TUESDAY, JULY 26

·         Paul Roberts Lecture Series: Author and thoroughbred race track historian Paul Roberts will present the first installment of a three-part lecture series that examines historic race courses and their architectural development over the last few centuries. Sponsored by The New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA) and hosted by the Saratoga Springs Preservation Foundation, the lecture series will kick off on Tuesday evening at the Saratoga Arts Center with The Rebuilding of Ascot: The Royal Race Course. Attendees will learn about the royal commission of celebrated architect John Nash, the Five Schilling Stand, and the modern sweeping renovations of a charming medley of twentieth-century buildings resulting in the premier race course known today. Roberts, a director of London-based property and planning consultancy Turnberry Consulting, recently coauthored The Spa: Saratoga’s Legendary Race Course, which examines the architectural evolution of Saratoga Race Course from its 1847 beginnings to the present. Roberts and Turnberry Consulting have been appointed by NYRA to advise the direction of capital improvements to Saratoga Race Course, Belmont Park and Aqueduct Racetrack.

WEDNESDAY, JULY 27

·         VIP Clubhouse Box Package from Northeastern Fine Jewelry & IWC Schaffhausen:  Track patrons can view the latest timepieces and jewelry and have the chance to win a true VIP experience when visiting 2011 racing season official timepiece sponsors Northeastern Fine Jewelry and luxury Swiss watchmaker IWC Schaffhausen at the Saratoga Style tent. Capital Region retailer Northeastern Fine Jewelry will offer track guests the chance to win a VIP Clubhouse Box package for a day at Saratoga Race Course on Wednesday, Aug. 31. The package includes the use of a Clubhouse Box, Post Parade programs and parking. Patrons can enter to win by visiting the Saratoga Style tent on Wednesday, July 27; Wednesday, August 17; Friday, August 19 (Fabulous Fillies Day); and Wednesday, August 24 (Travers Week). Additionally, customers can enter to win the VIP Clubhouse Package on various dates during the 2011 meet at any of the following Northeastern Fine Jewelry locations: 1575 Western Avenue, Albany, NY; 1607 Union Street, Schenectady, NY; 4620 Main Street, Manchester Center, VT.

·         Top Jocks Tip Off Against Trainers: The nation’s best jockeys will take on the horsemen at the Saratoga Recreation Center in a charity basketball game to benefit the NY Race Track Chaplaincy. The Saratoga Race Course jockey colony – which includes Javier Castellano, Kent Desormeaux, Ramon Dominguez, Alan Garcia, John Velazquez, and many other top-class riders – will face a group of horsemen that includes NYRA Chairman C. Steven Duncker, NYRA Vice President & Director of Racing PJ Campo, trainers Todd Pletcher and Rick Schosberg, Kentucky Downs President Corey Johnsen, West Point Thoroughbreds President Terry Finley and WinStar Farm President Elliot Walden. Hall of Fame jockey Angel Cordero, Jr. will coach the jockeys, while trainer Kiaran McLaughlin will lead the horsemen. Tickets to the game, scheduled to tipoff at 7 p.m., cost $15, with proceeds to help fund the many programs the Chaplaincy runs at Aqueduct Racetrack, Belmont Park and Saratoga Race Course.

THURSDAY, JULY 28

·         Jockey Autograph Book Thursdays with Hannaford Supermarkets: Racing fans will have their pens ready for the return of the popular Jockey Autograph Book. Sponsored by Hannaford Supermarkets, the Jockey Books will be distributed randomly to fans each Thursday of the meet at the Saratoga Style vendor tent (near the NYRA store by the Paddock) where Hannaford will feature interactive games, prizes and other giveaways for track patrons. The colorful, 20-page book features a full page for each of the top 12 leading jockeys, listed by number of wins at Saratoga in 2010 along with photos and fun facts for each. The autograph books will be available at Hannaford’s on-track location with a voluntary contribution to benefit the Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund (PDJF).

·         $100,000 Guaranteed Thursday Pick 6: As part of a series of three different guaranteed wagers for the 2011 meet, NYRA will, for the second year in a row, offer a $100,000 Guaranteed Thursday Pick 6. This is a $2 minimum wager in which the bettor must correctly select the winners of six consecutive races.

FRIDAY, JULY 29

·         College Day: Saratoga Race Course will welcome college students back to their favorite course with the third annual College Day. All students receive free grandstand admission with a valid college I.D.  The highlight of the event will be a chance for students to win a $1,000 scholarship after each of the day’s races, courtesy of NYRA, along with many other great prizes including a five-day Caribbean cruise. The University of Arizona’s Race Track Industry Program (RTIP) will supplement NYRA’s offer with an additional $2,000 in scholarship money for those students accepted into its track management program. Additionally, the Race for Education will underwrite a $1,000 scholarship. Beginning at noon, students may register to win the scholarships and many other prizes at the Big Red Spring located in the backyard. The first 1,000 students to register will receive a commemorative College Day t-shirt. A special “Student Zone” will be designated near the Big Red Spring to provide College Day attendees with an exclusive place to relax and enjoy the races. The tented area will feature live acoustic music from Darren Keeler and free face painting of college letters, logos and colors. Track goers of all ages will be encouraged to don their alma mater’s colors or favorite collegiate team’s gear for the chance to win special prizes throughout the day. Additionally, college and university mascots from schools throughout the greater Capital Region will walk the track distributing prizes to those showing their school spirit.

