Courtesy Saratoga Raceway
Saratoga Raceway’s 77th season of harness racing is underway.
“We’re very excited to welcome fans back for the 77th year of harness racing,” said John Matarazzo, director of racing operations at Saratoga Casino Hotel. “A strong lineup of stakes and marquee races will allow us to continue our tradition of exciting and quality racing here at the historic Spa Oval.”
As always, parking and admission are free.
Track officials said a top highlight of the racing season will be the 10th annual Joe Gerrity Jr. Memorial Pace, which will feature one dash for $260,000 on July 21.
Also set to attract top talent to Saratoga Raceway are the eight divisions of the New York Sire Stakes program that will be contested throughout the summer, culminating in the Excelsior Finals on Sept. 23. Collectively, horsemen will be competing for over $15 million in purses.
For bettors, continued benefits and rewards will be available throughout the 2018 racing season for users of SaratogaBets, the casino’s online interactive wagering platform.
Signing up for a SaratogaBets account is free and can be completed on SaratogaBets.com or in the mezzanine at Saratoga Casino Hotel.
The Saratoga Harness simulcast signal will be broadcast to over 400 outlets worldwide. People can view live races outside at the rail, in the lower clubhouse, in the grandstand or while dining at Fortunes Restaurant or Lucky Joe’s. In addition, guests can watch and wager on live racing in New York or from tracks around the country, year-round, on one of the many TVs located in the mezzanine.
The full 2018 season schedule is available at SaratogaCasino.com. Parking and admission is free. Guests cannnot bet on the races in the casino proper, but can do so by going to the pari-mutuel windows located in the lower clubhouse or on the mezzanine.
Saratoga Casino Hotel, located on Crescent Avenue in Saratoga Springs, features over 1,700 slots, electronic table games, Vapor nightclub, two full-service restaurants with buffets, a casual dining restaurant, three full-service bars, deli and a variety of guest services including valet parking and coat check. The 117-room hotel features a Morton’s The Steakhouse. Reservations are available at www.saratogacasino.com.
There are handicap parking spaces in the parking lot, as well as ramps throughout the property. The casino also offers automatic doors for those patrons with special needs.
Guests can enjoy complimentary coffee, tea, soda, juice, and water while they play on the gaming floor. Alcoholic beverages are available, but not complimentary.
Operating hours for the gaming facility are 9 a.m. to 5 a.m. every day.