Saratoga Highlights: July 16-19
WHAT: Week 3 of the Saratoga Summer Meet
WHEN: Thursday, July 16 – Sunday, July 19
TICKETS: Season admission passes at NYRA.com/SeasonPass; single-day tickets at NYRA.com.
Ticket Specials: 20% off reserved picnic tables in the Pick Six Vodka Picnic Paddock; Buy One, Get One Free premium reserved seats in the Michelob Ultra Stretch; 20% off reserved tables in the Club Terrace; $50 food voucher for day of use at participating concessions with purchase of a D-level box; $15 off reserved seats in The Rail at the 1863 Club on Saturday, July 18, and Sunday, July 19; $10 savings on Paddock Suite tickets on Sunday, July 19. Visit NYRA.com/Deals.
Cooler Policy: Fans with regulation size coolers must ensure all ice is contained within sealed bags upon arrival. Designated inspection lanes are located at Gate B (Union and East Avenue) and Gate C (Nelson Avenue). Fans with coolers must enter through either gate.
Breakfast at Saratoga: Offered daily from 7 a.m. - 9:30 a.m., and presented by CDTA, fans can enjoy a buffet breakfast against the backdrop of morning training. Reservations are not required.
Saratoga Live: Produced by The New York Racing Association, Inc (NYRA) in partnership with FOX Sports, the award-winning show features daily coverage and in-depth analysis of the summer meet on the FOX Sports family of networks. For the complete broadcast schedule, visit NYRA.com/SaratogaLive.
THURSDAY, JULY 16
Admission and Post Time:
Admission gates open at 11 a.m. with first post at 1:10 p.m.
Saratoga Breakfast and Thoroughbred Farm Tours:
Presented by New York Thoroughbred Breeders, Inc. (NYTB) the weekly lineup features Old Friends at Cabin Creek on Thursdays, Old Tavern Farm on Fridays, Sugar Plum Farm on Saturdays, and Therapeutic Horses of Saratoga every Wednesday beginning July 29. The package includes buffet breakfast, transportation, guided tour of a horse farm, and admission to Saratoga Race Course. Tickets may be purchased at NYRA.com.
Saratoga Low Roller Contest:
Held exclusively on track each Thursday during the summer meet, fans can pre-register outside the Miller Time Fourstardave Sports Bar. There is a $40 buy-in, of which $30 will go to the player’s bankroll and $10 to the prize pool. The winner will receive a Saratoga Low Roller championship T-shirt in addition to the cash prize.
NYRA STAR Program:
The Students of Thoroughbred Racing (NYRA STAR) program is offered Thursdays through Sundays and features tours of the Saratoga Paddock and Winner’s Circle during Races 1 through 5 in addition to morning tours of the backstretch. NYRA STAR provides children ages 12 and under, and their families, with insider access into the world of thoroughbred racing. Membership is free of charge. Registration can be completed online at NYRA.com/STAR or in person at the NYRA STAR booth in the Family Zone.
Taste NY Pavilion:
Fans 21 and older will enjoy New York craft beers, cider, wines and spirits at the Taste NY Pavilion, located inside Gate A at the Top of the Stretch featuring products exclusively produced in the Empire State. Operating every Thursday-Sunday of the summer meet.
Community Outreach Booth:
Based in nearby Ballston Spa, the Veterans & Community Housing Coalition (VCHC) provides safe housing and comprehensive support services to homeless military veterans and their families, advocates for the needs and rights of all veterans, and offers affordable housing opportunities for qualifying individuals and families.
FRIDAY, JULY 17
Admission and Post Time:
Admission gates open at 11 a.m. with first post at 1:10 p.m.
Saratoga Belt Bag Giveaway: Photo
Functional and fashionable, the stylish Saratoga belt bag offers a sleek, athletic-inspired design with adjustable strap adorned with a horse motif. Perfect for carrying race-day essentials, the belt bag is ideal for a summer afternoon at the Spa. Free with paid admission, while supplies last.
National Tattoo Day:
Fans can get a tattoo at the track in celebration of National Tattoo Day. Two artists from the Saratoga Tattoo Company will be on-site at the Jockey Silks Porch from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Each tattoo is $100 and will be available on a first-come, first-served basis.
Cody’s Wish Book Signing:
Longtime journalist and Saratoga Special writer Paul K. Halloran Jr. will sign copies of his book Cody’s Wish: A Boy, a Racehorse and Fight for Life at the Jockey Silks Porch from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. The book chronicles the bond between Cody Dorman and the eponymously named racehorse whom Cody met through Make-A-Wish while battling Wolf-Hirschhorn Syndrome. Cody’s Wish captured back-to-back Breeders’ Cup championship races in the presence of young Cody who persevered to watch the Godolphin-trained thoroughbred compete at racetracks across the country.
