Saratoga's Second Week of Events Kicks Off

The second week of Saratoga Race Course's 2016 meet runs from Wednesday, July 27 - Monday, August 1. This week's events will take place at Saratoga Race Course and nearby locations.

Honorable Miss Handicap: The day's feature race is a Grade 2, $200,000 sprint for fillies and mares on the dirt.

Saratoga Springs Day: Saratoga Race Course will welcome local arts, history and tourism attractions, as well as members of the Downtown Business Association (DBA) who are participating in the newly expanded Saratoga Season Perks program, for a day in celebration of Saratoga Springs. The day will provide guests with an authentic Saratoga experience at the Saratoga Pavilion, presented by Time Warner Cable News. Guests who visit the Saratoga Pavilion will have the opportunity to participate in interactive activities, enjoy live entertainment from popular local performers, enter to win gift certificates from Saratoga Season Perks partners and shop downtown businesses. Additionally, guests who visit the Saratoga Pavilion will have one final chance to upgrade their one-day admission to a 2016 grandstand or clubhouse season pass and get the immediate benefit of receiving discounts to Saratoga restaurants and shops as well as to Live Nation concerts and select classical performances at SPAC. Fans who visit the Saratoga Pavilion may also enter to win a variety of gift certificates and prizes from the day's participating organizations. Saratoga Springs Day is the first installment of the weekly New York Heritage and Tourism Series at Saratoga Race Course.

Mornings at Saratoga: Fans are invited to enjoy breakfast on The Porch of the clubhouse while the thoroughbreds train on the main track. Breakfast is held from 7 to 9:30 a.m. and is available on a first-come, first-served basis. $17.95 for adults and $9.95 for kids 12 and under. Mornings at Saratoga also welcome fans to go behind the scenes with a free, guided backstretch tram tour. Tram tours begin at 7:30 a.m. and depart from the clubhouse entrance approximately every 15 minutes through 9 a.m. Tours are available on a first-come, first-served basis and are 45 minutes in length.

Saratoga LIVE: Fans can follow the action on Saratoga LIVE, the new racing program produced by NYRA TV, which is broadcast to an audience of more than 65 million viewers on Fox Sports 2 and MSG+ each day beginning at 4 p.m. and on Altitude Sports beginning at 3 p.m. MT. The program features a combination of racing coverage, analysis and feature items.

Saratoga Season Perks: All season pass and season ticket plan holders will receive discounts at most on-track concession stands, NYRA merchandise stores and Shake Shack on Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays and the Artist's Village on Fridays. Discount does not apply to lottery, tobacco, restaurant dining, group sales or Dunkin' Donuts. For a complete list of participating Saratoga Season Perks partners, visit SaratogaSeasonPerks.com.

Community Outreach Booth: The Community Outreach Booth will host the Watervliet Civic Chest, a community organization which provides pre-kindergarten and daycare programming for children in a safe, nurturing and friendly environment. The Community Outreach Booth provides one non-profit organization per day with an exclusive opportunity to interact with the thousands of guests who visit Saratoga Race Course, share information about its work and host fundraising initiatives.

The John Morrissey (NYB): The day's feature race is a $100,000 stakes for New York-breds going six and a half furlongs on the dirt.

Taste NY: Cider, Wine & Spirits: Taste NY: Cider, Wine & Spirits offers guests a selection of cider, wine and spirits available for sampling each Thursday of the meet in partnership with the New York Department of Agriculture and Markets. Fans will be able to sample five varietals for $5 at the Saratoga Pavilion, presented by Time Warner Cable News, from noon to 5 p.m.

Community Outreach Booth: The Community Outreach Booth will host the Saratoga Regional YMCA, an organization dedicated to building a healthy spirit, mind and body for all through fitness, health and wellness initiatives.

"At the Post Live: Serling on Saratoga": NYRA TV broadcast analyst and nationally recognized thoroughbred racing personality Andy Serling hosts this live broadcast on ESPN Radio 104.5 "The Team" at The Parting Glass in downtown Saratoga Springs from 8 to 9 p.m.

 

The Curlin: The day's feature is a potential prep for the Travers at nine furlongs for a purse of $100,000

College & Alumni Day: Crosstown rivals convene when students and alumni from the University at Albany and Siena College are invited to Saratoga Race Course for College & Alumni Day. Fans are invited to wear their school colors to show spirit. There will be a variety of games and activities on track to challenge the competitive spirit of each school's students and alumni.

