NYRA unveils stakes schedule for the 2026 Saratoga summer meet

The New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA) today announced the stakes schedule for the 2026 summer meet at Saratoga Race Course, which will open Friday, July 3, and continue through Labor Day, Monday, September 7.

Highlighted by the 157th renewal of the Grade 1, $1.25 million DraftKings Travers on August 29 and the 99th edition of the Grade 1, $1 million Whitney on August 8, the 46-day summer meet will offer 20 Grade 1 races among 73 stakes worth over $23.575 million in total purses.

The summer meet will begin with a special July 4th Racing Festival featuring the Grade 1, $750,000 Belmont Derby and Grade 1, $600,000 Belmont Oaks. Typically held at Belmont Park, the July 4th Festival will honor America’s 250th anniversary with on-track entertainment, patriotic fanfare and a variety of family friendly events.

Following the three-day Opening Weekend, Friday, July 3, through Sunday, July 5, live racing will be conducted Thursday-Sunday before the resumption of the five-day racing week beginning Wednesday, July 29. The 2026 summer meet will conclude with a six-day closing week from Wednesday, September 2, through Labor Day, Monday, September 7.

With the new Belmont Park to re-open on September 18, 2026 will mark the final year of adjustments to the customary schedule of racing at Saratoga. Beginning in 2027, Belmont Park will host the Belmont Stakes and July 4th Racing Festivals, while Saratoga will return to its traditional 40-day summer meet.

The Grade 1, $1 million Jockey Club Gold Cup will return to its traditional home at Belmont Park in 2026 and serve as the opening day feature on Friday, September 18. This follows a five-year period when the Gold Cup was held during the summer meet at Saratoga. Additionally, the Grade 2, $500,000 Flower Bowl will return downstate and be held during the fall meet at Belmont Park on a date to be determined.

On the heels of a record-setting Whitney Day in 2025, which was further elevated by the inclusion of the Grade 1, $750,000 Fourstardave for the first time in Saratoga history, a blockbuster day of world-class racing awaits fans on Saturday, August 8. Headlined by the 99th running of the Grade 1, $1 million Whitney, NYRA will offer four Grade 1 events inclusive of the Whitney, Fourstardave, $750,000 Saratoga Derby presented by Qatar Racing and $500,000 Test presented by Ticketmaster.

As the centerpiece of the summer meet, and one of racing’s biggest events, DraftKings Travers Day will be held on Saturday, August 29. The stars of the sport will converge on Saratoga to compete in five Grade 1 events among nine stakes in total. In addition to the Grade 1, $1.25 million DraftKings Travers, the program will include the Grade 1, $500,000 Personal Ensign, the Grade 1, $500,000 Forego, the Grade 1, $500,000 H. Allen Jerkens Memorial and the Grade 1, $500,000 Resorts World Casino Ballerina.

Saratoga Live, the critically acclaimed and award-winning television show produced by NYRA in partnership with FOX Sports, will return for its 11th season in 2026 to provide daily coverage and in-depth analysis of the summer meet on the FOX Sports family of networks.

Saratoga will host the Belmont Stakes Racing Festival for the third and final time from Wednesday, June 3, through Sunday, June 7. Highlighted by the 158th edition of the Grade 1, $2 million Belmont Stakes presented by NYRA Bets on Saturday, June 6, the 2026 Belmont Stakes Racing Festival will include 10 Grade 1 races among 18 graded stakes across five days of world class competition. 

To mark 100 days until the Belmont Stakes, fans who purchase Belmont Stakes Day admission today will receive complimentary general admission for Thursday, June 4 and Friday, June as well $25 of credit redeemable for food & beverage on Saturday, June 6. This special offer is available at https://am.ticketmaster.com/nyra2/buy/BSRF3GA.

The complete Saratoga stakes schedule Saratoga is available at https://www.nyra.com/saratoga/racing/stakes-schedule/.