Horse Racing Schedule And Travers Stakes Day Races For Sat., Aug. 1

Horse Racing News, Notes and Daily Tips From Saratoga and Del Mar

The biggest days at the races are the weekends, where the top tracks in America host the biggest stakes races. The Triple Crown races draw tremendous interest from fans, media and horse handicappers and bettors. From the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs to the Belmont Stakes at Belmont Park, there is plenty of additional racing that draws interest and betting from many of the top tracks listed below. That includes the $1 million Travers Stakes at Saratoga on Aug. 8 plus four other big graded stakes races at The Spa.

Each year culminates with the Breeders’ Cup World Championships the first weekend in November. The best race horses in the world compete for million dollar or more purses as jockeys, trainers and owners guide them to racing riches. The Sport of Kings becomes a world spectacle at the Breeders’ Cup, and Santa Anita (10) and Churchill Downs (9) have hosted the event more than any other tracks. The 2020 Breeders’ Cup is at Keeneland in Lexington, Kentucky on Nov. 6-7.

Follow along as this page and site provides weekend racing schedules, betting odds, news, notes and tips on races and betting information on the biggest races from the leading tracks in America. Check back prior to the races with any updated news, information, projections or weather issues.

Racing schedule and betting odds: Saturday, Aug. 8

Saratoga

Picks and Analysis at numberFire (Friday).  (update: 2-of-3 winners Friday, other choice came in 2nd and 5-of-6 top picks hit the board)

Picks and Analyst at numberFire (Saturday), includes Travers Stakes & graded stakes.

Daily Racing Form Race Schedule and Entries – 12 races Saturday at Saratoga including the $1 million Travers Stakes, which FairwayJay profiles in Forbes.  Also, a Travers Stakes Betting Guide at TheLines. More big race coverage and picks on Saturday for four additional graded stakes races including two Grade 1’s with The Ballerina (G1) winner going to the $1 million Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint (G1) at Keeneland Nov. 6-7.

Daily Racing Form Race Schedule and Entries

Program changes and scratches.

On July 25 top picks cashed in at Saratoga. In Race 9, Turbo Drive won at 17/1 odds and returned $36.60 to win. Other top pick Jimmy Jazz (16/1) finished 3rd by a head for $8.40. Top pick & favorite Volatile won Race 10 – the $250K Alfred G. Vanderbilt Handicap (G1).  Our other top pick in Race 3, Call Me Love, finished 2nd by a neck at 9/2 odds to return $6.80 in the $100K Ballston Spa.

Del Mar

Picks and Analysis at numberFire (Friday), part of FanDuel Racing

Picks and Analysis at numberFire (Saturday).

Daily Racing Form Race Schedule and Entries (Saturday) – 11 races Saturday at Del Mar including the $150K Best Pal (G2) and $150K Yellow Ribbon (G2).

Program changes and scratches.

BONUS: This week on The Player’s Edge, sports analyst and Forbes contributor Fairway Jay joins the show to talk about golf, thinking like the sportsbook to make better bets, the Travers and Ballerina Stakes.

Sunday, Aug. 9 – Bonus Ellis Park Derby and Audobon Oaks

Picks and Analysis at numberFire.

Update: 2-for-3 including Ellis Park Derby and Audobon Oaks winners; both in large fields. Also, a 12/1 pick that closed 5/1 finished 2nd. Kentucky Derby top contender Art Collector is a winner.

Mundaye Call (9/2) is what we look for as an improving runner and coming into form. She won her last race against older horses, showing tactical speed and ability for new EPO trainer Brad Cox. Another boost by Brad and this one can ride home a winner with jockey Flourent Geroux (Audobon Oaks).

Horse Racing News, Notes and Daily Tips

Vegas Sports Zone endorses @TropRaceReports – Handicapping WCHR and ECHR. Also endorse and support Horse Racing Nation and Super Screener along with Guaranteed Tip SheetTVG and Twinspires.

