A-list jockey Brian Hernandez Jr. is in the hospital after a major spill at Churchill Downs on Sunday, recovering from liver surgery and nursing seven broken ribs and a punctured lung.

The Kentucky-based jockey, 39, triumphed at the Kentucky Derby last year aboard Mystik Dan, and made it to Saratoga for Travers Day this year, to ride Thorpedo Anna to victory in the Personal Ensign Stakes. Both horses are running in big races (Goldencents and Spinster, respectively) in the coming weeks, which Hernandez will have to forgo as he heals. The Breeders Cup also falls in that time window.

“The doctors are saying between six and eight weeks,” he told Thoroughbred Daily News in an article posted Monday, September 22. He was having surgery on his ribs today, he told the outlet.

The accident happened in Race 3 on Sunday, with Hernandez aboard Sgt. Garcia, who threw him to the track near the backstretch after injuring a front leg. They were so far in the back of the pack that the announcer didn’t even see it and it was just barely caught on camera. Sgt. Garcia was euthanized.

“Any time you're dealing with a profession where an ambulance follows you around the track proves the point that it's a pretty dangerous job,” Hernandez told TDN. “Riding-wise you know that going into it, so you have to keep that in the back of your mind. At the same time yesterday sitting there in the back of the ambulance, at one point you're saying I don't ever want to do this again. The next second, you're thinking 'When can I come back?’”

Thanks to a new friendship forged with a well-placed and kind worker at the track, photographer Zach Skowronek stumbled upon a chance of a lifetime: capturing the great Sovereignty as he relaxed, grazed and showed off his winner’s blanket after winning the Travers, closing out a triumphant spring and summer that included wins at the Kentucky Derby, Belmont and Jim Dandy, too.

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Fun fact No. 1: Frank Mirahmadi is allergic to horses.

“I'm allergic to horses, I swear to God,” Frank Mirahmadi told me during a “3rd Race Call” visit to the announcer’s booth, a daily activity — there are still a few tickets left for this final weekend — that raises funds for Backstretch Employee Service Team (BEST). “Thank you for supporting BEST,” he continued. “They're helping people on the backstretch, and I like that. You won't find me on the backstretch though.” Instead, Saratoga’s announcer of three years stays perched in his booth, the highest spot at the track — and thus both the best vantage point for calling and the farthest from any animals.

But obviously, when you’re the announcer at a horse track and allergic to horses, high jinks will ensue…

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A lot of our favorite Saratoga jockeys are packing up this Labor Day Weekend and heading south to Kentucky Downs for Saturday’s Grade 3 DK Horse Nashville Derby Invitational Stakes — which this year has a staggering $3.5 million purse.

That’s the second-highest for any turf race in the country, behind only the Breeders’ Cup. By comparison, last year — the first since the race was renamed from the Dueling Grounds Derby — it had a more modest purse of $2.5 million.

So who’s leaving us when? All is not lost! Let’s take a peek.

Last year, the Nashville Derby Invitational lured the likes of Joel Rosario, John Valazquez, Jose Ortiz and Flavien Prat away from Saratoga.

This year? Even more of our regular jockeys will be missing either part or all of the Spa’s final weekend, including Manny Franco, Junior Alvarado, Rosario, both Jose Ortiz and Irad Ortiz, and Luis Saez.

Jose and Saez are making their getaway to Kentucky Downs sooner than most; they’re both racing down south starting today.

MORE ON THE ORTIZ BROTHERS’ DIFFERENT FINAL WEEKENDS: Anticlimactic Riding Title finish ahead — here’s why/what to watch

Others are headed to Kentucky Downs just in time for the Derby on Saturday — Franco, Alvarado, Rosario and Irad are splitting their time between locations this week. All will be back on Sunday, when the big race will be the Grade 1 Jockey Club Gold Cup, bringing back Highland Falls, Sierra Leone, Mindframe and White Abarrio. Velazquez will also be back from suspension in time for Sunday and will most likely race Monday, too. (Labor Day’s entries haven’t been released yet.)

