Fans return to Saratoga at near full capacity
A year after fans were prohibited from attending the races at Saratoga Race Course due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the historic upstate New York track will open to near-full capacity this summer, the New York Racing Association and Gov. Cuomo announced Thursday.
NYRA will designate most sections – including the backyard picnic area – for fans who are fully vaccinated for COVID-19. NYRA will designate a small number of hospitality and seating areas for non-vaccinated fans. In those sections, fans will be required to observe social-distance guidelines and wear a face covering.
This policy aligns with current New York State guidance for large outdoor sports and entertainment venues, which allows for fully vaccinated sections to operate at full capacity without social-distancing measures in place.
Non-vaccinated children under the age of 16 will be admitted to seating and hospitality areas designated for vaccinated fans when accompanied by a vaccinated adult.
The Saratoga meet opens July 15 and runs for 40 days (Wednesdays through Sundays plus Labor Day) through Sept. 6.
Tickets will go on sale June 9. Single-day grandstand general admission tickets are $7 and clubhouse general admission tickets are $10. Walk-up admission will be available daily and does not include reserved seating. Season and weekly ticket plans for reserved seats in the clubhouse, grandstand, The Stretch, and Fourstardave Sports Bar will go on sale June 9, in addition to season admission passes.
Season passes are valid only for vaccinated fans and will be available by digital download only. A grandstand season pass is $50, a clubhouse season pass is $75 and may be purchased at nyra.com beginning June 9.
Individual tickets and tickets for other areas of Saratoga Race Course, including dining, will go on sale at a later date.
In addition to the backyard, other sections reserved only for vaccinated patrons include the 1863 Club, the Stretch, Turf Terrace, Porch, clubhouse, and most of the stadium seats within the grandstand.
Thursday, at his COVID-19 briefing, Cuomo announced that fully vaccinated people who provide proof of their vaccination will get free general grandstand admission for opening day, July 15.
Major race days at the meet include Aug. 7, when the $1 million Whitney and two other Grade 1 stakes are run, and Aug. 28, when the $1.25 million Travers and five other Grade 1 stakes are run.
New this year to Saratoga is the Grade 1, $1 million Jockey Club Gold Cup, previously run at Belmont Park, now to be contested at Saratoga on Sept. 4.