1/2 Furlongs	Cause We Are Loyal
Friday, Aug 24	West Point presented by Trustco Bank		$150,000	3&UP	Turf	1 1/16	Get Jets
Friday, Aug 24	Yaddo (NYB)		$150,000	F&M 3&UP	Turf	1 1/16	Bar of Gold
Saturday, Aug 25	Forego	1	$600,000	3&UP	Dirt	7 Furlongs	Drefong
Saturday, Aug 25	H. Allen Jerkens Memorial	1	$500,000	3YO	Dirt	7 Furlongs	Practical Joke
Saturday, Aug 25	Ketel One Ballerina	1	$500,000	F&M 3&UP	Dirt	7 Furlongs	By The Moon
Saturday, Aug 25	Personal Ensign	1	$700,000	F&M 3&UP	Dirt	1 1/8	Forever Unbridled
Saturday, Aug 25	Sword Dancer	1	$1,000,000	3&UP	Turf	1 1/2	Sadler’s Joy
Saturday, Aug 25	Travers	1	$1,250,000	3YO	Dirt	1 1/4	West Coast
Saturday, Aug 25	Woodford Reserve Ballston Spa	2	$400,000	F&M 3&UP	Turf	1 1/16	Ladi Eli
Sunday, Aug 26	Smart N Fancy		$100,000	F&M 3&UP	Turf	5 1/2 Furlongs	Ginger
Monday, Aug 27	Better Talk Now		$100,000	3YO	Turf	1 Mile	Hieroglyphics
Wednesday, Aug 29	With Anticipation	3	$150,000	2YO	Turf	1 1/16	Catholic Boy
Thursday, Aug 30	P. G. Johnson		$100,000	F2YO	Turf	1 1/16	Orbolution
Friday, Aug 31	Lucky Coin		$100,000	4&UP	Turf	5 1/2 Furlongs	We Deer You
Saturday, Sep 01	Glens Falls	3	$200,000	F&M 3&UP	Turf	1 3/8	Harmonize
Saturday, Sep 01	Saranac	3	$300,000	3YO	Turf	1 1/8	Voodoo Song
Saturday, Sep 01	Spinaway	1	$350,000	F2YO	Dirt	7 Furlongs	Lady Ivanka
Saturday, Sep 01	Woodward	1	$750,000	3&UP	Dirt	1 1/8	Gun Runner
Sunday, Sep 02	Prioress	2	$250,000	F3YO	Dirt	6 Furlongs	Vertical Oak
Monday, Sep 03	Bernard Baruch Handicap	2	$250,000	3&UP	Turf	1 1/16	Heart to Heart
Monday, Sep 03	Hopeful	1	$350,000	2YO	Dirt	7 Furlongs	Sporting Chance

Saratoga Grade I Races

Saratoga’s Biggest Graded Stakes Races Draw Future Breeders’ Cup Champions

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.

During the 2018 Summer Meet at the Spa than runs from Friday, July 20 through Monday, Sept 30, Saratoga hosts 40 racing days with 69 stakes races worth nearly $19 million in purses. Of those, 36 are graded stakes races, including 18 Grade I races – 13 on the dirt track and 5 on turf.

The richest race at the carnival is the $1.25 million Travers Stakes on Aug. 25, the traditional midsummer highlight for 3-year-olds. Many top sophomores who’ve contested the Triple Crown target this Grade I race, but it’s also a race where horses that missed the Triple Crown can put themselves forward for 3-year-old championship rankings – it was the Travers in which Arrogate announced his presence in 2016 with a record-breaking victory. Many fans are hoping 2018 Triple Crown winner Justify will make his next run in the Travers, but trainer Bob Baffert has now yet announced his prized colt’s next race.

The next-richest race is the $1.2 million Whitney Stakes, which is the first ‘Win and You’re In’ Breeders’ Cup Challenge race of the Saratoga meet. The best older horses aiming toward the Breeders’ Cup Classic will race in the Whitney. The other Grade I race for older horses is the $750,000 Woodward Stakes on September 12.

August 25 is a huge day of racing at Saratoga with six Grade I races including the Travers. Four of those are ‘Win and You’re In’ Breeders’ Cup Challenge races which tend to boast hefty betting opportunities. They include:

$700,000 Personal Ensign – (BC Distaff)
$500,000 Ballerina – (BC Filly & Mare Sprint)
$600,000 Forego – (BC Dirt Mile)
$1 Million Sword Dancer – (BC Turf)

The Spinaway on Sept. 1 is also a Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series race.

