NYRA/Coglianese Photo

Travers Day to feature intrigue, special events and $1 million NYRA Bets Late Pick 5 single-ticket payout

by Pat McKenna/Mark Bardack

 Grandstand admission just $10 in advance; $15 at the gate on Travers Day

The 149th edition of the Grade 1, $1.25 million Runhappy Travers will be filled with intrigue as fans await to see whether a filly can be the first to capture the race since World War I.

When Wonder Gadot, named for the actress who played Wonder Woman in the recent hit movie, enters the starting gate at Saratoga Race Course on Saturday, August 25, she will be the first to take on the boys since 1979, and will be seeking to become the first filly to win the Travers since Woodrow Wilson was President in 1915.

To do so, she will need to take down a field that is expected to include Haskell winner Good Magic, Jim Dandy winner Tenfold, Belmont Derby winner Catholic Boy switching back to the dirt, Wood Memorial winner Vino Rosso, Belmont Stakes runner-up Gronkowski, and Haskell runner-up Bravazo.

This year's Travers is sponsored by Runhappy, a champion sprinter currently standing at Claiborne Farm.

Gates open at 7 a.m. on Travers Day, with a special first post time of 11:35 a.m.

Travers Day Grandstand general admission tickets are available for $10 in advance at the Saratoga Race Course Box Office or online at Ticketmaster.com. Grandstand admission will be $15 at the gate on Travers Day, pending availability. There will be no Clubhouse upgrades.

"Travers Day is always a special and spectacular day, and this year has the potential to be truly historic when Wonder Gadot attempts to become the first filly to win the Runhappy Travers in more than a century. The Canadian filly will face a deep and talented global field of top 3-year-olds, expected to include New England fan favorite and Belmont Stakes runner-up Gronkowski, who had previously campaigned in Europe, as well as Mendelssohn from leading European trainer Aidan O'Brien," said NYRA CEO and President Chris Kay. "The race is also expected to feature Good Magic, fresh off a dominating performance in the Haskell, Belmont Derby winner Catholic Boy, Wood Memorial winner Vino Rosso and Jim Dandy winner Tenfold. Tickets are selling at a faster pace than last year so I encourage all fans to buy now and also take advantage of the savings that comes with their advance purchase."

The Runhappy Travers will be one of six Grade 1s on Travers Day, which will also feature the $1 million Sword Dancer, the $700,000 Personal Ensign, the $600,000 Forego, the $500,000 Ketel One Ballerina, and the $500,000 H. Allen Jerkens Memorial presented by Runhappy. Rounding out the impressive card is the Grade 2, $400,000 Woodford Reserve Ballston Spa.

The Runhappy Travers will be part of a special NYRA Bets Late Pick 5 which will feature a minimum single-ticket payout of $1 million. The multi-race wager, which covers the last five races of every card of live racing at Saratoga, is available exclusively to NYRA Bets members nationwide online and on-track in New York. The offer is only available to NYRA Bets customers. Visit NYRABets.com for details.  

The Runhappy Travers will be part of a special two-hour broadcast beginning at 4 p.m. on NBC. A special three-hour Travers Day edition of Saratoga Live will be broadcast on FS2 and MSG + beginning at 1 p.m. The Runhappy Travers is scheduled to go to post at 5:44 p.m.

Master Sergeant Mary Kay Messenger of the United States Military Academy at West Point will perform the National Anthem.

Cadets from the United States Military Academy Parachute Team will perform a prevision freefall demonstration on Travers Day. The cadets will parachute onto the outer turf course from a helicopter hovering approximately 3,500 feet over the Saratoga infield at approximately 4:25 p.m. (weather permitting). A practice jump will occur at approximately 10:15 a.m. The cadets will utilize a remote camera to showcase the jump on the Saratoga video boards.

All guests are subject to enhanced screening upon entering the grounds on Travers Day and will not be permitted to run once inside the property for their safety. This policy will be strictly enforced.

There is a strict limit of one picnic table per person that may be reserved in the backyard. Re-selling of picnic tables is not allowed and will result in expulsion from track grounds.

Fans can review a full list of track policies at www.nyra.com/saratoga/visit/saratoga-track-policies. 

Paid attendance for Travers Day will be capped at 50,000, as has become standard procedure, to provide the best experience possible for guests.

All reserved seats, dining, hospitality and clubhouse admission are sold out. Saratoga season pass holders are guaranteed admission on Travers Day.

The 2018 summer meet at historic Saratoga Race Course continues through Labor Day, Monday, September 3. For more information about Saratoga Race Course, visit NYRA.com.