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Headed to Saratoga Race Course on Saturday? You’ll still have plenty of familiar faces to root for. Jose Lezcano, Ricardo Santana Jr., Kendrick Carmouche, Christopher Elliott and Dylan Davis — among many others — will be riding. Big races include the Grade 2 Flower Bowl Stakes and the Grade 1 Spinaway.

Keep reading about the Spa’s 2025 season!

How Travers stacked up against this year’s epic Whitney, Fasig-Tipton

Track announcer Frank Mirahmadi dishes on Alabama weekend

Memorial race honors beloved member of Saratoga track family

The Ortiz brothers have been neck and neck all season, vying for the Saratoga 2025 Riding Title for most wins. In fact, as of press time, Irad was at 53 and Jose 52.

Those paying super-close attention — entries are up through Saturday, and Jose made his big announcement on Travers Day — know why this brotherly competition is about to come to a screeching halt.

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What a season.

As we ease into the last week of the 2025 meet, we can at last take a fair look at our season’s biggest race days and season highlights.

Belmont Day this year was rocky, betting wise — weather issues and postponed races aided a handle drop of 19 percent from 2024’s non-Triple Crown-year record-breaker, as explained in this June 7 report in BloodHorse.

But the Whitney and Fasig Tipton’s numbers were peak-excitement-level epic.

MORE ON THE WHITNEY: Whitney Day ‘25 brings in highest purse ever by wild amount

Even the galas broke records this year, as people opened their wallets for the nonprofits, too. The Hospital Gala, for example, landed $100,000 in 60 seconds, and AIM Services’ Croquet on the Green and Garden Party raised the event’s most ever.

So with all of this money flying around, how did Travers add up?

It was a tough few acts to follow.

The Whitney Day handle was up a staggering 22.7 percent over 2023’s record — with an increase of more than $10 million. And then Fasig Tipton enjoyed its third consecutive record-breaking year, finishing its 2025 sales at $82 million, a whopping 22.6 percent over last year.

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Travers, meanwhile, was gearing up to be a potentially history-making race. The great Sovereignty — winner of the Kentucky Derby, Belmont and Jim Dandy — was running at 1 to 4 odds to maybe become the first horse to win those three and the Midsummer Derby.

Fans packed the place, both eager to see Sovereignty run and because of the aforementioned excitement hanging in the air after a pretty spectacular season.

“We went to the track more this year than the last few years combined,” says a friend who brought her family-of-four to Travers Day. “It got fun again.”

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She wasn’t alone: Saturday’s attendance was up a teeny bit over last year. The handle, however, faced some challenges. While getting to see Sovereignty run got people in the doors, having such a heavy favorite is a boring bet. Plus, there was a tiny field, limiting some betting.

The end result: a handle that was down 14 percent from last year, according to an Aug. 24 piece in the Times Union. (But still the third-highest overall, according to the outlet.)

“We hit an exacta early on; the undercard was great today,” said the spectator. “But none of us put any money down on the actual Travers. We didn’t even think about it; we were having too much fun.”

Keep reading about this year’s track season!

Why clever Ewing call 'rejected' by announcer Mirahmadi

Party time: Local celeb wins with Caroline St. horse

Memorial race honors beloved member of Saratoga track family

Catching Frank Mirahmadi’s clever word plays in the wild has become my own personal sport — and one for which I have reinforcements. When I wrote of a certain “slam dunk” of a call back in early July, it never occurred to me that by the end of the season, I’d get to ask the man himself about it.

As it turns out, that call has been quite the topic of conversation throughout the season.

In a nutshell, a 2-year-old named Ewing — named after basketball icon Patrick Ewing — broke his maiden by four lengths during this year’s special July 4th Racing Festival. And with that big of a lead, Saratoga’s announcer of three years had plenty of time to stretch out his Knicks sports trivia.

When Ewing ran — and won — again? Nothing.

And that’s how I came to learn that

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Saratoga track announcer Frank Mirahmadi’s brain is always on fire.

