I brought neither a raincoat nor rain boots to Saratoga this year, and I keep thinking, “No, it can’t keep raining. You won’t need them.”

But of course it CAN keep raining, and it has (it’s thundering and gray as I type), and I DO need them. And as soon as I buy them, we’ll have clear skies until the end of the meet. So I should buy them right now, right?

How about those New York-breds? One sold for $1 million at the select sale, and the New York-bred sale set records with every indicator. And then there’s the wonderful Voodoo Song, who won the Grade 1 Fourstardave last Saturday, the same horse that won four races here last year.

So break out the poncho and the boots, put up the umbrella, and enjoy these last couple of weeks. Saratoga in the rain is still better than most other places in the sun.

Wednesday, August 15

 At the track…

The $100,000 Bolton Landing for two-year-old fillies on the turf at 5 1/2 furlongs.

Adirondacks Day in the Saratoga Pavilion behind the grandstand, where you’ll find exhibits on the 1932 and 1980 Winter Olympics in Lake Placid and activities and entertainment that showcase the Adirondack region.

In the community booth, located outside the jockeys’ silks room: The Center for Disability Services

Elsewhere…

The New York Race Track Chaplaincy brunch honoring Lisa and Kenny Troutt, owners of WinStar Farm, to support the work of the Chaplaincy on the backstretch, which includes children’s enrichment, social service, recreational, and educational programs, as well as non-denominational religious services. Click here if you’re interested in buying an ad, sponsoring the event, or purchasing tickets. Saratoga National Golf Club at 10:30 am.

“Ask the Handicapper” with Tom Amello at the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame: Veteran handicapper Tom Amello, who has been producing the Trackfacts tip sheet at Saratoga Race Course since 1988, will lead a discussion about various aspects of handicapping and take questions from the audience. 11 am to noon. Cost: included with Museum admission.

Thursday, August 16

At the track…

The $100,000 Union Avenue for New York-bred fillies and mares three and up, 6 1/2 furlongs on the dirt.

TASTE NY: CIDER, WINE & SPIRITS: In the Saratoga Pavilion behind the grandstand every Thursday through the meet, visitors can sample the offerings of New York’s distilleries and wineries and enjoy live music. For those 21 and older; $5 for five samples.

Aperol Thursdays at The Post. Every Thursday through the meet, sample Aperol Spritz cocktails at The Post Bar near the paddock from 3:30 to 5:30. After the races, dance to a DJ.

In the community booth, located outside the jockeys’ silks room: K9s for Warriors

Elsewhere…

Children’s Program at the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame: “Anatomy, Them Bones.” Children ages 3 – 8 can learn about the anatomy of a horse, then build their own with clothespins. 10 am to noon, free with paid admission.

At The Post with Andy Serling, broadcast live each Thursday at 8 pm from The Parting Glass. The hour-long show will be streamed and archived at ESPN Radio 104.5 in the Capital District and presented as the NYRA podcast Across The Board. This week’s guests: Richard Migliore, Thorograph’s Jerry Brown, and New York Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association president Joe Appelbaum.

Friday, August 17

At the track…

The $100,000 Skidmore Stakes for two-year-olds on the turf at 5 1/2 furlongs.

Taste NY: Craft Beer. Every Friday during the meet, sample craft beers made in New York State. $5 gets you five samples at the Saratoga Pavilion just behind the grandstand. Noon to 5 pm.

In the community booth, located outside the jockeys’ silks room: Warren Washington Association for Mental Health

The Last Race Showcase at The Stretch: Customers are invited to The Stretch, the new upscale, “exclusive” area on the far end of the second floor of the grandstand. Ordinarily, admission to this area begins at $30; customers may attend free from 6:30 to 7:30 pm. There will be food and drink specials and  DJ.

Woodford Reserve Bourbon Fridays at the Post. Every Friday evening, enjoy bourbon cocktails and trivia at The Post bar near the clubhouse entrance. 6 – 8 pm.

Elsewhere…

Rock N Roll for Retired Racehorses to benefit Old Friends at Cabin Creek. Head to Nanola on Route 9 in Malta, just south of Saratoga, for a buffet and cash bar to support Old Friends’ retirees. Live music is courtesy of Blue Hand Luke; tickets are $50 in advance, $60 at the door. Call 518 698 2377 to purchase tickets or for more information; you can also buy tickets at the farm or online.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Readings at Northshire Books to benefit Saratoga WarHorse. Romance authors Stacy Hoff and Morgan Malone will share their new work. Hoff’s Jockeying For You is about a horse owner who hires a “horse whisperer” to get the horse back on track; Malone’s Taking Control: Rick’s Story is about a solitary beach trip interrupted by flirtation.

 

 

Saturday, August 18

At the track…

Note: “Enhanced” screening will be in place, so be prepared to wait in line and go through metal detectors. Plan to arrive early.

Breakfast at the track will be served from 7-9 only, & backstretch tours end at 8:30 am.

