News
August 25, 2015Important Travel Information for Fans Attending the 146th Running of the Travers Saturday
The New York Racing Association today outlined important travel and security information for fans planning to attend the 146th running of the Travers at Saratoga Race Course on Saturday, August 29.
Expect Delays
Fans are strongly advised to plan ahead and build significant time into their travels to and from Saratoga Race Course on Saturday. Gates will open at 7 a.m. for ticketed patrons, with a special first race post time of 11:45 a.m. The Travers will go to post at 5:46 p.m. and will be broadcast on NBC as part of a two-hour live broadcast beginning at 4 p.m.
Similar to any other large sporting event, lengthy delays should be anticipated when entering and exiting the property. Fans are encouraged to arrive early and stay late. Both the Fourstardave sports bar and The Post will feature live entertainment and remain open until 9 p.m.
All patrons arriving in NYRA parking lots will be provided with a new facility map clearly identifying all exit points, and containing important information for traversing the Saratoga Race Course property. This map can also be accessed by visiting NYRA.com.
Preferred parking is available for $15; trackside parking for $20 and valet parking for $50 on Travers Day. Free parking is available on a first-come, first-served basis in the Yaddo and Flatlands lots, across Union Avenue. A free shuttle service is available to the track from these lots.
Tickets Sold Out
Fans without tickets should not travel to Saratoga Race Course on Saturday. Tickets for Travers Day are completely sold out, and walk-up tickets are not available.
Clubhouse and grandstand season passes are valid, and will be accepted on Travers Day. Those fans are directed to show their season pass at any of the Spa’s three gates as they normally would on all other race days.
Additionally, patrons with previously confirmed dining reservations are encouraged to purchase their Travers Day admission in advance of August 29 by visiting the NYRA Box Office at Saratoga Race Course. NYRA officials have and continue to personally contact each reservation holder to facilitate payment and advance pick-up of Travers Day admission.
Many local bars and restaurants will be holding special viewing events on their premises, and the New York Racing Association encourages fans not holding tickets to patronize and support these local businesses on Travers Day. Those without tickets to the sold-out Travers are encouraged to visit 2015SaratogaTravers.com for information about Travers Day viewing parties throughout Saratoga.
New Security Protocols
New security protocols have been implemented for this year. A full list of prohibited and permitted items at NYRA.com.
All patrons are subject to enhanced magnetic screening upon entering the grounds and those attempting to enter with banned items will be asked to return those items to their vehicles or dispose of them. No storage will be provided for patrons arriving or attempting to enter the venue with prohibited items.
On Travers Day, re-entry will be limited solely to the Clubhouse gate on Wright Street, off of Nelson Avenue.
No coolers larger than 12-by-18 inches will be allowed on the trackside apron or Top of the Stretch. Coolers are not permitted in the building or Clubhouse. No glass containers of any kind are permitted. Breakfast on the Clubhouse porch and backstretch tram tours are not available on Travers Day. Backstretch tram tours will also be unavailable on Friday, August 28.
NYRA is also coordinating extensively with law enforcement professionals, transportation planners and first responders at all levels of government. All partners have bolstered their allocated resources for this year’s Travers, and are playing an intimate role in the development of collective traffic management and operational contingency plans.
“The safety of our fans, our equine athletes, our horsemen and horsewomen and all of our employees is the top priority of the New York Racing Association,” stated George Venizelos, Vice President of Security. “To that end, we continue working closely and collaboratively with our partners at the local, state and federal level to keep our fans safe and on the move on Travers Day.”
Communication
NYRA continues to work with media representatives and marketing outlets to emphasize that tickets will not be sold at Saratoga Race Course on August 29. NYRA representatives will continue to be highly visible on television, radio, in print and on the internet to convey this information.
Large VMS signs located within the vicinity of Saratoga Race Course will have messages announcing that tickets are not available for Travers Day. Clear signs will also be visible upon entry to Saratoga Race Course parking lots, with parking attendants reminding entrants of this fact. Entrants will also be given an updated map of the facility, which clearly notes all exit points. Should individuals who enter premium parking lots at Saratoga Race Course on August 29 not have Travers Day tickets, they will be able to exit without financial penalty.
“Saratoga’s Breeder’s Cup”
This year’s Travers Day is historic in its own right with the addition of three Grade 1 stakes to comprise a blockbuster lineup of six Grade 1 races and a Grade 2 for a total of seven graded stakes worth more than a combined $5 million on the afternoon and could be described as “Saratoga’s Breeder’s Cup”.
Joining the Travers Day card are: the 1 ½-mile Sword Dancer Invitational on the turf, whose purse has been enhanced to $1 million; the $750,000, 1 1/8-mile Personal Ensign for fillies and mares; and the $700,000 Priority One Forego at seven furlongs.
These additions round out a spectacular card which already included the Travers Stakes, whose purse will increase to $1.6 million from $1.25 million if Triple Crown winner American Pharoah starts in the Mid-Summer Derby; the Grade 1, $500,000 Ballerina for fillies and mares; the Grade 1, $500,000 King’s Bishop; and the Grade 2, $400,000 Ketel One Ballston Spa for turf fillies and mares.
Travers weekend will officially kick off on Friday, August 28 with New York Showcase Day, featuring six New York-bred stakes. The day will also feature the induction of prominent owners Ogden Mills “Dinny” Phipps of Phipps Stable and Marylou Whitney of Marylou Whitney Stables into the Saratoga Race Course Walk of Fame. The honorees will unveil their plaques during the New York Racing Association’s annual Red Jacket Ceremony, scheduled for 12:15 p.m.
The 2015 season at historic Saratoga Race Course continues through Labor Day, Monday, September 7. For more information about Saratoga Race Course, visit NYRA.com or call 518-584-6200.
About the New York Racing Association (NYRA)
Founded in 1955, and franchised to run thoroughbred racing at New York’s three major tracks (Aqueduct Racetrack, Belmont Park, and Saratoga Race Course) through 2033, the New York Racing Association’s mission is “Meeting the highest standards in thoroughbred racing and equine safety.” With a lineage of nearly 150 years, NYRA tracks are the cornerstone of New York State’s thoroughbred industry, which contributes more than $2 billion annually to its urban, suburban and rural economy.
In 2014, more than 1.7 million people attended live races at NYRA tracks. Factoring in nationwide off-track wagering, the average daily betting handle on NYRA races totaled more than $10 million. For more information, visit NYRA.com
