MEDIA ADVISORY/DAYBOOK ITEM
Saratoga Race Course heads to the top of the class with return of
College Day and Party at the Spa
WHAT: College Day and Party at the Spa
WHEN: Friday, July 30
· Noon Gates open
· 2:30 p.m. First post time
· 7 p.m. Live post-race concert featuring the Sean Dolan Band
WHERE: Saratoga Race Course
267 Union Avenue
Saratoga Springs, New York
DETAILS: Saratoga Race Course will welcome college students back to their favorite course with the second annual College Day, featuring a host of great prizes, giveaways and $1,000 scholarships to be awarded after each race by the New York Racing Association (NYRA).
All students receive free grandstand admission with a valid college ID.
Beginning at noon, students may enter to win the scholarships and many other prizes at the Big Red Spring. The first 1,000 students to register will receive a commemorative College Day t-shirt.
SUNY Cobleskill, The Sage Colleges, and Excelsior College will match the $1,000 scholarship from NYRA with additional money toward tuition should any of their students be named a scholarship recipient on College Day. The University of Arizona’s Race Track Industry Program (RTIP) will also supplement NYRA’s offer with an additional $2,000 in scholarship money. Additionally, the Race for Education will underwrite the $1,000 scholarship to be awarded following the Fleet Indian stakes race.
Students will also have the chance to win a number of great prizes and giveaways, including an iPad, a Kodak digital camera, two iPod shuffles; as well as a number of gift cards to popular retailers and restaurants such as iTunes, Juicy Burgers, Target, Barnes and Noble, Subway Restaurants, and Dunkin’ Donuts. Prizes will be awarded along with the scholarships after each race.
College Day coincides with the meet’s first “Party at the Spa.” The post-racing event will be held in the Union Square Hospitality Group area which features Shake Shack, Blue Smoke and The Paddock Bar. Fans are invited to stay after the races as the fun continues with a mix of great food, drinks, and live music from The Sean G. Dolan Band.
About NYRA
Founded in 1955, and franchised to run thoroughbred racing at New York’s three major tracks through 2033, NYRA boasts a lineage that actually stretches back almost 150 years. NYRA tracks are the cornerstone of the state’s thoroughbred business which contributes more than $2 billion annually to New York State’s urban, suburban and rural economy. In 2009, more than 1.6 million people attended the live races at NYRA tracks. Factoring nationwide off-track wagering, the average daily betting handle on NYRA races alone totals more than $9.3 million every race day. NYRA has a vast network of websites, including www.nyra.com, www.belmontstakes.com, and www.nyragroupsales.com.
###
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, CONTACT:
Mark Bardack or Caitlin Merrill
Ed Lewi Associates • 6 Chelsea Place • Clifton Park, NY 12065
ELA Main Office: (518) 383-6183 • FAX (518) 383-6755 (Mon. – Fri., 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.)
Saratoga Race Course Office: (518) 584-6200, x 4233, or 4739 (Wed. – Mon., 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.)
Weekend Numbers: M. Bardack Cell (518) 867-7943, or C. Merrill Cell (518) 867-2440
E-mail: mbardack@edlewi.com or cmerrill@edlewi.com
