Party at the Park

Friday, July 31st and Friday, September 4th

Saratoga Fans can enjoy two “Party at the Park” events this summer, the first and last Fridays of the meet.  Party at the Park features a first post of 2:30 pm with the last race starting before “full twilight” hits Saratoga. 

Party at the Park includes food and beverage specials during racing and then stick-around after the final race for live music.

ROCKJUNKY, a New York City-based rock 'n roll quartet, will bring their trademark 3-part vocal sound, reminiscent of the "Southern California sound" that dominated
the charts in the late 1960's-70's on Friday, July 31st.  . The group's repertoire includes many of the popular hits from this era as well as classic-rock favorites up to the present. 




Hats Off

Sunday, August 2nd

On Sunday, August 2nd, it’s an annual tradition – the Hat Contest. Categories include “Kreative Kids”, “Fashionably Saratoga” and “Uniquely Saratoga”.

  • Kreative Kids is for youngsters 18 and under.
  • Fashionably Saratoga invites contestants to don their most beautiful hats.
  • Uniquely Saratoga are, well, unique. Past efforts in this category have even included a battery operated horse race atop a hat.
Registration is at noon. Prizes include Saratoga merchandise, lunch in the Clubhouse and betting vouchers.




Mid-Summer St. Patrick’s Day

Wednesday, August 5th

Irish eyes will be smiling….and dancing in the middle of summer for the first Mid-Summer St. Patrick’s Day at Saratoga Race Course. Event highlights include performances by the Orange County AOH Pipes and Drums and the Boland School of Dance, Irish food and beer and free grandstand admission if you wear green!




Fasig Tipton Festival of Racing

Saturday, August 8th and Sunday, August 9th

The Fasig-Tipton Festival of Racing will celebrate the rich partnership between racing and yearling sales with a variety of special events, including a jockey and trainer challenge, a celebrity race call, best-turned-out horse (and people!) contests and an innovative, free speaker series for fans.

In addition to the normal stakes schedule that weekend, 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 provide the race call for the Finney Stakes.

Adding to the excitement will be the Fasig-Tipton Charity Challenge Series for trainers and jockeys, which will encompass 20 races over the weekend, with competitors eligible for a 5-3-1 win-place-show point system. The New York Racing Association, Inc. will donate $5,000 toward the charity of the winning jockey’s choice, while Fasig-Tipton will donate the same amount to the charity of the winning trainer’s choice.




NFL Day

Monday, August 10th

It’s the NFL Alumni Upstate New York Chapters’ Day at Saratoga Race Course on Monday, August 10th from 11 am to 12:30 pm. Arrive early to insure place in line.

Two Hall of Famers (Bobby Bell and Carl Eller) will be joined by:

NY Giants
Jim Burt
Chris Calloway
Rodney Hampton
Leonard Marshall
Karl Nelson

NY Jets
Emerson Boozer
Marc Gastineau

Miami Dolphins
Jim Kiick
Mercury Morris
Earl Morrall
Marco Coleman

Louis Lipps, Pittsburgh Steelers
Ben Davidson, Oakland Raiders
Phil Villapiano--  Oakland Raiders
Robert Newhouse, Dallas Cowboys
Ickey Woods, Cincinnati Bengals
Isaac Curtis, Cincinnati Bengals
James Brooks, Cincinnati Bengals
Pete Johnson, Cincinnati Bengals
Larry Brown, Washington Redskins
Mark Moseley, Washington Redskins

 



Racing Hall of Fame Day

Friday, August 14th

Induction ceremonies take place at Fasig-Tipton at 10:30 am and is open to the public, but you can celebrate Racing Hall of Fame Day at Saratoga Race Course. On-track, it’s the $150,000 National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame Race for three-year-olds and up on the turf. Off-track, welcome the class of 2009 in a special ceremony--- trainers Bob Baffert and Janet Elliot, jockey Eddie Maple and the horses Ben Nevis II, Silverbulletday and Tiznow. Plus meet them and other members of the Racing Hall-of-Fame at an autograph signing. Time and location TBD.




Women’s Day

Wednesday, August 19th
9 to 10:30 am and 11 am to 5 pm
Near the Big Red Spring

The fashion, style and glamour of Saratoga Race Course will be highlighted on Wednesday as the Spa welcomes the return of Women’s Day.
 
Ladies, who comprise nearly half the fan base at Saratoga Race Course, will have the opportunity to peruse health and lifestyle-related products while enjoying live music from Colleen Pratt and Saratoga Soundtrack.

An array of exhibitor booths in the backyard will feature products and information focused on fashion, health care, personal improvement and leisure.




14th Annual Travers Festival

Saturday, August 22 - Sunday, August 30

Nine days of family festivities, live entertainment and community events will permeate the Saratoga region as the 14th annual Travers Festival returns to commemorate the running of America’s oldest stakes race, the Grade 1, $1 million Shadwell Travers Stakes on Saturday, August 29.

