Saratoga Highlights: Travers Week 2024

by Pat McKenna, Mark Bardack

Week #7 at Saratoga Race Course featuring DraftKings Travers Day

Wednesday, August 21 – Sunday, August 25

NEW: DraftKings Travers Day, Saturday, Aug. 24, will feature 14 races with a revised first post time of 11:20 a.m. Gates open at 9 a.m. Breeding farm and backstretch tours are not offered on DraftKings Travers Day.

Fans save $5 on advance admission purchase at the NYRA Box Office or online at NYRA.com/Travers (service fees apply online).

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 21

John’s Call:

Travers Week kicks off with the $135,000 John’s Call, a 13-furlong Mellon turf test for older horses.

Saratoga Live:

Saratoga Live will present live coverage and analysis of the Saratoga Race Course summer meet on the networks of FOX Sports. For the complete Saratoga Live broadcast schedule, and additional programming information, visit NYRA.com/SaratogaLive.

Saratoga Soundtrack:

The all-female choir will kick off Travers Week with a pair of trackside performances as multiple graded stakes-winner Thorpedo Anna seeks to become the first filly to win Saturday’s Grade 1, $1.25 million DraftKings Travers in more than a century.

Breakfast and Breeding Farm Tours: Available Sunday in lieu of Saturday

NYRA’s Breakfast and Breeding Farm Tours will be offered Wednesday through Friday and on Sunday, Aug. 25 of Travers Week (not available on DraftKings Travers Day). Fans will enjoy a buffet breakfast during morning training before boarding a CDTA trolley to Song Hill Thoroughbreds on Wednesday and Thursday; Old Tavern Farm on Friday; or Sugar Plum Farm on Sunday. General admission to the races in the afternoon is included in the package. Tickets must be reserved in advance at NYRA.com.

Saratoga Happy Hour:

Fans 21 and older can enjoy Happy Hour every racing day at the Miller Time Fourstardave Sports Bar from 4:30 p.m. to end of racing. Specials include two-for-one 12-ounce beers and half off select cocktails and glasses of wine.

Community Outreach Booth:

Friends of Grant Cottages is a community of people dedicated to preserving history. Formed in the fall of 1989, this 501(c)(3) operates and maintains the Grant Cottage and continues to tell the story of Ulysses S. Grant. Day-to-day operations and programs are possible due to generous donations and memberships.

Purdy’s Summer Concert Stage:

The Purdy’s Summer Concert Stage will feature the Hot Vox Trio.

THURSDAY, AUGUST 22

Ballston Spa:

Thursday’s feature is the Grade 2, $300,000 Ballston Spa, a 1 1/16-mile Mellon turf route for older fillies and mares.

Military Appreciation Day:

NYRA will honor veterans and active-duty military members during its annual Military Appreciation Day, presented by Rivers Casino & Resort Schenectady. All veterans and service members will receive free admission with proper identification. Additionally, NYRA will pay special tribute to three New York Army National Guard soldiers from the Capital Region whose helicopter crashed earlier this year, killing two and seriously injuring the third. The third race of the day will be named for Military Appreciation Day and will recognize all veterans, while the fifth race will honor the fallen National Guard soldiers. The afternoon will also showcase the work of the Leatherstocking Honor Flight, a nonprofit organization whose mission is to provide all-expense paid trips for veterans to visit the memorials and monuments in Washington, D.C.

Taste NY Pavilion:

New York-made food and beverages are available for sample and purchase at the Taste NY Pavilion, located inside Gate A at the Top of the Stretch, where fans can enjoy New York craft beers, wines, spirits, cheese and chocolate (must be 21 and over to sample and purchase alcoholic beverages).

Community Outreach Booth:

NYRA will host the Samuel S. Stratton VA Medical Center on Military Appreciation Day. The Stratton VA Medical Center offers options to timely, quality services for veterans through care and respect for their physical, psychological and spiritual health.

Purdy’s Summer Concert Stage:

The Purdy’s Summer Concert Stage will host live music from The Hawthornes.

FRIDAY, AUGUST 23

Personal Ensign and Smart N Fancy:

Reigning Eclipse Champion Idiomatic will look to defend her title in the Grade 1, $500,000 Personal Ensign, a 1 1/8-mile test for older fillies and mares. Also featured is the $150,000 Smart N Fancy, a 5 1/2-furlong turf sprint for older fillies and mares.

Mike Venezia Memorial Award:

NYRA will recognize veteran jockey Brian Hernandez Jr. as the 2024 Mike Venezia Memorial Award recipient following the third race at approximately 1:40 p.m. Hernandez Jr., the winner of the 2024 Kentucky Derby, was chosen by a committee comprised of members of the Venezia family, representatives of The Jockeys’ Guild and retired Eclipse Award-winning jockey Richard Migliore. The Mike Venezia Memorial Award is presented annually to a jockey who displays the extraordinary sportsmanship and citizenship that personified Venezia, who died as the result of injuries suffered in a spill in 1988. Venezia, a native of Brooklyn, N.Y., won more than 2,300 races during his 25-year career.

Betting Basics with Matthew DeSantis:

NYRA Bets Content Producer and Handicapper Matthew DeSantis will teach betting basics during Breakfast at Saratoga to give fans their best shot at walking away a winner. Classes are held every Friday from 9 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. at The Porch.

Special Olympics New York 50-50 Raffle:

Special Olympics New York will host a 50-50 raffle to benefit the organization. Fans 18 years of age and older will be able to purchase tickets from Special Olympics athletes and volunteers. One lucky fan with the winning ticket will take home half of the net proceeds and the other half will be awarded to Special Olympics New York. Tickets may be purchased with a debit or credit card. Cash payments will not be accepted.

