The New York Racing Association will offer its fans free admission and free general parking on Saturday, July 12 as 2007 Horse of the Year Curlin makes his turf debut in the featured 49th running of the Grade 1, $500,000 Man o’War Stakes at 11 furlongs.

“Everyone at NYRA is excited about the opportunity to play host to the best Thoroughbred in the world,” said Gavin Landry, NYRA Senior VP of Sales and Market Development. “We want to extend our great fans a free invitation to join us and see this phenomenal horse run live and in person for a potentially historic event.”

Curlin and trainer Steve Asmussen are using the Man o’War as a gauge of Curlin’s ability on the turf. If it is a success, he will head to Paris’ Longchamp Racecourse for the Prix Foy and, ultimately, the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe on October 5.

He will get all the test he wants, as he faces six others including 9-year-old Better Talk Now, winner of the 2004 Breeders’ Cup Turf; Red Rocks (IRE) winner of the 2006 Breeders’ Cup Turf; and Grand Couturier (GB), winner of Saratoga’s Grade 1 Sword Dancer Invitational last year.

The Man o’War will be race 9 of a 10-race card that begins at 1 p.m. Post time for the Man o’War will be 5:15 p.m. and the race will be televised live by ESPNews.