Saratoga Live Makes a Comeback This July

This Wednesday the New York Racing Association and FOX Sports announce that the horse racing tv show Saratoga Live will return with this year’s 2021 summer meet at Saratoga Race Course. The award-winning television show will once again provide thorough and extensive coverage during the 40-day summer meet at the local race track.

The show will offer fans the opportunity of watching live almost every event from the summer meet on FOX Sports starting from July 15, 2021. The begging of the meet also corresponds with the official return of fans to full capacity, and the summer series will feature 76 stakes with a total of US$21.5 million in purses up for grabs.

Expanded Broadcast

This year’s edition of the Saratoga Live tv show will be the sixth of its kind and it will provide horse racing fans with the most extensive coverage until now with 220 hours of live broadcasts. FOX will host a special Opening Weekend show on July 17, which will cover the events of the Grade 1, US$500,000 Diana Stakes. Also, the channel will air for a third time in a row the Grade 1, US$1.25 million Runhappy Travers on Saturday, August 28.

Michael Mulvihill, FOX Sports Executive Vice President, Head of Strategy and Analytics stated that there is nothing better than a summer day at Saratoga Race Course. He also stated that the channel is extremely excited to celebrate the start of the meet with full crowds at the venue and the exciting Diana Stakes. The coverage will continue in August with the Runhappy Travers Stakes.

The award-winning horse racing show will be presented by talented hosts Greg Wolf and Laffit Pincay III, with analysis and handicapping from Maggie Wolfendale, Acacia Courtney, Andy Serling, Paul Lo Duca, Jonathon Kinchen, and Michelle Yu. Eclipse Award-winning jockey Richard Migliore and Hall of Fame jockey Gary Stevens will also be entertaining viewers as both will be tasked with commentary on the events.

Additionally, this year the coverage will also include the track’s weekly steeplechase events, which is the first card on Wednesdays or Thursdays. It is worth mentioning that the National Steeplechase Association offerings include stakes such as the Grade 1, US$150,000 A.P. Smithwick Memorial, and the Grade 1, US$150,000 Jonathan Sheppard. And the publisher of the Saratoga Special Joe Clancy will also be joining the broadcast team as a steeplechase analysis.

Purses Increased

Previously, the New York Racing Association announced that there will be some improvement of the Saratoga Race Course 2021 summer meet purses. All open stakes at the racetrack with previous purses of US$100,000 will receive a hefty increase of US$20,000. Open maiden special weight events will also receive an increase from US$90,000 to US$100,000. And, New York-bred maiden special weight will receive a boost of US$5,000, making them to a total of US$85,000.

Tickets Info

Recently, the racing association has also revealed ticket date sales and details about the 2021 summer meet. The organization informed that Grandstand season passes and NYRA Bets Gift Cards will soon be available at over 150 Capitol Region Stewart’s Shops. Additionally, individual tickets for the Clubhouse, Grandstand, and the Stretch can be purchased on Ticketmaster.com starting from June 23.

Source: “Saratoga Live Returns With Expanded Coverage On July 15”, Paulick Report, June 30, 2021