The New York Racing Association has released the 2020 stakes schedule for Saratoga Race Course, and there are plenty of changes that will be in place as the horse racing world continues to adjust to what has already been a topsy-turvy 2020.
The biggest being the expected moving of the Travers Stakes. Instead of being the lead-in for the Labor Day weekend finale, the Travers will be ran on August 8th, still at the traditional distance of 1 1/4 miles on the dirt.
This is to compliment the move by Churchill Downs of the Kentucky Derby, this year to be ran on September 5th.
The other major jewel of the meet, the Whitney Handicap, will be ran on August 1st.
The moving of the Travers will also impact the opening weekend stakes schedule. The traditional opening day feature of the Schuylerville Stakes for 2 year old fillies will remain on opening day, paired with the Sanford for 2 year old colts the following day. However, the Peter Pan, normally ran at Belmont Park as a non-Triple Crown prep for the Belmont Stakes, will this year serve as the prep race for the Travers.
The Jim Dandy, which traditionally had served the role of the Saratoga prep race for the mid-Summer Derby, instead will be offered opposite the Kentucky Derby on September 5th.
The Labor Day closing weekend will also feature the traditional two year old Grade I's Spinaway and Hopeful, plus the Glens Falls, Forego and Woodward.
However, before you make plans to head on over to Saratoga Springs for the upcoming 40 day meet, the meet will be conducted spectator-free as officials continue to try to contain and prevent the spread of coronavirus. The virus, also known as COVID-19, has halted not only the horse racing world, but the entire sports world, and has affected more than 8 million people worldwide and over 2 million people in the United States. Over 120,000 have died as a result of coronavirus, with a fifth of those being in New York.
As a result, only essential personnel will be allowed on the grounds at Saratoga Race Course, with the meet being available for broadcast on-air on the FOX Sports and MSG networks, plus online at nyra.com.
Opening day for the 2020 Saratoga Race Course meet is July 16th.
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