Monday, August 4

At the track…

Today’s stakes races: the New York Stallion Series for horses sired by New York-based stallions. The Cab Calloway and Statue of Liberty Divisions, each worth $100,000, will be run at a mile on the turf for three-year-olds and three-year-old fillies respectively.

Live-money, low roller handicapping tournament. $40 entry fee. $10 goes to the prize pool, with 70% to be awarded to the first-place finisher, 20% to second, and 10% to third; the remaining $30 comprises the entrant’s bankroll. Participants must select five races on which to place live $2 win, place, and show wagers that must be placed on five different horses in five different races. Only Saratoga races will be accepted for contest play.  Sign up on the first floor of the grandstand. This contest will take place every Monday.

Berkshire Bank Family Mondays (every Monday through the meet). Family-friendly activities at the track, including games and educational activities from noon to 4 pm in the Saratoga Pavilion.   This week’s featured activity is the Mad Science interactive exhibit, which includes putty, slime, dry ice, and other hands-on activities for kids and families.

Meet a pony: An “on-track stable” is located inside the main Union Avenue entrance every day from noon to 3 pm.

Elsewhere…

Pedigree & Conformation Clinic held by Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders of America.  Discussions include general theory, such as in-breeding, out-crossing and nicking as well as overall conformational factors. The seminar will identify common conformation faults and the effects of those faults as well as a live conformation workshop with a consignor, agent and trainer. The program begins at 8 am at the Fasig-Tipton sales pavilion East Avenue. $125 for TOBA members, $175 for non-members.
Night 1 of the Fasig-Tipton Saratoga yearling sale, first held here in 1917. Free and open to the public. Space inside the pavilion is limited, but hang out in the back near the bar and walking ring to see if you can spot the future Grade I winners.  Fasig-Tipton sales grounds on East Avenue, across from the Oklahoma track; the sale begins at 7 pm.

Tuesday, August 5th

Old Friends at Cabin Creek’s fifth anniversary, at the farm from 11 a.m. – 4 p.m. The event features a light lunch from Five Points Deli, anniversary cake, music, and local items for sale, including art, food, and photography. Cabin Creek, which is staffed wholly by volunteers, encourages visitors to bring carrots and will be grateful to accept donations.

Night 2 of the Fasig-Tipton Saratoga yearling sale, first held here in 1917. Free and open to the public. Space inside the pavilion is limited, but hang out in the back near the bar and walking ring to see if you can spot the future Grade I winners.  Fasig-Tipton sales grounds on East Avenue, across from the Oklahoma track; the sale begins at 7 pm.

Wednesday, August 6

At the track…

Today’s stakes race: the $100,000 John’s Call, 1 5/8 miles on the turf for three-year-olds and up.

Irish-American Day:  11-5 in the Saratoga Pavilion located inside the Reserved Seats Box Office entrance. The day will feature traditional Irish bagpipers and step dancers, and dancers with The Boland School of Irish Dance will perform trackside at 12:40 p.m.

Irish musicians will play at the Pavilion and bandstand throughout the day, and area chefs will conduct cooking demonstrations of Irish soda bread, Guinness chocolate cake, Irish black pudding, and leek and oatmeal soup.

Exhibits from the Irish-American Heritage Museum in Albany will be on display.

Next week: African-America Day.

Battle of Saratoga Handicapping Challenge: Approximately 225 horseplayers will vie for $275,000 in prize money during the fifth annual Battle of Saratoga Handicapping Challenge. The tournament will offer three berths into the 2015 Daily Racing Form/NTRA Las Vegas National Handicapping Tournament. First place in the two-day tournament is worth $100,000 and cash prizes will be offered to the top 25 finishers. Entry fee is $1,000 with all entry fees returned as prize money.
Thursday, August 7

At the track…

Today’s stakes race: The Birdstone, named for the 2004 winner of the Belmont and the Travers. $100,000, 1 3/4 miles (you read that right) on the dirt, three-year-olds and up.

Thoroughbred Ownership Seminar at Saratoga Race Course, presented by Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association.  This seminar features the owner/trainer relationship, options for acquiring horses, business topics, online resources and Thoroughbred retirement. Attendees will also enjoy an afternoon of racing at Saratoga. Speakers include Tom Gallo of Parting Glass Racing, trainer Bill Mott, and Erin Crady of Thoroughbred Charities of America.  Full agenda and speakers.  $75 for TOBA members, $100 for non-members.