Mention a horse or race, and then try — just try — to keep up as he rattles off why he said what he said, why he didn’t say five other things, and who he’s thinking of as his brain ping pongs and pivots at lightning speed.

He’s doing all of this, of course, while his announcer voice comes out so cool and calm that I often use the word “deadpan” when describing his calls.

While in the announcer’s booth yesterday afternoon as part of the Backstretch Employee Service Team's "3rd Race Call"— what I consider the track’s No. 1 can’t-miss activity — Saratoga’s race caller of three years dished on Alabama weekend.

“Nitrogen deserved

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Name change

The Sword Dancer Stakes will be renamed the Christophe Clement Turf starting in 2026, NYRA announced Saturday.

The $750,000 run will now “honor the life and legacy” of the legendary trainer who won the Grade 1 turf race a record five times. Christophe passed away in May at the age of 57 after battling a rare eye cancer.

Christophe’s final graded stakes winner was also the reigning Sword Dancer victor, Far Bridge, who was racing again in the final running of the race under that name. Now trained by Christophe’s son, Miguel, the 6-5 favorite, alas, failed to defend his title.

Miguel is married to TV analyst/reporter Acacia Clement has taken over his late father’s training duties.

Telling time

Oops. It’s true — Race 12 Saturday went off at the wrong distance.

And everybody’s talking about it.

The race was supposed to be 1 1/8 miles, but the starting gate was placed for 1 1/16 miles. As you can imagine, NYRA immediately sprang into action. Starting the very next day, a verbal notification is now required between the head starter and stewards to confirm the gate’s location. For more on what’s planned and reactions from the esteemed stewards, read this report from yesterday’s BloodHorse.

The corgi video that will make you sob (with joy)

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Corgis and their short-little legs are cute — especially this one.

Her name is Abbey, and she proudly ran strong on her way to internet fame during Sunday’s Corgi Cup, her wheels affecting her speed but gaining her a screaming fan base. Her mom? Leslie DiCarlo, who owns the Springwater Inn B&B on Union.

Needless to say, the inaugural race was a huge hit, boasting a full dog-owner Post Parade and nine races that went on throughout much Sunday afternoon. Sam, 6, took home the final prize.

But Abbey took home our hearts.

Click on and watch her most adorable video of all time below.

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Track insider Sue Jeffreys’ simple Instagram post featured a photo of Friday’s Race 9 Post Parade entry and was captioned, “Blessings to the Verbanic Family.” The name of the race: The Bob Verbanic Memorial.

The race — won by Three B’s with Joel Rosario aboard — honored the youngest sibling of the Verbanic family, who passed away earlier this year at the age of 57. His Saratoga loved ones remember his time working at the track and gathered near the Winner’s Circle to watch his race on Friday, a few hours after spreading his ashes at the Infield finish line that morning.

“I sprinkled some of his ashes on and near the base of champion Go For Wand’s burial stone,” says his eldest sister, Gerette “Gigi” Verbanic, a hot walker for trainer Melanie Giddings. “My brother would love it with everything in him. I am indebted to NYRA. What a tremendous gift to the family.”

Bob was born and raised in Saratoga, and even started his career here with his choice of summer job at the track. “He was a Pinkerton at a very young age, around 18,” Gigi says of the detective agency that was founded in 1850 and worked with the track until 1989. “He absolutely loved it. As a Pinkerton, he did security and stall/barn checks, and escorted the jockeys on the grounds.”

When Bob was about 22 he moved to Louisville and enjoyed a long career in security after those early, beloved years doing his barn checks — and never let his eyes veer too far from Saratoga Race Course

“Bobby loved Thoroughbreds as much as I do,” Gigi tells the Dispatch. “Our phone calls after, ‘Hi, how are you, how are the dogs?’ were all about the horses, their pedigree and their careers. We loved those conversations as we shared a deep, deep love and respect for the Thoroughbred horse. I wish my brother knew how much he taught me long before hot walking. How I will miss our talks.”

