Monday, August 8

At the races

Stakes races: $100,000 New York Stallion Series Cab Calloway Division for three-year-olds, 1 mile on the turf 

Low Roller Handicapping Challenge. Take your shot with a $40 buy-in ($30 goes to your own live bankroll, $10 to the prize pool). Registration begins at 11 am near the Fourstardave Sports Bar on the grandstand ground level.

Fourstardave Sports Bar: Reserve a table and get a free Fourstardave bobblehead.

Berkshire Bank Family Mondays, Saratoga Pavilion on the backyard side of the grandstand, near the top of the stretch. Enjoy kid-friendly games and activities and pet a retired Thoroughbred, all free of charge, with one designated activity carrying a suggested donation for a local school or PTA. This week’s beneficiary is Chango Elementary School of Ballston Lake. (Weekly)

Saratoga Perks members and season pass holders get a 10% discount on most on-track concession stands, NYRA merchandise stores, and Shake Shack. (Does not apply to restaurant dining, group sales, or Dunkin’ Donuts) (weekly)

In NYRA’s community outreach booth, located near the jockeys’ silks room: The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society

Elsewhere

Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders’ Association pedigree and conformation clinic, at the Fasig-Tipton sales grounds. Check-in begins at 7:30 a.m.; details here, register here. (The program continues tomorrow.)

Tuesday, August 9

No racing

Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders’ Association pedigree and conformation clinic, at the Fasig-Tipton sales grounds. Check-in begins at 8 a.m.; details here, register here.

Commentator and John Velazquez at Saratoga. NYRA/Adam Coglianese

Lunch with two-time Whitney Handicap winner Commentator at Old Friends at Cabin Creek. Guests will include Commentator’s owners, Tracy and Carol Farmer. Tours begin at 9 am, with lunch available at 11 am. The farm will close at 1 pm. Suggested donation: $10

Author William Thomas presents on his The Legend of Zippy Chippy: Life Lessons from Horse Racing’s Most Loveable Loser, the horse that ran 100 times without making it to the winner’s circle. 7 pm at Northshire Books on Broadway.

Author James Nicholson presents on his biography of John Morrissey, The Notorious John Morrissey: How a Bare-Knuckle Brawler Became a Congressman and Founded Saratoga Race Course. A book signing will follow the presentation. 7 pm in the H. Dutcher Community Room in the Saratoga Springs Public Library on Henry St.

Fasig-Tipton Saratoga yearling sale at the sales grounds on East Avenue. The sale begins at 7 pm, but people will gather earlier to socialize and gawk at pricey equine babies. Open to the public, but the pavilion is reserved for the people who will be doing the bidding, with others hanging out behind the pavilion near the walking ring and bar. The sale continues Tuesday night.

Wednesday, August 10

At the track

Stakes races: $100,000 Birdstone for three-year-olds and up, 1 3/4 miles on the dirt

Irish-American Day at the Saratoga Pavilion, on the backyard side of the grandstand near the top of the stretch. This celebration of Irish-American culture and heritage will feature traditional music, dance, food and entertainment, including bagpipers and step dancers; other entertainment will take place and exhibitions will be held in the Pavilion behind the grandstand near the top of the stretch. Culinary demonstrations and sampling of traditional Irish food will also be available, and Irish-themed food and drink specials will be sold at participating on-track concessions and restaurants throughout the day. NYRA encourages customers to wear green and decorate their backyard picnic tables with Irish-themed décor. 11 am – 5 pm.

Saratoga Perks members and season pass holders get a 10% discount on most on-track concession stands, NYRA merchandise stores, and Shake Shack. (Does not apply to restaurant dining, group sales, or Dunkin’ Donuts) (weekly)

In NYRA’s community outreach booth, located near the jockeys’ silks room: Saratoga Performing Arts Center

Thursday, August 11

At the races

Stakes races: $100,000 New York Stallion Series Statue of Liberty Division for three-year-old fillies, 1 mile on the turf

Taste NY, wines, ciders and spirits in the Saratoga Pavilion on the backyard side of the grandstand, towards the top of the stretch. At this weekly event, customers can purchase five samples of adult beverages made in New York for $5. Noon – 5pm. (Weekly)

Fabulous Fillies Day, celebrating women and their contributions to the Thoroughbred industry and raising money for The Breast Cancer Research Foundation. The Sizzling Hot Pink Saratoga Hat Luncheon will honor Jessica Steinbrenner of Kinsman Farm; NYRA encourages customers to wear pink. A limited number of tickets are available for purchase at http://www.playforpink.org/saratoga. Ticket price begin at $175.

Saratoga Perks members and season pass holders get a 10% discount on most on-track concession stands, NYRA merchandise stores, and Shake Shack. (Does not apply to restaurant dining, group sales, or Dunkin’ Donuts) (weekly)

In NYRA’s community outreach booth, located near the jockeys’ silks room: Floyd Warriors

Thursdays at The Post features Latin music, dancing, and food and drink specials after the races.