Taste NY: Wine & Cheese: Indulge in samples from various New York State wineries from noon to 4 p.m. in the Saratoga Pavilion–10 tastings for $15 and 20 for $30. This week’s event will feature

Elsewhere…

NTRA legislative briefing, 6-7 pm, Man o’War Restaurant on the Fasig-Tipton sales grounds on East Avenue. NTRA president and CEO Alex Waldrop and lobbyist Greg Means will focus on “the latest news from Capitol Hill regarding federal legislation that will impact horse racing and include an insider’s view on the upcoming elections.” Other topics are the prospects and perils for expired investment incentives and other tax measures that affect the horse racing industry. A question and answer period will follow and refreshments will be provided. RSVP to bfossum@NTRA.com or 859-422-2616.

Friday, August 8

At the track…

Today’s stakes race: The $200,000 National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame, 1 1/16 miles on the turf for 3-year-olds.

Taste NY Craft Beer and Cider tasting (every Friday through the meet). Taste beverages produced by as many as a dozen New York State breweries.  Tastings will be held from noon to 4 pm in the Saratoga Pavilion, located inside the entrance to the Reserved Seats Box Office on Union Avenue. Admission is $20 and includes 20 sampling tickets.

Elsewhere…

Hall of Fame induction ceremony at the Fasig-Tipton sales pavilion on East Avenue. This year’s inductees are the horses Ashado, Clifford, and Curlin; jockeys Lloyd Hughes and Alex Solis; trainer Gary Jones; and Pillars of the Turf E. R. Bradley and E. P. Taylor. NYRA racecaller Tom Durkin will serve as master of ceremonies.  The ceremony starts at 10:30 and is free and open to the public.

Old Friends celebrates NYRA’s Sentell “Sonny” Taylor at Anne’s Washington Inn. For his 50 years as a placing judge, Taylor will receive the Old Friends Third Annual Frankel Award for Lifetime Achievement; Taylor is also being honored for his assistance in placing many Old Friends retirees during his career, including Ogygian, Gulch, Kiri’s Clown, Awad, Hidden Lake, Polish Navy, Glitterman, Ruhlmann, Sunshine Forever, Commentator, Affirmed Success and dozens of others.  7-9 pm. Admission is free, but donations to Old Friends Thoroughbred Retirement in Taylor’s name are welcomed.
Saturday, August 9

At the track…

Today’s stakes race: The $500,000, Grade II Fourstardave at a mile on the turf for horses three and up.

Jockey Legends Day (from NYRA release): Sixteen of the greatest riders in the history of thoroughbred racing will gather at Saratoga Race Course for the first-ever Jockey Legends Day to benefit the Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund (PDJF). Saratoga favorites Angel Cordero, Jr., Ramon Dominguez and the New York Racing Association racing analyst Richard Migliore are among the former jockeys who will sign autographs from noon to 1 p.m. outside the Jockeys Silks Room for a one-time $10 donation to the PDJF. Also scheduled to appear are Ron Turcotte and Jean Cruguet, respective riders of Triple Crown winners Secretariat and Seattle Slew; Laffit Pincay, Jr., the all-time leader in races won with 9,530; Eddie Maple, Chris McCarron, Randy Romero, Jean-Luc Samyn, Nick Santagata, Robbie Davis, Jose Santos, Manny Ycaza, Jacinto Vasquez and Jorge Velasquez. All will be recognized in a special red-carpet ceremony on the track between the fifth and sixth races.

Saratoga WarHorse (from NYRA release): The New York Racing Association will pay tribute to the Saratoga Springs-based non-profit organization Saratoga WarHorse during a special winner’s circle ceremony. Saratoga WarHorse is dedicated to assisting veterans who are suffering from invisible, psychological wounds by providing a confidential, peer-to-peer, action-based, equine-assisted experience that initiates immediate and long-lasting empowering changes.

Lord & Taylor Fashion Saturdays (every Saturday through the meet). A Lord & Taylor pop-up shop in the Saratoga Pavilion will be open from 10:30 am to 6 pm.  Two people each week will be named Most Fashionable at Saratoga and win a $250 Lord & Taylor gift card and the chance to present a trophy in the winner’s circle during the meet.

Elsewhere…

Old Friends book signing at the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame.  Author Rick Capone, Old Friends founder Michael Blowen, and other guests will sign Capone’s new book detailing the origins and history of Old Friends.  10:30 – 11:30 a.m.; books will be available for purchase.

Night 1 of the Fasig-Tipton sale of New York-bred Preferred Yearlings. Free and open to the public. Space inside the pavilion is limited, but hang out in the back near the bar and walking ring to see if you can spot the future Grade I winners.  Fasig-Tipton sales grounds on East Avenue, across from the Oklahoma track; the sale begins at 7 pm.

 

Sunday, August 10

At the track…

Today’s stakes races: Two venerable races for two-year-olds, both worth $200,000 and run at 6 1/2 furlongs on the dirt.  The Adirondack for fillies will be run for the 98th time; the Toyota Saratoga Special for colts and geldings for the 109th time.