Gigi embodies the pure love of horses that the Verbanic family exhibit, sprinkling her stories and memories with “horses first.” Giddings recently named a horse — Gigi Cake’s — after her. The filly’s sire was none other than Tiz the Law and was named after the hot walker’s reputation for bringing cakes to the barn to celebrate workers’ birthdays. “I’ve never heard of any trainer doing this,” Gigi says. “I will always be indebted and grateful for this monumental dream come true, thanks to Melanie and all of her connections. I’m so proud to work for a woman of integrity always putting her horses first.”

Bob passed away March 4 and is survived by his five siblings: Gigi plus Joe, Jackie Verbanic-Smith, Kristen Kristel and Mike.

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This moving race brought tears to a stunned crowd

Whitney Day ‘25 brings in highest purse ever by wild amount

Frank Mirahmadi makes slam dunk of a call

The day before Flavien Prat rode Sierra Leone to an epic come-from-behind Whitney Stakes win in front of 42,000 screaming fans, he got himself into trouble during the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame Stakes, also at the Spa.

The reigning Eclipse Award-winner, 33, was aboard Zulu Kingdom — favored to win — when he cut in on both Luther and Tiz Dashing coming into the first turn. The two horses would end up coming in second and fourth, respectively.

Prat is on the card for the fourth, sixth, eighth and ninth races today, despite NYRA’s announcement that stewards have ruled on a three-day suspension as a result of the incident. According to a Monday, Aug. 4 report in Daily Racing Form, Prat will serve his suspension Aug. 13-15, which is the Wednesday, Thursday and Friday before the Alabama Stakes.

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Zulu Kingdom’s disqualification changed the placing of Friday’s race-in-question to: Luther, first; Clever Again, second; Tiz Dashing third and Zulu Kingdon, fourth.

Prat began racing full-time in Saratoga during its meet in 2022, and his suspension comes midway through an especially exciting season.

He won four races in front of enormous crowds here on Friday, June 6 — the day before the Belmont Stakes — and five wins on July 5 during the Spa’s special July Fourth Racing Festival. As a result of those wins and 34 more during the Belmont at the Big A (the spring/summer meet split between Aqueduct and Saratoga), on July 6, he was awarded his first New York riding title.

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This moving Opening Weekend race brought tears to a stunned crowd

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Whitney Weekend ‘25 was an epic one.

The actual race was electric down the stretch, with the favorite, Fierceness, being smoked in front of 42,000 screaming spectators. The great Sierra Leone — with Flavien Prat aboard — came from behind (literally, from last place) to take home the Whitney Stakes prize. It was wild. Highland Falls was next, with Disarm in third and White Abarrio (my fave) in fourth.

I hadn’t felt a crowd on fire like that since last year’s Belmont.

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Earlier in the day, the Mark Casse-trained Ewing won (Race 3) again, but Frank Mirahmadi this time did a more classic call, having already stretched his sports trivia muscles for his slam dunk of a call for Ewing’s first win last month (Ewing is named after NBA great Patrick Ewing). It was an exciting win, as Obliteration, who placed, was the 1-4 favorite for the top of the board.

Instead, he saved his sports zingers for Sunday’s Race 2. Johnny’s Red Storm, co-owned by St. John’s University head basketball coach Rick Pitino’s RAP Racing, was the favorite to win. And boy, did he deliver, winning by four and a half lengths. Frank’s call: “Johnny's Red Storm. Nothing but net.”

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Back to Saturday, just a few local sightings in the crowd: former Channel 10 meteorologist (and huge horse racing fan) Jill Szwed with current Channel 10 reporter Cassie Hudson in almost-matching pink hats, Renee Walrath in hot pink, Leigh and Kim McConchie in coordinated (of course) rose pink and an adorable new member of the extended family, Zane Carruth and family, photographer Cathy Duffy making the rounds in the Cutwater boxes, and King’s Tavern owner Adam Fitch with his own camera.

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And that (record-breaking) purse. NYRA announced yesterday that Saturday’s “blockbuster” handle was a whopping $49,651,341 million — a 22.7 percent increase over 2024’s record of $40,461,888. That makes it almost $10 million more than any other Whitney.