The $600,000, Grade 1 Alabama for three-year-old fillies, 10 furlongs on the dirt.

The $300,000 Grade 2 Lake Placid for three-year-old fillies, nine furlongs on the turf.

Lustgarten Foundation Day, honoring the legacy of trainer Dominic Galluscio, who died of pancreatic cancer in 2014. The day will feature an autograph session with Saratoga trainers to benefit the Foundation.

Handicapping seminar on the day’s racing card with Pete Fornatale, David Grening and Mike Welsch on the second floor of the grandstand facing the backyard, near the top of the stretch. 11 am.

Woodford Reserve and singer/songwriter Jeff Brisbin at the Jim Dandy Bar. Every Saturday except Travers Day (August 25), sample Woodford Reserve Saratoga Personal Selection bourbon while Brisbin plays. 2-4 pm.

Triple Crown Trophy Photo Op. Get your photo taken with the new Triple Crown trophy, commissioned several years ago by NYRA’s president and CEO Chris Kay. Your $5 suggested donation will benefit the Lustgarten Foundation. 1:30 – 3:30 pm at the Community Outreach Booth near the jockeys’ silks room. If you share your photo on Facebook and Twitter with #TCTrophy and #Saratoga, you’ll be entered to win one of four prizes, a 2018 “premium Saratoga giveaway.”

Ketel One Saturdays at The Post. Every Saturday, sample Ketel One Botanicals from 3-5 pm. Following the races, a DJ spins dance music.

Fashion Saturdays. Every Saturday, shop local apparel, accessories, jewelry, and home décor from 10:30 am – 5 pm in the Saratoga Pavilion just behind the grandstand.

Paint and Sip. Details are scant at this point, but this sounds like a painting session while drinking wine at the track. The $75 cost includes admission to the Whitney Suite, all art supplies, snacks, and a race day program.

In the community booth, located outside the jockeys’ silks room: The Lustgarten Foundation

The Last Race Showcase at The Stretch: Customers are invited to The Stretch, the new upscale, “exclusive” area on the far end of the second floor of the grandstand. Ordinarily, admission to this area begins at $30; customers may attend free from 6:30 to 7:30 pm. There will be food and drink specials and DJ.

Elsewhere…

Xpressbet Saturday Morning Social at the Museum: Every Saturday, museum staff and guests will analyze and discuss the day’s races at Saratoga and other tracks.  Complimentary light refreshments will be served and Saratoga past performances will be provided. The program runs from 9-11 am and is free of charge.

Behind-the-scenes tour of Greentree Stable, presented by the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame. Get a look at the private training facility owned by Sheikh Mohammad bin Rashid al Maktoum, ruler of Dubai and vice president and prime minister of the UAE, and the founder of Godolphin’s racing and breeding organization. The farm was previously owned by John Hay Whitney and later Robert McNair of Stonerside Stables and owner of the Houston Texans football team. The property includes a synthetic training track, two stable blocks, and a 10-bedroom mansion.

Tours are limited to 75 people and water will be provided. Reservations are required and can be made by calling (518) 584-0400 ext. 120 to secure your spot.

The tour begins at 11 am at 36 Nelson Avenue. Enter the stable and use the parking lot located at the end of driveway past the barns on the left side of the dormitory. Comfortable footwear is recommended, and the tour ends at 12:30pm.  $15 for Museum members, $20 for non-members; the cost of the tour also includes a pass for free admission to the Museum. The tour also takes place on August 21.

Sunday, August 19

At the track…

The $100,000 Summer Colony, for fillies and mares three and up, on the dirt at 1 1/8 miles.

SaraYoga. For $40, you get a one-hour yoga session, brunch, and a complimentary mimosa or bloody Mary.  Admission, tax, and gratuity are included. Bring your own mat or rent one for $5. Purchase both sessions for $70. This week’s session takes place in the paddock tent at 8 am. Call 844-NYRA-TIX.

Low Roller Challenge. Every Sunday and Monday (except Labor Day), play in this low-stakes handicapping tournament. Entry is $40, with $30 going towards your live bankroll and $10 to the prize pool. Registration begins at 11 am near the Fourstardave Sports Bar.

Taste NY: Food & Artisans. Every Sunday, shop food and artisan products made in New York from 10:30 am – 5 pm in the Saratoga Pavilion, behind the grandstand.

Boozy Brunch in the luxury suites at the first turn. For $75, you get a three-hour brunch buffet and three alcoholic beverages and one water. A cash bar will also be available. Call 844-NYRA-TIX.

In the community booth, located outside the jockeys’ silks room: After The Fire, a local non-profit for people whose homes have been damaged or destroyed by fire.

Elsewhere…

Summer Stroll: “The Good Life: North Broadway.” Join the Saratoga Springs Preservation Foundation for its weekly Sunday Stroll. This week, executive director Samantha Bosshart leads a tour of the grand Queen Anne homes on this boulevard. The tour begins at 10:30 am and lasts approximately 90 minutes. Meet at northwest corner of North Broadway and Van Dam Street and wear comfortable shoes. $5 for SSPF members, $8 for non-members. Tours are rain or shine and tickets can be purchased here.

