Saratoga Springs’ own Marylou Whitney will be
among those honored this summer when she is
represented on the new Walk of Fame being created
at Saratoga Race Course this year.
The Walk of Fame is among the changes this
year announced by the New York Racing Association
(NYRA).
The meet starts July 24 and ends Labor Day,
Sept. 7.
The covered structure, which features the traditional
Saratoga turrets and is located adjacent to the Carousel, will house a number of commemorative
plaques honoring industry leaders, including
owners, trainers and jockeys, who have made an
indelible mark on thoroughbred racing at Saratoga
Race Course.
The new attraction will provide a permanent
home for the plaques and their narratives, where
guests can learn about the honorees.
“The Saratoga Walk of Fame is our way of
acknowledging and recognizing these individuals for their dedication to the sport with a place to
publicly enshrine their accomplishments,” said
NYRA CEO and President Chris Kay. “We hope
our guests will enjoy Saratoga’s newest attraction
which is designed to highlight the contributions of
our industry’s leading pioneers and achievers for
decades to come.”
The other 2015 inductee will be prominent
owner Ogden Mills “Dinny” Phipps of Phipps
Stable. The plaques for each honoree will be unveiled
during the Red Jacket ceremony at Saratoga
Race Course on Friday, Aug. 28, the eve of the 146th
running of the $1.25 million Travers Stakes.
Among track changes this summer, NYRA said
there will be two enhanced hospitality areas available
daily for paid reservation and offer guests
the most affordable reserved seat pricing at the
historic sporting venue.
“The lower Carousel, which has been tired and
aging, will be reinvigorated and reintroduced to
include a signature sports bar that will feature
dozens of high-definition television sets,” said
Kay. “Within the popular backyard, we will have
the same number of tables available on a firstcome,
first serve basis as last season (850) and
will add more than 100 tables for paid reservation
for the ease and convenience of our guests. We
are excited to offer our guests the opportunity to
enjoy these two new hospitality areas at Saratoga
Race Course.”
Located within close proximity to the trackside
apron, the lower Carousel includes five dozen
tables available for daily reservation and a new
sports bar which features an extensive craft beer
selection, popular food vendors, and 40 flat-screen
televisions showing both racing and other sporting
events. The new hospitality space also provides
protection from the elements.
Saratoga guests will also have the opportunity
to reserve a picnic table each day during, an extension
of the popular Travers Day program, officials
said. More than 100 picnic tables will be made
available daily for paid reservation adjacent to
the paddock.
“These new areas will make it possible for guests to enjoy a leisurely day at Saratoga with the
guarantee that they have a seat waiting for them
upon arrival, thereby eliminating the need to often
arrive at dawn to claim a table,” said NYRA Chief
Experience Officer Lynn LaRocca.
Reserved seating in the new sports bar in the
lower Carousel and a premium section of Saratoga’s
coveted backyard picnic tables became
available in June.
Also returning is the Taste NY series, which will
feature an array of New York ciders, wines and spirits
for sampling every Thursday of the meet; New
York craft beer on Fridays; and New York foods and
artisan crafts every Sunday. The Taste NY series at
Saratoga Race Course is held in partnership with
the state Department of Agriculture and Markets.
Agriculture Commissioner Richard Ball said
the state is “pleased to once again bring to Saratoga’s
audience some of New York’s best food and
beverages … More and more people are learning
that it’s not only good business to support local
agriculture, but that locally-made food and drinks
are also delicious.”
Another new attraction is the Tom Durkin
Replay Center, located within the Carousel, which
will allow guests the opportunity to view and
hear some of the classic calls by former NYRA
track announcer Durkin, who retired in 2014 at
the conclusion of the Saratoga meet following a
43-year career.
The 40-day meet includes 69 stakes worth a
record $18.7 million in purses, NYRA said.
A prelude to the Travers will be New York Breeders’
Showcase Day, which will be moved to Friday,
August 28, instead of on Sunday. The popular statebred
card will include six stakes, highlighted by the
$250,000 Albany for 3-year-olds going 1 1/8 miles.
Two of the biggest days in North American
racing will highlight the historic 147th meet at
Saratoga Race Course: the Grade 1, $1.25 million
Travers on Saturday, Aug. 28, and the $1.25 million
Whitney , which will be the anchor of five stakes
raceson Whitney Festival Day, Saturday, Aug. 8.
For more information and to purchase visit
www.nyra.com/Saratoga.