Chelsea Durand Photo

Saratoga Highlights: Week 4

by Pat McKenna, Mark Bardack

Saratoga Highlights: Week 4

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 2

De La Rose:

Wednesday’s 20th running of the $135,000 De La Rose, a one-mile inner turf test for older fillies and mares that have not won a graded stakes in 2023, kicks off stakes action for week four at Saratoga.

Saratoga Live:

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

Saratoga Breakfast and Breeding Farm Tour presented by CDTA:

NYRA’s Saratoga Breakfast and Breeding Farm Tour will be offered on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays throughout the meet. Fans will enjoy a buffet breakfast during morning training at Saratoga Race Course before boarding a CDTA trolley to Song Hill Thoroughbreds on Wednesdays or Old Tavern Farm on Thursdays and Fridays, where they will participate in a 60- to 90-minute guided walking tour. Admission to the races in the afternoon is included in the package. Tickets, which are $85 for adults and $35 for children 12 and under, must be reserved in advance at NYRA.com. Inventory is limited.

Community Outreach Booth:

NYRA will host Saratoga WarHorse Foundation, which is dedicated to improving the physical, mental and emotional health of veterans with post-traumatic stress by providing a healing, equine-assisted experience that utilizes off-the-track thoroughbreds. The Community Outreach Booth is located adjacent to the Jockey Silks Room, inside Gate B.

Purdy’s Summer Concert Stage:

The Purdy’s Summer Concert Stage will host live music from Johnny Kribs Band.

THURSDAY, AUGUST 3

 Glens Falls:

Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott will send War Like Goddess in search of a threepeat in Thursday’s 28th running of the Grade 2, $250,000 Glens Falls for older fillies and mares going 1 1/2 miles over the inner turf at Saratoga Race Course.

Taste NY Pavilion:

The Taste NY Pavilion, located inside Gate A at the Top of the Stretch, features New York-made food and beverages, available for sample and purchase. Fans can visit the pavilion Thursdays through Sundays, from noon to 5 p.m., to enjoy New York craft beer, hard cider, wine, spirits, cheese, chocolate and gelato from Long Island to the Adirondacks and the Capital Region to Western New York (must be 21 and over to sample and purchase alcoholic beverages).

Saratoga Low Roller Contest:

Horseplayers can enjoy the Saratoga Low Roller Contest held exclusively on-track every Thursday and Sunday at Saratoga Race Course. Fans can pre-register on contest days outside the Miller Time Fourstardave Sports Bar. There is a $40 buy-in, of which $30 will go to the player’s bankroll and $10 to the prize pool. The winner will receive a Saratoga Low Roller championship T-shirt in addition to the cash prize.

Community Outreach Booth:

NYRA will host Saratoga Senior Center, a nonprofit, non-residential community center in the heart of Saratoga Springs that provides enriching programs and a variety of senior care services.

Purdy’s Summer Concert Stage:

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

Jockeys vs. Horsemen Charity Basketball Game:

The annual jockeys-versus-horsemen charity basketball game, which benefits the programs of the New York Race Track Chaplaincy, will be played at 6:30 p.m. at the Saratoga Springs Recreation Center. The jockey team will be coached by Hall of Fame jockey Ángel Cordero, Jr., with trainer Todd Pletcher and agent Kiaran McLaughlin coaching the horsemen team. Admission is free.

FRIDAY, AUGUST 4 

National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame and Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Oaks Invitational:

Four-time Eclipse Award-winning trainer Chad Brown will send out three top contenders in Appraise, Mischievous Angel and Carl Spackler as he looks for a record-equaling seventh score in Friday’s Grade 2, $500,000 National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame, a one-mile inner turf test for sophomores at Saratoga Race Course.

In Friday’s other feature, Fasig-Tipton Belmont Oaks Invitational victress Aspen Grove will look to capture the second leg of the Fasig-Tipton Fillies Turf Triple series in the Grade 3, $400,000 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Oaks Invitational, a 1 3/16-mile Mellon turf test for sophomore fillies. The series began with Aspen Grove’s victory in the Grade 1, $500,000 Fasig-Tipton Belmont Oaks Invitational at Belmont Park and concludes with the Grade 3, $350,000 Fasig-Tipton Jockey Club Oaks Invitational in September at Belmont at the Big A.

