The Saratogian (Saratoga, NY)

Season ticket plans for 2019 Saratoga Race Course meet on sale March 19

- By Joe Boyle jboyle@digitalfir­stmedia.com Sports Editor

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. >> The New York Racing Associatio­n, Inc. (NYRA) will welcome the general public to purchase full-season ticket plans for the 2019 meet at historic Saratoga Race Course beginning Tuesday, March 19 at 10 a.m.

A full-season ticket plan includes admission and a reserved seat in the Clubhouse or Grandstand for all 40 days of the meet, which will feature eight weekends. Season ticket packages for the Grandstand and Clubhouse will be available for purchase online through NYRA Account Manager where fans may utilize the Saratoga Virtual Venue seating map to digitally preview their seat location and sightlines before purchasing tickets.

Among the season’s highlights are Opening Weekend, July 11-14; the 150th running of the Grade 1, $1.25 million Runhappy Travers on Saturday, August 24; and the Grade

1, $1 million Whitney on Saturday, August 3.

Whitney weekend will include the second legs of the new Turf Triple Series, the three race series at Belmont Park and Saratoga showcasing the best turf runners in the country and offering $5.25 million in purse money. The middle jewel of the Turf Tiara, the series restricted to 3-year-old fillies, will kick off Whitney weekend on Friday, August 2 with the inaugural $750,000 Saratoga Oaks. The middle leg of the Turf Trinity, the series restricted to 3-year-old males designed to emulate the American dirt classics, will bookend Whitney weekend with the inaugural $1 million Saratoga Derby.

“A season ticket plan is the ideal way to ensure a seat for all 40 days of the racing action at Saratoga this summer. With options in the Clubhouse, Grandstand and The Stretch, there’s a unique experience and viewpoint to be had for all of our guests,” said NYRA Senior Vice President and Chief Experience Officer Lynn LaRocca. “We encourage racing fans to act now to reserve their seat for what is sure to be an outstandin­g season.”

Full-season plans for premium reserved seats at The Stretch are currently available and can be purchased through the NYRA Box Office by phone at (844) NYRA-TIX, via email at boxoffice@nyrainc.com or at www.NYRA.com/Saratoga.

The Stretch is a private hospitalit­y area which debuted in 2018 and features modern and upscale amenities in a casual environmen­t with breathtaki­ng views of thoroughbr­eds rounding the final turn. Guests at The Stretch enjoy exclusive access to a full-service bar, kitchen and concession­s, highdefini­tion television­s and video screens, touchscree­n tablets, special events, and private restrooms. Guests also enjoy a relaxed dress code at The Stretch.

All season ticket plan holders will automatica­lly be enrolled in the Saratoga Season Perks program, which includes discounts on-track and at participat­ing off-track locations, including local restaurant­s, merchants, service providers and entertainm­ent venues. Discounts at participat­ing partners are valid from June 1, 2019 through March 31, 2020 with a Saratoga Season Perks card.

Season ticket plan holders will also be guaranteed a Saratoga premium giveaway on the day of the giveaway. Season plan holders must be present at Saratoga Race Course and redeem the giveaway by the designated time.

Season admission passes for the 2019 Saratoga meet will be available beginning Tuesday, April 2. A season pass provides fans with admission to 40 days of world-class thoroughbr­ed racing at Saratoga Race Course. Season passes do not include reserved seating. The cost for a 2019 Grandstand season pass is $50. A Clubhouse season pass is $75.

The 40-day meet at historic Saratoga Race Course will begin on Thursday, July 11 and run through Labor Day, Monday, September 2. Following Opening Weekend, Thursday, July 11 through Sunday, July 14, racing at Saratoga will be conducted five days a week, Wednesdays through Sundays. Closing week will run Wednesday, August 28 through Labor Day, Monday, September 2.

For more informatio­n about Saratoga Race Course, visit www.NYRA. com/Saratoga.

 ?? PHOTO COURTESY NYRA ?? Picturesqu­e Saratoga Race Course could see a boost in attendance overall as one more weekend is now available for tourists under the newly announced July 11 to Labor Day schedule that now includes Monday and Tuesday as nonracing days.
PHOTO COURTESY NYRA Picturesqu­e Saratoga Race Course could see a boost in attendance overall as one more weekend is now available for tourists under the newly announced July 11 to Labor Day schedule that now includes Monday and Tuesday as nonracing days.

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