America's oldest track, Saratoga Race Course, opens for it's 1998 season on July 29rd and runs through September 7th. The spa meet is generally held to be the most prestigious in the nation with 35 stakes races already carded, all but three of them graded. Check their stakes calendar (scroll down to Saratoga) to see what races are scheduled for each day. For each race listed, they include the history of previous runnings and, as they become available, a list of the horses nominated this year and program pages with past performances. Note that the nominations are usually up about a week prior to the race and the program pages the night before the race. After the race is run, the program pages are replaced with the chart for the race.
Saratoga marks the beginning of the serious two year old racing season. The Breeder's Cup juvenile favorites often come from Saratoga and such prestigious races as the Saratoga Special and the Hopeful for the boys or the Adirondack and the Spinaway for the girls. As a part of Cyberspace Racing Team, I own part of a two year old named Aloha Sunrise who we expect to make his first career start at Saratoga, so help us cheer him on!
The three year olds are also in the spotlight at Saratoga with the Travers, known as the Midsummer Derby. This year's renewal, the 129th running, should be quite exciting as Real Quiet and Victory Gallop are expected to renew their rivalry there. It is not unusual to see some of the top three year olds run against the older horses for the first time at Saratoga in such races as the Whitney. The three year old fillies also have a major race here in the Alabama which should see Jersey Girl and some of the other top fillies 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 events being the Sword Dancer Invitational for the males and the Diana Handicap for the females.
Misty morning workout at Saratoga, photo by Deborah Kral
Saratoga, the August place to be!
More Saratoga Info:
- Saratoga Racing Info - my collection of links to entries, results, charts, weather, live race calls, etc.
- Elegant Resorts and Inns of Saratoga Springs - the best places to stay in the area from Jana Jones our guide to Elegant Resorts and Inns
- Saratoga Springs - a guide to where to go and what to see in Saratoga other than the races from Alison Doyle our guide to Albany
- ... And They're Off! - a guide to the Saratoga meet also from Alison Doyle of Albany
- Drew Ivan's Photo Gallery - lots of nice photos from Saratoga
- Saratoga Photos - several gorgeous photos from Saratoga courtesy of Guy Biegler and Moonlight Photography
- Impressions of Saratoga - Saratoga souvenirs
- Jenness Cortez's Saratoga Collection - beautiful paintings
- Saratoga Here We Come! - info about trends and stats to help you handicap the races at Saratoga from The Racing Corner
- The Professor's Countdown to Saratoga - he will have free selections and analysis for opening day and a free play daily
- Saratoga's Best Bets - free selections for the races plus lots of other info about Saratoga
- Saratoga Green - free selections for Saratoga and other tracks
- Racing History at Saratoga:
- Stephen Dobyns Saratoga mystery series
- They're Off! Horse Racing at Saratoga by Edward Hotaling, an excellent historical look at Saratoga
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Title graphic from 1907 Saratoga postcard in the authors collection. Top 20 graphic courtesy of the Top 20 Racing Sites poll.