Sampling Superfecta:

Fans will have the opportunity to sample the Saratoga Victory Vodka Lemonade at the Cooperstown Clubhouse Bar on National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame Day. Additional sampling opportunities include: The Pick Six Strawberry Lemonade at the Pick Six Vodka Gazebo; Josh Cellars wines at the Josh Cellars Wine Bar; and Day Chaser canned cocktails plus Woodchuck hard cider, the official hard cider of Saratoga Race Course, at the Day Chaser Gazebo. Samples will be available from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m., while supplies last, to guests 21 and older, with valid ID.

Community Outreach Booth:

Retired Racehorse Project facilitates the placement of retired thoroughbred racehorses in second careers by increasing their demand in equestrian sports and serving the farms, trainers and organizations that transition them.

Purdy’s Summer Concert Stage:

The Purdy’s Summer Concert Stage will host live music from Stony Creek Band.

SATURDAY, AUGUST 5

Whitney Day: Special first post time of 12:35 p.m.

Cody’s Wish’s will headline Saturday’s Grade 1, $1 million Whitney at Saratoga Race Course. The Whitney offers a “Win and You’re In” berth to the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Classic in November at Santa Anita Park. Cody’s Wish will attempt his seventh straight victory, which include four Grade 1 wins, when he lines up in the nine-furlong Whitney.

Kentucky Oaks and Acorn winner Pretty Mischievous will seek her third consecutive Grade 1 victory when she shortens up to seven furlongs in Saturday’s $500,000 Test. Whitney Day’s trio of Grade 1s will also include the $600,000 Saratoga Derby Invitational.

FOX SARATOGA SATURDAY:

The Grade 1, $1 million Whitney will headline FOX Saratoga Saturday coverage beginning at 3 p.m. Eastern. The broadcast will mark the third in a series of six consecutive Saturdays of unprecedented live coverage from Saratoga Race Course on FOX.

Best in Pink Photo Contest:

Fans are encouraged to dress in pink in recognition of local breast cancer survivors and the work of To Life!, a Capital Region nonprofit organization that provides personalized breast cancer education and support services. The fashion contest will take place across from the Travers Bar from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Each participant will take home a commemorative photo magnet, with the win, place and show finishers each receiving a complimentary bottle of Chȃteau d’Esclans ‘Whispering Angel’ Rose.

Sampling Exacta:

Fans will have the opportunity to sample the Chandon Garden Spritz cocktail across from the Travers Bar; and Cutwater Ready to Drink cocktails at the Cutwater Gazebo, across from Guest Services. Samples will be available from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m., while supplies last, to guests 21 and older, with valid ID.

Community Outreach Booth:

NYRA will host Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance, which accredits, inspects and awards grants to approved aftercare organizations to retrain, retire and rehome thoroughbreds using industry-wide funding.

Purdy’s Summer Concert Stage:

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

SUNDAY, AUGUST 6

Adirondack:

Whitney weekend concludes with the running of the Grade 3, $200,000 Adirondack for 2-year-old fillies at 6 1/2-furlongs.

Handicapping Seminar and Meet-and-Greet:

Spend a Sunday at the races learning betting strategies and tips from expert handicappers in the Spa’s newest hospitality venue, the climate-controlled Paddock Suite. Tickets can be purchased through Fevo.

Sunday Brunch at The Rail at the 1863 Club:

Fans are invited to enjoy a brunch buffet in The Rail at the 1863 Club. Tickets start at $100 and include admission, a table seat for the day, brunch buffet, soft drinks, two mimosa or Bloody Mary drink tickets per person, 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.

Berkshire Bank Family Sundays:

The popular family-friendly weekly event features a wide variety of free activities, games, attractions and educational experiences from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Berkshire Bank Family Zone. This week’s theme is Sports Camp Day, and will feature a sand art DIY craft station, sports-themed bounce house, face painting, giant games and more. 

Community Outreach Booth:

Second Chance Thoroughbreds provides off-the-track thoroughbreds and retired broodmares with a soft landing after the end of their racing and broodmare careers by giving them ample rehabilitation and retraining. 

Purdy’s Summer Concert Stage:

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

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