Originally Posted by Kasept
The 2012 Saratoga meet will be highlighted by the 143rd running of the Grade 1, $1 million Travers, the “Midsummer Derby,” on Saturday, August 25. Four of the largest specific-race purse increases during the Saratoga meet occur during Travers weekend. The Grade 1 Ballerina, usually run on Travers Day, will now be run on Friday, August 24 with a $500,000 purse, up $250,000 from last year.
On Travers Day, 3-year-old sprinters will be competing for larger purses, with the Grade 1 Foxwoods King’s Bishop and the Grade 1 Test both being run for $500,000 pots, up $250,000 from last year. Closing out Travers weekend will be the Grade 1 Personal Ensign on Sunday, August 25. With a $600,000 purse, up $300,000 from last year, the Personal Ensign is now one of the premier older filly and mare dirt races in the country.
The Grade 1, $750,000 Whitney Handicap is the centerpiece of the two-day Fasig-Tipton Festival of Racing, scheduled for August 4 and 5 and also including the Grade 1, $300,000 Prioress and the Grade 1, $400,000 Alfred G. Vanderbilt Handicap. The Test had been previously run on Whitney Day, and now the Prioress has been moved from the Belmont spring meet to take the Test’s place alongside the Whitney. The Grade 3, $150,000 Victory Ride, previously run on Travers Day, has been moved to the Belmont Spring meet – Saturday, July 7. The Grade 2 Fourstardave, previously run at 1 1/16 miles with a $150,000 purse, will be run at a mile on Saturday, August 11, with a $500,000 purse, making it a signature turf mile race for older horses.
In addition to the aforementioned Grade 1 races during the Saratoga meet are the following: $300,000 TVG Coaching Club American Oaks on Saturday, July 21, $600,000 Diana on Saturday, July 28, $600,000 Alabama on Saturday, August 18, $600,000 Sword Dancer on Saturday, August 18, $150,000 New York Turf Writer’s Cup Steeplechase on Thursday, August 23, $750,000 Woodward on Saturday, September 1, $500,000 Forego on Saturday, September 1, and $300,000 Spinaway on Sunday, September 2.
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