Rob Henie, publisher and handicapper of the WCHR, is often featured in the Los Angeles Times, and on May 31 provided Race 6 analysis and lessons.

More lessons on trainers and EPO in this June 11 ECHR and Top Race Reports writeup and tweet.

FairwayJay chips in at numberFire, which partners with FanDuel to provide statistical analysis of data around sporting events and sports fans. numberFire targets fantasy sports players, bettors and prop players, digital media, writers, teams, and leagues. The site boasts over 700,000 subscribers and partnerships with ESPN, NFL, Sports Illustrated, USA Today, and SB Nation.

Top race tracks in America

  • Arlington Park
  • Aqueduct Racetrack
  • Belmont Park
  • Churchill Downs
  • Del Mar Racetrack
  • Fair Grounds Race Course
  • Gulfstream Park
  • Keeneland Race Course
  • Monmouth Park
  • Oaklawn Park
  • Pimlico Race Course
  • Santa Anita Park
  • Saratoga Race Course
  • Tampa Bay Downs

Horse racing tracks running live Thoroughbred racing and covered on this page and site

Belmont Park
Churchill Downs
Del Mar Racing

Del Mar reopened for racing on July 10. But the beautiful seaside track north of San Diego cancelled racing the weekend of July 17-19 amid the coronavirus pandemic. A total of 15 jockeys and seven track workers tested positive for COVID-19.

“Where the Turf meets the Surf” is the slogan for one of the most picturesque sporting venues in America. The Grandstand overlooks the Pacific Ocean with mesmerizing panoramic views all part of the experience. It combines glamour, sophistication, and the excitement of horse racing.

The main track is exactly one mile long with additional chutes for 7/8 mile and 1 ¼ mile. On the inside of the oval, there is a turf course which can stage races up to 1 1/16th miles.

Fans can follow horse racing and track updates on Twitter: @DelMarRacing

Monmouth Park
Santa Anita Park
Saratoga Race Course

Named one of the world’s greatest sporting venues by Sports Illustrated, the past comes alive in the historic grandstand every summer in Saratoga Springs, which is also home to the National Museum of Racing.

Saratoga’s motto is “Health, History and Horses,” and the culture, charm and  unmatched ambiance makes Saratoga a special environment and racing destination.

The ‘Spa’ has held racing annually since 1864 with very few exceptions. Anti-gambling legislation stopped summer racing at Saratoga in 1911 and 1912, and World War II suspended racing at Saratoga from 1943-45. The 2020 summer meet was shortened to 40 days due to the worldwide coronavirus pandemic and no spectators are allowed at the track.

Saratoga has a 1 1/8 mile, 9 furlong dirt race and a 1 mile, 8 furlong turf track known as the Mellon Turf Course. There is also an inner turf track which is 7 furlongs.

In total, 16 Grade I races are held annually at Saratoga. Remaining Grade 1 races in August:

  • Aug. 8: $1 million Travers Stakes (G1) – Kentucky Derby points (100-40-20-10)
  • Aug. 8: $300,000 Ballerina (G1) – “Win and You’re In” to BC Filly & Mare Sprint
  • Aug. 8: $300,000 Test (G1)
  • Aug. 15: $500,000 Alabama (G1) – “Win and You’re In” to BC Distaff
  • Aug. 15: $500,000 Saratoga Derby
  • Aug. 22: $400,000 Fourstar Dave (G1) – “Win and You’re In’ to TVG Mile
  • Aug. 23: $500,000 Diana (G1)
  • Aug. 29: $500,000 Sword Dancer (G2) – “Win and You’re In” to BC Turf
  • Aug. 29: $300,000 Forego (G1)

Fans can follow horse racing and track updates on Twitter: @TheNYRA

Additional races may be covered from selected racetracks from the top racetracks list.

Author: VegasSportsZone Vegas Sports Zone is home to professional sports analyst FairwayJay. The Vegas Sports Zone team of content creators and analysts provide articles, insight and analysis to engage and inform the avid sports and gaming enthusiast,