What a weekend — I highly recommend clicking on the below video from NYRA.

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I know I’m biased but (corny joke incoming) I always bet on journalism.

And Journalism — the horse — had an epic win over the weekend at Monmouth Park’s Haskell Stakes. He came from behind (second to last place to be exact) to looking like he’d maybe nab third at the final turn. Then he flew like the wind with seasoned jockey/new Netflix star Umberto Rispoli aboard.

“Journalism — he’s the headliner today!” quipped announcer Matt Dinerman as the horse with heart flew to an epic win.

That chef’s kiss of a call also deserves a moment of silence. Flawless.

I hadn’t been that excited about a horse race since — well, since Journalism won the Preakness earlier this year.

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With his Haskell win, however, Journalism earned a guaranteed spot at the Breeders’ Cup at Del Mar. Since the horse is currently headed home to California — sharing a plane ride with fellow Haskell contender Goal Oriented, according to a Sunday, July 20 article in Paulick Report — will he make the return trip east so we can see him race at Saratoga?

So far, his trainer, Michael McCarthy, has been completely noncommittal.

Journalism placed behind Sovereignty — who will be at Saratoga Race Course Saturday for the Jim Dandy — at both the Kentucky Derby and Saratoga’s Belmont.

A Travers matchup between the two would be epic.

Horse Racing Nation has Journalism’s likelihood for the Midsummer Derby deemed only “possible” with Sovereignty’s chances slightly better at “probable.”

My fingers are crossed!

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MLB great Jayson Werth back in the Saratoga winner’s circle

This moving Opening Weekend race brought tears to a stunned crowd

Frank Mirahmadi makes slam dunk of a call during July 4 racing fest

Thursday, July 17 was a wild, exciting day at the track, led by MLB All-Star Jayson Werth. First, there was quite a commotion in the clubhouse, with cheers erupting in a wave of excitement. As fans made their way to the rail to watch Race 6 — Werth’s horse Sacred Goddess was the favorite to win — they were still blushing and chattering about seeing the retired baseball superstar-turned-horse racing superfan. As it turned out, he was also being out-shone by a huge record being made.

The gracious Werth stopped to say hello to Garry and Joyce White, who had had the stroke of luck of being in the box next to Werth’s at last year’s Belmont (which he won with Dornoch). After Joyce traded in her enormous “Pretty Woman” hat for a Dornoch ball cap “for good luck” — wearing it, she made it to the winner’s circle and on national TV. “Jayson loves Garry,” she told me. The generous couple were sitting in a box they bid on during Opera Saratoga’s annual fundraising gala.

Sacred Goddess was the first go for Werth’s new Icon Racing ownership venture. With Irad Ortiz aboard, she struggled on the turns but then broke free to take the lead and take home the win. The excitement of having a bona fide celeb in the winner’s circle was overshadowed by another story, however.

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As the horses were getting into the gate, announcer great Frank Mirahmadi was talking about trainer Mark Casse reaching his 4,000-win milestone (only the 17th ever to do so) with a triumph at Colonial Downs — and was a second late as Race 6 took off.

Even though Casse failed to make it 4,001 due to Sacred Goddess’ win, he was all smiles in the winner’s circle, and ended up taking the spotlight completely away from Werth.

The FOX announcers on Saratoga Live did have some fun with Werth, however. “You’ve got [trainer] Jeremiah Englehart hugging Jayson Werth,” said Paul Lo Duca. “If you literally thought about this, I don't know if Jayson knows, but Jeremiah’s one of the biggest Mets fans in the world…So Mr. Werth, stop badmouthing the Mets if you're going to hug one.”

Lo Duca was then asked about Werth’s actual involvement in horse racing, if it had longevity. “[He] and [friend] Alex Bregman have just gone berserk,” he answered. “I mean, they've texted me every other day, they got horses here, horses, horses there, and they're loving every minute of it…it’s great for the game, it really is…Jayson just seems like he's just buying a little bit here and a little bit there and just shows up…congratulations, you got a nice horse right there.”

