Wednesday, August 2

At the races

Stakes races: $100,000 Shine Again, fillies and mares three years old and up, 7 furlongs on the dirt

Irish-American Day. Find traditional Irish music, dance, food, and entertainment at the Saratoga Pavilion (behind the grandstand, near the top of the stretch), 11 am to 5 pm.

Saratoga Perks Discount to season pass holders at Saratoga Race Course concession stands, NYRA merchandise stores, and Shake Shack (also valid on Mondays and Thursdays). Discount does not apply to lottery, tobacco, alcohol, restaurant dining, group sales or Dunkin’ Donuts.

In NYRA’s community outreach booth, located near the jockeys’ silks room: K9s for Warriors

Elsewhere

Old Friends Party on the Porch. Join Old Friends founder Michael Blowen and equine photographer extraordinaire Barbara Livingston. Anne’s Washington Inn, 6 pm, 111 S. Broadway.

Thursday, August 3

At the track

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

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)

Saratoga Perks Discount to season pass holders at Saratoga Race Course concession stands, NYRA merchandise stores and Shake Shack (also valid on Mondays and Wednesdays). Discount does not apply to lottery, tobacco, alcohol, restaurant dining, group sales or Dunkin’ Donuts.

In NYRA’s community outreach booth, located near the jockeys’ silks room: GallopNYC, a therapeutic riding stable.

Tequila and Taco Thursdays: After the last race, The Post will feature specials on margaritas and tacos, accompanied by flamenco guitar.

Elsewhere

Jockeys vs. horsemen basketball game to benefit the Race Track Chaplaincy. This fun night, a highlight of the Saratoga summer, includes a raffle and promotional items for sale.  Saratoga Recreation Center, 15 Vanderbilt Avenue. Admission is free. 7 pm.

Andy Serling’s At The Post Live at the Parting Glass in downtown Saratoga, an hour of live radio featuring a variety of guests from the racing world. The show airs 8 – 9pm weekly and is held before a live audience at one of Saratoga’s best-loved watering holes. 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.  Guests will be posted here as they become available. This week’s guests are jockeys (and brothers) Irad Ortiz Jr and José Ortiz; NYRA Live host Greg Wolf; TVG host/reporter Britney Eurton; and trainer Al Stall.

Friday, August 4

At the track

Stakes races: Grade II, $200,000 National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame for three-year-olds, 1 1/16 miles on the turf

Saratoga Perks Discount to season pass holders in the Artists’ Village at the track.

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: Hope Soars, which supports people living with Parkinson’s disease.

Woodford Reserve Fridays at The Post: Following the end of racing, a DJ sets up at The Post bar near the Clubhouse entrance, where Saratoga customers can enjoy dancing, cocktail sampling, and trivia.

Elsewhere…

Hall of Fame induction ceremony in the Humphrey S. Finney Pavilion at the Fasig-Tipton sales grounds.  This year’s inductees are Goldikova, Victor Espinoza, Garrett Gomez, and Javier Castellano. Admission is free; seating is limited and first come, first served. The ceremony can be viewed on the Museum website at 10:30 am.

New Hall of Fame jockey Victor Espinoza will sign posters from 1 – 2pm. $15 per autograph, including the poster.

Free admission at the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame after 2 pm. (weekly)

Saturday, August 5

At the races

Stakes races: The Whitney Racing Festival

$100,000 Fasig-Tipton De La Rose, fillies and mares four years old and up, 1 mile on the turf

$100,000 Fasig-Tipton Lure, four-year-olds and up, 1 1/6 miles on the turf

Grade III, $200,000 Fasig-Tipton Waya, fillies and mares three years old and up, 1 1/2 miles on the turf

Grade I, $1,200,000 Whitney for three-year-olds and up, 1 1/8 miles on the dirt

Grade I, $500,000 Test for three-year-old fillies, 7 furlongs on the dirt

NYRA Bets & Taste NY: Food and Artisans: An on-track market in the Berkshire Bank Saratoga Pavilion (back of the grandstand, near the top of the stretch) that will feature food and crafts by New York makers. This event will also take place on Sundays and will include handicapping tutorials and racing tips from the NYRA Bets Squad.  10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

In NYRA’s community outreach booth, located near the jockeys’ silks room: Christie’s Heartoberfest, an annual event that raises and funds awareness about Long QT Syndrome. Proceeds benefit the Sudden Arrhythmia Death Syndrome Foundation.

