Undeniably one of the most popular non-racing features of the six-week meet at Saratoga Race Course, Sunday giveaway days will again be a focal point in 2009.

Four giveaways are planned this year: An Alabama Stakes baseball cap on Aug. 2; a short-sleeve Saratoga t-shirt on Aug. 16; a long-sleeve Saratoga t-shirt on Aug. 23 and a Saratoga knit winter cap on Sept. 6.

Also planned for select weekday giveaways is the new Jockey Autograph Book, sponsored by Price Chopper, in which fans can collect the signatures of their favorite New York Racing Association jockeys and others.

As has become customary, Saratoga Race Course will host two “Party at the Park” Fridays on the first (July 31) and last (Sept. 4) Fridays of the meet. First post on these Fridays is at 2:30 p.m. and live music is featured in the backyard throughout the race day.

English and Southern California racing will again be presented by Hendrick’s Gin in a newly expanded backyard tent with a full bar and food service.

For the first time this summer, the daily handicapping show is now called “Talking Horses, presented by Daily Racing Form” and will be moved to the Carousel Restaurant on the track grounds and conducted in front of a live audience. Now extended to 45 minutes every race day from 11:45 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., the show will be broadcast live and uninterrupted via all on-track monitors.

Throughout the summer, downstate racing fans who can’t make it to Saratoga will be able to catch all the action via simulcast at beautiful Belmont Park. The Saratoga card is broadcast live Wednesday through Monday at Belmont with free parking and admission for simulcast patrons. Official track prices are given on all payoffs.

For MSG Plus subscribers, the network will telecast five “Saturdays at Saratoga” live for eight championship caliber stakes including the Jim Dandy, Whitney Handicap, Alabama and Woodward, so fans can catch racing action at home.

All this in addition to popular Saratoga staples like Hats Off To Saratoga (Friday, July 31 – Sunday, Aug. 2), NFL Day (Monday, Aug. 10), the Stewart’s Shops ice cream eating contest (Wednesday, Aug. 26), and new additions like the Fasig-Tipton Festival of Racing (Saturday, Aug. 8 – Sunday, Aug. 9) are sure to guarantee that Saratoga, as always, will remain the summer place to be in 2009.