The Hopeful on closing day Sept. 3 is the final Grade 1 race of the meet and showcases today’s top 2-year-olds and one’s to watch in 2019 for the Triple Crown series and Travers.

Here is the full listing of Grade 1 races at during the 2018 Saratoga Summer Meet. Last year’s winner is listed in parentheses.

Sat., July 21 – Diana, 1 1/8 miles for fillies and mares on the turf (Lady Eli)
Sun., July 22 – Coaching Club of America, 1 1/8 miles for 3-year-old fillies (Able Tasman)
Thur., July 26 – A.P. Smithwick Memorial (Steeplechase), 2 1/16 miles (Swansea Mile)
Sat., July 28 – Vanderbilt Handicap, 6 furlongs for 3-year-olds & up (El Deal)
Sat., Aug. 4 – The Longines Test, 7 furlongs for 3-year-old fillies (American Gal)
Sat., Aug. 4 – The Whitney, 1 1/8 miles for 3-year-olds & up (Gun Runner)
Sat., Aug. 11 – Fourstardave Handicap, 1 mile on the turf for 3-year-olds & up (World Approval)
Sat, Aug. 18 – Alabama, 1 ¼ mile for 3-year-old fillies (Elate)
Thur., Aug. 23 – NY Turf Writers Cup, 2 3/8 miles for 4-year-olds and up on turf (Diplomat)
Sat., Aug. 25 – Forego, 7 furlongs for 3-year-olds and up (Drefong)
Sat., Aug. 25 – H. Allen Jerkens Memorial, 7 furlongs for 3-year-olds (Practical Joke)
Sat., Aug. 25 – Ketel One Ballerina, 7 furlongs for fillies & mares 3-year-olds & up (By the Moon)
Sat., Aug. 25 – Personal Ensign, 1 1/8 miles for fillies & mares 3-year-olds & up (Forever Unbridled)
Sat., Aug. 25 – Sword Dance, 1 ½ miles on turf for 3-year-olds & up (Sadler’s Joy)
Sat., Aug. 25 – Travers, 1 ¼ miles for 3-year-olds (West Coast)
Sat., Sept. 1 – Woodward, 1 1/8 miles for 3-year-olds & up (Gun Runner)
Sat., Sept 1 – Spinaway, 7 furlongs for 2-year-old fillies (Lady Ivanka)
Mon., Sept. 3 – Hopeful, 7 furlongs for 2-year-olds (Sporting Chance)

The Saratoga Race Course Guide provides all the information you need, whether you are a first-time track goer looking for the basics, or a life-long veteran looking for what’s new this year. Let the summer racing season begin at Saratoga!

About Saratoga Race Course

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 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), Saratoga 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. The 2017 race is scheduled for Sat., Aug. 26 and Travers Day will feature 7 graded stakes races.

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 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”.

The 2017 meet at historic Saratoga Race Course includes 69 stakes worth $18.775 million in purses.

Bet on racing at Saratoga Race Course and all your favorite tracks for free right here on TwinSpires.com!

Saratoga Race Course 2017 Summer Meet Stakes Schedule

Dates: Friday, July 21 – Monday, September 4 (Labor Day)

Post Times: The 40-day Saratoga Summer Meet has post times of 1:00pm Eastern with earlier post times on Travers Day Aug. 26 and Labor Day Sept. 4.