·         Party at the Spa, presented by Coors Light: College Day coincides with the meet’s first Party at the Spa, presented by Coors Light, which features a special 2:30 p.m. first post time. Fans are invited to stay at the track after the races to enjoy an after-hours party at Saratoga hot spot, The Post, adjacent to the Paddock. The festive evening will feature a mix of great food, drinks, and live music from the band Rockjunky. Shake Shack, Blue Smoke, Box Frites and The Bar at The Post will remain open for track guests to enjoy. 

SATURDAY, JULY 30

·         Jockey “Beefcake” Charity Calendar Signing: A number of Saratoga’s top riders will hold a special autograph signing in celebration of the release of the first-ever jockey “beefcake” calendar from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. outside of the jockeys’ room at Saratoga Race Course. The calendar features shots of 12 of the top thoroughbred jockeys in the country - Calvin Borel, Shaun Bridgmohan, Javier Castellano, Kent Desormeaux, Ramon Dominguez, Garrett Gomez, Channing Hill, Julien Leparoux, Edgar Prado, Mike E. Smith, Terry Thompson and John Velazquez. Photography for the calendar was shot by Barbara D. Livingston, a two-time Eclipse Award Winner. The 2012 Thoroughbred Racing Jockeys calendar, produced by Black Liner Productions and published by Browntrout, is available for $13.99, with all proceeds going to benefit the Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund (PDJF).

·         A Dandy Day: A pair of graded stakes headlines one of the most highly anticipated Saturdays on the Saratoga calendar. Racing fans may get a glimpse of the field for the Travers Stakes in the running of the Grade 2, $500,000 Jim Dandy for 3-year-olds. The afternoon also features the Grade 1, $500,000 Diana for fillies and mares on the turf. The Jim Dandy and Diana will be shown on VERSUS from 5 to 6 p.m., marking the second of eight “Summer at Saratoga” programs broadcast nationally by the NBC Sports Group.

·         Guaranteed Saturday Pick 4 presented by Foxwoods Resort Casino: NYRA will offer the second of three guaranteed wagers during the 2011 Saratoga Meet on Saturday: a $500,000 Guaranteed Late Pick 4. This marks the third consecutive year that NYRA has offered a $500,000 guarantee on the Saturday Late Pick 4, a $1 minimum wager in which the bettor must correctly pick the winners of four consecutive races.

·         Foxwoods Free Player Poker Tournament: Foxwoods Resort Casino and NYRA will present the first-ever Foxwoods Free Play Poker Tournament on Saturday at Saratoga Race Course. The tournament, which will begin at approximately 7 p.m. inside the At The Rail Pavilion, will be open to 100 people (10 tables of 10 contestants each). Prizes for the free tournament will be distributed to each table winner. Additional prizes will be presented to the top three overall finishers, including the grand prize of a weekend stay at Foxwoods Resort Casino with dinner and a show; the second prize of an overnight stay at Foxwoods Resort Casino with dinner at the Cedar Steakhouse; and the third prize of an overnight stay at Foxwoods Resort Casino. Each table will also include one NYRA personality, jockey, or trainer, including Sam Grossman, otherwise known as “Sam the Bugler” (NYRA personalities will not be eligible to receive prizes).

SUNDAY, JULY 31

·         Saratoga Baseball Cap Giveaway: Saratoga Race Course patrons can pick up the first giveaway of the season: a free Saratoga baseball cap, with paid admission, while supplies last.

·         Olivia M. Saylor/Fleet Indian Scholarship: Following the Olivia M. Saylor/Fleet Indian Stakes, the Race for Education will present the 2011 Olivia M. Saylor/Fleet Indian Scholarship for $24,000 to University of Kentucky student and Equine Science major Victoria Casso. Formerly known as the Fleet Indian Stakes, the race and scholarship have been named to honor the memory of Olivia M. Saylor, who died tragically in a house fire on January 1, 2011 at the age of 21. NYRA will also present a check for $2,500 to the Race for Education in memory of Ms. Saylor. Ms. Saylor had been involved in Fleet Indian’s racing career as well as various Race for Education events supporting the Fleet Indian and Ashado Scholarships. Her father, Paul Saylor, is a board member of the Race for Education, which has provided college scholarships over the last five years to New York residents whose families are involved in the thoroughbred industry. The Race for Education, which provides educational programs and college scholarships to young people in the equine and agriculture industry with significant financial need, will also be at the Community Outreach Booth to provide information on scholarship opportunities to track patrons.

·         The Ruffian: The second Sunday of racing at Saratoga will be highlighted by the Grade 1, $250,000 Ruffian for fillies and mares, which moved to Saratoga from its traditional home at Belmont in 2010. The day will also feature the Grade 2, $150,000 Fourstardave Handicap.

MONDAY, AUGUST 1

·         Dunkin’ Donuts Mondays: Throughout the 2011 meet, Dunkin’ Donuts customers and racing fans will receive a number of extra perks on Mondays. All fans who present their Dunkin’ Donuts rechargeable card at the track admission gates on Mondays will receive $2 off the price of grandstand admission. Dunkin’ Donuts will also offer Saratoga Race Course-themed rechargeable cards at nearly 200 Dunkin’ Donuts restaurants throughout the Capital Region as well as in Central New York, including Syracuse and Utica; the Berkshires and western Vermont. The Dunkin’ Donuts Cards, available for the first time in 2011, feature an image of the venerable Saratoga clubhouse and grandstand.

       Tang Museum Day: The Frances Young Tang Teaching Museum and Art Gallery at Skidmore College will host a day of community outreach at Saratoga Race Course that will culminate in a race celebrating the Tang’s role as a cultural resource for the region. Throughout the day, Tang staff will be available on-track at the Community Outreach Booth to provide information on the museum’s exhibitions and programs to track patrons.