Saratoga

Saratoga season admission passes for the 2026 summer meet at historic Saratoga Race Course are now available for purchase at more than 175 Stewart's Shops throughout the greater Capital Region, the New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA) announced Thursday. On-sale through Sunday, July 19, Saratoga season passes provide fans with general admission access to all 46 days of Thoroughbred racing this summer, including the Opening Weekend July 4th Racing Festival, Whitney Day, and DraftKings Travers Day. Season passes are available in hard copy or digitally for $94 at Stewart's Shops,...

A full slate of entertainment and family-friendly events are set for the July 4th Racing Festival, which will be held Friday, July 3 through Sunday, July 5, and serve as Opening Weekend of the summer meet at Saratoga Race Course, the New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA) announced Thursday. Saratoga's Opening Weekend festivities will align with the nationwide celebration commemorating the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States. "Opening Weekend at Saratoga Race Course is one of the most anticipated events of the summer in New York, and...

Baeza (McKinzie), winner of last term's GI Pennsylvania Derby and an unlucky third after completely missing the break in his 2026 return in the GII Alysheba S. May 1, is aiming to make his next start in a star-studded renewal of the $2-million GI Stephen Foster S. at Churchill Downs June 27. The 'Win and You're In' for the GI Breeders' Cup Classic at Keeneland is also expected to showcase a highly anticipated rematch between 2023 Breeders' Cup Classic winner White Abarrio (Race Day) and 2025 Horse of the Year...

Stark Contrast (Caravaggio), an impressive 2 1/4-length winner of the GI American Turf S. with a career-high 99 Beyer Speed Figure on Kentucky Derby day, is being aimed at the GI Belmont Derby at Saratoga July 4. The Amerman Racing homebred has worked three times at trainer Michael McCarthy's Santa Anita base since, including a four-furlong breeze in :50.20 (27/31) June 11. C R K Stable's 'TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard' Remember Mamba (Kitten's Joy), winner of the GIII UK HealthCare Transylvania S. at Keeneland and runner-up in the...

A day after nominations were released for the much-anticipated GI Stephen Foster Stakes, to be held June 27 at Churchill Downs, prime contender and reigning Horse of the Year Sovereignty (Into Mischief) worked at Saratoga Sunday, breezing five furlongs in 1:02.61 in company under regular work rider Neil Poznansky. After splits of :25.25 for the first quarter and :37.24 for the three-eighths, Sovereignty galloped out six furlongs in 1:17.38. The Godolphin homebred and Bill Mott trainee is scheduled to work one more time before the $2-million highlight of early summer....

A fairly quirky notion, perhaps, but let's just give it a little rein. Because it was in California that Collected reached his peak on the racetrack, including when beaten only by the Horse of the Year in the GI Breeders' Cup Classic; and it is also in California that he has been making his name in his second career. Is it conceivable, then, that his stock may be inheriting some aptitude peculiarly adapted to the demands of the West Coast theater? Regardless, his cumulative resonance among Californian breeders certainly gives...

It isn't always easy for a small breeder to mix it with the bigger operations, pinning their hopes on mating more inexpensive mares with less-regarded stallions who might be flying under the radar at four- and lower five-figure service fees. The Lexington-based Winchester Farm, owned and operated by Dr. Naoya and Marie Yoshida, have made their mark applying those principles, and the pair were on hand over the past weekend at Saratoga. No, they didn't necessarily have a stake or other vested interest in the final leg of the Triple...

While the spotlight was rightly focused on Cherie DeVaux last week at Saratoga as she wrapped up two-thirds of the Triple Crown with Golden Tempo (Curlin) with the win in the GI Belmont Stakes, the week that Mark Casse had should not be overlooked. Casse won four stakes races, including three Grade I's. The stars were GI Ogden Phipps Stakes winner Nitrogen (Medaglia d'Oro), GI Just a Game Stakes winner Classic Q (Classic Empire) and GI Acorn winner Counting Stars (Honor A.P.). Casse was the Gainesway Guest of the Week...

After a weekend that flashed one talent after another, like a many-sided jewel rotating in the sun, it's hard to single out a dominant facet. But having previously explored the backgrounds of Golden Tempo (Curlin) and Nysos (Nyquist), let's start with the breakout performance of Englishman (Maxfield), author of a 115 Beyer in the GI Woody Stephens Stakes. And actually this horse shares an important glint of brilliance with the other pair. Because Golden Tempo, the second consecutive Derby/Belmont winner out of a daughter of Bernardini, shares his damsire not...

There are days in racing that are remembered for the horse. There are other days remembered for the crowd, the weather, the setting, or the history. And then there are rare days when all of it comes together. Saturday at Saratoga was one of those days. The final Belmont Stakes at Saratoga was not simply another great day of racing. It was a day of firsts. Nearly 50,000 people filled Saratoga Race Course to capacity. They came despite the threat of rain. And as the horses were entering the gate...

The Coolmore partners, Mrs. John Magnier, Michael Tabor, and Derrick Smith, have purchased an interest in GI Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile and GI Met Mile winner Nysos (Nyquist--Zetta Z, by Bernardini). The group will race the 5-year-old in partnership with Baoma Corporation through the Breeders' Cup, which will be held at Keeneland this November, before he retires to Ashford Stud. "Nysos represents a true milestone for Charles and me. He means far more to us than exceptional racing success," said Baoma Corporation's Susan Chu. "Through him, we have learned patience...

The "guardrails" put in place by the NYRA in an attempt to limit the wagering of the computer assisted wagering players (CAW) had a clear impact over the five-day Belmont Stakes Festival at Saratoga. Over the five days, CAW players bet a combined $22,109,626, a major drop from 2025 when they wagered $39,989,964. That represents a decrease of 44.7%. The CAW play in 2026 accounted for 11% of the total handle. In 2025, that figure was 20.2% of handle. Beginning Feb. 5, NYRA began requiring CAW activity to cease at...