157th Travers Highlights Saratoga Summer Meet | July 3 - Sep 7

OffTrackBetting.com (OTB) is happy to announce that OTB members will once again be able to bet horse racing from Saratoga Race Course, which will host a 46-day summer meet which will include 73 stakes worth $23.575 million in total purses.

Highlighted by the 157th renewal of the Grade 1, $1.25 million Travers Stakes on August 29 and the 99th edition of the Grade 1, $1 million Whitney on August 8, the 46-day summer meet will offer 20 Grade 1 races among 73 stakes worth over $23.575 million in total purses.

The summer meet will begin with a special July 4th Racing Festival featuring the Grade 1, $750,000 Belmont Derby and Grade 1, $600,000 Belmont Oaks. Typically held at Belmont Park, the July 4th Festival will honor Americaxf's 250th anniversary with on-track entertainment, patriotic fanfare and a variety of family friendly events.

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, September 2, through Labor Day, Monday, September 7.

With the new Belmont Park to re-open on September 18, 2026 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 Grade 1, $1 million Jockey Club Gold Cup will return to its traditional home at Belmont Park in 2026 and serve as the opening day feature on Friday, September 18. This follows a five-year period when the Gold Cup was held during the summer meet at Saratoga. Additionally, the Grade 2, $500,000 Flower Bowl will return downstate and be held during the fall meet at Belmont Park on a date to be determined.

On the heels of a record-setting Whitney Day in 2025, which was further elevated by the inclusion of the Grade 1, $750,000 Fourstardave for the first time in Saratoga history, a blockbuster day of world-class racing awaits fans on Saturday, August 8. Headlined by the 99th running of the Grade 1, $1 million Whitney, NYRA will offer four Grade 1 events inclusive of the Whitney, Fourstardave, $750,000 Saratoga Derby presented by Qatar Racing and $500,000 Test presented by Ticketmaster.

As the centerpiece of the summer meet, and one of racing's biggest events, Travers Day will be held on Saturday, August 29. The stars of the sport will converge on Saratoga to compete in five Grade 1 events among nine stakes in total. In addition to the Grade 1, $1.25 million Travers, the program will include the Grade 1, $500,000 Personal Ensign, the Grade 1, $500,000 Forego, the Grade 1, $500,000 H. Allen Jerkens Memorial and the Grade 1, $500,000 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. Highlighted by the 158th edition of the Grade 1, $2 million Belmont Stakes on Saturday, June 6, the 2026 Belmont Stakes Racing Festival will include 10 Grade 1 races among 18 graded stakes across five days of world class competition.

Saratoga Opening Day: July 3, 2026

The 2026 Saratoga summer meet opens Friday, July 3! The summer meet features 46 days of racing, concluding Labor Day weekend.

Jim Dandy Day: August 1, 2026

The Jim Dandy Stakes is a crucial prep race, but is also a party of its own! Fans get a captivating preview of top horses to keep an eye out for a few weeks later in the Travers Stakes. In 2025, Sovereignty successfully completed the Jim Dandy-Travers double.

Whitney Day: August 8, 2026

Whitney Day is one of the best days of summer racing at Saratoga! The $1 million Whitney attracts top older horses and has been won by many of thoroughbred racing's biggest stars.

Each year, Saratoga is draped in pink to honor Marylou Whitney, one of racing's greatest ambassadors.

Whitney Day is on the first Saturday in August annually. In 2026, Whitney Day falls on August 8.

Travers Day: August 29, 2026

Travers Day is the centerpiece of the summer season! The Travers Stakes is Saratoga's most famous race, and attracts many of the elite horses that contested the Triple Crown earlier in the year.

Join the best fans in racing on Travers Day. Saratoga Race Course goes all out, with extravagant outfits & hats on display everywhere you look. Purchase tickets well in advance, or bring a tablecloth and line up early to claim a coveted picnic table!

The Travers is run on the fourth Saturday in August annually. In 2026, Travers Stakes falls on August 29.

OffTrackBetting.com - US Legal and licensed Saratoga OTB is a great way to bet horse racing at Saratoga Race Course in New York. Available to customers across the United States, OTB features both Thoroughbred and Standardbred racing from major racing venues in the US as well as top international racing from Europe, Italy, Japan, Australia and Hong Kong.