America's oldest track, Saratoga Race Course, opens for its 137th season on July 27th and runs through Monday September 5th. The Spa meet is generally held to be the most prestigious in the nation with 45 stakes races worth over $10 million in purses. 30 of the stakes are graded with 13 Grade 1 events. Check their stakes calendar to see what races are scheduled for each day. As they become available, a list of the horses nominated this year will be linked from each race on the schedule.

The Saratoga SHOWdown Contest is back again this year. The object of 2005 Saratoga SHOWdown is to select one horse on each of the 36 racedays of the 2004 Saratoga meeting (Wednesday, July 27 to Monday, September 5) to finish first, second or third. If successful on Day No. 1, the contestant moves on to Day No. 2, and so on, until a winner is determined. The entry fee for Saratoga SHOWdown is $10. All entry fees will be returned as prizes to the contestants who finish in the Top 10.

For those who prefer a free contest, there is the 2005 Saratoga Fantasy Challenge. The free rotisserie-style on-line contest will operate the same way as past NYRA.com Fantasy Challenges: Fans select a virtual stable of jockeys, trainers and Thoroughbreds, then earn points according to performance on the track. The stable with the most accumulated points at the end of the meeting will win a $1,000 mutuel voucher. Prizes total $2,950.

Saratoga marks the beginning of the serious two year old racing season. The Breeders' Cup juvenile favorites often come from Saratoga and such prestigious races as the Saratoga Special and the Hopeful for the colts or the Adirondack and the Spinaway for the fillies.

Afleet Alex took this path last year enroute to a second place finish in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile and wins this year in the Preakness and Belmont Stakes.

The three year olds are also in the spotlight at Saratoga with the $1 million Travers, known as the Mid-Summer Derby, scheduled for August 27. This year the Travers should showcase Belmont winner Afleet Alex along with Preakness runner-up Scrappy T. Major races will be run in all divisions including the $750,000 Whitney on August 6th for the older horses where many of the current top handicap hroses such as Funny Cide, Eddington, Limehouse, and Saint Liam are expected. Some of the best 3-year-old females in training such as Spun Sugar, Round Pond, and Smugller, are expected for the $750,000 Alabama on August 20th.

Saratoga is also noted for its turf racing and steeplechases. There will be several major turf stakes for the older horses of both sexes, with the premier events being the $500,000 Sword Dancer Invitational for the males and the $500,000 Diana Handicap for the females. Wednesdays will be Steeplechase Wednesdays with a jump race every week including opening day.

Once the exclusive retreat of high society, Saratoga is now much more democratic with picnic tables as well as turf club boxes available. The lawn and picnic area are noted as being a great place for families and children. Many racing fans plan their year around a trip to Saratoga to watch the top horses compete, take a sip from the Big Red Spring, and hang out at Siro's Restaurant. Of course no trip to the Spa would be complete without a visit to the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame.

Saratoga, the August place to be!