Historic Saratoga Race Course 2017 Stakes Schedule

SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY – The 2017 meet at the historic Saratoga Race Course will again be highlighted by the Grade 1, $1.2 million Whitney and the Grade 1, $1.25 million Travers, centerpieces for two of the biggest days in North American racing.

The 40-day meet, which includes 69 stakes worth $18.775 million in purses, will run from Friday, July 21, through Labor Day, Monday, September 4. After opening weekend, racing will be conducted six days a week, Wednesdays through Mondays.

On Saturday, August 5, the prestigious 1 1/8-mile Whitney, a “Win and You’re In” qualifier for the $6 million Breeders’ Cup Classic on November 4 at Del Mar, will pair with the Grade 1, $500,000 Test for 3-year-old fillies, with the Grade 3, $200,000 Fasig-Tipton Waya for fillies and mares going 1 1/2 miles over turf rounding out the graded stakes offerings on the first “must-see” card of the meet. Also on August 6 are two additional turf stakes: the $100,000 Fasig-Tipton Lure at 1 1/16 miles and the $100,000 Fasig-Tipton De La Rose for fillies and mares at 1 mile.

Joining the 148th running of the Mid-Summer Derby for 3-year-olds at 1 1/4 miles on Saturday, August 26 will be five other Grade 1 stakes on Travers Day: the $1 million Sword Dancer Invitational at 1 1/2 miles on the turf, the $500,000 Ballerina for filly and mare sprinters, the $600,000 Forego at 7 furlongs, the $500,000 H. Allen Jerkens Memorial (formerly known as the King’s Bishop) for 3-year-olds at 7 furlongs, and the $700,000 Personal Ensign for fillies and mares going 1 1/8 miles. Rounding out the blockbuster card is the Grade 2, $400,000 Woodford Reserve Ballston Spa for fillies and mares over 1 1/16 miles on the turf.

The traditional local prep for the Travers, the Grade 2, $600,000 Jim Dandy, will be held on Saturday, July 29, joined by the Grade 1, $350,000 Alfred G. Vanderbilt Handicap, the Grade 2, $200,000 Amsterdam, and the Grade 2, $250,000 Bowling Green.

Travers Eve (Friday, August 25) will again feature the popular New York Breeders’ Showcase Day, highlighted by the $250,000 Albany for 3-year-olds going 1 1/8 miles and the $150,000 West Point at 1 1/16 miles on the turf.

Opening Day (Friday, July 21) will kick off with a pair of graded stakes: the Grade 3, $150,000 Schuylerville for 2-year-old fillies and the Grade 3, $150,000 Lake George for 3-year-old turf fillies. Continuing the juvenile dirt stakes tradition at the Spa are the Grade 3, $150,000 Sanford on Saturday, July 22; the Grade 2, $200,000 Saratoga Special on Sunday, August 13; and the Grade 1, $350,000 Hopeful on Monday, September 4; along with their sister races: the Grade 2, $200,000 Adirondack on Saturday, August 12, and the Grade 1, $350,000 Spinaway on Saturday, September 2.

Grade 1 action commences with the $500,000 Diana for turf fillies and mares on Saturday, July 22, and the $300,000 Coaching Club American Oaks for 3-year-old fillies on Sunday, July 23. Continuing the world-class offerings are the aforementioned Alfred G. Vanderbilt Handicap, Whitney and Test; the Grade 1, $500,000 Fourstardave Handicap at 1 mile over the turf on Saturday, August 12; the Grade 1, $600,000 Alabama on Saturday, August 19; and the Travers, Sword Dancer, Personal Ensign, Forego, Ballerina, and King’s Bishop on Saturday, August 26.

Closing weekend of the 149th meeting at Saratoga features the Grade 1, $750,000 Woodward on Saturday, September 2, with the Grade 2, $250,000 Prioress for 3-year-old fillies taking the spotlight on Sunday, September 3.

Stakes schedule for the 149th meet at Saratoga Race Course

NYRA