2024 Saratoga Race Course Betting
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 and runs through early September with more than $20 million dollars in stakes races including the Travers Stakes and Whitney Stakes in August.
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."
Horse Racing Betting Lines
BookMaker puts you right in the thick of things because nothing compares to the thrill of placing a wager on your favorite horse at the racetrack. You can watch and wager on live horse racing from more than 50 North American horse racing tracks right from your computer or mobile device! See the action from racetracks including Keeneland, Saratoga, Del Mar, Santa Anita, Gulfstream Park, Churchill Downs, and Monmouth Park. Bet as little as $1 at our full service racebook and earn up to 8% cash back on win, place and show bets plus all exotic wagers. You get up to an 8% cash rebate paid out daily whether you win or lose.
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 2024 summer meet features at least one stakes race every race day, including the $1.25 Million Dollar Travers Stakes on August 24th and the $1 Million Dollar Whitney on August 3rd.
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."
2024 Saratoga Summer Meet Race Schedule
The 2024 summer meet at Saratoga runs from July 11 through September 2, 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 11 - Schuylerville
Friday, July 12 - Coronation Cup and Wilton
Saturday, July 13 - GI Diana, GIII Kelso, and GIII Sanford
Sunday, July 14 - GIII Quick Call presented by the Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation
Monday, July 15 - Dark: No Live Racing
Tuesday, July 16 - Dark: No Live Racing
Week 2
Wednesday, July 17 - GI A. P. Smithwick Memorial (Steeplechase) and NYSSS Statue of Liberty Division
Thursday, July 18 - NYSSS Cab Calloway Division
Friday, July 19 - Curlin (R)
Saturday, July 20 - GI Coaching Club American Oaks and GIII Lake George
Sunday, July 21 - GII Shuvee
Monday, July 22 - Dark: No Live Racing
Tuesday, July 23 - Dark: No Live Racing
Week 3
Wednesday, July 24 - GII Honorable Miss Handicap
Thursday, July 25 - GIII Caress
Friday, July 26 - GII Amsterdam
Saturday, July 27 - GI Alfred G. Vanderbilt Handicap and GII Jim Dandy
Sunday, July 28 - GII Bowling Green
Monday, July 29 - Dark: No Live Racing
Tuesday, July 30 - Dark: No Live Racing
Week 4
Wednesday, July 31- De La Rose (R)
Thursday, August 1 - GII Glens Falls
Friday, August 2 - GII National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame and GIII Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Oaks Invitational
Saturday, August 3 - Whitney Day - Fasig-Tipton Lure (R), GI Test presented by Ticketmaster, GIII Troy Stakes, GI Whitney (BC), and GI Saratoga Derby Invitational
Sunday, August 4 - GIII Adirondack and Birdstone
Monday, August 5 - Dark: No Live Racing
Tuesday, August 6 - Dark: No Live Racing
Week 5
Wednesday, August 7 - Johnstone Mile (NYB)
Thursday, August 8 - John Morrissey Handicap (NYB)
Friday, August 9 - Evan Shipman Handicap (NYB) and Union Avenue Handicap (NYB)
Saturday, August 10 - GI Fourstardave Handicap (BC), GII Saratoga Special, and Galway
Sunday, August 11 - Mahony
Monday, August 12 - Dark: No Live Racing
Tuesday, August 13 - Dark: No Live Racing
Week 6
Wednesday, August 14 - GI Jonathan Sheppard (Steeplechase) and Suzie O'Cain (NYB)
Thursday, August 15 - Rick Violette (NYB)
Friday, August 16 - Skidmore
Saturday, August 17 - Alabama Day - GI Alabama, GII Lake Placid
Sunday, August 18 - Bolton Landing
Monday, August 19 - Dark: No Live Racing
Tuesday, August 20 - Dark: No Live Racing
Week 7
Wednesday, August 21 - John's Call (R)
Thursday, August 22 - GII Ballston Spa
Friday, August 23 - GI Personal Ensign and Smart N Fancy
Saturday, August 24 - Travers Day - GI Ballerina (BC), GI Forego, GI H. Allen Jerkens Memorial, GI Resorts World Casino Sword Dancer (BC), and GI Travers
Sunday, August 25 - Albany (NYB), Fleet Indian (NYB), Funny Cide (NYB) presented by Rood & Riddle Equine Hospital, Seeking the Ante (NYB), West Point Handicap (NYB) presented by Trustco Bank, and Yaddo Handicap (NYB)
Monday, August 26 - Dark: No Live Racing
Tuesday, August 27 - Dark: No Live Racing
Week 8
Wednesday, August 28 - P. G. Johnson
Thursday, August 29 - GIII With Anticipation
Friday, August 30 - GIII Saranac
Saturday, August 31 - GII Flower Bowl (BC), GIII Prioress, and GI Spinaway (BC)
Sunday, September 1 - Bernard Baruch Handicap and GI Jockey Club Gold Club (BC)
Monday, September 2 - Harvey Pack and GI Hopeful
Log into BookMaker Sportsbook and get the best Racebook Betting Odds, Racebook Betting Articles and information about this and all other sports betting events!