Date	Race	Grade	Purse	Restrictions	Surface	Distance
Friday, Jul 21	Lake George	III	$150,000	F3YO	Turf	1 1/16
Friday, Jul 21	Schuylerville	III	$150,000	F2YO	Dirt	6 Furlongs
Saturday, Jul 22	Diana	I	$500,000	F&M 3&UP	Turf	1 1/8
Saturday, Jul 22	Sanford	III	$150,000	2YO	Dirt	6 Furlongs
Sunday, Jul 23	Coaching Club American Oaks	I	$300,000	F3YO	Dirt	1 1/8
Monday, Jul 24	Caress		$200,000	F&M 4&UP	Turf	5 1/2
Wednesday, Jul 26	Honorable Miss Handicap	II	$200,000	F&M 3&UP	Dirt	6 Furlongs
Thursday, Jul 27	A. P. Smithwick Memorial (Steeplechase)	I	$150,000	4&UP	Turf	2 1/16
Thursday, Jul 27	John Morrissey (NYB)		$100,000	3&UP	Dirt	6 1/2 Furlongs
Friday, Jul 28	Curlin		$100,000	3YO	Dirt	1 1/8
Saturday, Jul 29	Alfred G. Vanderbilt Handicap	I	$350,000	3&UP	Dirt	6 Furlongs
Saturday, Jul 29	Amsterdam	II	$200,000	3YO	Dirt	6 1/2 Furlongs
Saturday, Jul 29	Bowling Green	II	$250,000	4&UP	Turf	1 3/8
Saturday, Jul 29	Jim Dandy	II	$600,000	3YO	Dirt	1 1/8
Sunday, Jul 30	Shuvee Handicap	III	$200,000	F&M 3&UP	Dirt	1 1/8
Monday, Jul 31	Coronation Cup		$100,000	F3YO	Turf	5 1/2
Wednesday, Aug 02	Shine Again		$100,000	F&M 3&UP	Dirt	7 Furlongs
Thursday, Aug 03	Birdstone		$100,000	3&UP	Dirt	1 3/4
Friday, Aug 04	National Museum of Racing Hall Of Fame	II	$200,000	3YO	Turf	1 1/16
Saturday, Aug 05	Fasig-Tipton De La Rose		$100,000	F&M 4&UP	Turf	1 Mile
Saturday, Aug 05	Fasig-Tipton Lure		$100,000	4&UP	Turf	1 1/16
Saturday, Aug 05	Fasig-Tipton Waya	III	$200,000	F&M 3&UP	Turf	1 1/2
Saturday, Aug 05	The Longines Test	I	$500,000	F3YO	Dirt	7 Furlongs
Saturday, Aug 05	Whitney	I	$1,200,000	3&UP	Dirt	1 1/8
Sunday, Aug 06	Alydar		$100,000	4&UP	Dirt	1 1/8
Sunday, Aug 06	Troy Handicap		$250,000	3&UP	Turf	5 1/2
Monday, Aug 07	NYSS Cab Calloway Division		$100,000	3YO	Turf	1 Mile
Wednesday, Aug 09	Quick Call		$100,000	3YO	Turf	5 1/2
Thursday, Aug 10	NYSS Statue of Liberty Division		$100,000	F3YO	Turf	1 Mile
Friday, Aug 11	Tale of the Cat		$100,000	3&UP	Dirt	6 Furlongs
Saturday, Aug 12	Adirondack	II	$200,000	F2YO	Dirt	6 1/2 Furlongs
Saturday, Aug 12	Fourstardave Handicap	I	$500,000	3&UP	Turf	1 Mile
Sunday, Aug 13	Saratoga Special presented by Coors Light	II	$200,000	2YO	Dirt	6 1/2 Furlongs
Monday, Aug 14	Saratoga Dew (NYB)		$100,000	F&M 3&UP	Dirt	1 1/8
Wednesday, Aug 16	Bolton Landing		$100,000	F2YO	Turf	5 1/2
Thursday, Aug 17	Union Avenue (NYB)		$100,000	F&M 3&UP	Dirt	6 1/2 Furlongs
Friday, Aug 18	Skidmore		$100,000	2YO	Turf	5 1/2
Saturday, Aug 19	Alabama	I	$600,000	F3YO	Dirt	1 1/4
Saturday, Aug 19	Lake Placid	II	$300,000	F3YO	Turf	1 1/8
Sunday, Aug 20	Summer Colony		$100,000	F&M 3&UP	Dirt	1 1/8
Monday, Aug 21	Evan Shipman (NYB)		$100,000	3&UP	Dirt	1 1/8
Wednesday, Aug 23	John’s Call		$100,000	3&UP	Turf	1 5/8
Thursday, Aug 24	New York Turf Writers Cup	I	$150,000	4&UP	Turf	2 3/8
Thursday, Aug 24	Riskaverse		$100,000	F3YO	Turf	1 Mile
Friday, Aug 25	Albany (NYB)		$250,000	3YO	Dirt	1 1/8
Friday, Aug 25	Fleet Indian (NYB)		$200,000	F3YO	Dirt	1 1/8
Friday, Aug 25	Funny Cide (NYB)		$200,000	2YO	Dirt	6 1/2 Furlongs
Friday, Aug 25	Seeking the Ante (NYB)		$200,000	F2YO	Dirt	6 1/2 Furlongs
Friday, Aug 25	West Point presented by Trustco Bank		$150,000	3&UP	Turf	1 1/16
Friday, Aug 25	Yaddo (NYB)		$150,000	F&M 3&UP	Turf	1 1/16
Saturday, Aug 26	Forego	I	$600,000	3&UP	Dirt	7 Furlongs
Saturday, Aug 26	H. Allen Jerkens Memorial	I	$500,000	3YO	Dirt	7 Furlongs
Saturday, Aug 26	Ketel One Ballerina	I	$500,000	F&M 3&UP	Dirt	7 Furlongs
Saturday, Aug 26	Personal Ensign	I	$700,000	F&M 3&UP	Dirt	1 1/8
Saturday, Aug 26	Sword Dancer	I	$1,000,000	3&UP	Turf	1 1/2
Saturday, Aug 26	Travers	I	$1,250,000	3YO	Dirt	1 1/4
Saturday, Aug 26	Woodford Reserve Ballston Spa	II	$400,000	F&M 3&UP	Turf	1 1/16
Sunday, Aug 27	Smart N Fancy		$100,000	F&M 3&UP	Turf	5 1/2 Furlongs
Monday, Aug 28	Better Talk Now		$100,000	3YO	Turf	1 Mile
Wednesday, Aug 30	With Anticipation	III	$150,000	2YO	Turf	1 1/16
Thursday, Aug 31	P. G. Johnson		$100,000	F2YO	Turf	1 1/16
Friday, Sep 01	Lucky Coin		$100,000	4&UP	Turf	5 1/2 Furlongs
Saturday, Sep 02	Glens Falls	III	$200,000	F&M 3&UP	Turf	1 3/8
Saturday, Sep 02	Saranac	III	$300,000	3YO	Turf	1 1/8
Saturday, Sep 02	Spinaway	I	$350,000	F2YO	Dirt	7 Furlongs
Saturday, Sep 02	Woodward	I	$750,000	3&UP	Dirt	1 1/8
Sunday, Sep 03	Prioress	II	$250,000	F3YO	Dirt	6 Furlongs
Monday, Sep 04	Bernard Baruch Handicap	II	$250,000	3&UP	Turf	1 1/16
Monday, Sep 04	Hopeful	I	$350,000	2YO	Dirt	7 Furlongs