Simulcasting at the Fourstardave Sports Bar until 7 pm.

Elsewhere

Old Friends at Cabin Creek gathering at Anne’s Washington Inn in Saratoga Springs. Eclipse Award-winning photographer Barbara Livingston will be honored with the Frankel Award. 6 pm

Andy Serling’s At The Post Live returns to the Parting Glass in downtown Saratoga for an hour of live radio featuring a variety of guests from the racing world. The show airs 8 – 9pm weekly and is produced before a live audience at one of Saratoga’s best-loved watering holds. Can’t make it to Saratoga? You can listen at ESPN Radio 104.5 or online. Video segments will also be posted and shown on NYRA.com, the NYRA Network, and NYRA’s Youtube channel. This week’s guests: jockey Javier Castellano; trainer/broadcaster Tom Amoss; 2016 National Handicapping Championship Paul Matties; and Walker Hancock.

Friday, August 12

At the races

Stakes races: $100,000 Tale of the Cat for three-year-olds and up, 6 furlongs on the dirt

Watch the National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame Induction ceremony in the backyard of the track, near Gate B. The ceremony will be streamed and there will be photo opportunities with miniature horses, poster giveaways, and “family-friendly ativities.” The first 500 customers will receive free admission for that day’s racing.

Taste NY: Craft Beer, in the Saratoga Pavilion on the backyard side of the grandstand, towards the top of the stretch. At this weekly event, customers can sample five New York craft beers for $5. Noon – 5pm. (Weekly)

In NYRA’s community outreach booth, located near the jockeys’ silks room: Troy Boys & Girls Club

Party at the Post, the bar near the paddock and Shake Shack, with a DJ, dancing, trivia, and cocktail sampling after the races.

Simulcasting at the Fourstardave Sports Bar until 7 pm.

Elsewhere

Rachel Alexandra and Calvin Borel in the Woodward. NYRA/Susie Raisher

Hall of Fame induction ceremony in the Humphrey S. Finney Pavilion at the Fasig-Tipton sales grounds. This event is closed to the general public this year; inductees are Zenyatta, Rachel Alexandra, Ramon Dominguez, and Steve Asmussen. The ceremony can be viewed on the Museum website at 10:30 am.

Saturday, August 13

Stakes races:

Grade I, $500,000 Fourstardave Handicap for three-year-olds and up, 1 mile on the turf

Grade II, $200,000 Adirondack for two-year-old fillies, 6 1/2 furlongs on the dirt

Low Roller Handicapping Challenge. Take your shot with a $40 buy-in ($30 goes to your own live bankroll, $10 to the prize pool). Registration begins at 10:30 am in the NYRA Bets Lounge (see below).

NYRA Bets Lounge: Visitors to the track can visit this new addition, located in the Saratoga Pavilion on the backyard side of the grandstand, towards the stop of the stretch, for handicapping tips and betting advice from the new “Bets Squad.” The Lounge will also feature a champagne bar and Lifestyles clothing boutique (Lifestyles is a popular women’s clothing store in downtown Saratoga. Join a handicapping seminar with Pete Fornatale and Steve Davidowitz from 11 am to noon, and get tips from Ernie Munick at 1pm.

Jockey Legends Day. Retired jockeys return to Saratoga for a day of events, including a red carpet ceremony after the fifth race. Angel Cordero, Jr., Ramon Dominguez and Richard Migliore will be among the former jockeys signing autographs from noon to 1 p.m. outside the Jockey Silks Room with a suggested donation of $10 to the Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund. Also scheduled to appear are Cash Asmussen; Jean Cruguet; David Erb; Robbie Davis; Eddie Maple; Jean-Luc Samyn; Jose Santos; Nick Santagata; Jacinto Vasquez; and Manny Ycaza.

In NYRA’s community outreach booth, located near the jockeys’ silks room: AIM Services, Inc.

Party at the Post, the bar near the paddock and Shake Shack, with a DJ, trivia, and prizes after the races.

Simulcasting at the Fourstardave Sports Bar until 7 pm.

Elsewhere

Book signing at the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame. Author Mark Shrager will sign copies of The Great Sweepstakes of 1877: A True Story of Southern Grit, Gilded Age Tycoons, and a Race That Galvanized the Nation.” 9 am – noon; books will be available for purchase.

New York-Bred Preferred Yearling Sale Cocktail Party, hosted by New York Thoroughbred Breeders and featuring specialty culinary selections and complimentary cocktails in the Upstairs Buyers’ Lounge and Balcony in the Humphrey S. Finney Pavilion on the grounds of Fasig-Tipton. General admission tickets are $75; patron level tickets, which include a listing on table tents and signage, are $100. Please RSVP by August 8 at 518 587 0777; click for a response card.

