Coglianese /NYRA Photo Photo

NYRA welcomes Berkshire Bank as official partner of Family Zone at Saratoga Race Course

by NYRA Press Office

Berkshire Bank Family Zone to complement Berkshire Bank Family Mondays

The New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA) today announced that Berkshire Bank will further its commitment to supporting children's and family activities at Saratoga Race Course by serving as the official partner of the Saratoga Family Zone.

The Berkshire Bank Family Zone offers families a smoke- and alcohol-free interactive area on the Saratoga Race Course grounds. The former play area underwent a large-scale revitalization in 2017 as a result of a significant investment by NYRA.

The Berkshire Bank Family Zone features an oval multi-lane running track surrounding the playscape, a miniature replica starting gate, a "selfie" photo station, spring horses, and educational panels designed to teach children about the life of a race horse.

New features for the 2018 season include a complimentary phone charging station, courtesy of Berkshire Bank, and a giant Adirondack-style chair designed for photo opportunities.

"Our Family Zone represents an important investment and commitment to the long-term sustainability of Saratoga Race Course, as we seek to attract and engage future generations of racing fans. I thank Berkshire Bank for partnering with us in this vision, not only at the Family Zone but also through our Family Mondays series," said NYRA CEO and President Chris Kay. "We look forward to seeing our youngest fans have a fun and memorable experience at Saratoga Race Course."

"We're thrilled to work with NYRA to activate this space in the heart of Saratoga Race Course and create a setting that will bring families together and provide exciting memories," said Elizabeth A. Mach, Berkshire Bank's Senior Vice President.  "This is a great opportunity for Saratoga to create a unique experience for fans and enrich its Family Mondays programming. Through our support of both the Family Zone and Family Mondays, we are honored to incorporate Saratoga's premier family activities under the Berkshire Bank banner." 

The 2018 season will welcome the return of Berkshire Bank Family Mondays to Saratoga. The first edition of the series will be held on Monday, July 23 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Coca-Cola Saratoga Pavilion, adjacent to the Berkshire Bank Family Zone.

The weekly family festival invites families and children to experience and enjoy a wide array of free games, attractions and educational activities, including the opportunity to pet a retired thoroughbred, all against the backdrop of historic Saratoga Race Course.

The Berkshire Bank Family Monday series will also provide local schools and PTAs with an opportunity to fundraise for their operations by hosting a designated activity which carries a suggested donation. Funds raised throughout the afternoon will be supplemented with additional grants from NYRA and Berkshire Bank.

The 2018 summer meet at Saratoga Race Course, which includes 69 stakes worth $18.8 million in purses, will run from Friday, July 20, through Labor Day, Monday, September 3. After opening weekend, racing will be conducted six days a week, Wednesdays through Mondays. For more information about Saratoga Race Course, visit www.NYRA.com/Saratoga.