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Other notable moments on Thursday: A splash of rain before Race 8 hurried the horses into the gate. Rocketeer reared up on the first turn, expertly preventing a potential fall. He then shot off and was ahead until the end, when Stars and Stripes scooped up the win.

The day also marked Thoroughbred Aftercare Day, which included a polo match with the Saratoga Polo School and an important drive for donations for 10 organizations including Second Chance Thoroughbreds, Take the Lead and Old Friends at Cabin Creek. It’s not too late to make a difference!

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The most emotional moment from Opening Weekend at the track came via trainer Cherie DeVaux and a longshot named Dr. Agne.

Race 6 on Friday, July 11: Epic Desire was the favorite to win after a surface switch from the turf to the dirt due to a morning deluge.

“He [Dr. Agne] deserves a shot,” jockey Jose Ortiz said carefully on Saratoga Live, downplaying the emotional favorite’s chances of winning after a win in Race 5 landed him in the winner’s circle with FOX Sports’ Acacia Clement right before Dr. Agne’s Race 6. “Let’s see what he’s got today.”

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Even with an emotional attachment to the 2-year-old “doc” via an earlier broadcast on the horse, Maggie Wolfendale fell in line with the rest of the broadcast crew, calling Epic Desire “by far the horse to beat” and declared, “I’m not going to be shocked when the 5 [Epic Desire] wins.”

Only Jonathon Kinchen kept the faith for our Dr. Agne.

“And they’re off!” At the top of the stretch, Dr. Agne was still in third, before pulling out in front from the center of the track. “An emotional conclusion!” raved announcer Frank Mirahmadi as Dr. Agne had an exciting finish at No. 1 after surpassing Epic Desire, who placed.

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Then the camera panned to an elated DeVaux, arms in the air — before the hugs and tears came, touching a momentarily confused throng of onlookers glued to the track’s screens. The emotion between her and the guests in her box — which NYRA and Ortiz shared in the above Instagram video — seemed especially raw, even to a jaded crowd used to the elation and heartbreak that comes with the unpredictability of horse racing.

And then in the winner’s circle, DeVaux had her moment in the sun, wiping tears as she stood arm in arm with the woman who turned out to be Carrie Agne, widow of the late orthopedic veterinarian Robert Agne for whom the horse was named. The renowned vet tragically passed away in 2015 at just 54, after a cycling accident.

Dr. Agne — the horse — is the colt of Into Mischief and Lady Eli, who stepped on a nail after winning a big race. The injury left her with a life-threatening founder of the foot. “They never come back from that,” explained the announcer. “And her trainer, who was an assistant at the time, Cherie DaVaux, took care of that horse on a daily basis.”

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Lady Eli not only survived the injury, but came back to win a Grade 1 race.

“I’m just so pleased that Carrie was here and we got to share this with her,” DaVaux said in the winner’s circle. Carrie held back tears as she responded, “Just incredible that 10 years after his passing someone still remembers … I mean, all of us close to him remember but it’s just such an honor.

“Seeing this, what comes to mind is they have the same heart,“ Carrie finished, now crying more freely.

Even Wolfendale struggled to keep her TV announcer’s game face. “Making me cry here!” she said.

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With so many extra racing days already under our belt for 2025, it may be easy to forget that official start of the traditional meet is at last finally here. (The season runs Thursday July 10 through Labor Day Sept. 1.)

As always, the New York Racing Association has ways you can win even if you can’t tell a filly from a bull, a Thoroughbred from a loaf-of-bread, or an eighth-mile pole from a telephone pole: giveaways.

Pay your entry fee and win a prize. You don’t need to read the racing form, and you won’t get your goggles muddy to do it.

All giveaways are free with paid admission, while supplies last.

Following the four-day opening weekend that starts this Thursday, racing will be conducted five days a week, Wednesdays through Sundays. The closing week, will include Labor Day Monday.

