Adam Coglianese Photo

Saratoga Derby to serve as international qualifier for the Ladbrokes Cox Plate

by Pat McKenna

The New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA) and Moonee Valley Racing Club (MVRC) have extended their partnership in 2024, announcing the winner of the Grade 1, $600,000 Saratoga Derby Invitational on Saturday, August 3 at Saratoga Race Course will receive an invitation to the Group 1, AUD$5 million Ladbrokes Cox Plate.

Winning connections of this year’s Saratoga Derby, which was established in 2019 and is contested over 1 3/16-miles [1900 meters], will be afforded an automatic berth into the 2024 Ladbrokes Cox Plate, with generous subsidies for transportation and accommodation on offer.

In 2021, Joseph O’Brien became the first trainer to achieve the historic double with globetrotting Irish-bred superstar State of Rest, who won the Saratoga Derby before venturing to Melbourne to win the Ladbrokes Cox Plate, defeating subsequent winner Anamoe by a short half head.

State of Rest later returned to Europe and won the Group 1 Prix Ganay in France and the Group 1 Prince of Wales’s at Royal Ascot, accomplishing the remarkable feat of winning four Group 1 races in four different countries, before retiring to stud at Newgate Farm where he still resides.

MVRC Head of Racing, Charlotte Mills, said the MVRC are keen to grow the relationship with NYRA, with international participation in the Ladbrokes Cox Plate a key driver for future success.

“When assessing the strength of the Ladbrokes Cox Plate in recent years, there is a very definitive correlation between international participation, strong race ratings and strong wagering numbers.

“The Saratoga Derby brings together a talented contingent of northern hemisphere three-year-olds each year, and we are hoping to see more of them follow the path paved by Joseph O’Brien and State of Rest.”

“NYRA is pleased to be able to tie the Saratoga Derby to a race as prestigious as the Ladbrokes Cox Plate,” said NYRA SVP of Racing & Operations Andrew Offerman. “We are always looking for ways to connect our most important races to other races of national and international significance and we appreciate the opportunity to work with the Moonee Valley Racing Club on this endeavour.”

Entries for the 2024 Grade 1 Saratoga Derby will be taken on Sunday, July 28.

Saratoga Live will present live coverage and analysis of the Saratoga Race Course summer meet on the networks of FOX Sports. For the broadcast schedule and channel finder, visit https://www.nyra.com/saratoga/racing/tv-schedule/.

NYRA Bets is the official wagering platform of Saratoga Race Course, and the best way to bet every race of the summer meet. Available to horse players nationwide, the NYRA Bets app is available for download today on iOS and Android at www.NYRABets.com.