The Festival gets underway at Saratoga Race Course on Saturday, August 22nd with the Grade 1, $600,000 Alabama for three-year-old fillies.

Festival activities continue through the week with an ice cream eating competition, a battle of the brews, a fashion show, a wine tasting and the Travers Celebration evening fundraising gala, before culminating in the 140th edition of the Shadwell Travers Stakes.

All totaled, the Travers Festival is comprised of more than 30 special events and helps generate hundreds of thousands of dollars for local non-profit organizations and regional charities.

Click here to view brochure





Stewart’s Ice Cream Eating Contest

Wednesday, August 26th

The coolest way to beat the summer heat, racing fans will come to the Spa spoon-in-hand as they prepare to compete in the ultimate in chilly contests – the Stewart’s ice cream eating on Wednesday, August 26th.   Registration is at 1 pm at the Jockey Silks Room.

Contestants will be divided into three age groups - kids, teens and adults - as they battle to see who can down a pint of ice cream the fastest.  The competition will unfold outside the jockey silks area at Saratoga Race Course.

The winner will receive gift certificates for free ice cream courtesy of Stewart’s Shops.

The Stewart’s Shops Ice Cream Eating Contest is part of the 14th annual Travers Festival, which celebrates the 140th running of the Shadwell Travers Stakes on Saturday, August 29th. 




American Red Cross Battle of the Brews

Friday, August 28th
Noon-4:30 pm

A “pint” sized competition will bring big brewers to the backyard on the eve of the 140th running of the Shadwell Travers Stakes as Saratoga Race Course hosts the 12th annual “Battle of the Brews.”

A frothy backyard battle, patrons 21 years and older will have a chance to sample some great microbrews and then and then offer critiques in categories like “people’s choice,” and “judge’s choice.”

Participating breweries include Black Dog, Boulder Beer, Brewery Ommegang, Cooper’s Cave Ale, Green Mountain, Harpoon, Long Trail, Magic Hat, Olde Saratoga, Paper City, Saranac, Sierra Nevada and Switchback.

Admission to the Battle of the Brews is $25.  Proceeds benefit the American Red Cross Adirondack Saratoga Chapter.

Snacks and non-alcoholic beverages will also be available. 




Proud to be an American Day

Wednesday, September 2nd

Celebrate your red, white and blue pride and enjoy some great activities in the backyard by the Big Red Spring.

All-new displays by the NY National Guard, the NY Army National Guard and the NY Air National Guard will also be on-site.

There will also be patriotic music as well as information and interactive displays from the military branches plus special military races.

There is complimentary admission for veterans and military with ID, courtesy of the Saratoga County Board of Supervisors.




College Day

Friday, September 4th

College students are invited to Saratoga Race Course to earn scholarships, win great prizes and enjoy America’s Racetrack!  All college students, with valid college ID, will receive free grandstand admission.  The 1st 1,000 college students will receive a commemorative t-shirt.  All students will be invited to sign-up to win a $1,000 scholarship after each race.  Other prizes to be given away include IPODs, I-Tune cards, digital cameras and a $250 airline gift card.  Plus students can enjoy karaoke with FLY 92, Team Trivia, food and beverage specials and other great activities. 




Family Fun Fest

Sunday, September 6th and Monday, September 7th

On the final two days of the141st racing season, families are invited to experience fun, games, and entertainment at Saratoga Race Course’s annual Family Fun Fest, to benefit the Ronald McDonald House Charities of the Capital Region.

The two-day festival will take place on Sunday, September 6th from 10:30 a.m. – 5 p.m. and Monday, September 7th, from 11 a.m. – 5 p.m.  During this time, the backyard area will host a variety of family-friendly attractions such as carnival games, face painting, caricatures, spin art, giant inflatables and pony rides.

Juggler and stilt walker Sparkles will entertain both young and old and there will be a magic show, too. Kids can also climb Coca-Cola’s inflatable rock wall, try the Adrenaline Rush obstacle course, or bounce in the Bounce Around house.

Proceeds from activities at the Family Fun Fest benefit Ronald McDonald Charities of the Capital Region. The non-profit organization provides comfort, support and respite for families of seriously ill children in a compassionate, home-like environment.




Labor Day BBQ

Monday, September 7th

The Spa will provide fans with one last chance to indulge in a traditional red, white and blue afternoon at America’s racetrack featuring a quintessential Labor Day barbecue lunch.

For $20 ($14 for kids ages 3 – 12), fans can enjoy an all-American barbeque that features hamburgers, hot dogs, chicken, salad, dessert and more at the track’s At the Rail tent and Paddock Pavilion.

The price includes Clubhouse admission and an official “Post Parade” program.

For reservations, call group sales at (518) 584-6200, ext. 4476 or stop by any track information booth.


 

Event details subject to change.