Saratoga slates six Grade 1s on Travers Day

In keeping with its theory that big race days mean big business, the New York Racing Association has beefed up Travers Day at Saratoga in 2015 to include seven stakes, six of which are Grade 1s, worth $5.1 million in total

Former Grade 1 standalone events such as the Sword Dancer Invitational – which had its purse doubled to $1 million – and the Personal Ensign – which received a 50 percent purse increase to $750,000 – have been added to the Aug. 29 Travers Day program. The Grade 1 Forego, previously run on the final Saturday of the meet, has been moved to Travers Day and had its purse increased by 40 percent to $700,000.

The Grade 1 Travers for 3-year-olds, the centerpiece of every Saratoga summer, retained its purse of $1.25 million from a year ago, as did the Grade 1, $500,000 King’s Bishop. The Grade 2 Ballston Spa, for fillies and mares on turf, had its purse increased from $250,000 to $400,000.

The last two years, with 14-race cards that included four stakes, all-sources handle on Travers Day has averaged $40.6 million. Martin Panza, NYRA’s senior vice president of racing operations, said his goal is to have Travers Day 2015 handle between $70 million and $80 million.

To do that, Panza said, “We need some other big races that can attract top horses.”

The enhanced Travers Day card highlights the 2015 Saratoga stakes schedule that will include 69 stakes worth a record $18.7 million. The 2014 Saratoga meet featured 68 stakes worth $17.45 million. The Grade 2 Bowling Green, formerly run at Belmont, was moved to Saratoga for 2015, while two overnight sprint stakes for 2-year-olds – the Bolton Landing and Schenectady – were added, and two turf stakes for 3-year-olds – the Sir Cat and Tenski – were dropped.

The 40-day Saratoga meet in 2015 runs from July 24 through Sept. 7.

NYRA also bulked up the Aug. 1 card – the second Saturday of the meet – adding the Grade 1 Alfred G. Vanderbilt for sprinters and the Bowling Green at 1 3/8 miles on turf to a card highlighted by the Grade 2, $600,000 Jim Dandy for 3-year-olds. The Grade 2, $200,000 Amsterdam for 3-year-old sprinters also is on the Aug. 1 card.

NYRA officials had said previously that the Grade 1 Whitney card would be enhanced. But that Aug. 8 card lost the Vanderbilt while picking up the newly minted Grade 3 Waya for females at 1 1/2 miles on turf. Also, the Whitney had its purse cut from $1.5 million to $1.25 million so that it is not worth more than the Travers. The Grade 1 Test for 3-year-old fillies and the Lure and De La Rose – both $100,000 turf stakes – are on the Whitney program.

New York Breeders’ Showcase Day, featuring six stakes restricted to New York-breds, had its inaugural running the day after the Travers in 2014. It will have its second running the day before the Travers in 2015.