Toyota tote bag giveaway, with paid admission, while supplies last. Note the new giveaway policy:  you can buy up to two additional vouchers at a time and redeem up to three at a time.

Trainer autograph signing to benefit pancreatic cancer research in honor of Dominic Galluscio. From 11:30 am – 12:15 pm, trainers will sign autographs at the jockey silks porch. Your $5 donation will go to the Lustgarten Foundation in memory of Galluscio, who died in March from pancreatic cancer.

Among those scheduled to participate are D. Wayne Lukas, Shug McGaughey, Bill Mott, Todd Pletcher, Bobby Barbara, Jim Bond, Chad Brown, Bruce Brown, David Cannizzo, Carl Domino, Chris Englehart, Jeremiah Englehart, Mitch Friedman, Gary Gullo, Mike Hushion, David Jacobson, Jimmy Jerkens, Steve Klesaris, Pat Kelly, Bruce Levine, Kiaran McLaughlin, Rudy Rodriguez, Dominic Schettino, Gary Sciacca, Phil Serpe, Barclay Tagg, John Terranova, Wesley Ward and George Weaver.

To recognize pancreatic cancer’s awareness color, horses will wear purple saddlecloths in one of Sunday’s races to be named in honor of Galluscio. In addition, jockeys will wear purple armbands for all of Sunday’s races.

Toyota Tote Bag Giveaway: Racing fans will receive a Saratoga Toyota tote bag, the third giveaway of the season, free with paid admission, while supplies last. Guests will be able to redeem up to three vouchers at Saratoga Race Course’s giveaway redemption areas, including the one they receive with paid admission and the two additional vouchers they are able to purchase at the multiple admissions line beneath the grandstand.

Taste NY Food and Artisans (every Sunday through the meet):  Up to 19 food and artisan vendors set up shop in the Saratoga Pavilion from 10:30 am to 5 pm, featuring products made by New York vendors.

Elsewhere…

Summer Stroll of Saratoga Race Course with the Saratoga Springs Preservation Foundation. The walk will include the track, the Reading Rooms, the National Museum of Racing, the Oklahoma, and the Fasig-Tipton Humphrey S. Finney sales pavilion. Meet at 10:30 a.m. at the southeast corner of Nelson and Union Avenues.  $5 for Preservation Foundation members, $8 for non-members, payable in advance or at the time of the tour.

Night 2 of the Fasig-Tipton sale of New York-bred Preferred Yearlings. Free and open to the public. Space inside the pavilion is limited, but hang out in the back near the bar and walking ring to see if you can spot the future Grade I winners.  Fasig-Tipton sales grounds on East Avenue, across from the Oklahoma track; the sale begins at 7 pm.

Monday, August 11

At the track…

Today’s stakes race: the $100,000 Tenski at a mile on the turf for three-year-old fillies.

Live-money, low roller handicapping tournament. $40 entry fee. $10 goes to the prize pool, with 70% to be awarded to the first-place finisher, 20% to second, and 10% to third; the remaining $30 comprises the entrant’s bankroll. Participants must select five races on which to place live $2 win, place, and show wagers that must be placed on five different horses in five different races. Only Saratoga races will be accepted for contest play.  Sign up on the first floor of the grandstand. This contest will take place every Monday.

Berkshire Bank Family Mondays (every Monday through the meet). Family-friendly activities at the track, including games and educational activities from noon to 4 pm in the Saratoga Pavilion.   This week’s featured activity is the Leaping Lizards and Rocking Reptiles exhibit from the Children’s Museum of Science and Technology. Kids will have a chance to meet the cold-blooded creatures, while learning about their behaviors, habitats and lifestyles.

Elsewhere…

Jockey karaoke to raise money for the Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund returns to Vapor at Saratoga Casino and Raceway.  VIP tickets (5:30 entry, buffet dinner with jockeys) are $150, general admission (7 pm entry) are $75.

The Track at Saratoga: America’s Grandest Racecourse, last year’s documentary on 150 years of racing in Saratoga, airs on WMHT at 7:30 pm.

 Tuesday, August 12

Guests in the Gallery at the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame: Alex Solis. Hall of Fame jockey Alex Solis will discuss his career in racing with program host Jeff Carle. 11 a.m., free with paid Museum admission ($7 adults, $5 students/seniors 55 and older, members and children under 5 free).

Secretariat under the stars. The Friends of Sanford Stud Farm are presenting the movie Secretariat on the historical Amsterdam farm, 4994 State Highway 30.  Free and open to the public, though donations to support the preservation of the farm are appreciated. Refreshmsents will be available, and the movie begins at dusk (approximately 8:30). Rain date: Wednesday, August 13th.