SARATOGA SPRINGS — The New York Racing Association (NYRA) announced on Friday the stakes schedule for the 2024 summer meet at Saratoga Race Course, which runs from Thursday, July 11 through Monday, Sept. 2.
Highlighted by the 155th renewal of the Grade I $1.25 million Travers on August 24 and the Grade I $1 million Whitney on Aug. 3, the 40-day meet features 19 Grade I races as part of 71 stakes worth $20.75 million in total purses.
Following the four-day opening week, racing will be conducted five days a week, Wednesdays through Sundays, apart from closing week, when the 2024 summer meet will conclude on Labor Day.
Opening weekend will look familiar to Saratoga fans, with the Schuylerville for 2-year-old fillies scheduled for opening day, and the Grade I Diana for fillies and mares on the turf and the Grade III Sanford for 2-year-olds on Saturday, July 13. The Schuylerville no longer has graded status.
The following Saturday, July 20, will feature the Grade I Coaching Club American Oaks for 3-year-old fillies, and the Grade I Alfred G. Vanderbilt, a sprint for older horses will be held on Jim Dandy Day July 27.
Whitney Day, Aug. 3, will also include two other Grade I races, the Test for 3-year-old fillies and the Saratoga Derby Invitational for 3-year-olds on the turf.
The Grade I feature on Aug. 10 will be the Fourstardave on the turf, followed by the Alabama for 3-year-old fillies on Aug. 17.
Travers weekend kicks off with the Personal Ensign for fillies and mares on Friday, Aug. 23, and Travers Day Aug. 24 will include four other Grade I stakes besides the main event, the Ballerina, Forego, Allen Jerkens and Sword Dancer.
New York-breds will take center stage on Sunday, Aug. 25, for New York Showcase Day, featuring six stakes for state-breds worth a combined $1.25 million.
On closing weekend, the Grade I Spinaway for 2-year-old fillies will be held on Friday, Aug. 31, the Grade Jockey Club Gold Cup is Saturday, Sept. 1, and the closing day feature is the Grade I Hopeful for 2-year-olds on Labor Day, Sept. 2.
There are seven stakes that are designated as “Win and You’re In” qualifiers for corresponding Breeders’ Cup races, the Whitney, Fourstardave, Ballerina, Sword Dancer, Spinaway, Jockey Club Gold Cup and Grade II Flower Bowl on Aug. 31.
The complete stakes schedule for the 2024 summer meet is available at https://www.nyra.com/saratoga/racing/stakes-schedule/.