NYRA Releases Saratoga Stakes Schedule

The New York Racing Association March 22 announced the stakes schedule for the summer meet at Saratoga Race Course, which runs July 11-Sept. 2.

Highlighted by the 155th renewal of the $1.25 million Travers Stakes (G1) Aug. 24 and the $1 million Whitney Stakes (G1) Aug. 3, the 40-day meet features 19 grade 1 races as part of 71 stakes worth $20.75 million in total purses.

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

Saratoga Live, the acclaimed television show produced by NYRA in partnership with FOX Sports, will return for its ninth season to provide expansive on-site daily coverage of the summer meet to a nationwide audience on the networks of FOX Sports. 

The meet's stakes action kicks off on the July 11 opening day card with the listed $175,000 Schuylerville Stakes at six furlongs for juvenile fillies. The action continues July 12, with two stakes for sophomore fillies in the listed $150,000 Coronation Cup Stakes at 5 1/2 furlongs on turf and the restricted $135,000 Wilton Stakes at one mile on dirt ahead of the meet's first grade 1 contest July 13, the $500,000 Diana Stakes (G1T) for older fillies and mares going 1 1/8 miles on the turf. The July 13 card will be supported by an additional pair of $175,000 grade 3s in the Sanford Stakes (G3) for juveniles sprinting six furlongs and the Kelso Stakes (G3T) at one mile on turf for older horses. 

The $175,000 Quick Call Stakes (G3), a sophomore turf sprint, closes out opening weekend July 14.

The following Saturday, July 20, will feature the $500,000 Coaching Club American Oaks (G1) at 1 1/8 miles on the main track as sophomore fillies take center stage, headlining a card that also offers the $175,000 Lake George Stakes (G3T) for sophomore fillies traveling one mile on the grass. 

Week 3 kicks off July 24 with the $200,000 Honorable Miss Handicap (G2) at six furlongs for fillies and mares, one day before the $200,000 Caress Stakes (G3T) for fillies and mares sprinting 5 1/2 furlongs on the turf. The $200,000 Amsterdam Stakes (G2) for 3-year-olds at 6 1/2 furlongs follows on July 26 ahead of a strong card slated for July 27 that features the $350,000 Alfred G. Vanderbilt Handicap (G1) at six furlongs for 3-year-olds and up and the $500,000 Jim Dandy Stakes (G2) at 1 1/8 miles for sophomores. Closing out Jim Dandy weekend July 28 is the $250,000 Bowling Green Stakes (G2T) at 1 3/8 miles on the turf for older horses.

The listed $135,000 De La Rose Stakes, a restricted event for older filly and mare turf milers, is slated for July 31 as part of Whitney Week leading into the Fasig-Tipton's The Saratoga Sale Aug. 5-6 and the Fasig-Tipton New York-Bred Yearling Sale Aug. 12-13.

The $250,000 Glens Falls Stakes (G2T) for older filly and mare turf marathoners is set for Aug. 1, before Whitney Weekend kicks off Aug. 2, with the $500,000 National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame Stakes (G2T) for sophomore turf milers and the $400,000 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Oaks Invitational Stakes (G2T) at 1 3/16-miles on turf for sophomore fillies, which has been elevated from grade 3 status last year. 

Whitney Day Aug. 3 features a trio of grade 1 events, led by the $1 million Whitney at 1 1/8 miles for older horses, a Breeders' Cup Challenge Series race for the Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) Nov. 2 at Del Mar.

Completing the grade 1s on Whitney Day will be the seven-furlong $500,000 Test Stakes (G1) for sophomore fillies and the $600,000 Saratoga Derby Invitational Stakes (G1T), at 1 3/16 miles on turf for sophomores. Whitney Day will also include the $300,000 Troy Stakes (G2T) for older turf sprinters, which has been elevated from grade 3 status last year, and the listed $135,000 Fasig-Tipton Lure Stakes, a restricted event at 1 1/16-miles on turf for older horses.

