2025 Saratoga Race Course Betting
One of the great summer traditions in the United States is horse racing at Saratoga. Although it's technically the third-oldest racetrack in the country, Saratoga Race Course is widely regarded as the oldest sporting venue in the nation. Saratoga first opened its doors in 1863 and is now one of the largest tracks in the nation, with a capacity of 50,000. Of course, what Saratoga is most known for is being called the "Graveyard of Champions." And Bookmaker is where you can get the best Saratoga wagering available anywhere.
Saratoga Saturdays are back at BookMaker with all Saturday races featuring raised limits from $30K max payouts to $100K max payouts. The Saratoga racing summer season begins in early July each year. It runs through early September with more than $20 million in stakes races, including the Travers Stakes and Whitney Stakes in August.
Horse Racing Betting Lines
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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 2025 summer meet features at least one stakes race every race day, including the $1.25 Million Travers Stakes on August 23rd and the $1 Million Whitney on August 2nd.
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 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."
2025 Saratoga Summer Meet Race Schedule
The 2025 summer meet at Saratoga runs from July 10 through September 1, promising an exciting season packed with 8 weeks of events and activities you don't want to miss. Check out the full Saratoga Race Course special events schedule to make the most of your visit.
Week 1
Thursday, July 10 – De La Rose
Friday, July 11 – GIII Coronation Cup
Saturday, July 12 - GI Diana, GII Bowling Green
Sunday, July 13 - GIII Quick Call presented by the Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation
Monday, July 14 - Dark: No Live Racing
Tuesday, July 15 - Dark: No Live Racing
Week 2
Wednesday, July 16 – Suzie O’Cain
Thursday, July 17 – Rick Violette
Friday, July 18 – GII Shuvee
Saturday, July 19 - GI Coaching Club American Oaks, GIII Caress, GII Alfred G. Vanderbilt
Sunday, July 20 - GII Honorable Miss
Monday, July 21 - Dark: No Live Racing
Tuesday, July 22 - Dark: No Live Racing
Week 3
Wednesday, July 23 - GI AP Smithwick Memorial
Thursday, July 24 – Curlin
Friday, July 25 - GII Amsterdam presented by Albany Med Health System
Saturday, July 26 – GIII Lake George, GII Jim Dandy presented by Mohegan Sun
Sunday, July 27 - GII Glens Falls
Monday, July 28 - Dark: No Live Racing
Tuesday, July 29 - Dark: No Live Racing
Week 4
Wednesday, July 30- Johnstone
Thursday, July 31 – Evan Shipman Stakes
Friday, August 1 - GII National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame
Saturday, August 2 - Whitney Day – GII Saratoga Special, G1 Saratoga Derby Invitational, G1 Test presented by Ticketmaster, GI Whitney, GII Troy, G1 FanDuel Fourstardave
Sunday, August 3 - GIII Adirondack
Monday, August 4 - Dark: No Live Racing
Tuesday, August 5 - Dark: No Live Racing
Week 5
Wednesday, August 6 - Birdstone
Thursday, August 7 - Galway
Friday, August 8 – GII Ballston Spa
Saturday, August 9 - GII Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Oaks Invitational, GI Sword Dancer
Sunday, August 10 – GIII Mahony
Monday, August 11 - Dark: No Live Racing
Tuesday, August 12 - Dark: No Live Racing
Week 6
Wednesday, August 13 – New York Stallion Series – Statue of Liberty Division
Thursday, August 14 – New York Stallion Series Cab Calloway Division
Friday, August 15 – Smart and Fancy
Saturday, August 16 – Skidmore, GI Alabama presented by Keeneland Sales
Sunday, August 17 - Bolton Landing
Monday, August 18 - Dark: No Live Racing
Tuesday, August 19 - Dark: No Live Racing
Week 7
Wednesday, August 20 – G1 Jonathan Sheppard Memorial
Thursday, August 21 – Albany presented by Albany Distilling Company, Fleet Indian
Friday, August 22 – Seeking the Ante, Yaddo Stakes
Saturday, August 23 - Travers Day - GI DraftKings Travers, G1 H Allen Jerkens Memorial, GII Lake Placid, G1 Resorts World Casino Ballerina, G1 Forego, G1 Personal Ensign
Sunday, August 24 - Funny Cide presented by Rood & Riddle Equine Hospital, West Point Handicap
Monday, August 25 - Dark: No Live Racing
Tuesday, August 26 - Dark: No Live Racing
Week 8
Wednesday, August 27 – PG Johnson presented by Snap On
Thursday, August 28 - GIII With Anticipation
Friday, August 29 – Perfect Sting, Bernard Baruch
Saturday, August 30 - GII Flower Bowl, GIII Prioress, and GI Spinaway
Sunday, August 31 – Disco Partner, GI Jockey Club Gold Club
Monday, September 1 – Saranac, GI Hopeful
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