Fans to begin flocking to Saratoga Race Course on Thursday for Opening Day

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. — Horse racing fans will be rushing to the Saratoga Race Course Thursday morning to claim their picnic tables and seats for the start of the 2024 40-day summer meet.

Following the four-day opening week, racing will be conducted five days a week, Wednesdays through Sundays, apart from the final week, when the meet will conclude on Labor Day Monday.

The New York Racing Association (NYRA) announced post times and the lineup of attractions, entertainment and events for the 2024 summer meet at historic Saratoga Race Course.

First post will be 1:10 p.m. every day except Saturdays, when first post will be 12:35 p.m. DraftKings Travers Day will feature a special first post of 11:40 a.m.

Admission gates will open for live racing at 11 a.m. for all but DraftKings Travers Day when gates will open at 9 a.m.

Breakfast at Saratoga, driven by CDTA, will get underway daily at 7 a.m. through 9:30 a.m., excluding DraftKings Travers Day and Labor Day. Fans will have the opportunity to enjoy a buffet breakfast against the backdrop of morning training as well as claim the free picnic tables in the Rivers Casino Backyard.

The Ticketmaster Box Office at Saratoga Race Course will be open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. beginning Saturday, July 6 through Sunday, July 14. The box office, located at Gate A on Union Avenue, will be open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. during all live racing days of the summer meet (closed on Mondays and Tuesdays).

OPENING WEEKEND:

Thursday, July 11 to Sunday, July 14

The 2024 Saratoga summer meet will get underway on Thursday, July 11 with the traditional running of the Schuylerville for 2-year-old fillies, followed by the first Grade 1 of the season, the Diana, on Saturday, July 13. The four-day annual celebration will be highlighted by live musical entertainment.

CLOSING WEEKEND:

Saturday, August 31 to Monday, September 2

Closing Weekend will feature a pair of Breeders’ Cup “Win and You’re In” events, including the Grade 1, $1 million Jockey Club Gold Cup on Sunday, Sept. 1 for an automatic berth in the Breeders’ Cup Classic.

The 2024 summer meet will come to a close on Labor Day with the traditional final feature: the Grade 1, $300,000 Hopeful for 2-year-olds, which affords racing fans a preview of potential standouts in next year’s Triple Crown series and DraftKings Travers.