Saratoga Race Course 2017 Summer Wagering

The New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA) will present a $500,000 Guaranteed Late Pick 4 every Saturday at Saratoga Race Course, a $750,000 guaranteed Pick 4 on Whitney Day August second, and a $1 Million All Graded Stakes Pick 4 on Travers Day, August 23.

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 23, the guarantee will rise to $1 million in conjunction with the 145th running of the Grade 1, $1.25 million Travers Stakes. The Travers is supported by three additional graded events: the $500,000 Grade 1 Ballerine, the $500,000 Grade 1 Ketal One 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.

2017 Saratoga Summer Stakes Schedule

The 2017 Saratoga summer meet will kick things off with an Opening Day Celebration on July 21 and it will end on September 4. The 40-day meet features 69 stakes races worth a combined record-setting $18.8 million in purses, with the highlights of the meet being the $1.2 million Whitney Stakes (G1) and the $1.25 million Travers Stakes (G1).

The summer meet at Saratoga will begin with a bang during an opening weekend slate of races that will feature five graded stakes events each worth at least $150,000 from Friday, July 21 through Sunday, July 24. They are the $150,000 Lake George Stakes (G3), the $150,000 Schuylerville Stakes (G3), the $500,000 Diana Stakes (G1), the $150,000 Sanford Stakes, and the $300,000 Coaching Club American Oaks (G1).

The 90th annual running of the $1.2 million Whitney Stakes is the highlight of an August 5th card that features three graded stakes, two of which are grade one events (Whitney and The Longines Test). The Whitney Stakes reels in the top older horses in the industry and was won by Frosted last year.