Fasig-Tipton New York Bred Yearling Sale.  Two more nights of yearling sales begin, with sessions devoted exclusively to New York-breds. The vibe will be quieter, the sales grounds less hectic (and thus easier to get around, and the bar and food lines will be much more manageable), and don’t forget that a Kentucky Derby winner—Funny Cide—came out of this sale in 2000. The sale continues on Sunday night.

Sunday, August 14

At the races

Stakes races: Grade II, $200,000 Saratoga Special for two-year-olds, 6 1/2 furlongs on the dirt

Low Roller Handicapping Challenge. Take your shot with a $40 buy-in ($30 goes to your own live bankroll, $10 to the prize pool). Registration begins at 11 am near the Fourstardave Sports Bar on the grandstand ground level.

Taste NY, Food and Artisans, in the Saratoga Pavilion on the backyard side of the grandstand, towards the top of the stretch. At this weekly event, customers can sample and shop for food and crafts such as jams, baked goods, and hand-crafted soap, all produced in New York State. 10:30am – 5pm. (Weekly)

In NYRA’s community outreach booth, located near the jockeys’ silks room: Backstretch Employees Service Team

Elsewhere

Summer stroll with the Saratoga Springs Preservation Foundation—The Good Life: North Broadway. This walking tour meets at the northwest corner of North Broadway and Van Dam Street and feature the prominent Queen Anne homes build by Saratogians Lucy Skidmore Scribner, Fred Cluett, William B. Gage, and Senator Edgar T. Brackett 10:30 am. Reservations are suggested but not required at 518 587 5030 or Nicole Babie at nbabie@saratogapreservation.org. $5 for SSPF members, $8 for non-members. (Weekly, with different tour routes each Sunday)

New York-Bred Preferred Yearling Sale Cocktail Party, hosted by New York Thoroughbred Breeders and featuring specialty culinary selections and complimentary cocktails in the Upstairs Buyers’ Lounge and Balcony in the Humphrey S. Finney Pavilion on the grounds of Fasig-Tipton. General admission tickets are $75; patron level tickets, which include a listing on table tents and signage, are $100. Please RSVP by August 8 at 518 587 0777; click for a response card.

Fasig-Tipton New York Bred Yearling Sale: The second and final night of the New York-bred sale brings to a close the Saratoga yearling auction season. See listing for Saturday night for more information.

Monday, August 15

At the races

Stakes races: $100,000 Saratoga Dew for New York-breds fillies and mares, three years old and up, 1 1/8 miles on the dirt

Low Roller Handicapping Challenge. Take your shot with a $40 buy-in ($30 goes to your own live bankroll, $10 to the prize pool). Registration begins at 11 am near the Fourstardave Sports Bar.

Saratoga beach towel giveaway, while supplies last. This year, all season ticket and season pass holders will be guaranteed a cap if they redeem their coupons by 3pm; they will be required to use a designated gate at each entrance. Include a photo

Fourstardave Sports Bar: Reserve a table and get a free Fourstardave bobblehead.

Saratoga Perks members and season pass holders get a 10% discount on most on-track concession stands, NYRA merchandise stores, and Shake Shack. (Does not apply to restaurant dining, group sales, or Dunkin’ Donuts) (weekly)

Berkshire Bank Family Mondays, Saratoga Pavilion on the backyard side of the grandstand, near the top of the stretch. Enjoy kid-friendly games and activities and pet a retired Thoroughbred, all free of charge, with one designated activity carrying a suggested donation for a local school or PTA. (Weekly)

In NYRA’s community outreach booth, located near the jockeys’ silks room: Saratoga Hospital

Tuesday, August 16

No racing

Charity golf tournament to benefit the Grayson-Jockey Club Research Foundation, held at Saratoga National Golf Club. The event includes lunch, golf cart, green fees, on-course refreshments, cocktail reception, and awards dinner. For more information, contact Nancy Kelly at (518) 226-0609 or nkelly@jockeyclub.com

Guests in the Gallery: Michael Blowen and JoAnn Pepper of Old Friends. The founder of Old Friends will appear at the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame to discuss Thoroughbred aftercare and the impact of Old Friends. 11 am – 12:30 pm, free with paid Museum admission. Expected special guests are the former owners/trainers of some of the Old Friends’ retirees: H. James Bond (Behrens, Will’s Way), Rick Schosberg (Affirmed Success), Jack Knowlton (Saratoga Episode), and Tracy and Carol Farmer (Commentator).

Brian Bouyea offers an evening of local history and discuss his new book, Bare Knuckles & Saratoga Racing: The Remarkable Life of John Morrissey. 6 pm at Northshire Books on Broadway.

Horses, History and Handicapping Sponsored by Thorofan. This week’s guest is handicapper and racing manager Chad Summers. 7 – 8:30 pm; scroll to the bottom of this for more information.