Las Vegas, NV - The 144th season of thoroughbred racing at the storied Saratoga Race Course begins this Friday, July 20th - a 40 day meet that promises typically electric action in upstate New York. The top trainers, horses and jockeys will once again hit the track to contest 54 graded stakes races - at least one every day during the meet. It is an absolutely jam-packed season ahead - let's take a look at some of the highlights.

Saratoga will host its share of Grade 1 races over the summer meet culminating in the $1 million Travers - a 1 ¼ mile romp for the best three year olds in the land. That race takes place August 25th - the $600,000 Diana goes Saturday, July 28th the $750,000 Whitney Handicap and the Prioress go August 4th the Alfred G. Vanderbilt Handicap takes place on August 5th, the $600,000 Alabama Stakes and the $600,000 Sword Dancer go on August 18 th the Turf Writers' Cup is on August 23rd the $½ million Ballerina Stakes happens on August 23rd and the Foxwood Kings goes on Travers Day. Other Grade 1 races on the schedule include the Personal Ensigns Stakes on August 26th, the $750,000 Woodward Stakes and the $500,000 Forego Handicap on September 1st and the Spinaway Stakes on September 2nd.

2012 Saratoga Horse Racing Betting

The racing kicks off this Friday with a pair of Grade 3 races - the Schuylerville - a six furlong dash for two year old fillies and the James Marvin Stakes - a seven furlong race for horses three years old and upward. The meet ends September 3rd when two year olds will once again be featured in the Grade 3 Three Chimney's Hopeful and fillies and mares three years old and upward will go 1 3/8 miles on turf in the Grade 3 Glens Falls Stakes.

Todd Pletcher will bring a strong contingent of his trainees to Saratoga in search of a three- peat for the H. Allen Jerkens training title but will face some stiff competition from legendary names like Bill Mott, Shug McGaughey, Nick Zito, Steve Asmussen, Dale Romans, Chad Brown, Christophe Clemente, Mike Matz and many other big names in the world of racing.

Bet Saratoga horse racing at OffTrackBetting.com

The Angelo Cordero Jr. award for jockeys will also be on the line during the summer meet. That competition will be headed by two-time Santa Anita riding title winner Joel Rosario who promises to get a run from names like Javier Castellano, Ramon Dominguez, Julien Leparoux and John Velazquez who is rumored to be ready to come back from a recent broken collarbone injury.

Saratoga promises top flight action as per usual - the 144th season of racing at the historic Park is jam-packed, non-stop and as important as ever. Stay tuned to OffTrackBetting.com throughout the summer meet for breakdowns of all of the 54 graded stakes races.