The Fasig-Tipton Festival of Racing at Saratoga Race Course the weekend of August 8-9 will celebrate the rich partnership between racing and yearling sales with a variety of special events, a celebrity race call, best-turned-out horse (and people!) contests and an innovative, free speaker series for fans.

Ushering in two evenings of sales on Aug. 10-11 at the newly-remodeled Humphrey S. Finney Sales Pavilion on East Avenue, the centerpiece of the Festival are two days of world-class racing, highlighted by the 82nd running of the Grade 1, $750,000 Whitney Handicap and the 84th running of the Grade 1, $300,000 Test on Saturday, Aug. 8, and the 24th running of the Grade 2, $250,000 Alfred G. Vanderbilt Handicap and the 18th running of the Grade 2, $150,000 Honorable Miss Handicap on Sunday, Aug. 9.

Additionally, Fasig-Tipton will have two new overnight stakes; on Saturday, the John Hettinger Stakes will be run on the main track while on Sunday, the Finney Stakes will be run on the turf. Fasig-Tipton is also sponsoring a “Best Turned-Out Horse” contest for both stakes, with the winning grooms to receive a cash prize of $500.

Celebrity chef and horse owner Bobby Flay will do the race call for the Finney Stakes.

Standings for this series will be continually updated on NYRA TV, with the presentation to the individual winners set for Monday, Aug. 10, in the winner’s circle between the third and fourth races.

“Saratoga is the most exciting race meet in the country and it is great to work with Fasig-Tipton to launch our first Festival of Racing,” said NYRA President and Chief Executive Officer Charles Hayward. “The combination of world-class racing and world-class yearlings has always drawn fans from around the world. Now, this will be supported by many activities, both on and off the track, providing a thrilling, unforgettable experience for all of our customers.”

On Saturday morning, Aug. 8, Fasig-Tipton and co-sponsors NYRA, ThoroFan, and New York Thoroughbred Breeders will host the free education program “From the Farm to the Finish Line: A Seminar on the Thoroughbred Industry” in the sales pavilion on East Avenue. From 10-11 a.m., industry experts will discuss their roles in getting a young thoroughbred from the farm to the sales ring and onto the racetrack, following which, fans can watch a demonstration of a consignor showing a yearling to a prospective buyer. As of this writing, confirmed panelists include Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas, Case Clay of Three Chimneys Farm, and consignor Meg Levy, with a prominent thoroughbred owner likely to participate as well. Free tickets for this event will be available through the NYTB by phoning 518-587-0777, or may be picked up at the NYRA Open House at Saratoga on Sunday, July 26th at the ThoroFan booth.

On Sunday, a “Best Turned Out Filly” fashion contest will be held at the racetrack, with the best-dressed woman to be awarded a gift certificate from a local retail shop before the running of the Honorable Miss.

Fasig-Tipton, which is paying tribute to the racetrack’s long history by featuring Man o’ War on the sale book cover, has extended invitations to members of the global racing community to travel to Saratoga Springs for the first time and introduce them to the area’s first-class hospitality.

Last year, Synergy Investments Ltd., headed by Abdulla Al Habbai, a close associate of the ruler of Dubai, purchased the historic horse auction company. It is making extensive renovations to the pavilion and its 4-acre property.

“Fasig-Tipton is delighted to partner with NYRA to present a weekend of world-class racing preceding our premier yearling sale in Saratoga,” said Fasig-Tipton President and Chief Executive Officer Boyd Browning. “We look forward to having the opportunity to showcase the ‘Saratoga experience’ for many of our international visitors.”