Saratoga Race Course 2025 Giveaway days

Friday, July 11: Saratoga Summer Tour T-Shirt presented by NYRA Bets

The first giveaway of the traditional summer meet is a red, high performance concert-style tour tee. The t-shirt features a silhouette of the Saratoga Race Course Grandstand and a schedule with the meet’s stakes races on the back. Emblazoned on the front is a horse and jockey logo denoting the live at the Spa 2025 summer tour. Presented by NYRA Bets, the cool and comfortable t-shirt will be available in two sizes: medium and extra-large.

Sunday, July 20: Saratoga Hawaiian Shirt

Say “Aloha” to the ultimate summer statement with a red-and-white floral Saratoga Hawaiian shirt. The t-shirt will be available in two sizes: medium and extra-large to close out the first full week of the summer meet.

Friday, July 25: Saratoga Blanket presented by Rivers Casino

Fans can get a head start on their summer weekend with a Saratoga blanket perfect for a picnic at the track. Presented by Rivers Casino, the red 50”x60” polar fleece blanket displays a one-sided print with the Saratoga emblem.

Friday, Aug. 8: Saratoga Pennant

Fans can commemorate the midway mark of the meet by claiming a red and white commemorative felt pennant featuring the familiar images of historic Saratoga Race Course.

Friday, Aug. 22: Saratoga Tote Bag

Functional and fashionable, this 14”x16” tie-dye cotton Saratoga tote bag is the ideal trackside accessory. Available on the eve of the DraftKings Travers, the Saratoga tote is perfect for stashing racing forms, sunscreen, or Spa souvenirs.

Sunday, Aug. 31: Saratoga Quarter-Zip Sweatshirt

Labor Day weekend ushers in the final premium giveaway with a Saratoga quarter-zip sweatshirt. With summer in its final stretch, fans can stay warm with this red, medium-weight quarter-zip featuring a white embroidered Saratoga logo.

Saratoga’s Big Race Days

The 40-Day regular meet is highlighted by the

• Saturday July 19: Grade 2, Vanderbilt, $400,000

• Saturday July 26: Grade 2, Jim Dandy, $500,000

• Saturday Aug. 2: Grade 1, $1 million Whitney

• Saturday Aug. 23: 156th edition of the Grade 1, $1.25 million DraftKings Travers

• Saturday Aug. 31: Jockey Club Gold Cup Grade 1, $1 million.

See all the stakes races here.

Tickets at the Saratoga Race Course

Advanced tickets to Saratoga Race Course are $7, or you can pay $10 at the gates. The track is not taking cash at the gates or for food or beverage purchases, parking or programs (with the exception of the official Saratoga store). Reverse ATMs, also known as cash-to-card kiosks, will be available at multiple locations throughout the venue.

If you want to sweeten your sure-thing bet, this year you can buy tickets to all the giveaway days at once, NYRA says, through Fevo.com.

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Saratoga announcer Frank Mirahmadi got to flex his sports trivia muscles early this year, making a home run — rather, slam dunk — of a call during NYRA’s special July 4th Racing Festival at Saratoga Race Course.

When Saturday’s racing began, all eyes were on Ewing, a Mark Casse-trained 2-year-old debuting in a maiden special weight.

Not only was the buzz around the track that Ewing had it in the bag, but cross-genre sports fans loved the name. The potential rising star was named after basketball legend Patrick Ewing [below, with Spike Lee] and the colt of Knicks Go — the New York Knicks being where the icon spent 15 years of his decorated NBA career.

The puns almost wrote themselves.

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“Ewing, cutting the corner professionally, and opening up with authority,” Mirahmadi announced at the top of the stretch, with Ewing ahead of the pack by four lengths.

And then he really took off, leaving plenty of time for Mirahmadi, ready with his sports trivia, to stretch out his call.

“You name one after the Hoya Destroya and a first-round draft pick, 11-time All Star, he had better run, and a runner indeed,” Mirahmadi said during his call that elicited many chuckles. “Ewing by a BLOCK!”

“We were waiting for it,” said America’s Day at the Races’ Laffit Pincay III. “We knew Frank would have something special if Ewing did something like that.” He added that as Ewing broke away into a solid lead, his cohost Jonathon Kinchen called that Mirahmadi was “gonna say something really cool.”