Ketel One Party at The Post: The fun will continue each Saturday of the season with the Ketel One Party at The Post. Saturday evenings at Saratoga will feature music from a DJ following the day’s final race, cocktail samplings and giveaways.

Elsewhere

Photo Finish Tour with Dona McAdams. 8 am. Professional photographer McAdams will lead tour of the Oklahoma training facility; participants will learn about lighting, composition, and “developing your own artist’s eye.” $25 for Museum member; $35 for non-members.  Reservations are required and tour size is limited; call 518 584 0400, ext. 120. No children under 10.

New Hall of Fame jockey Javier Castellano will sign commemorative posters from 10 – 11am. $15 per autographed poster; includes the cost of the poster.

Travers Stakes poster signing with artist Greg Montgomery. 10 – 11:30 am. Posters will be available for purchase.

Book signing with retired jockey Karen Rogers. Rogers will sign copies of Racing with My Shadow: The Compelling True Story of America’s First Leading Female Jockey. 7pm at Northshire Books, 424 Broadway.

Sunday, August 6

At the track

Stakes races: $100,000 Alydar for four-year-olds and up, 1 1/8 miles on the dirt

Low Roller Handicapping Contest: The contests will be held on Sundays and Mondays in the Lower Carousel near the Fourstardave Sports Bar. Entry into the contest is $40 with $30 going towards your live bankroll and $10 towards the prize pool. Players may submit up to two entries per contest; registration begins at 11 a.m. (Also held every Monday)

Jockey Legends Day. Riders past and present will be on hand for special appearances and autograph signings. Expected to be on hand:  Angel Cordero, Ramon Dominguez, Robbie Davis, Jean Luc Samyn and Richard Migliore

NYRA Bets & Taste NY: Food and Artisans: An on-track market in the Berkshire Bank Saratoga Pavilion (back of the grandstand, near the top of the stretch) that will feature food and crafts by New York makers. This event will also take place on Saturdays and will include handicapping tutorials and racing tips from the NYRA Bets Squad.  10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

In NYRA’s community outreach booth, located near the jockeys’ silks room: Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance

Elsewhere

Book signing at the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame. Rider Karen Rogers will sign copies of her book Racing with My Shadow. Cost: Books available for purchase. 9:30 am – 2pm.

Sunday Summer Stroll: Here Lies Saratoga’s Past: Greenridge Cemetery with the Saratoga Springs Preservation Foundation. This week’s tour explores the historic cemetery on Lincoln Ave, featuring unusual crypts and the history of some of Saratoga’s prominent citizens. Racing historians, legendary early 20th century trainer Sam Hildreth is buried here.  Meet at the Sackett Gates on Lincoln Avenue at 10:30 am. Tours last approximately 90 minutes and require walking and standing on various terrain. $5 for Preservation Foundation members, $8 for non-members. (The Preservation Foundation offers a weekly Sunday walk, each with a different theme. A complete list of summer offerings is available at the end of this post.)

After the Race to benefit Old Friends at Cabin Creek. Join the supporters of this Thoroughbred retirement farm to raise money for its retirees, with 100% of your $100 ticket going to support the horses. The evening includes artisanal food, wine, and beer and live music.  Saratoga National Golf Course at 6:30; buy tickets here or by calling 518 698 2377.

Monday, August 7

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 Contest: The contests will be held on Sundays and Mondays in the Lower Carousel near the Fourstardave Sports Bar. Entry into the contest is $40 with $30 going towards your live bankroll and $10 towards the prize pool. Players may submit up to two entries per contest; registration begins at 11 a.m. (weekly, also held every Sunday)

Giveaway #2, a gray short-sleeved t-shirt with a red Saratoga Race Course logo. Giveaways are free with paid admission while supplies last. Season pass and season ticket plan holders are guaranteed a Saratoga premium giveaway item on the day of the giveaway; they must be in attendance, enter through the designated season ticket and pass holder lines, and redeem the giveaway by 3 p.m. Redemptions will begin when gates open to the general public.

Saratoga Perks Discount to season pass holders at Saratoga Race Course concession stands, NYRA merchandise stores and Shake Shack (also valid on Wednesdays and Thursdays). Discount does not apply to lottery, tobacco, alcohol, restaurant dining, group sales or Dunkin’ Donuts.

