Travers, Whitney Highlight Saratoga Stakes Schedule

[Wandering Eyes]

The stakes schedule for the 2026 summer meet at Saratoga Race Course, which will open Friday, July 3, and continue through Labor Day, Monday, Sept. 7, was released by the New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA) Thursday.

Highlighted by the 157th renewal of the $1.25-million DraftKings GI Travers Aug. 29 and the 99th edition of the $1-million GI Whitney Aug. 8, the 46-day summer meet will offer 20 Grade I races among 73 stakes worth over $22.8 million in total purses.

The summer meet will begin with a special July 4th Racing Festival featuring the GI Belmont Derby and GI Belmont Oaks.

Following the three-day Opening Weekend, Friday, July 3, through Sunday, July 5, live racing will be conducted Thursday-Sunday before the resumption of the five-day racing week beginning Wednesday, July 29. The 2026 summer meet will conclude with a six-day closing week from Wednesday, Sept. 2, through Labor Day, Monday, Sept. 7.

With the new Belmont Park to re-open on Sept. 18, 2026, this will mark the final year of adjustments to the customary schedule of racing at Saratoga. Beginning in 2027, Belmont Park will host the Belmont Stakes and July 4th Racing Festivals, while Saratoga will return to its traditional 40-day summer meet.

The $1-million GI Jockey Club Gold Cup will return to its traditional home at Belmont Park in 2026 and serve as the opening day feature on Friday, Sept. 18.

On the heels of a record-setting Whitney Day in 2025, a blockbuster day of world-class racing awaits fans on Saturday, Aug. 8. Headlined by the Whitney, NYRA will also offer Grade I events Fourstardave, Saratoga Derby and Test.

As the centerpiece of the summer meet, DraftKings Travers Day will be held on Saturday, Aug. 29. In addition to the Travers, the program will include the GI Personal Ensign, GI Forego, GI H. Allen Jerkens Memorial and the GI Resorts World Casino Ballerina.

Saratoga will host the Belmont Stakes Racing Festival for the third and final time from Wednesday, June 3, through Sunday, June 7.

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