Looking to build on positive 2012 handle
\nreports that featured a 13.4 percent increase in
\nall-source Saratoga Raceway wagers, Saratoga
\nCasino & Raceway opened the 72nd harness racing
\nseason on March 3.<\/p>\n
One of harness racing’s most historic venues
\nwill feature increased purses and a lucrative
\n“cash card” player rewards program aimed at
\ngiving back to players, as well as horse people,
\nthroughout the 2013 racing season, according to
\nofficials at Saratoga Casino & Raceway.<\/p>\n
“The Saratoga Harness Track is an historic brand with a strong following,” said John Matarazzo, director of racing operations at Saratoga Casino & Raceway. “We’re proud to be returning after 72 years with increased purses and a premiere product, simulcasting to over 150 venues throughout the world.” <\/p>\n
A major addition to this season is the availability of rewards for on-track customers, officials said. Players that sign up for “cash card” account wagering at Saratoga Raceway will be eligible to earn up to 5 percent cash back in wagers placed on the Saratoga Raceway product.<\/p>\n
“We worked hard leading up to opening day to ensure that incentives were in place to give back to our loyal on-property players” said Alex Savage, racing development manager.<\/p>\n
For 2013, the highlight of the season has been upgraded. The fifth annual Joe Gerrity Jr. Memorial will consist of one dash for $275,000 on August 17. In the past, the race consisted of a series of legs drawn out over several weeks. The Gerrity Memorial will draw the best pacers in the Northeast.<\/p>\n
Saratoga Raceway will also schedule an earlier post-time for most race dates, beginning at 6:45 p.m. For March, racing is offered at that post-time on Wednesday, Friday and Saturday nights as well as Thursday, March 28.<\/p>\n
Matinee racing takes place at 12:45 p.m. the first three Sundays of March. As the summer hits, the racing program will expand to five days a week. The full season schedule is available online at www.saratogacasino.com.<\/p>\n
Officials said the lucrative New York Sire Stakes program returns on June 28 with nine racing programs scheduled throughout the summer.<\/p>\n
For 2012, the Sire Stakes series contributed over $2 million in purses, which can be expected for this season as well. Also returning is the annual Back to the Track event, a cooperative effort among the U.S. Trotting Association, its member racetracks and horsemen from coast to coast. The event will be held on July 6, encouraging families to celebrate the track.<\/p>\n
The Pick-5 wager that was launched by the track late last season will continue for 2013, officials said, after showing popularity among bettors. Saratoga Casino and Raceway offers New York’s only Pick-5 wager. It is available on Wednesday evenings only, and has a guaranteed pool. Other wagering options that will continue are the 50- cent minimum wagering option on pick-fours and trifectas which launched in 2011, the 10-cent superfecta and the traditional wagering menu.<\/p>\n
Operating hours for the gaming facility are 9 a.m. to 4 a.m. every day. Simulcast races can be viewed seven days a week and live harness racing runs March through mid-December. For a full racing schedule and additional information, visit www.saratogacasino.com or call 800-727- 2990. Customers must be 18 or older to play video gaming machines or wager on horses and at least 21 to enter Vapor.\n<\/p><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Looking to build on positive 2012 handle reports that featured a 13.4 percent increase in all-source Saratoga Raceway wagers, Saratoga Casino & Raceway opened the 72nd harness racing season on March 3. One of harness racing’s most historic venues will…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":121,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-12121","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"yoast_head":"\r\n