Women in Racing Symposium at the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame. Hall of Famers jockey Julie Krone and trainer Janet Elliot will speak on a panel alongside champion steeplechase jockey Blythe Miller Davies, record-breaking trainer Linda Rice, iconic owner/breeder Charlotte Weber, industry leader Stella Thayer and top racing analyst Gabby Gaudet in a discussion about their careers and what has made them successful. The panel will be moderated by Charlsie Cantey. 10 am – noon, free and open to the public.

Julie Krone autograph signing at the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame. The first woman, and one of only four, to be inducted into the Hall of Fame will sign autographs from 12:30 – 1:15 pm. Autographs are $15 each, with proceeds benefiting the Museum. The jockey will sign prints of her Belmont win in 1993 on Colonial Affair, the only time a Triple Crown race has been won by a woman. The price of the poster is included.

Monday, August 20

At the track…

The $100,000 Evan Shipman for New York-breds three and up, 1 1/8 miles on the dirt.

Low Roller Challenge. Every Sunday and Monday (except Labor Day), play in this low-stakes handicapping tournament. Entry is $40, with $30 going towards your live bankroll and $10 to the prize pool. Registration begins at 11 am near the Fourstardave Sports Bar.

Giveaway #3, the Saratoga blanket. The blanket depicts three Thoroughbreds running on the main track at Saratoga with the grandstand in the background. Free with paid admission while supplies last. If you have a season pass or season tickets, you are guaranteed a hat if you are present on the day of the giveaway, enter through the dedicated season ticket holder lines, and pick up your blanket by 3 pm.

Berkshire Bank Family Mondays. Each Monday of the meet, head to the Saratoga Pavilion behind the grandstand for kid-friendly games and activities, including the opportunity to pet a retired thoroughbred. All activities are free of charge, with the exception of one that carries a suggested donation to benefit a local school or PTA. This week’s beneficiary: Saddlewood Elementary School in Colonie. 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

In the community booth, located outside the jockeys’ silks room: Diamond Dawgs Baseball

Tuesday, August 21

No racing

Behind-the-scenes tour of Greentree Stable, presented by the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame. Get a look at the private training facility owned by Sheikh Mohammad bin Rashid al Maktoum, ruler of Dubai and vice president and prime minister of the UAE, and the founder of Godolphin’s racing and breeding organization. The farm was previously owned by John Hay Whitney and later Robert McNair of Stonerside Stables and owner of the Houston Texans football team. The property includes a synthetic training track, two stable blocks, and a 10-bedroom mansion.

Tours are limited to 75 people and water will be provided. Reservations are required and can be made by calling (518) 584-0400 ext. 120 to secure your spot.

The tour begins a 11 am at 36 Nelson Avenue, Saratoga Springs. Enter the stable and use the parking lot located at the end of driveway past the barns on the left side of the dormitory. Comfortable footwear is recommended, and the tour ends at 12:30pm.  $15 for Museum members, $20 for non-members; the cost of the tour also includes a pass for free admission to the Museum.

Will’s Way Day at Old Friends at Cabin Creek. Celebrate the life and career of the 1996 Travers winner, now a resident of Old Friends. Food will be provided by The Bread Basket and photographer Connie Bush will sell photographs. The day will include fiddle music and tours, and all visitors attending will receive a Will’s Way autograph. 11am – 1 pm, donations gratefully accepted.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Walk-In Cocktail Party to benefit Old Friends at Cabin Creek. Stop by The Savory Pantry on Broadway and sample their varied specialty items and libations. A chef and bartender will be on hand to serve finger food and signature drinks. 5:30 – 8 pm, no tickets required. A portion of the evening’s sales will be donated to help support the retired Thoroughbreds of Old Friends at Cabin Creek.

Wednesday, August 22

 At the track…

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

Irish-American Day, in the Saratoga Pavilion behind the grandstand, featuring traditional Italian music, dance, and food. 11 am – 5 pm.

Stewart’s Ice Cream Eating Contest. Contestants can participate in three age groups—kids, teenagers, and adults—to see who can eat a pint of ice cream the fastest.

In the community booth, located outside the jockeys’ silks room: Saratoga Bridges

Elsewhere…

Travers Stakes preview panel: Handicappers will analyze the field for the 149th running of the Travers Stakes. 11 am to noon, free with Museum admission. More details as they become available.

Racing for the Children, the annual fundraiser for the Belmont Child Care Association, which provides low-cost child care and early-childhood education for the children of backstretch workers. This year’s theme is “BCCA on the French Riviera” (dress code: “Riviera chic”) and the event includes dinner and a live and silent auction. Tickets are $300 and can be purchased here, where you can also see some of the auction items. 6:30 at Saratoga National Golf Club.