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With all of the headlines blaring from Saratoga Race Course already this year, it’s no wonder that a Triple Crown-winning jockey’s move to Saratoga was met with barely a whisper.

Victor Espinoza — who rode the mighty American Pharoah to greatness in the 2015 Triple Crown — got off to a bumpy start on Saturday, but the revered history-maker is going to be here with us all summer.

The iconic jockey, 53, raced three times on July 5, failing to make the board. But America’s Day at the Races was ready with a beautiful retrospective anyway, to roll out a warm Saratoga welcome. The video montage not only covered the 2015 Triple Crown — but also American Pharoah’s famous Travers loss that followed. (Keen Ice eked out that upset, by three quarters of a length.)

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“Victor Espinoza riding full time this summer at the Spa,” announced Laffit Pincay III while breaking the news during Saturday’s broadcast. “[He’s] going to spend a summer here at Saratoga, going from California to New York,” he said, before comparing the bold move to Flavien Prat’s similar play last year. “It worked well for that gentleman [Prat], right? [He had a] record-breaking season and summer last year at Saratoga.”

We’ll see how tough of a time Espinoza has breaking into the Saratoga roster, but he is scheduled to ride on some pretty good horses during this opening weekend of the traditional meet. Catch the three-time Kentucky Derby winner in Race 4, 6 and 10 on Thursday and Race 9 on Saturday.

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You are reading a free sneak peek version of The Dispatch: Daily News in the Spa City.

The National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame has named D.G. Van Clief as chair of the Hall of Fame’s Contemporary Nominating Committee and Josh Pons as chair of the Pillars of the Turf Committee.

The appointments were announced June 23 by Charlotte C. Weber, the board chair of the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame.

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The museum leadership is beginning an evaluation of the overall Hall of Fame nomination and election process, including a review of the contemporary Hall of Fame voting panel.

The current Hall of Fame nominating and election procedures can be viewed on the Museum website here: Hall of Fame Nomination and Election Procedures | National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame

Van Clief previously served as chair of the Pillars of the Turf Committee and succeeds the late Edward L. Bowen as chair of the Nominating Committee. Bowen chaired the Nominating Committee from 1987 through 2024 before passing away in January.

Pons is a third-generation Maryland horseman who owns and operates Country Life Farm and Merryland Farm with his brother, Mike Pons. A graduate of the University of Virginia and the University of Kentucky School of Law, Pons has served on the Pillars of the Turf Committee for the past two years and is a Museum advisory trustee.

The Museum’s other Hall of Fame committees will continue to be chaired by Michael Veitch (Historic Review Committee) and Beverly R. Steinman (Steeplechase Review Committee), respectively.

Jockey Tyler Gaffalione is back from injury leave, but you won’t see him at Saratoga Race Course during its special July 4th Racing Festival. The new dad will be down at Ellis Park instead.

While out on injury leave (he broke his left ankle March 26 at Gulfstream Park), Tyler and his wife, Casi, welcomed their first child, son Tatum, in late May.

The jockey, 30, was released June 25 and riding again June 26, his agent, Matthew Muzikar, told the Paulick Report as reported in a June 26 article. Gaffalione is listed on seven races at Ellis Park on July 3, according to the outlet.

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Muzikar said the new dad will be based in Kentucky and ride at Ellis Park Saturdays, Sundays and Mondays through August 18, as well as Friday through Sunday that next (closing) weekend. This allows him to race at Saratoga Wednesdays through Fridays.

"Coming off the bench, we thought it was good to start at Ellis Park," Muzikar told the site. "We’re not based in New York and not as many Kentucky trainers are shipping there. Ellis’s purses are really good, so we thought we’d give it a try and go in and out of Saratoga."

Gaffalione is originally from Davie, Florida and won the Eclipse Award in 2015. He triumphed at the 2019 Preakness aboard War of Will and has been a popular jockey for the Saratoga crowd, racing often and winning Stakes races including the Grade I Vanderbilt, Fourstardave and Forego in the last two years.

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