Saratoga Announces 2020 Stakes Race Schedule [AUDIO]

The 40 days of racing that many Capital Region residents base their summer around is almost here. The Saratoga meet will be very different in light in the COVID-19 pandemic but we now know not only when it will start but also when the major Stakes races will be held. NYRA's Andy Serling recaps the Belmont Stakes and previews the rest of the Belmont meet and changes to Saratoga this summer.

The first and biggest change we're expecting this summer will be either greatly reduced number of fans or the more likely scenario of no fans allowed inside the track. After watching multiple races at Belmont this year without fans I believe as long as I have the app to wager with I'll survive that but for many people, the track is absolutely "The Summer Place To Be." So we'll cross our fingers (and wear our masks) in hopes we'll be able to attend races.

Earlier today NYRA released the Saratoga Stakes race schedule in a press release:

• 40 days of racing beginning on Thursday, July 16 and ending on Labor Day, Monday, September 7
  • Following Opening Weekend, racing conducted Wednesday through Sunday
• 71 stakes races worth nearly $14.5 million in purses
  • 39 graded stakes including 18 Grade 1s
• $750,000 Whitney (G1) on Saturday, August 1
• 151st running of the $1 million Runhappy Travers (G1) on Saturday, August 8
• Under current New York state guidelines, no spectators will be in attendance

You can see the complete Stakes race schedule for the 2020 Saratoga meet HERE.

Listen to NYRA's Andy Serling when he was on with Levack discussing the tracks improvements as well as Tiz The Laws chances at the Triple Crown and the Travers Stakes.