There are no shortage of special events throughout the Saratoga meet! A selection, in alphabetical order, is included below. Keep an eye on NYTB social media platforms (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter/X) for changes, additions, and more. A press release including a more extensive list of NYRA’s events can be found here.
Belmont Child Care Association Racing for the Children
BCCA’s popular annual fundraiser and auction is on tap for Thursday, August 21. Further information and tickets will be available here.
Breakfast & Breeding Farm Tours
Hosted in conjunction with NYRA, Breakfast & Breeding Farm Tours are offered on most racing days throughout the meet. Fans can enjoy breakfast on-track before visiting Song Hill Thoroughbreds on Thursdays, Old Tavern Farm on Fridays, and Sugar Plum Farm on most Saturdays and Sundays. Details are available here; tickets are available here.
Fasig-Tipton Yearling Sales
The Saratoga Sale occurs August 4-5. The New York-Bred Preferred Sale takes place on August 10-11. Catalogues will be available here.
Jockey Club Safety Net
The annual Fashionable Fillies Luncheon will take place at Saratoga National Gold Club on Monday, August 4. The keynote speaker and honoree is sports journalist Lindsay Czarniak, an owner through America’s Best Racing’s “A Stake in Stardom” initiative. Full details are here.
Lustgarten Foundation Day
NYRA honors the late trainer Dominic Galluscio by fundraising for the Lustgarten Foundation, fighting pancreatic cancer, in his honor. A bevy of trainers will be available for an autograph session on August 16.
National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame
The NMRHOF hosts a number of events throughout the meet. The first two Saturdays feature farm tours, the first of McMahon of Saratoga Thoroughbreds and the second of Mill Creek Farm. The annual Hall of Fame induction ceremony is scheduled for Friday, August 1. The Racing Partnership and Syndicate event, connecting interested parties with the world of owning racehorses, is on Saturday, August 9. Their full calendar of events and more details can be found here.
New York Thoroughbred Aftercare Day
NYRA, NYTHA, and NYTB join forces to host the third annual New York Thoroughbred Aftercare Day on Thursday, July 17. OTTBs and the people and organizations that care for them will be in the spotlight throughout the day. Full details are available here.
New York Thoroughbred Breeders Special Events
Join NYTB on Thursday, August 7, at Rood and Riddle for a BBQ to kick off the NY-bred Preferred Yearling Sale! Breeders, consignor, bloodstock agents, and friends are welcome to join us from 6-9:30pm at 63 Henning Rd for handcrafted BBQ, an open bar, and live music from The Wallies cover band. Admission is free with registration – here.
Celebrate the program and spend time together on-track at Paddock Suite on Friday, August 8! Enjoy a day at the races and a VIP experience. Tickets are available here.
In addition, NYTB will be on-site at the races every Friday at a booth near the paddock entrance.
NYRA Giveaways
There are six giveaways scheduled throughout the meet – July 11, July 20, July 25, August 8, August 22, and August 31. Full details, including images of some of the items, are here.
PDJF
A jockey autograph session is among the activities planned for Saturday, July 26, to raise funds and awareness for the Permanently Disabled Jockeys’ Fund. The popular annual Jockey Karaoke event will take place the following evening at Vapor Night Club. Details and tickets are available here. PDJF and TRF host a joint “For Jocks and Horses” fundraiser at the Adelphi in on Wednesday, July 30. Details are here.
Race Track Chaplaincy of New York
One of the most popular events of the season, the annual basketball game, is scheduled for Wednesday, August 6. Head to the Saratoga Rec Center (15 Vanderbilt Ave) for the 15th annual charity basketball game, as jockeys face off against a collection of horsemen. Full details are here.
Leona and John Velazquez are the honorees at the annual brunch, which will be held on Wednesday, August 13, at Saratoga National. The event raises crucial funds for the organization. Tickets and details are available here.
ReRun’s On the River
ReRun Thoroughbred Adoption Program, a Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance accredited organization which is the largest of its kind in the area, hosts its annual Saratoga fundraiser at The Basin Grill from 5:30-9:30 with guest of honor Katie Davis McCarthy. Full details and tickets are available here.
Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation
The TRF hosts a trio of fundraisers – Gumbo with Kendrick Carmouche on July 21, the joint “For Jocks and Horses” evening at the Adelphi with PDJF on July 30, and Backyard BBQ hosted by Rood & Riddle on August 19. Details for all three are available here.