2010 Travers Festival

The 2010 Travers Festival will take place from Friday, August 20th through Sunday, August 29th.  This year's event is highlighted by the inaugural Travers Eve Party in donwtown Saratoga Springs, The 141st running of America's Mid-Summer Derby, The Travers Stakes on Saturday, August 28th and the return of Rachel Alexandra on Sunday, August 29th in the Personal Ensign.

2010 Travers Festival Details:

Saturday, August 21st

Thoroughbred Racing.  The Travers Festival gets underway at Saratoga Race Course with the Grade 1 Betfair TVG Alabama for 3-year-old fillies, which sets the scene for Travers week as the first of 10 graded stakes races.  Post Time: 1pm.

Sunday, August 22nd

Perfect for keeping dry under surprise summer showers, all Saratoga Race Course patrons will receive a Saratoga Umbrella free with paid admission, while supplies last.  Gates open at 10:30 a.m.  Post time: 1pm.

Wednesday, August 25th

Racing fans can cool down at the track with the Stewart's Shops annual Ice Cream Eating Contest.  One of the best ways to beat the summer heat, those wishing to enter the "chilly" competition can sign up for the kid, teen or adult categories near the jockey silks room.  The winners receive gift certificates for free Stewart's Shops ice cream.

Thursday, August 26th

Track patrons will be invited to celebrate their Italian heritage as Saratoga hosts the Feast of San Gennaro.  Traditional Italian food, music, folk dance and even bocce ball demonstrations will mark the featured activities at this first time event as Saratoga reprises the famous Italian outdoor street festival.

Start the day at Saratoga Race Course with a fashion show and luncheon to benefit Ronald McDonald House Charities of the Capital Region.  For ticket information on the 12th annual Ronald McDonald House Fashion Show, call 518-438-2655.

As dusk settles over Saratoga Race Course, the 10th annual Travers Celebration takes center stage in honor of 2009 Travers Stakes winner Summer Bird and his winning connections:  owners Drs. Kalarikkal K. & Vilasini D. Jayaraman, trainer Tim Ice and jockey Kent Desormeaux.  Held at Saratoga Race Course, the Travers Celebration is the only evening fundraiser at the track and annually raises approximately $100,000 for the Backstretch Employee Service Team (B.E.S.T.) and the Double H Ranch.  To purchase tickets, call 518-383-6183 until July 23; afterward call 518-584-6200 x4233.

Friday, August 27th

13th Annual Battle of the Brews. Saratoga Race Course. Visitors 21 and older get the chance to taste a variety of brews and vote on their favorites.   Proceeds benefit the American Red Cross Adirondack Saratoga Chapter.  Noon-4:30 pm.  For ticket information, contact:  518-792-6545.

The Travers Wine Tasting. Held at the National Museum of Racing, this upscale wine, craft beer and food tasting will feature more than 100 fine wines from around the globe and 11 area restaurants and caterers.  7-10:30 p.m.  $135 per person.  Contact 518-463-4381.

Travers Eve Party.  Downtown Saratoga Springs.  Get ready for the Mid-Summer Derby as NYRA and the Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce welcome fans downtown.  The event will feature Saratoga's leading jockeys in an autograph session from 7 to 8 p.m., strolling music and entertainment, horse themed "track bandz" for kids and red and white mardi gras beads for adults.  7 to 10 p.m.  Click here for more information.

Saturday, August 28th

It's Travers Day at Saratoga Race Course with a special first post time of 11:35 a.m.  The gates open at 7 a.m. for the 141st running of the Grade 1, $1 million Travers as the sport's top 3-year-olds clash in one of the most historic stakes races in North America at the classic distance of a mile and a quarter.

The Travers day undercard will include the Grade 1, $250,000 King's Bishop for three-year-old sprinters at seven furlongs; the Grade 1, $250,000 Ballerina for fillies and mares at seven furlongs; the Grade 2, $200,000 Ballston Spa for fillies and mares at a mile and a sixteenth on the turf; and the Grade 3, $100,000 Victory Ride for three-year-old fillies at six furlongs.

Sunday, August 29th

Rachel Alexandra returns to Saratoga Race Course to run in the Grade One Personal Ensign.  The 2009 Horse of the Year won The Woodward here last year.  Post Time is 1 p.m.