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96th renewal of the Whitney to culminate a day of fundraising and fashion at Saratoga Race Course

by Pat McKenna, Mark Bardack

The New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA) will host one of its signature days of the Saratoga summer meet on Saturday, August 5, headlined by the 96th running of the Grade 1, $1 million Whitney. Saturday's 12-race program features a special first post time of 12:35 p.m., with admission gates open to the public at 11 a.m.

Cody’s Wish, named for Make-A-Wish Foundation recipient Cody Dorman, will be in search of his seventh consecutive trip to the Winner’s Circle and an automatic berth in the Breeders’ Cup Classic with a victory in the 96th edition of the Whitney. Dorman, who was born with a rare genetic condition, met the horse as a weanling and later became the namesake for the Bill Mott-trained thoroughbred who captured last year’s Forego at Saratoga Race Course on his way to winning the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile. 

Saturday’s card will also feature the Grade 1, $500,000 Test and Grade 1, $600,000 Saratoga Derby Invitational.

Pink will be the theme of the day at Saratoga Race Course in recognition of local breast cancer survivors and the work of To Life!, a Capital Region non-profit organization that provides personalized breast cancer education and support services. To Life! will be accepting donations and sharing information at a trackside table inside Gates B and C.

“It is an honor for To Life! to be at Saratoga Race Course on Whitney Day,” said Executive Director Eileen Howe Bird. “Celebrating the strength and courage of breast cancer survivors is just one way we can bring awareness to this cause, as it has impacted us all in some fashion. We are grateful for the show of support from NYRA and the opportunity for our survivor honorees to be recognized and appreciated.”

Breast cancer survivors who are likewise To Life! support recipients will participate in the day’s activities: Darlene Bauer will sing the National Anthem and To Life! representatives will announce the ceremonial call for “Riders Up” prior to Saturday's fourth race named in honor of the organization.

Fans are invited to take part in a “Best in Pink” fashion photo contest from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. across from the Travers Bar, presented by Whispering Angel. Each fan who participates will receive a commemorative photo magnet and will be judged for their flair to wear pink.

Prizes for Win, Place and Show in the Best in Pink contest will be a complimentary bottle of Whispering Angel, a premium pink rosé from the Chateau d’Esclans Estate in Provence, France, and part of the Moët Hennessy portfolio.

In addition, Moët Hennessy will offer complimentary samples of its Chandon Garden Spritz cocktail from 12 p.m. to 3 p.m., adjacent to the Best in Pink photo fashion contest location. Samples will be available to fans 21 and older with valid ID, while supplies last.

The FOX Sports family of networks will present expansive coverage and analysis of Whitney Day beginning with  Saratoga Live on FS1 at 12:30 p.m. Coverage then picks up on  FOX SARATOGA SATURDAY which will air from 3-6:00 p.m. on FOX.  Saratoga Live will complete the live coverage of Whitney Day on FS2 from 6:00 - 7:00 p.m. For the complete broadcast schedule, visit  https://www.nyra.com/saratoga/racing/tv-schedule. 

Highlighted by the 154th edition of the Grade 1, $1.25 million Travers on August 26 and the Grade 1, $1 million Whitney on August 5, the 2023 summer meet at historic Saratoga Race Course continues through Monday, September 4.

Racing is conducted five days a week, Wednesdays through Sundays, apart from the final week, when the meet will conclude on Labor Day.

For more information about Saratoga Race Course visit NYRA.com.