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NYRA announces post times for the summer meet at Saratoga Race Course

by Brian Bohl

The New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA) today announced post times for the 40-day summer meet at historic Saratoga Race Course, which will feature 76 stakes worth $21.5 million in total purses. The summer meet will open Thursday, July 15, and conclude Monday, September 6.

The 2021 summer meet, which will offer at least one stakes race every live racing day, will be highlighted by the Grade 1, $1.25 million Runhappy Travers on August 28 and the Grade 1, $1 million Whitney on August 7.

With the exception of Travers Day, Whitney Day and closing weekend, first post on live race days will be 1:05 p.m.

The 152nd edition of the Runhappy Travers is the centerpiece of a blockbuster day of racing on Saturday, August 28. The Runhappy Travers Day card will begin at 11:35 a.m. and will include seven stakes, including six Grade 1 events, offering $4.6 million in total purse money, with automatic berths in the Breeders’ Cup awarded to the winner of the Grade 1, $750,000 Resorts World Casino Sword Dancer [Turf], the Grade 1, $600,000 Personal Ensign presented by Lia Infiniti [Distaff], and the Grade 1, $500,000 Ketel One Ballerina [Filly & Mare Sprint].

Additionally, the Travers Day card will also include the Grade 1, $600,000 Forego, a seven-furlong sprint for 4-year-olds and upward, and the Grade 1, $500,000 H. Allen Jerkens Memorial for 3-year-olds going seven furlongs. Rounding out the signature day at the Spa is the Grade 2, $400,000 Ballston Spa for turf fillies and mares.

Saratoga's first Grade 1 of 2021 is the $500,000 Diana for turf fillies and mares on Saturday, July 17. The card will offer a 1:05 p.m. first post and also include the Grade 3, $150,000 Sanford, a six-furlong sprint for juveniles.

Whitney Day on August 7, which kicks off with a 12:35 p.m. first post, will feature three Grade 1 events, led by the Whitney at 1 1/8 miles for older horses offering an automatic berth to the Breeders' Cup Classic on November 6 at Del Mar.

Completing the trio of Grade 1s on Whitney Day will be the $500,000 Longines Test for sophomore fillies and the $1 million Saratoga Derby Invitational, the second jewel of the Turf Triple series for sophomore males in its first running with Grade 1 status. Whitney Day will also include the Grade 2, $250,000 Glens Falls for older fillies and mares on turf, and the $120,000 Fasig-Tipton Lure.

Closing Weekend of the Saratoga meet will offer a 12:35 p.m. post time Saturday through Monday.

The Saturday, September 4 slate features a pair of Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup “Win and You’re In” events previously held in the fall at Belmont Park, with the $1 million Jockey Club Gold Cup [Classic] at 10 furlongs for 3-year-olds and up, and the $600,000 Flower Bowl [Filly and Mare Turf], an 11-furlong turf test for older fillies and mares, to anchor a day that also includes the Grade 2, $250,000 Prioress and the Grade 3, $300,000 Saranac.

The Sunday, September 5 card will be highlighted by the Grade 1, $300,000 Spinaway for juvenile fillies; and Closing Day on Labor Day, September 6 will offer the Grade 1, $300,000 Hopeful for juveniles and Grade 2, $200,000 Bernard Baruch Handicap on the turf for 3-year-olds and up.

For more information, please visit NYRA.com.