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 recipient is Skano Elementary School in Clifton Park.  (Weekly)

In NYRA’s community outreach booth, located near the jockeys’ silks room: Friends of Moreau Lake State Park.

Elsewhere

Children’s program at the National Museum of  Racing and Hall of Fame. Children will learn about the 2017 Hall of Fame inductees (Goldikova and jockeys Garrett Gomez, Victor Espinza, and Javier Castellano), try on jockeys’ silks, then design and take home their own silks. Recommended for children ages 3-8. 10 am – noon, free with paid admission.

Book signing at the National Museum of  Racing and Hall of Fame. Owners Roy and Gretchen Jackson will sign copies of Barbaro: America’s Horse, a 2006 children’s book by Shelley Mickle about the Kentucky Derby winner. The event will feature a video presentation by the author. Copies of the book will be available for purchase, as will copies of Mickle’s book American Pharoah: Triple Crown Champion. Free, 11am – noon.

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.

Tuesday, August 8

No racing

Elsewhere…

Whitney Day at Old Friends at Cabin Creek, featuring Whitney winners Commentator (2005 and 2008) and Will’s Way (1997).

Pedigree and Conformation Clinic, presented by Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association. More details as they become available.

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.

Wednesday, August 9

At the track

Stakes races: $100,000 Quick Call for three-year-olds, 5 1/2 furlongs on the turf

Saratoga Handicapping Challenge: This one-day contest will guarantee a minimum first-place payout of $10,000; at stake, too, is one entry to the 2018 Belmont Stakes Challenge and two entries to the National Handicapping Champion, to the top three finishers, based on selection by order of finish. The challenge will consist of wagering on Saratoga races in the following pools: win, place, show, exacta, quinella, and trifecta. Entry fee: $1,000, two-entry maximum.  Click for more information. (This contest is repeated Thursday, August 10)

Brew Central NY Day.  Held in the Saratoga Pavilion (back of the grandstand, near the top of the stretch, this event features craft beer, hard cider, spirits, and wine produced in Central New York. Five samples for $5; must be 21 years or older to participate.

Saratoga Perks Discount to season pass holders at Saratoga Race Course concession stands, NYRA merchandise stores and Shake Shack (also valid on Mondays and Thursdays). Discount does not apply to lottery, tobacco, alcohol, restaurant dining, group sales or Dunkin’ Donuts.

In NYRA’s community outreach booth, located near the jockeys’ silks room: Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation

Elsewhere…

Book signing with Brien Bouyea. Bouyea will sign copies of his book Bare Knuckles and Saratoga Racing: The Remarkable Life of John Morrissey. At the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame, where Bouyea serves as communications director.  10am – 2pm. Cost: Books available for purchase.

Pedigree and Conformation Clinic, presented by Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association. More details as they become available.

Daily (note that some events do not take place on Tuesdays, when there is no racing)

Morning workouts at Saratoga Race Course. Every day except Tuesdays, the track opens to the public at 7 a.m., and fans/customers can get in free to watch morning workouts until 10 am. The Dunkin Donuts concession on the track is open, but you can do better by bringing in your own food/coffee and sitting in the clubhouse to watch the horses exercise. A NYRA host talks about the history of the racing in Saratoga and comments on the horses on the track.

Across the street, the Whitney Viewing Stand and the Oklahoma training track is also open to the public.

Backstretch tours at Saratoga Race Course. Every day except Tuesday, take a free 45-minute tour of the backstretch. No reservations are accepted; tram tours begin at 7:30 am and depart every 15 minutes until approximately 9 am. Tours leave from the Wright St. entrance to the track, near the clubhouse. No tours on Travers Day or Labor Day.

Walking tours of Saratoga Race Course. Learn why there’s a canoe in the infield lake and why the winner’s circle bell is rung at 17 minutes to post. This guided tour lasts about 45 minutes and take place at 9:30 am, 10:30 am, 11:30 am, 12:30 pm, 1:30 pm, and 2:30 pm each racing day (note: no tours on Tuesdays). $3 per person or $10 per family. Contact Guest Services at 518 584 6200 x4433.