Whitney weekend concludes Aug. 4, with the $200,000 Adirondack Stakes (G3) at 6 1/2 furlongs for juvenile fillies and the listed $150,000 Birdstone Stakes for older marathoners traveling 1 3/4 miles. 

The 155th running of the Travers, the historic 1 1/4-mile test for sophomores, headlines a lucrative card slated for Aug. 24. The marquee day of racing will feature four additional grade 1 contests in the $750,000 Sword Dancer Stakes (G1T), a 1 1/2-mile turf route for 3-year-olds and up that offers an automatic berth to the Breeders' Cup Turf (G1T); the $500,000 Ballerina Handicap (G1), a seven-furlong sprint for fillies and mares awarding a Win and You're In berth to the Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Sprint (G1); the $500,000 Forego Stakes (G1) at seven furlongs for older horses; and the $500,000 H. Allen Jerkens Memorial Stakes (G1) for sophomores sprinting seven furlongs. 

Travers week kicks off Aug. 21 with the listed $135,000 John's Call Stakes, a restricted event for older turf marathoners and continues Aug. 22, with the $300,000 Ballston Spa Stakes (G2T) at 1 1/16 miles for older turf fillies and mares. The Aug. 23 card will offer the $500,000 Personal Ensign Stakes (G1) at 1 1/8 miles for older fillies and mares along with the listed $150,000 Smart N Fancy Stakes for older filly and mare turf sprinters.

New York-breds will take center stage Aug. 25 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 Stakes, a nine-furlong test for sophomores. Also featured are five $200,000 stakes in the Fleet Indian for sophomore fillies; the West Point Handicap for 3-year-olds and up on turf; and the Yaddo Handicap for fillies and mares 3-years-old and up on turf. Also featured are a pair of six-furlong sprints for juveniles in the Funny Cide Stakes and the Seeking the Ante Stakes for fillies.

New York-breds will also be highlighted at the Spa with four handicaps each boasting a purse of $125,000, including the Johnstone Mile (Aug. 7) for fillies and mares 3-years-old and up; the John Morrissey (Aug. 8) at six furlongs for 3-year-olds and up; the Evan Shipman (Aug. 9) at one mile for 3-year-olds and up; and the six-furlong Union Avenue (Aug. 9) for fillies and mares 3-years-old and up.

Among the other grade 1 races at the Spa will be the $150,000 A.P. Smithwick Memorial (NSA-1) July 17 which will be contested at an increased distance of 2 3/8-miles, and the $150,000 Jonathan Sheppard Memorial (NSA-1) at the same distance Aug. 14 for steeplechasers; the $600,000 Alabama Stakes (G1) Aug. 17; and the $500,000 Fourstardave Handicap (G1T), a Breeders' Cup Challenge Series event for the Breeders' Cup Mile (G1T), Aug. 10, to be held on the same card as the $200,000 Saratoga Special Stakes (G2) and the listed $150,000 Galway Stakes.

Closing weekend of the Saratoga meet will feature a pair of Breeders' Cup Challenge events in the $500,000 Flower Bowl Stakes (G2T) (Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf, G1T) for older fillies and mares traveling 1 3/8 over the turf Aug. 31; and the $1 million Jockey Club Gold Cup (G1) (Classic) at 1 1/4 miles for 3-year-olds and up Sept. 1. 

The Aug. 31 card also includes the $300,000 Spinaway Stakes (G1) for juvenile fillies, part of the Breeders' Cup Dirt Dozen series, as well as the $200,000 Prioress Stakes (G3) for sophomore filly sprinters. The Sept. 1 card will be supported by the listed $150,000 Bernard Baruch at 1 1/16 miles on turf for older horses.

Closing day Sept. 2, will feature the listed $150,000 Harvey Pack for older turf sprinters and the prestigious $300,000 Hopeful Stakes (G1) for 2-year-olds going seven furlongs to conclude the Saratoga meeting. 

The complete stakes schedule for the 2024 summer meet is available at here.