Monday, July 26, 2010
Contact: Dan Silver
Mark Bardack or Caitlin Merrill
mbardack@edlewi.com or cmerrill@edlewi.com
BACK TO BACK SPECIAL EVENTS MAKE FOR A WINNING WEEK AT SARATOGA RACE COURSE
Week highlighted by return of Mid-Summer Saint Patrick’s Day, College Day and Party at the Spa
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Saratoga Race Course will truly be the summer place to be this week when racing fans turn out for two back to back special events at the track: Mid-Summer Saint Patrick’s Day on Thursday, July 29 followed by College Day and Party at the Spa on Friday, July 30.
In addition to two day’s worth of activities, entertainment, and live music, both Thursday and Friday will feature an exclusive giveaway item for track patrons.
“When we first introduced Mid-Summer Saint Patrick’s Day and College Day last year, we knew that each would become fast favorites among the many exciting events we hold at Saratoga Race Course each summer,” said NYRA Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Hal Handel. “We’re thrilled to host these two events back to back and provide our fans with an exacta of entertainment.”
On Thursday, July 29, Saratoga Race Course will bring horseracing fans a double-dose of charm during the second annual Mid-Summer St. Patrick's Day. Presented by Bailey's, the day-long celebration of Irish culture and heritage will feature traditional Irish food and drink as well as Irish music, dance and entertainment.
Fans will double their luck with the first giveaway of the season, a special Irish-themed short-sleeve t-shirt in celebration of Mid-Summer Saint Patrick’s Day, free with paid admission, while supplies last.
This year's event will also present attendees with the chance to win a trip to Ireland, courtesy of Yankee Trails World Travel. The grand prize winner will receive a $3000 voucher to plan the trip of their dreams. Track patrons can enter to win near the track entrance on Union Avenue.
Bagpipers with the Orange County AOH Pipes and Drums from Monroe, NY, will travel to Saratoga to greet patrons at the grandstand and clubhouse entrances, and will parade through the backyard to the apron of the main track, while students from the Boland School of Irish Dance in Troy will perform in step with the music. The bagpipers from Orange County have previously performed in New York's St. Patrick's Day parade.
Local Irish favorite The McKrells will treat fans to live music in the bandstand from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. The band's founding member, Kevin McKrell, has traveled the world to perform with some of the top musicians at leading Irish, bluegrass, and folk festivals. The backyard will be filled with the sounds of Ireland with performances from Irish bands throughout the day, including the seven-member Celtic Sessions located near Bunbury’s Pub and the Fergus Begley Band next to the Big Red Springs.
Track guests hoping to pick up a new lucky charm can visit Saratoga Style, the luxury vendor pavilion located across from the Jockey Silks room, where Saratoga Springs retailer Celtic Treasures Irish Gift Shop will be selling a variety of Irish-themed gifts and souvenirs throughout the day.
The day will bring all the essentials of St. Patrick's Day eating, drinking, and merriment to the races, including traditional Irish food and drink; as well as live Celtic music and dancing. While taking in all the festivities, trackgoers will enjoy Irish pub favorites Guinness, Harp and Smithwick's along with classic Irish fare such as bangers n' bacon rolls and hot corned beef sandwiches.
As the presenting sponsor of this year's mid-summer festival, Bailey's Irish-themed cocktails will be available at a half dozen cocktail bars on track, including Bunbury's Pub in the Backyard, the Jim Dandy Bar, and Bar B10. Special decor will also lend a decidedly Irish flair to the afternoon.
On the heels of Mid-Summer Saint Patrick’s Day, Saratoga Race Course will welcome college students back to their favorite course the very next day for the second annual College Day on Friday, July 30. All students will receive free grandstand admission with a valid college ID.
The New York Racing Association (NYRA) will prepare college students in attendance for the upcoming academic year with the chance to win a series of $1,000 scholarships. NYRA will award a $1,000 scholarship following each race held throughout the day.
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.
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, Subway Restaurants and Dunkin’ Donuts.
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, for a grand total of $3,000, for those students accepted into its innovative track management program at the University of Arizona. Additionally, the Race for Education, a non-profit organization that provides educational programs and college scholarships to students in the equine and agriculture industry, will underwrite the $1,000 scholarship to be awarded following the Fleet Indian stakes race.
Fans will have the chance to test their skills on the new interactive video game DJ Hero under the guidance of the pros from FLY 92.3. Students can also jump into the special inflatable joust arena to compete in the bungee run or one-on-one jousting matches.
On Friday, fans are invited to stay after the races as the fun continues with the meet’s first “Party at the Spa,” which begins with a special 2:30 p.m. post time and culminates in the last race of the day under a setting sun. Previously held in the backyard at Saratoga, the post-racing event will be reenergized and relocated to the area surrounding the jockey statues near the clubhouse entrance, featuring a mix of great food, drinks, and live music from The Sean Dolan Band.
For up-to-date information on Mid-Summer Saint Patrick’s Day, College Day, Party at the Spa, and other special events held during the 2010 meet at Saratoga Race Course, please visit www.nyra.com/saratogaevents.shtml.
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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
