America's oldest track, Saratoga Race Course, opens for it's 1997 season on July 23rd and runs through September 1st. The spa meet is generally held to be the most prestigious in the nation with 36 stakes races already carded, most of them graded. Check my events calendar to see what stakes races are scheduled for each day or check the Blood Horse's Saratoga Calendar for other Saratoga events during the meet.
Saratoga marks the beginning of the serious two year old racing season. The Breeder's Cup juvenile favorites will likely emerge from Saratoga and such prestigious races as the Saratoga Special and the Hopeful. The three year olds are also in the spotlight at Saratoga with the Travers, known as the Midsummer Derby. This year's renewal, the 128th running, should be quite exciting as all three of the top horses from the Triple Crown series are expected to compete. Saratoga is also noted for it's turf racing and steeplechases. There will be several major turf stakes for the older horses of both sexes, with the premier event being the grade 1 Sword Dancer Invitational at a mile and a half.
Saratoga, the August place to be, looks like an exciting place to be this year!
The pictures in this article are from pre-1910 postcards of Saratoga. For a collection of current photographs of Saratoga, check Drew Ivan's Photo Gallery. For beautiful paintings of Saratoga, check Jenness Cortez's Saratoga Collection.
