News
August 27, 2015Saratoga Race Course to Host 146th Running of the Grade 1, $1.6 million Travers, Featuring Triple Crown Winner American Pharoah
The New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA) will welcome a sold-out paid crowd of 50,000 fans to Saratoga Race Course for its signature day of the summer season to witness 2015 Triple Crown winner American Pharoah compete in the 146th running of the Grade 1, $1.6 million Travers on Saturday, August 29.
American Pharoah, owned by Zayat Stables and trained by Bob Baffert, was installed as the morning line favorite at 1-5 during the post-position draw at Druthers Brewing Company in downtown Saratoga Springs on Tuesday evening. Ridden by Victor Espinoza, the pair will leave from post 2.
The field also includes the 2014 Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile winner and Jim Dandy winner Texas Red, 2015 Grade 1 TwinSpires.com Wood Memorial winner Frosted, 2015 Haskell Invitational runner-up Keen Ice, multiple stakes winner Upstart, Curlin Stakes winner Smart Transition, 2015 Preakness Stakes runner-up Tale of Verve, Frammento, Mid Ocean and King of New York.
All Travers Day tickets are sold out. Fans are specifically advised not to travel to Saratoga Race Course on August 29 without tickets purchased in advance. The sell-out Travers Day follows the announcement of a paid attendance cap of 50,000 attendees in an effort to ensure the safety and enjoyment of all fans.
Gates open at 7 a.m. for ticketed patrons on Travers Day with a special first 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.
As the Official Timekeeper and Watch of Saratoga Race Course, Longines will present elegant watches from its Conquest Classic Collection to the winning owner, trainer and jockey of the Travers.
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.
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. Re-entry into Saratoga Race Course will be limited solely to the Clubhouse gate on Wright Street, off of Nelson Avenue.
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 nearly a combined $5.5 million on the afternoon.
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 Jets Forego at seven furlongs. These additions round out a spectacular card which already included the Grade 1, $500,000 Ballerina for fillies and mares; the Grade 1, $500,000 NYRA.com King’s Bishop; and the Grade 2, $400,000 Ketel One Ballston Spa for turf fillies and mares.
Capital Region native and renowned Italian tenor Angelo Mazzone, Jr. will officially begin Travers Day by performing the National Anthem at 10 a.m. in the winner’s circle. The day will also include a special performance of God Bless America by Joan Meyer from the winner’s circle following race 8.
Additionally, cadets from the West Point United States Military Academy’s Black Knights parachute team will perform a prevision freefall demonstration on Travers Day. The cadets will parachute onto the outer turf course from a helicopter hovering approximately 3,500 feet over the Saratoga infield between races 9 and 10 at approximately 4:36 p.m. (weather permitting). The cadets will utilize a remote camera to showcase the jump on the Saratoga video boards.
Both the Fourstardave Sports Bar and The Post will feature live entertainment and remain open at Saratoga Race Course until 9 p.m.
On both Travers Eve and Travers Day, the Dairy Haus, 476 Maple Avenue, in Saratoga Springs will offer free Keen Ice Cream cones, while supplies last, to children 12 and under in partnership with Donegal Racing President and Founder Jerry Crawford. The custom-made green and yellow-swirled cones with green and yellow sprinkles reflect the silks colors of Donegal Racing, Keen Ice’s ownership group.
Clubhouse and grandstand season passes are valid and will be accepted on Travers Day. Fans possessing season passes are directed to show their pass at any of the Spa’s three gates as they normally would on all other race days.
The paid attendance cap takes into account all patrons who have made dining and table reservations on Travers Day for the following on-track locations: the Turf Terrace, Club Terrace or Lower Porch; the Fourstardave Sports Bar in the lower Carousel; and the reserved picnic table section in the backyard – all of which require separate admission. Those with previously confirmed reservations are encouraged to purchase their Travers Day admission in advance of August 29 by visiting the NYRA Box Office at Saratoga Race Course or calling 844-NYRA-TIX.
Those without tickets to the Travers can watch and wager with a NYRA wagering account. The New York Racing Association will fund all new accounts with $10 per day for 20 days. Information is available at nyra.com.
Advanced wagering on the Travers Day card will be available beginning on Friday featuring $1.75 million in guaranteed wagers over the two-day period. The Travers Day card will include a $250,000 Guaranteed Pick 6 beginning with race 6, a $400,000 Guaranteed Pick 5 beginning with race 1, and a $1 million Guaranteed All-Graded Stakes Pick 4 beginning with race 8.
Numerous viewing parties will be held throughout the city of Saratoga Springs and region. More information is available at 2015SaratogaTravers.com.
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.
