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As you get deeper into August, the weekends get bigger at Saratoga Race Course. This weekend is no exception. Friday looks to be a terrific day at the Spa highlighted by the 8th running of the Tale of The Cat handicap. Saturday will feature two big stakes races, the 116th running of the Saratoga Special and the main event on Saturday, the Fourstardave Handicap. Chad Brown's Raging Bull will be the horse to beat in that one and Sunday is the first giveaway of the year featuring the Saratoga Cooler Bag. Giveaways are limited, so come early.

It's the first full August weekend and Saratoga Race Course season is in full stride. The 94th running of the Grade 1 Whitney Stakes on Saturday afternoon highlights a terrific weekend in the SPA City. Few families have done more for the horse racing community, especially in Saratoga, than the Whitney family. Their named stakes race has featured some of the greatest horses in racing history and this weekend may feature others. The Whitney is just one of a full weekend card of awesome Saratoga Race Course action.

One of the very cool aspects of living near the historic Saratoga Race Course is you get to see the best race horses in the world compete live. They walk right through the crowd on their journey from their stables across the street, to starting gate. This weekend is an awesome example with 2021 Belmont Stakes winner Essential Quality highlighting the entries in Saturday's 58th running of the Grade 2 Jim Dandy Stakes. Essential Quality and Hot Rod Charlie battled it out for the 1 1/2 mile race only to see Essential Quality win by a length and a half.

This afternoon as I passed through the thousands of fans that came out to enjoy the first Friday of racing season in the Spa City, many come year after year. The UAlbany Alumni Association held their annual outing. Hundreds were adorned in purple and gold ready to make their bets and enjoy the spectacular weather and an amazing card of top horse racing, highlighted by the 9th race, the Forbidden Apple Stakes.

NYRA will be given first responders, doctors, nurses, and other frontline workers free admission to the grandstand on Friday, July 16th.

Fans Allowed In The Stands For New York Speedway Season

The Saratoga Race Course is the heart and soul of that Capital Region town. People visit from around the world to see the thoroughbreds power their way around the track. According to News10 ABC, the New York Racing Association announced Friday that Saratoga Race Course will open for spring training on Saturday, April 17.

Start planning for your horse racing trips to Saratoga for their 40 days of thoroughbred racing in 2020.

I'll admit, I don't follow the Yankees very closely but they are my team, I do have a favorite player of all time, and he's coming to Saratoga this summer.

There were rumblings a few months ago about the possibility of NYRA starting their racing season early this year. That can now be confirmed.

The Saratoga Race Course arguably is the biggest tourist attraction for a 6-week span every summer here in the Capital Region, could another week or two be added?

When you think of the Saratoga Race Course, you cannot think about it without a certain sound playing in your head. After tomorrow, it will be a memory.