**Please see attached photos from today’s press conference; photo credit:
**New York Racing Association President and CEO Charlie Hayward discusses the anticipated field of entries for the 141st running of the Travers Stakes during a news conference at Saratoga Race Course on Monday, August 23. NYRA announced a series of special events and activities in place for the weekend Double Day Spectacular of racing at Saratoga, featuring the Grade 1, $1 million Travers Stakes on Saturday, August 28 and reigning Horse of the Year Rachel Alexandra's return to the Spa in the Grade 1, $300,000 Personal Ensign Stakes on Sunday, August 29.
**Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce President Todd Shimkus shows off the special Travers 2010 mardi gras beads that will be handed out to adults at the inaugural Travers Eve Party in downtown
Monday, August 23, 2010
Contact:
mbardack@edlewi.com or cmerrill@edlewi.com
Travers Festival to culminate in back to back blockbuster events: The Travers Stakes and Rachel Alexandra’s return to Saratoga
The week-long celebration comes in anticipation of this weekend’s unprecedented Double Day Spectacular: the Grade 1, $1 million Travers Stakes on Saturday, August 28 and the return of the reigning Horse of the Year Rachel Alexandra in the Grade 1, $300,000 Personal Ensign Stakes on Sunday, August 29.
The series of fan initiatives includes an all-new Travers Eve party in downtown
“With one of the most historic and well-known events in thoroughbred racing on Saturday and the homecoming of Rachel Alexandra on Sunday, we’re gearing up for a weekend unlike any other in recent memory at
In commemoration of the historic back to back events, Saratoga Springs Mayor Scott Johnson today issued an official proclamation declaring Saturday, August 28 and Sunday, August 29 a “Double Day Spectacular” in the city of
The on-track excitement will spill over into downtown Saratoga Springs with special Travers 2010 and Rachel Alexandra pole banners lining Broadway in the days leading up to the blockbuster weekend.
Racing fever will continue when fans are invited to take part in a new Travers tradition: the inaugural Travers Eve Party on Friday, August 27.
The first-time event, hosted by NYRA and the Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce, will feature autograph sessions with Saratoga’s leading jockeys in the parking lot of the Saratoga Downtowner motel from 7 to 8 p.m., as well as live music and strolling entertainment from 7 to 10 p.m. Fans of all ages can stop by various downtown retailers to pick up free commemorative Travers Stakes items, including horse-shaped “Track Bandz” for kids and special Saratoga Race Course Mardi Gras beads for adults. The Travers Eve party will be modeled, in part, after the highly successful “Hats off to
On Travers Day NYRA will offer a special wager that will allow fans the opportunity to select the winner of both the Travers and the Personal Ensign. The Travers-Personal Ensign Double will provide a link to these two highly anticipated weekend races and will also prove a challenge for both novice bettors and experienced handicappers. With one of the largest and most competitive fields expected for the Travers in years and the likely showdown on Sunday between Rachel Alexandra and Life at Ten, who comes into the Personal Ensign riding a six-race winning streak, the Travers-Personal Ensign Double may offer exceptional value.
The Travers-Personal Ensign Double is part of a Travers Day wagering platform that will include the $1 Million Guaranteed All-Graded Stakes Late Pick 4 featuring the Travers, the Grade 1 King’s Bishop, the Grade 1 Ballerina, and the Grade 3 Victory Ride. By guaranteeing the wager, NYRA will supplement the net difference if the total pool is less than $1 million.
The Double Day Spectacular continues on Sunday when all fans will receive a free Rachel Alexandra button featuring her likeness and commemorating the date of her return engagement to
Additionally, select Rachel Alexandra merchandise will be available for purchase at the NYRA store, including t-shirts, baseball caps and 50 limited edition “Were You There?” posters autographed by Rachel’s connections. The theme for the artwork was inspired by fans able to vividly recall the moment when Rachel became the first filly to triumph over older males in a race that dates back more than half a century. Proceeds from the sale of Rachel posters and merchandise will benefit charity.
Rachel followers will also have a chance to win a pair of reserved grandstand seats to see her run on Sunday by sharing their own Rachel story on the Times Union’s popular thoroughbred racing blog “Talking Horses”. Fans can enter to win by sharing their favorite Rachel memory at www.timesunion.com/horseracing/contest-rachel-returns-to-saratoga/5529/. Entries must be received by 3 p.m. on Wednesday, August 25.
Preceding the Double Day Spectacular will be the 15th annual Travers Festival which will feature a number of new events and activities:
· Travers 1864 Restaurant Week: Through Thursday, August 26, nearly 40 area restaurants and eateries will offer a special three-course meal at the prix-fixe cost of $18.64, the year of the inaugural running of the Travers, the oldest major stakes race in the country for 3-year-olds. For a complete list of participating restaurants and to view the prix-fixe menus, please visit http://www.nyra.com/Saratoga/RestaurantWeek.shtml.
· Stewart’s Shops Ice Cream Eating Contest: The chilly competition returns for another year, giving fans of all ages the chance to chow down for the prize of gift certificates for free Stewart’s Shops ice cream on Wednesday, August 25. Registration for the kid, teen, or adult categories begins at noon in front of the Jockey Silks Room.
· San Gennaro Day: Track patrons will be invited to celebrate their Italian heritage as
· Ronald McDonald House Fashion Show: Start the day at Saratoga Race Course with a fashion show and luncheon presented by Saratoga Trunk to benefit the Ronald McDonald House Charities of the Capital Region on Thursday, August 26. Held in the “At the Rail Pavilion,” the luncheon begins at 11:30 a.m. and is sponsored, in part, by Northeastern Fine Jewelry.
· 10th annual Travers Celebration: As dusk settles over Saratoga Race Course on Thursday, August 26, the annual gala held “At the Rail” will return to honor 2009 Travers Stakes winner Summer Bird and his winning connections: owners Drs. Kalarikkal K. & Vilasini D. Jayaraman, trainer Tim Ice and jockey Kent Desormeaux. With approximately $100,000 raised each year during the event, the Travers Celebration expects to celebrate its 10th anniversary by reaching the milestone donation total of $1 million for the Backstretch Employee Service Team (B.E.S.T.), the Double H Ranch and other prominent local charities. Northeastern Fine Jewelry, the official jeweler of this year’s Travers Celebration, will feature a collection of signature pieces from top
· 13th annual
The Double Day Spectacular will begin on Saturday, August 28, when gates open at 7 a.m. for the 141st running of the Grade 1, $1 million Travers Stakes. First post time is 11:35 a.m.
The weekend racing double header continues on Sunday, August 29 with the Grade 1, $300,000 Personal Ensign Stakes and the return of 2009 Horse of the Year Rachel Alexandra to Saratoga Race Course.
For more information about the events and activities to celebrate the Double Day Spectacular at Saratoga Race Course, visit www.nyra.com/saratogaevents.
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FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, CONTACT:
Ed Lewi Associates •
ELA Main Office: (518) 383-6183 • FAX (518) 383-6755 (Mon. – Fri., 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.)
Weekend Numbers: M. Bardack Cell (518) 867-7943, or C. Merrill Cell (518) 867-2440
