{"id":1296,"date":"2019-08-22T11:16:44","date_gmt":"2019-08-22T15:16:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.saratogaracetrack.com\/the-fast-track\/?p=1296"},"modified":"2019-08-22T11:16:44","modified_gmt":"2019-08-22T15:16:44","slug":"150-travers-day","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.saratogaracetrack.com\/the-fast-track\/2019\/08\/150-travers-day\/","title":{"rendered":"Travers Day is Fast Approaching: Here’s Everything You Need to Know"},"content":{"rendered":"

Heading to the Saratoga Race Course for the 150th running of the Grade 1, $1.25 million Runhappy Travers<\/a>? Read on to plan your day, check out the lineup of events, and see who’s competing in the Travers Stakes.<\/p>\n

Know Before You Go<\/h3>\n
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Photo by saratogaphotographer.com<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

If you want to purchase your Travers Day tickets ahead of time, you’ll end up saving some money. Grandstand tickets are $10 now, but will increase to $15 at the gate on Saturday. There won’t be any Clubhouse upgrades on the big day.<\/p>\n

Gates open at 7 am, and you’ll want to give yourself plenty of time to get through security. You can reserve no more than one picnic table per person on Travers Day, and with the early start to the day, there won’t be a Clubhouse Breakfast or tram tours of the backstretch.<\/p>\n

Want to “Toast the Runhappy Travers” along with the crowd at 1:50 pm? $20 miniature-sized bottles of Moet & Chandon champagne will be available for purchase at the track.<\/p>\n

Special Performances<\/h3>\n

The National Anthem will be sung by Sergeant Emily McAleesejergins from the United States Military Academy at West Point. She’ll also return after the fifth race to perform God Bless America.<\/p>\n

Doc Severinsen (of The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson<\/em> fame) will play the jazz trumpet in the winner’s circle after the fourth race.<\/p>\n

After the ninth race (around 4:24 pm), catch a precision freefall demonstration by cadets from the United States Military Academy. The cadets will parachute from a helicopter onto the outer turf course while streaming their jump live on the video boards.<\/p>\n

Travers Window Decorating Contest Winners<\/h3>\n

Leading up to Travers, the Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce and the Saratoga Springs Downtown Business District teamed up to host a racing-themed window decorating contest between local businesses. Caroline and Main<\/a> took first place, followed by G. Willikers, with Adirondack Trust Company and Saratoga Dance, Etc tying for third. The winners were awarded Travers Day hospitality packages.<\/p>\n

The Graded Stakes<\/h3>\n
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Photo by saratogaphotographer.com<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The Travers isn’t the only graded stakes race taking place on Saturday. There are five other Grade 1 Stakes, and one Grade 2:<\/p>\n