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​NYRA to partner with National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame at Saratoga Walk of Fame

by Pat McKenna

The New York Racing Association. Inc. (NYRA) today announced a new partnership at Saratoga Race Course establishing the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame as the official curator of the space currently known as the Saratoga Walk of Fame. Through this collaboration, the Hall of Fame will present fans with a rotating display of informational panels, multi-media presentations and a variety of relevant historic artifacts culled from its extensive collections.

The displays will vary each week during the Saratoga meet, which runs from Thursday, July 13 to Monday, September 4. Located behind the grandstand just across the pedestrian path from the Miller Time Fourstardave Sports Bar, the open-air Walk of Fame is easily recognizable from oversized displays of racing memorabilia and its Saratoga-style, turret-spiked slate roof.

“We’re excited to share some of the most popular items in our collection at Saratoga Race Couse, a place synonymous with racing history,” said Hall of Fame and Communications Director Brien Bouyea. “We hope it will help fans feel and appreciate the pageantry of our sport, so much of which happened right in Saratoga, and we’re grateful to NYRA for the opportunity.”

Among the items to be featured this summer are informational panels about each Hall of Fame category; panels and bios in recognition of the Hall of Fame Class of 2023; video features of select Hall of Fame members and a virtual reality jockey experience. 

The Hall of Fame will present rotating trophies of historical significance from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. each Friday of the meet. In general, the trophies will represent winners of a significant stakes race to be run that weekend. The series begins on Friday, July 14 when two trophies will be displayed: the 1976 Diana Handicap Trophy won by Glowing Tribute and the 1934 Sanford Stakes won by Psychic Bid.

The Saratoga Walk of Fame has honored greats of the game beginning in 2013 with jockeys John Velazquez, Angel Cordero Jr. and Jerry Bailey. Inducted in 2014 were trainers H. Allen Jerkens and D. Wayne Lukas and legendary race caller Tom Durkin. Marylou Whitney and Ogden Mills “Dinny” Phipps were enshrined in 2015; trainer Bill Mott and Cot Campbell in 2016; jockey Ramon Dominguez in 2018; and trainer Bob Baffert in 2018. Plaques for the “Walk of Fame” honorees have been relocated to the outside west wall of the 1863 Club. 

Highlighted by the 154th edition of the Grade 1, $1.25 million Travers on August 26 and the Grade 1, $1 million Whitney on August 5, the 2023 summer meet at historic Saratoga Race Course will open on Thursday, July 13, and continue through Monday, September 4.

Following the four-day opening weekend, racing will be conducted five days a week, Wednesdays through Sundays, apart from closing week, when the meet will conclude on Labor Day. 

For more information about Saratoga Race Course visit NYRA.com/Saratoga.   

For more information about the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame, visit www.racingmuseum.org.

Trophies to be displayed during the 2023 Meet at Saratoga Race Course:

Fri., Jul. 14: The 1976 Diana Handicap Trophy won by Glowing Tribute (owner: Rokeby Stable; jockey: Ron Turcotte; and trainer: J. Elliot Burch) and the 1934 Sanford Stakes won by Psychic Bid (owner: Brookmeade Stable; jockey: Mack Garner; and trainer: Robert Smith).

Fri. Jul. 21^: The 1961 Coaching Club American Oaks Trophy won by Bowl of Flowers

(owner: Brookmeade Stable; jockey: Eddie Arcaro; and trainer: J. Elliot Burch).

Fri. Jul. 28: The 1965 Jim Dandy Stakes Trophy won by Cornish Prince (owner: George D. Widener; jockey: Ron Turcotte; and trainer: Sylvester Veitch). 

Fri. Aug. 4: The 1966 Test Stakes Trophy won by Belle de Nuit (owner: Mrs. George D. Widener; jockey: John Ruane; and trainer Bert Mulholland) and the 1955 Whitney Stakes Trophy won by First Aid (owner: Brookmeade Stable; jockey Hedley Woodhouse; and trainer J. Elliot Burch). 

Fri. Aug. 11: The 1930 Saratoga Special Trophy won by Jamestown (owner George D. Widener, Jr.; jockey Linus McAtee; and trainer A. Jack Joyner). 

Fri. Aug. 18: The 1938 Alabama Stakes Trophy won by Handcuff (owner: Brookmeade Stable; jockey: Jack Westrope; and trainer Hugh Fontaine).

Fri, Aug. 25: The 1959 Travers Stakes Trophy won by Sword Dancer (owner: Brookmeade Stable; jockey Manny Ycaza; and trainer J. Elliot Burch). 

Fri. Sep 1: The 1927 Jockey Club Gold Cup Trophy won by Chance Play (owner: Log Cabin Stable; jockey: Earl Sande; and trainer John Smith) and the 1979 Prioress Trophy won by Fall Aspen (owner: Joseph Roebling; jockey: Roger Velez; and trainer Jimmy Picou).

The National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame is at 191 Union Avenue, across the street from Saratoga Race Course, in Saratoga Springs. It is open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The Museum's signature film, What It Takes: Journey to the Hall of Fame, is currently showing at 9:30 a.m., 10:30 a.m., 11:30 a.m., 12:30 p.m., 1:30 p.m., 2:30 p.m., 3:30 p.m., and 4:30 p.m.