New horse-racing convention planned for next summer near Saratoga

A new horse-racing convention aimed at fans of the sport will be held in Saratoga Springs, N.Y., next year during Saratoga’s popular summer meet, the organizers of the convention announced on Friday.

Equestricon, the trademarked name given to the convention by the organizers, will be held at the Saratoga Springs City Center beginning on the evening of Aug. 13, a Sunday, through Tuesday, Aug. 15. Tuesday is traditionally the meet’s only dark day during the seven-week Saratoga meet, which attracts racing fans from across the country.

The convention is being organized by Dan Tordjman, a correspondent for America’s Best Racing, a marketing effort funded by The Jockey Club; and Kathryn Sharp and Justin Nicholson, the co-founders of Ninety North Racing Stable.

According to the founders, planned events at the convention include “entertainment areas” like a racing arcade and “meet-and-greets” with racing celebrities as well as product and technology demonstrations, along the lines of a trade show. In addition, the convention will feature “two-way panel discussions, breakout sessions and town halls designed to enhance engagement between invited guest speakers and attendees,” the announcement stated.

“Equestricon is committed to creating an extremely fun and unprecedented outlet for any and all racing enthusiasts to engage with the sport like never before,” Tordjman said in the release.