Belmont Jewel and High Noon Samplings:
Fans can enjoy complimentary samples of the Belmont Jewel featuring Redemption Bourbon outside the Jim Dandy Bar, and samples of High Noon Ready to Drink Cocktails at the High Noon Clubhouse Grill. Both samplings are available from noon to 4 p.m., while supplies last, for fans 21 and older.
Community Outreach Booth:
The Saratoga Senior Center empowers seniors to achieve and maintain personal independence and well-being by providing programs and support services necessary for healthy recreation, companionship, social involvement and problem solving.
SATURDAY, JULY 18
Admission Gates and Post Time:
Admission gates open at 11 a.m. with first post at 12:35 p.m.
Dunkin’ Diana:
Saturday’s card features the Grade 1, $500,000 Dunkin’ Diana alongside the Grade 3, $225,000 Coronation Cup.
FOX Saratoga Saturday:
FOX Saratoga Saturday returns for its third consecutive year, showcasing the excitement and tradition of the Saratoga summer meet across seven consecutive Saturdays with approximately 17 hours of live national coverage on FOX. The inaugural 2026 broadcast will air from 2 to 3 p.m.
FIFA World Cup 26™ Championship Weekend Viewing Parties, presented by Michelob Ultra and Saratoga Eagle Sales & Service:
Michelob Ultra, the official beer sponsor of FIFA World Cup 26™, will host FIFA World Cup 26™ Viewing Parties in partnership with Saratoga Eagle Sales & Service during Championship Weekend. Fans on-track will enjoy the tournament’s third-place match at 5 p.m. on big-screen televisions in the Backyard Festival Tent plus official giveaways from Michelob Ultra and other FIFA World Cup 26™ partners, while supplies last. Plus, drink specials with soccer-themed décor and games. Visit NYRA.com/soccer.
NÜTRL and Whitman Brewing Company Samplings:
Fans will enjoy complimentary samples of NÜTRL vodka seltzer at the NÜTRL Gazebo and craft beer offerings from Saratoga’s Whitman Brewing Co. at the Whitman Brewing Portable. Available from noon to 4 p.m., while supplies last, for fans 21 and older.
Horse Sense:
Fans can meet a retired thoroughbred on Saturday and Sunday from noon to 2 p.m. at Horse Sense located inside Gate A.
Community Outreach Booth:
Rerun provides rehab, retraining and retirement options for thoroughbred racehorses. It features one of the oldest thoroughbred retraining and adoption programs in the country and is the largest thoroughbred rehab and adoption program in New York.
SUNDAY, JULY 19
Admission Gates and Post Time:
Admission gates open at 11 a.m. with first post at 1:10 p.m.
Quick Call:
The Grade 3, $225,000 Quick Call presented by Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation wraps up graded stakes action for week three at the Spa.
FIFA World Cup 26™ Championship Game Viewing Party, presented by Michelob Ultra and Saratoga Eagle Sales & Service:
Michelob Ultra, the official beer sponsor of FIFA World Cup 26™, will host the FIFA World Cup 26™ Championship Game Viewing Party in partnership with Saratoga Eagle Sales & Service. Fans on-track will enjoy big-screen televisions in the Backyard Festival Tent and official giveaways from Michelob Ultra and other FIFA World Cup 26™ partners, while supplies last. Plus, drink specials with soccer-themed décor and games. Visit NYRA.com/soccer.
Introduction to Handicapping:
Offered every Sunday (excluding August 2) in the Paddock Suite, fans can learn betting strategies and tips from an expert handicapper. Tickets start at $95 and include admission, Post Parade program, and a table seat within the climate-controlled, shared suite overlooking the saddling area. Tickets can be purchased online by clicking here.
Saratoga Low Roller Contest:
Held exclusively on-track every Sunday during the summer meet, fans can pre-register outside the Miller Time Fourstardave Sports Bar. There is a $40 buy-in, of which $30 will go to the player’s bankroll and $10 to the prize pool. The winner will receive a Saratoga Low Roller championship T-shirt in addition to the cash prize.
Sunday Specials:
Fans will enjoy $3 hot dogs and save 50% on domestic and premium beer, water and soda at the High Noon Clubhouse Grill, Finish Line Grill and Track Snacks. Additional specials may be available on select items at these locations.
Family Sundays:
Family Sundays will feature a wide variety of free family-friendly activities, games, attractions, and educational assignments inside the Family Zone, located near Gate A.
Community Outreach Booth:
Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation’s mission is to provide dignified lifetime care for racehorses and create pathways to purpose through its nationally recognized TRF Second Chances Program, operating within correctional facilities across the country.
All events and activities are subject to change at the discretion of NYRA.
