Betting on Saratoga’s Biggest Graded Stakes Races
Saratoga’s Biggest Graded Stakes Races Draw Future Breeders’ Cup Champions
Saratoga is home to some of the best racing, and betting, in the world. The Saratoga Race Course is also the oldest track in the U.S. Voted one of the top-10 sports venues of 
the 20th Century by Sports Illustrated, Saratoga is truly a historical jewel, and a race course that brings many of the best horses, jockeys and trainers to compete every summer. During the 2017 Summer Meet starting Friday, July 21, Saratoga hosts 35 graded stakes races, including 16 Grade I races – 13 on the dirt track and 3 on turf.
The richest race at the carnival is the $1.25 million Travers Stakes on Aug. 26, the traditional midsummer highlight for 3-year-olds. Many top sophomores who’ve contested the Triple Crown target this Grade I race, but it’s also a race where horses that missed the Triple Crown can put themselves forward for 3-year-old championship rankings – it was the Travers in which Arrogate announced his presence last year with a record-breaking victory.
The next-richest race is the $1.2 million Whitney Stakes, which is the first ‘Win and You’re In’ Breeders’ Cup Challenge race of the Saratoga meet. The best older horses aiming toward the Breeders’ Cup Classic will race in the Whitney. The other Grade I race for older horses is the $750,000 Woodward Stakes on September 12.
August 26 is a huge day of racing at Saratoga with six Grade I races including the Travers. Four of those are ‘Win and You’re In’ Breeders’ Cup Challenge races. They include:
- $700,000 Personal Ensign – (BC Distaff)
- $500,000 Ballerina – (BC Filly & Mare Sprint)
- $600,000 Forego – (BC Dirt Mile)
- $1 Million Sword Dancer – (BC Turf)
Five graded stakes headline opening weekend at Saratoga, with the $500,000 Diana set for Saturday and the $300,000 Coaching Club American Oaksgoing Sunday, one of two Grade I races for three-year-old dirt track fillies. The other is the $600,000 Alabama Stakes on Aug. 19. Both those races were won by the sensational Songbird last year.
The $600,000 Jim Dandy Stakes (G2) July 29 is an important lead-up, and is set to be the summer starting point for many top 3-year-olds, including Preakness winner Cloud Computing
The 2017 meet at Saratoga Race Course includes 69 stakes worth $18.775 million in purses. Along with those above, the biggest purses and graded races include:
Sat., July 22 – Diana (G1), 1 1/8 miles for fillies and mares on the turf – $500,000
Sat., July 29 – Jim Dandy (G2), 1 1/8 miles for 3-year-olds – $600,000 Sat., July 29 – Vanderbilt (G1) 6 furlongs for 3-year-olds & up – $350,000
Sat., Aug. 5 – The Longines Test (G1), 7 furlongs for 3-year-old fillies – $500,000
Sat., Aug. 5 – The Whitney (G1), 1 1/8 miles for 3-year-olds & up – $1,200,000
Sat., Aug. 12 – Fourstardave Handicap (G1), 1 mile on the turf for 3-year-olds & up – $500,000
Sat, Aug. 19 – Alabama (G1), 1 ¼ mile for 3-year-old fillies – $600,000
Sat., Aug. 26 – Forego (G1), 7 furlongs for 3-year-olds and up – $600,000
Sat., Aug. 26 – H. Allen Jerkens Memorial (G1), 7 furlongs for 3-year-olds – $500,000
Sat., Aug. 26 – Ketel One Ballerina (G1), 7 furlongs for fillies & mares 3-year-olds & up – $500,000
Sat., Aug. 26 – Personal Ensign (G1), 1 1/8 miles for fillies & mares 3-year-olds & up – $700,000
Sat., Aug. 26 – Sword Dance (G1), 1 ½ miles on turf for 3-year-olds & up – $1,000,000
Sat., Aug. 26 – Travers (G1), 1 ¼ miles for 3-year-olds – $1,250,000
Sat., Sept. 2 – Woodward (G1), 1 1/8 miles for 3-year-olds & up – $750,000 Sat., Sept 2 – Spinaway (G1), 7 furlongs for 2-year-old fillies – $350,000
Mon., Sept. 4 – Hopeful (G1), 7 furlongs for 2-year-olds – $350,000
The Saratoga Race Course Guide provides all the information you need, whether you are a first-time track goer looking for the basics, or a life-long veteran looking for what’s new this year. Let the summer racing season begin at Saratoga!
