Saratoga Summer Meet 2026 Stakes Schedule: Complete 64-Race Calendar, Dates, Purse, Grade Guide
The 2026 Saratoga Summer Meet promises another unforgettable season of Thoroughbred racing, featuring 64 stakes races over a 67-day meet from Friday, July 3 through Monday, September 7 at Saratoga Race Course.
With millions of dollars in prize money, numerous Grade 1 events, and marquee races such as the DraftKings Travers Stakes, Whitney Stakes, Belmont Derby, and Alabama Stakes, Saratoga once again serves as the centerpiece of the summer horse racing calendar in North America.
Whether you're planning a trip to Saratoga Springs or following the action from home, here's everything you need to know about the 2026 Saratoga Summer Meet stakes schedule.
2026 Saratoga Summer Meet at a Glance
Meet Dates: July 3 – September 7, 2026
Total Stakes Races: 64
Grade 1 Stakes: 15
Featured Event: DraftKings Travers Stakes
Venue: Saratoga Race Course, Saratoga Springs, New York
Biggest Race Days of the Meet
Saturday, August 8
One of the premier racing days of the summer features four Grade 1 races:
- Whitney Stakes ($1 million)
- Saratoga Derby ($750,000)
- Fourstardave Stakes ($750,000)
- Test Stakes ($500,000)
Saturday, August 29 – Travers Day
The meet's signature program includes six stakes races, highlighted by the:
- DraftKings Travers Stakes (Grade 1) – $1.25 million
- H. Allen Jerkens Memorial
- Forego Stakes
- Resorts World Casino Ballerina Stakes
- Personal Ensign Stakes
- Lake Placid Stakes
Travers Day remains one of the richest and most prestigious racing programs in the United States.
Complete 2026 Saratoga Stakes Schedule
| Date |
Race |
Grade |
Purse |
|---|---|---|---|
| July 3 | Schuylerville | Listed | $200,000 |
| July 3 | Wild Applause | Listed | $150,000 |
| July 3 | Saranac | Listed | $150,000 |
| July 4 | Belmont Derby | G1 | $750,000 |
| July 4 | Belmont Oaks | G1 | $600,000 |
| July 4 | Suburban Stakes | G2 | $500,000 |
| July 4 | Sanford Stakes | G3 | $225,000 |
| July 5 | Leo O'Brien | G1 (Hurdle) | $150,000 |
| July 5 | Kelso Stakes | G3 | $225,000 |
| July 5 | Harvey Pack | Listed | $200,000 |
| July 10 | Victory Ride | G3 | $225,000 |
| July 11 | Bowling Green | G2 | $250,000 |
| July 11 | Caress Stakes | G2 | $250,000 |
| July 16 | Jonathan Kiser Novice Memorial | Hurdle | $75,000 |
| July 17 | De La Rose | Listed | $150,000 |
| July 18 | Dunkin' Diana Stakes | G1 | $500,000 |
| July 18 | Coronation Cup | G3 | $225,000 |
| July 19 | Quick Call Stakes | G3 | $225,000 |
| July 23 | Suzie O'Cain | NYB | $200,000 |
| July 24 | Shuvee Stakes | G2 | $250,000 |
| July 24 | Rick Violette | NYB | $200,000 |
| July 25 | Coaching Club American Oaks | G1 | $500,000 |
| July 25 | Alfred G. Vanderbilt | G2 | $400,000 |
| July 26 | Honorable Miss | G2 | $250,000 |
| July 29 | Curlin Stakes | Listed | $150,000 |
| July 30 | Glens Falls | G2 | $250,000 |
| July 31 | Amsterdam Stakes | G2 | $250,000 |
| August 1 | Jim Dandy Stakes | G2 | $500,000 |
| August 1 | Saratoga Special | G2 | $250,000 |
| August 1 | Lake George Stakes | G3 | $225,000 |
| August 2 | Adirondack Stakes | G3 | $225,000 |
| August 5 | A.P. Smithwick Memorial | G1 (Hurdle) | $150,000 |
| August 5 | Johnstone | NYB | $200,000 |