Sampling Superfecta:

Fans 21 and older can enjoy a quartet of complimentary samplings on the eve of DraftKings Travers Day. Surfside Canned Cocktails and White Claw Hard Seltzer will be available outside the Jim Dandy Bar and at the White Claw gazebo, respectively. Additionally, tastings of Mount Gay Rum Punch can be found at the Miller Time Fourstardave Sports Bar and Mionetto Prosecco at the Mionetto gazebo, adjacent to Berkshire Bank Horse Sense. Available from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., while supplies last.

Berkshire Bank Horse Sense:

Fans can pet a retired thoroughbred every Friday through Sunday from noon to 2 p.m. at Berkshire Bank Horse Sense. The family-friendly attraction is located inside Gate A and is presented by Berkshire Bank.

Community Outreach Booth:

NYRA will host the Center for Disability Services, which provides programs, services and a continuum of care that empowers people with disabilities to lead healthy, happy and productive lives.

Purdy’s Summer Concert Stage:

The Purdy’s Summer Concert Stage will host live music from The Kirks.

SATURDAY, AUGUST 24

GATES OPEN: 9 A.M.

FIRST POST: 11:20 A.M.

DraftKings Travers Day:

Multiple graded stakes winner Thorpedo Anna will look to take on Belmont Stakes presented by NYRA Bets winner Dornoch and Jim Dandy presented by Mohegan Sun winner Fierceness, among others, in the 155th running of the Grade 1, $1.25 million DraftKings Travers. Thorpedo Anna will try to become the first filly to capture Saratoga’s premier race since 1915.

The DraftKings Travers Day card will feature 14 races including four additional Grade 1 contests: the $750,000 Resorts World Casino Sword Dancer, a 1 1/2-mile turf route for 3-year-olds and up; the $500,000 Ballerina Handicap, a seven-furlong sprint for fillies and mares; the $500,000 Forego at seven furlongs for older horses; and the $500,000 H. Allen Jerkens Memorial for sophomores sprinting seven furlongs.

Gates open at 9 a.m. with a first post time of 11:20 a.m. Breakfast, breeding farm and backstretch tram tours are not offered on DraftKings Travers Day.

Fans who purchase admission in advance will save $5. Admission is $25 in advance and $30 on DraftKings Travers Day. Tickets may be purchased in-person at the NYRA Box Office by Gate A or online at NYRA.com/Travers (service fees apply online).

DraftKings Travers on FOX:

An expanded edition of Saratoga Live will begin at 11:30 a.m. on FS2 with continuing coverage on FS1 at 1:30 p.m. FOX Saratoga Saturday will present live coverage of the DraftKings Travers Day stakes action plus analysis in a special broadcast on FOX beginning at 3 p.m.

Community Outreach Booth:

The Backstretch Employee Service Team (B.E.S.T.) is devoted to providing health and wellness services to the backstretch community and will be the featured non-profit at the Community Outreach Booth on DraftKings Travers Day.

Purdy’s Summer Concert Stage:

The Purdy’s Summer Concert Stage will host live music from the Alex Torres Band from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. followed by ILL Funk from 3 to 6 p.m.

SUNDAY, AUGUST 25

New York Showcase Day:

New York-breds take center stage for New York Showcase Day, featuring six stakes for state-breds worth a combined $1.25 million. The card is headlined by the $250,000 Albany, a nine-furlong test for sophomores. Also featured are five $200,000 stakes including the Fleet Indian for sophomore fillies; the West Point Handicap, presented by Trustco Bank, for 3-year-olds and up on turf; the Yaddo Handicap for fillies and mares 3-years-old and up on turf; and a pair of six furlong-sprints for juveniles in the Funny Cide, presented by Rood and Riddle Equine Hospital, and the Seeking the Ante for fillies.

Special Sunday Savings:

Fans can take advantage of special Sunday ticket offers available for purchase at NYRA.com/Deals including the following:

$99 Sunday Saver Family 4-Pack, which includes four grandstand reserved seats, four admissions, four Post Parade programs and $40 in loaded value that may be redeemed at select on-track concessions.

$44 Surfside Sunday 4-Pack, which includes four general admission tickets and four Surfside canned cocktails; or the $84 Surfside Sunday 4-Pack, which includes four grandstand reserved seats and four Surfside canned cocktails. This package is available to fans 21 years of age and older.

Sunday Brunch at The Rail at the 1863 Club:

Fans are invited to enjoy a brunch buffet in The Rail at the 1863 Club, the first-floor banquet space. Tickets start at $105 and include admission, a table seat for the day, brunch buffet, soft drinks, Post Parade program book, tax and gratuity. Reservations are available by calling the NYRA Box Office at 844-NYRA-TIX or online at Ticketmaster.com.

Sunday Introduction to Handicapping and Meet-and-Greet:

Enjoy your Sunday in the Paddock Suite, learning betting strategies and tips from expert handicappers. Tickets start at $75 and include admission, Post Parade program book and a table seat for the day within the climate-controlled, shared suite overlooking the historic saddling area. Fans will also be treated to a meet-and-greet with Saratoga Race Course’s track announcer Frank Mirahmadi. Tickets can be purchased online through Fevo.

Family Sundays at the Family Fun Zone:

The popular family-friendly weekly event includes a wide variety of free activities, games, attractions and educational experiences from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Family Zone, located inside Gate A near the Saratoga Race Course Box Office. This week’s theme is Carnival.

Community Outreach Booth:

Old Friends at Cabin Creek will close out the week at the Community Outreach Booth. The Saratoga County-based thoroughbred retirement farm provides dignified retirement for all racehorses.

Purdy’s Summer Concert Stage:

The Purdy’s Summer Concert Stage will host live music from Get Up Jack.

All events and activities are subject to change at the discretion of NYRA.