News

July 25, 2019

NYRA and City of Saratoga Springs officials to announce activities in celebration of 150th Runhappy Travers

WHAT:

With the one-month countdown underway to the 150^th running of the Runhappy Travers, the New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA) and local officials will announce a series of events and activities designed to spread excitement throughout downtown leading up to the summer season’s marquee race.

WHEN:

Friday, July 26

11 a.m.

WHERE:

Saratoga Springs City Hall

474 Broadway

Saratoga Springs, NY

WHO:

-City of Saratoga Springs Mayor Meg Kelly

-Dave O’Rourke, NYRA CEO & President

-Javier Castellano, Hall of Fame jockey and six-time Travers-winning rider

-Todd Shimkus, President, Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce

-Deann Devitt, President, Saratoga Springs Downtown Business Association

DETAILS:

The Runhappy Travers will be run for the 150^th time on Saturday, August 24 as the centerpiece of a card featuring seven stakes and six Grade 1s.

The inaugural running of the Travers took place on August 2, 1864, as the first race ever held at the present-day Saratoga Race Course. The Travers was run one year after the first organized thoroughbred race meeting in Saratoga which occurred at the original Saratoga Trotting Course located near Horse Haven on the Oklahoma side of the track. The Travers was named for William R. Travers, a co-founder of Saratoga Race Course who won the inaugural running with Kentucky.

As the oldest stakes race for 3-year-olds in the United States, the Travers is an annual highlight of the Saratoga meet. Famous thoroughbreds that have won the illustrious race include Man o’ War, Whirlaway, Native Dancer, Alydar and Easy Goer.

For more information about Saratoga Race Course, visit NYRA.com.