Walking tour of the Oklahoma training facility. Offered by reservation every day except Tuesday by the National Museum of Racing. Tours begin at 8:30 am in the Museum parking lot and reservations are required—weekend reservations are required by 4 p.m. the previous Thursday.

No tours are offered on August 4 or Travers weekend, August 27-28.  No children in backpacks or strollers, and tour participants must be at least 10 years old.

Sturdy walking shoes are suggested, and the cost is $5 for Museum members, $10 for non-members, which includes admission to the Museum after the tour. The tour covers approximately a mile and lasts for approximately 90 minutes.

For reservations or more information, call the Museum’s Education Department at 518 584 0400 ext. 120 or e-mail nmredu2@racingmuseum.net.

Tours of Old Friends at Cabin Creek Thoroughbred retirement farm. Tours are offered Tuesday through Saturday from 9 am to 1 pm. Visit Commentator, Be Bullish, Cool N Collective, and Will’s Way among others, learning about their racing days and how they’re enjoying being spoiled in retirement.

Join NYRA race caller Larry Collmus in his booth for the third race to support Backstretch Employees Service Team. Up to nine people can participate each day for $100 per person, with all proceeds going to support BEST’s work with backstretch workers. To reserve a spot, call (516) 488-3434 ext. 100 or (518) 587-3720.

Every Sunday

Low Roller Handicapping Contest: The contests will be held on Sundays and Mondays in the Lower Carousel near the Fourstardave Sports Bar. Entry into the contest is $40 with $30 going towards your live bankroll and $10 towards the prize pool. Players may submit up to two entries per contest; registration begins at 11 a.m. (Also held every Monday)

NYRA Bets & Taste NY: Food and Artisans: Opening weekend will feature the Saturday debut of Taste NY: Food and Artisans, an on-track market in the Berkshire Bank Saratoga Pavilion (back of the grandstand, near the top of the stretch) that will feature food and crafts by New York makers. This event will also take place on Sundays and will include handicapping tutorials and racing tips from the NYRA Bets Squad.   10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Sunday Summer Strolls with the Saratoga Springs Preservation Foundation. $5 for Foundation members, $8 for non-members. A complete list of the walks is here.

Every Monday

Low Roller Handicapping Contest: The contests will be held on Sundays and Mondays in the Lower Carousel near the Fourstardave Sports Bar. Entry into the contest is $40 with $30 going towards your live bankroll and $10 towards the prize pool. Players may submit up to two entries per contest; registration begins at 11 a.m. (Also held every Sunday)

Saratoga Perks Discount to season pass holders at Saratoga Race Course concession stands, NYRA merchandise stores and Shake Shack (also valid on Wednesdays and Thursdays). Discount does not apply to lottery, tobacco, alcohol, restaurant dining, group sales or Dunkin’ Donuts.

Every Wednesday

Saratoga Perks Discount to season pass holders at Saratoga Race Course concession stands, NYRA merchandise stores and Shake Shack (also valid on Mondays and Thursdays). Discount does not apply to lottery, tobacco, alcohol, restaurant dining, group sales or Dunkin’ Donuts.

Every Thursday

Saratoga Perks Discount to season pass holders at Saratoga Race Course concession stands, NYRA merchandise stores and Shake Shack (also valid on Mondays and Wednesdays). Discount does not apply to lottery, tobacco, alcohol, restaurant dining, group sales or Dunkin’ Donuts.

Every Friday

Saratoga Perks Discount to season pass holders in the Artists’ Village at the track.

Free admission at the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame after 2 pm.

Woodford Reserve Fridays at The Post: Following the end of racing, a DJ sets up at The Post bar near the Clubhouse entrance, where Saratoga customers can enjoy dancing, cocktail sampling, and trivia.

Every Saturday

NYRA Bets & Taste NY: Food and Artisans: Opening weekend will feature the Saturday debut of Taste NY: Food and Artisans, an on-track market in the Berkshire Bank Saratoga Pavilion (back of the grandstand, near the top of the stretch) that will feature food and crafts by New York makers. This event will also take place on Sundays and will include handicapping tutorials and racing tips from the NYRA Bets Squad.   10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Ketel One Party at The Post: The fun will continue each Saturday of the season with the Ketel One Party at The Post. Saturday evenings at Saratoga will feature music from a DJ following the day’s final race, cocktail samplings and giveaways.