2021 Saratoga Race Course Betting
Even though it's technically the third-oldest racetrack in the country, Saratoga Race Course is widely considered to be the oldest sporting venue in the nation. Saratoga first opened its doors in 1863 and is now one of the biggest tracks in the nation by capacity at 50,000. Perhaps what Saratoga is most known for is being called the "Graveyard of Champions." So many famous horses have come to Saratoga and failed as massive underdogs in some of the biggest races of the year at this track, races which we'll highlight below.
A number of Grade 1 races are held between thoroughbred racing and steeplechase racing during the Saratoga season which runs from the middle of July through Labor Day weekend. The 2021 summer meet features at least one stakes race every race day, including the $1.25 Million Dollar Travers Stakes on August 28th and the $1 Million Dollar Whitney on August 7th.
2021 Saratoga Summer Meet Race Schedule
Week 1
Thursday, July 15 - GIII Quick Call and GIII Schuylerville
Friday, July 16 - GIII Forbidden Apple
Saturday, July 17 - GI Diana and GIII Sanford
Sunday, July 18 - Coronation Cup
Monday, July 19 - Dark: No Live Racing
Tuesday, July 20 - Dark: No Live Racing
Week 2
Wednesday, July 21 - Rick Violette (NYB)
Thursday, July 22 - Stillwater (NYB)
Friday, July 23 - GIII Lake George
Saturday, July 24 - Caress and GI Coaching Club American Oaks
Sunday, July 25 - GIII Shuvee
Monday, July 26 - Dark: No Live Racing
Tuesday, July 27 - Dark: No Live Racing
Week 3
Wednesday, July 28 - GII Honorable Miss Handicap and NYSSS Cab Calloway Division (R)
Thursday, July 29 - GI A.P. Smithwick Memorial (Steeplechase) and John Morrissey Handicap (NYB)
Friday, July 30 - Curlin (R)
Saturday, July 31 - GI Alfred G. Vanderbilt Handicap, GII Bowling Green, and GII Jim Dandy
Sunday, August 1 - GII Amsterdam
Monday, August 2 - Dark: No Live Racing
Tuesday, August 3 - Dark: No Live Racing
Week 4
Wednesday, August 4 - NYSSS Statue of Liberty Division (R) and Shine Again (R)
Thursday, August 5 - Birdstone
Friday, August 6 - Alydar (R), GII National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame, and GIII Troy presented by Horse Racing Ireland
Saturday, August 7 - Whitney Day - Fasig Tipton Lure (R), GII Glens Falls, GI Longines Test, GI Whitney (BC), GI Saratoga Derby Invitational
Sunday, August 8 - GII Adirondack, Fasig Tipton De La Rose (R), and GIII Saratoga Oaks Invitational
Monday, August 9 - Dark: No Live Racing
Tuesday, August 10 - Dark: No Live Racing
Week 5
Wednesday, August 11 - Evan Shipman Handicap (NYB) and Mahony
Thursday, August 12 - Saratoga Dew Handicap (NYB)
Friday, August 13 - Tale of the Cat (R)
Saturday, August 14 - GI Fourstardave Handicap (BC) and GII Saratoga Special presented by Miller Lite
Sunday, August 15 - Galway
Monday, August 16 - Dark: No Live Racing
Tuesday, August 17 - Dark: No Live Racing
Week 6
Wednesday, August 18 - Bolton Landing
Thursday, August 19 - Union Avenue Handicap (NYB)
Friday, August 20 - Skidmore
Saturday, August 21 - Alabama Day - GI Alabama (BC), GII Lake Placid, and Smart N Fancy
Sunday, August 22 - Summer Colony (R)
Monday, August 23 - Dark: No Live Racing
Tuesday, August 24 - Dark: No Live Racing
Week 7
Wednesday, August 25 - John's Call (R)
Thursday, August 26 - GI New York Turf Writers Cup Steeplechase and Riskaverse (R)
Friday, August 27 - Albany (NYB), Fleet Indian (NYB), Funny Cide presented by Rood and Riddle Equine Hospital (NYB), Seeking the Ante (NYB), West Point Handicap presented by Trustco Bank (NYB), and Yaddo Handicap (NYB)
Saturday, August 28 - Travers Day - GI Ballerina, GII Ballston Spa, GI Forego, GI H. Allen Jerkens Memorial, GI Personal Ensign (BC), GI Sword Dancer (BC), GI Travers
Sunday, August 29 - Better Talk Now (R)
Monday, August 30 - Dark: No Live Racing
Tuesday, August 31 - Dark: No Live Racing
Week 8
Wednesday, September 1 - GIII With Anticipation
Thursday, September 2 - P.G. Johnson
Friday, September 3 - Lucky Coin (R)
Saturday, September 4 - GI Flower Bowl (BC), GI Jockey Club Gold Cup (BC), GII Prioress, and GIII Saranac
Sunday, September 5 - GI Spinaway
Monday, September 6 - GII Bernard Baruch Handicap and GI Hopeful
Travers Stakes
After the three-year olds are done with the Triple Crown, there's a bit of a lull in the schedule over the summer which is often filled with the Travers Stakes. A pair of Triple Crown winners, Gallant Fox and American Pharoah have come to the Travers Stakes and ultimately lost. The American Pharoah defeat was a true stunner, as he was upset by Keen Ice in spite of the fact that he had a 1 to 5 price on his head in what amounted to be his second and final career defeat.
The Travers features a guaranteed prize pool of at least $1.25 million and is run at 1 1/4 miles on the dirt similar to the Kentucky Derby.
Whitney Handicap
The Whitney Handicap is one of the many "Win and You're In" races for the Breeders' Cup Classic, and that allure parlayed with a guaranteed $1.25 million prize purse often draws great four-year olds and up. Three-year olds can run in this race, but they often don't, getting pointed to the Travers instead.
The 1973 Whitney Handicap proved to be the shock of all shocks. The great Secretariat ran in this race after winning the Triple Crown that year, and he ultimately was beaten by Onion. It was when Secretariat was beaten at Saratoga that this track earned the moniker, "Graveyard of Champions."
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