Attention racing fans – the New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA) has just released even more details about the upcoming 2021 summer meet at Saratoga Race Course. The 40-day Saratoga season will feature 76 stakes worth $21.5 million in total purses, and below we’ve highlighted some important updates and noteworthy racing days.
The Countdown to Opening Day Is Underway
Last month, NYRA announced that the 2021 summer meet at Saratoga will begin on Thursday, July 15, and conclude on Monday, September 6. Following the four-day opening weekend, racing will be held five days a week, Wednesdays – Sundays, with the exception of the final week, which ends on Labor Day.
Today, NYRA released the full 2021 stakes schedule, which has at least one named stakes race every live racing day. In addition to the popular Travers Day and Whitney Day, this year’s schedule will include the Grade 1, $1 million Jockey Club Gold Cup and the Grade 1, $600,000 Flower Bowl, which in past years have taken place during the fall meet at Belmont Park.
In addition, NY State has said that live sports and entertainment venues with a minimum reserved seating capacity of 10,000 will be permitted to reopen with a limited number of spectators (plus testing and health and safety protocols in place) starting on February 23 with approval from the state health department. At the moment, NYRA is monitoring the NY State-issued regulations to determine how they may impact Saratoga Race Course.
“Additional details on fan attendance and tickets for the 2021 summer meet will be provided as information becomes available,” said NYRA in a press release.
Mark Your Calendar for These Major Racing Days
There are a lot of exciting racing days scheduled for the summer meet at Saratoga, and some noteworthy ones include:
- Opening Day (July 15): Featuring the Grade 3, $150,000 Schuylerville and the Grade 3, $120,000 Quick Call
- Whitney Day (August 7): Featuring the Grade 1, $1 million Whitney, the Grade 1, $500,000 Longines Test, the Grade 1, $1 million Saratoga Derby Invitational, the Grade 2, $250,000 Glens Falls, and the $120,000 Fasig-Tipton Lure
- Travers Day (August 28): Featuring the Grade 1, $1.25 million Travers, the Grade 1, $750,000 Sword Dancer, the Grade 1, $600,000 Personal Ensign, the Grade 1, $500,000 Ballerina, the Grade 1, $600,000 Forego, the Grade 1, $500,000 H. Allen Jerkens Memorial, and the Grade 2, $400,000 Ballston Spa
- Closing Day (September 6): Featuring the Grade 2, $200,000 Bernard Baruch Handicap and the Grade 1, $300,000 Hopeful