| August 6 | John Morrissey | NYB | $200,000 |
| August 7 | Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Oaks | G2 | $500,000 |
| August 7 | National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame Stakes | G2 | $400,000 |
| August 8 | Whitney Stakes | G1 | $1,000,000 |
| August 8 | Saratoga Derby | G1 | $750,000 |
| August 8 | Fourstardave Stakes | G1 | $750,000 |
| August 8 | Test Stakes | G1 | $500,000 |
| August 9 | Troy Stakes | G2 | $300,000 |
| August 12 | Michael G. Walsh Memorial Novice | Hurdle | $75,000 |
| August 13 | Birdstone Stakes | Listed | $200,000 |
| August 14 | Smart and Fancy Stakes | Listed | $200,000 |
| August 15 | Christophe Clement Turf Classic | G1 | $750,000 |
| August 15 | Galway Stakes | Listed | $200,000 |
| August 16 | Mahony Stakes | G3 | $225,000 |
| August 19 | NY Stallion Series – Statue of Liberty | NYSS | $150,000 |
| August 20 | NY Stallion Series – Cab Calloway | NYSS | $150,000 |
| August 21 | Fleet Indian Stakes | NYB | $200,000 |
| August 22 | Alabama Stakes | G1 | $600,000 |
| August 22 | Ballston Spa Stakes | G2 | $300,000 |
| August 23 | Albany Stakes | NYB | $200,000 |
| August 26 | Bolton Landing Stakes | Listed | $200,000 |
| August 27 | Skidmore Stakes | $200,000 | |
| August 28 | Waya Stakes | G3 | $225,000 |
| August 28 | West Point Stakes | NYB | $200,000 |
| August 29 | DraftKings Travers Stakes | G1 | $1,250,000 |
| August 29 | H. Allen Jerkens Memorial | G1 | $500,000 |
| August 29 | Forego Stakes | G1 | $500,000 |
| August 29 | Resorts World Casino Ballerina | G1 | $500,000 |
| August 29 | Personal Ensign Stakes | G1 | $500,000 |
| August 29 | Lake Placid Stakes | G2 | $400,000 |
| August 30 | Yaddo Stakes | NYB | $200,000 |
| September 2 | Jonathan Sheppard Memorial | G1 (Hurdle) | $150,000 |
| September 3 | Bernard Baruch Stakes | Listed | $200,000 |
| September 4 | P.G. Johnson Stakes | Listed | $200,000 |
| September 4 | Seeking the Ante | NYB | $200,000 |
| September 5 | Spinaway Stakes | G1 | $300,000 |
| September 5 | With Anticipation Stakes | G3 | $225,000 |
| September 6 | Spendthrift Hopeful Stakes | G1 | $300,000 |
| September 6 | Prioress Stakes | G3 | $225,000 |
| September 6 | Disco Partner Stakes | $150,000 | |
| September 7 | Gio Ponti Stakes | $200,000 | |
| September 7 | Funny Cide Stakes | $200,000 |
Key Races to Watch
The 2026 Saratoga Summer Meet features some of the most prestigious races in North American horse racing, including:
- DraftKings Travers Stakes ($1.25 million)
- Whitney Stakes
- Belmont Derby Invitational
- Belmont Oaks Invitational
- Alabama Stakes
- Fourstardave Stakes
- Test Stakes
- Coaching Club American Oaks
- Christophe Clement Turf Classic
These races regularly attract the nation's top horses, jockeys, and trainers while serving as major stepping stones toward the Breeders' Cup.
Final Thoughts
The 2026 Saratoga Summer Meet offers one of the deepest stakes schedules in Thoroughbred racing, with 64 stakes races spread across more than two months of world-class competition.
From opening weekend through Travers Day and the closing holiday weekend, fans can expect elite racing nearly every week, making Saratoga once again the premier summer destination for horse racing.
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