Almost three weeks later will be the Travers Day card on August 25. This year it will be host to the $1.25 million Travers Stakes (G1), as well as six other grade one races, most notably the $1 million Sword Dancer Stakes (G1), and four “Win and You’re In” Breeders’ Cup races. In total, the card will be worth a combined $4.55 million in purses. Last year’s Travers Stakes turned out to be an easy victory for the Bob Baffert-trained Arrogate, who won by 12 lengths in a record-setting time of :59.36.

Storylines to watch at this year’s Saratoga summer meet include a duel for leading trainer title between Todd Pletcher and Chad Brown, and top jockey honors between brothers Irad Ortiz Jr. and Jose Ortiz. Brown won last year’s trainer title with a record 40 wins, while Pletcher has won the title 12 times before. Jose beat his brother 65-57 last year; Irad won the title in 2015.

Racing at the Saratoga summer meet will take place six days a week, from Wednesday through Monday.

Saratoga to have plenty of television coverage in 2017:

For the fourth straight year NBC will broadcast from Saratoga to present a national broadcast of the meet’s three biggest Saturdays.

Fox Sports1 will be at Saratoga for the first time and is scheduled for three broadcasts as part of the “Jockey Club Tour on FOX” series.

The schedule for the NBC Sports Group’s live coverage of the 2017 Saratoga meet is as follows (all times Eastern):

Saturday, August 5	G1 Whitney (NBC)	5-6 p.m.
Saturday, August 26	G1 Travers (NBC), G1 Sword Dancer (NBC)	4:30-6 p.m.
Saturday, September 2	G1 Woodward (NBC Sports), Spinaway (NBC Sports)	6-7 p.m.

Bet 2017 Summer Saratoga horse racing online with TwinSpires.com and watch it live on TwinSpiresTV and NBC!

2016 Saratoga Summer Meet

A total of $18.725 million was made available over 69 stakes races during the 2016 Saratoga Summer Meet. Action began on Friday, July 22nd and ran all the way through Monday, September 5th. Located in upstate New York right in the heart of the hottest months of the year, the Saratoga Summer Meet is one of the best attractions running in the northeast.

2016 Whitney Stakes – Frosted
The momentum that Frosted generated since his return from the Dubai World Cup, where he finished 5th, has been astounding. The four-year-old crushed the Met Mile two months ago and most recently completed a score in the 2016 Whitney as a 3/5 favorite.

Comfort took second as an 8/1 third choice, while Upstart was able to catch Effinex down the stretch to take third. Effinex, Noble Bird and El Kabeir rounded out the remainder of the order.

2016 Alabama Stakes and 2016 Coaching Club American Oaks – Songbird
Jerry Hollendorfer’s superstar was untouchable in her two outings in the Saratoga Summer Meet. Songbird began as a 4-5 favorite against Carina Mia in the 2016 Coaching Club American Oaks. The two finished first and second, but Songbird proved beyond a shadow of a doubt that her standard was far superior to her rival.

One month later, Songbird was at it again in the 2016 Alabama Stakes, crushing Going For Broke, Family Tree and the rest of the competition. Those two victories raise Songbird’s record to an impeccable 10-0-0 in as many starts. She is absolutely the strongest female runner in the sport today.

2016 Travers Stakes – Arrogate
The summer battle between three-year-olds didn’t disappoint as Arrogate made his presence known with a stunning performance in the 2016 Travers Stakes. The 11/1 outside shot took the lead early on during the first turn, and never relinquished it, opening up a cavernous gap down the final lengths. This one wasn’t even close.

Arrogate was so dominant that his 1:59.36 finishing time was not only a track record, but the first effort to ever break the two-minute barrier for the 1 ¼ mile distance at Saratoga. It was an absolutely epic display.

American Freedom and Gun Runner rounded the top three.

2016 Woodward Stakes – Shaman Ghost
The Woodward Stakes was meant to be another cakewalk for the ever-improving Frosted, but it instead turned in to a catastrophic upset for the Godolphin product. Opening as a 1/2 favorite, Frosted fell to third and flubbed the stellar momentum he had built at both the Whitney and Met Mile.

Instead, it was 12/1 longshot Shaman Ghost bursting to a staggering win. It was just his second victory of the year with a Brooklyn Invitational triumph already in the bag from earlier this summer. Shaman Ghost was followed by 5/1 second choice Mubtaahij. Frosted came third folloed by Breaking Lucky, TApin Mojo and Catholic Cowboy.