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Saratoga Features More Than $10 Million in Stakes

© Greg Melikov

Historic Saratoga Race Course will offer more than $10 million worth of stakes during its 137th meeting that begins Wednesday.

Forty-five stakes will be staged during the 36-day meeting. What track holds at least one stakes contest on each racing day? There's more: on five afternoons there will be at least two stakes.

In addition, Saratoga is staging 30 graded stakes, including an amazing 13 Grade 1 events.

"As a fan, I have always been excited about Saratoga," says Charles Hayward, named last fall president/CEO of the New York Racing Association.

"The NYRA has made great, positive strides, including our implementation of a security barn system and a recent increase in our claiming purses. We have a terrific season planned, highlighted by the top racing that Saratoga fans have rightfully come to expect."

The meeting, which runs through Labor Day, opens with the $150,000 Adirondack Stakes for 2-year-old fillies that was eliminated last year along with the Saratoga Special for juvenile colts and geldings, both at six furlongs.

The reason: to bolster fields for the famous Spinaway and Hopeful races and for juvenile contests at Belmont Park's fall meeting by allowing more time between races.

This year, the Grade 2 Adirondack replaces the Schuylerville as the opening day feature. On the next afternoon, the $150,000 Saratoga Special replaces the Sanford.

Of course, the big day as always is Travers Saturday on Aug. 27. That's because it's 136th running of the $1 million Mid-Summer Derby for 3-year-olds at 1 ¼ miles.

It's the showcase race of the 10th annual Travers Festival, which runs Aug. 20-28 and includes more than 40 fun-filled, charity-oriented events at the track and in the area. Events include street festivals, live music, arts and crafts shows, golf tournaments, contests and galas.

Over the years, quite a few exceptional runners have won the race named for William R. Travers, who with John Hunter and former American heavyweight champion John Morrissey built the track at the popular summer health resort in Saratoga Springs.

It wasn't until the Civil War that entrepreneurs began treating the Sport of Kings as a business -- organizing and promoting betting by the general public.

Saratoga's inaugural meeting was in 1864 when America's oldest stakes race was staged -- the Travers, named for the first president of Saratoga.

Travers Saturday also features another pair of Grade 1 races: the $200,000 King's Bishop for 3-year-olds at seven furlongs and the $250,000 Hopeful for 2-year-olds at seven furlongs; also the Grade 2, $200,000 Fourstardave Handicap at 1 1/16 miles on the turf.

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