News
August 25, 2015Travers Contenders to Hit Main Track for Workout on Eve of the Mid-Summer Derby at Saratoga Race Course
The New York Racing Association, Inc. today invited racing fans from the Capital Region and beyond to watch American Pharoah and fellow Travers contenders work on the main track (weather permitting) at Saratoga Race Course on Friday, August 28 – one day before the champion colt will compete in front of a sold-out paid crowd of 50,000 fans during the 146th running of the Grade 1 Travers on Saturday, August 29.
The main track will be open exclusively to Travers entries from 8:45 a.m. to 9 a.m. on Friday morning. The public is invited to view the work during the traditional breakfast at Saratoga, with gates opening at 7 a.m. There is no charge for admission. Parking refunds will be issued, as is standard procedure, for all those who depart Saratoga prior to 10 a.m.
“Travers Eve is always an exciting day at Saratoga Race Course and the appearance of American Pharoah will only add to the anticipation as an entire generation welcomes for the first time a Triple Crown winner to Saratoga,” said NYRA CEO and President Chris Kay. “While Travers Day is completely sold-out, Friday morning provides racing fans with the perfect opportunity to see a champion on the track in this historic and beautiful setting.”
Breakfast on the lower porch will be served on a first-come, first-served basis beginning at 7 a.m. The At the Rail Tent will also be open for a buffet breakfast to accommodate additional guests. Seating for both areas will be directed from the host stand on the lower porch. Additional concessions will be open throughout the facility on Friday morning and will offer an array of breakfast items, including fresh egg sandwiches, French toast sticks, breakfast pizza, coffee and assorted beverages. Dunkin’ Donuts and several popular food trucks, including Pies on Wheels and the Mac truck, will also be serving breakfast items.
Backstretch tram tours will not be available on Friday, August 28.
The Friday morning workout for Travers entries will kick-off an outstanding day of racing and special events on the eve of the Travers at Saratoga Race Course, including 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 NYRA’s annual Red Jacket Ceremony, scheduled for 12:15 p.m. in the winner’s circle.
The Saratoga Walk of Fame, which opened at the beginning of the 2015 season, is the culmination of a new tradition which began at Saratoga Race Course in 2013 to recognize the greats of the game with an emblematic Saratoga red jacket and a commemorative plaque on the eve of the Travers. The new attraction provides a permanent home for the plaques – and their narratives – where guests can learn about the honorees’ contributions to racing at Saratoga.
The Red Jacket ceremony will take place prior to post time for New York Showcase Day. The popular state-bred card will include six stakes, highlighted by the $250,000 Albany for 3-year-olds going 1 1/8 miles.
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.
NYRA will provide racing fans a special offer by doubling the payout of any “win” bet on American Pharoah placed during the advance wagering period on Friday, August 28. Wagers must be placed on NYRA.com or the mobile site to be eligible for the bonus. Offer caps at one $10 win bet; limit one bet per account/household.
The New York Racing Association, Inc. will also host a food drive on Friday to benefit the Saratoga County Economic Opportunity Council (EOC).
Fans are invited to donate a canned or non-perishable food item to the Saratoga County EOC at the Community Outreach Booth, located outside the Jockey Silks Room and across from the new Saratoga Walk of Fame. Suggested donation items include shampoo, conditioner, toothpaste, pasta, peanut butter, cereal, rice, soup and canned vegetables.
Guests who donate three canned or non-perishable items will receive a free commemorative poster of 2003 Eclipse Award 3-year-old male champion Funny Cide in honor of New York Showcase Day. The first New York-bred to win the Kentucky Derby, Funny Cide went on to capture the second leg of the Triple Crown in 2003 and the 2004 Jockey Club Gold Cup at Belmont Park.
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.
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.
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.
Those without tickets to the sold-out Travers are encouraged to visit 2015SaratogaTravers.com for information about Travers Day viewing parties throughout Saratoga.
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.