Taste NY: Craft Beer: This weekly event offers guests a selection of New York craft beers available for sampling in partnership with the New York Department of Agriculture and Markets. Fans will be able to sample five craft beers for $5 at the Saratoga Pavilion, presented by Time Warner Cable News, from noon to 5 p.m.

Community Outreach Booth: The Community Outreach Booth will host North Country Wild Care, a non-profit organization that supports wildlife rehabilitators in Schenectady, Warren, Washington, Saratoga, Albany, Rensselaer, Montgomery, Fulton and Essex Counties.

A Travers Day Preview: A quartet of graded stakes headlines one of the most highly anticipated Saturdays on the Saratoga calendar. The traditional local prep for the Travers, the Grade 2, $600,000 Jim Dandy, will be joined by the Grade 1, $350,000 Alfred G. Vanderbilt Handicap, the Grade 2, $200,000 Amsterdam and the Grade 2, $250,000 Bowling Green Handicap.

Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund Awareness Day: Saratoga Race Course will unite with racetracks across the country as part of the Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund (PDJF) Day Across America. Riders from the Saratoga jockey colony will sign autographs on the Jockey Silks Room Porch from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. with a suggested donation to PDJF. On Sunday, jockeys will jettison the irons for cleats as they sprint down the stretch in a foot race on the main track at 12:10 p.m.

NYRA Bets Lounge: Fans are invited to visit the NYRA Bets Lounge, located within the Saratoga Pavilion, presented by Time Warner Cable News. The NYRA Bets Lounge will offer handicapping tips and analysis from racing professionals and also feature a champagne bar and Lifestyles clothing boutique.

Low Roller Challenge: Saturday will feature the Low Roller Challenge, presented by NYRA Bets, which allows aspiring handicappers the opportunity to experience the thrill of tournament play for $40, with $30 going towards live bankroll and $10 to the prize pool. Registration begins at 10:30 a.m. at the NYRA Bets Lounge in the Saratoga Pavilion, presented by Time Warner Cable News.

Community Outreach Booth: The Community Outreach Booth will host the Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund in honor of the day-long celebration at Saratoga Race Course. The Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund is a public charity which provides financial assistance to former jockeys who have suffered catastrophic on-track injuries.

Taste NY: Food and Artisans: Taste NY: Food & Artisans is a lively on-track market filled with vendors featuring products made exclusively in New York State. Products include jams, baked goods and hand-crafted soap, amongst other items. The market is held each Sunday from 10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the Saratoga Pavilion, presented by Time Warner Cable News.

Low Roller Challenge: Sunday will include the return of the Low Roller Challenge, presented by NYRA Bets, which allows aspiring handicappers the opportunity to experience the thrill of tournament play for $40, with $30 going towards live bankroll and $10 to the prize pool. Registration begins at 10:30 a.m. near the Fourstardave Sports Bar.

Community Outreach Booth: The Community Outreach Booth will host the Association of Ladies of Charity - Diocese of Albany Saratoga Vicariate, a non-profit organization dedicated to serving the sick, poor and otherwise marginalized populations in communities across the country.

Duffle Bag Giveaway: Racing fans take home the second giveaway of the 2016 meet, a Saratoga duffle bag, presented by Foxwoods Resort Casino. All season ticket plan and season pass holders will be guaranteed to receive the giveaway if they redeem the item by 3 p.m. Season pass and season ticket plan holders are required to utilize the line designated for them at each entry gate.  

Berkshire Bank Family Mondays: Monday is highlighted by Berkshire Bank Family Mondays from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the Saratoga Pavilion, presented by Time Warner Cable News. All kid-friendly games and activities, including the opportunity to pet a retired thoroughbred, are free of charge, with the exception of one designated activity which carries a suggested donation to benefit a local school or PTA. The beneficiary of the second Monday of the season is the Scotia-Glenville Education Foundation. Berkshire Bank Family Mondays is presented with support from Pediatric Dental Group of New York.

Low Roller Challenge: Monday will include the continuation of the Low Roller Challenge, presented by NYRA Bets, which allows aspiring handicappers the opportunity to experience the thrill of tournament play for $40, with $30 going towards live bankroll and $10 to the prize pool. Registration begins at 11 a.m. near the Fourstardave Sports Bar.

Community Outreach Booth: The Community Outreach Booth will host the Commission on Economic Opportunity, which provides over 25 programs to the community aimed to help underserved individuals develop social and economic growth.

 

All events and activities are subject to change at the discretion of the New York Racing Association.