SARATOGA SPRINGS – The New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA) announced a full slate of entertainment and family-friendly events for the July 4th Racing Festival, which will be held Friday, July 3 through Sunday, July 5, and serve as Opening Weekend of the summer meet at Saratoga Race Course.
Saratoga’s Opening Weekend festivities will align with the nationwide celebration commemorating the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States.
“Opening Weekend at Saratoga Race Course is one of the most anticipated events of the summer in New York, and this year provides a special opportunity to celebrate both the return of the summer racing season and the 250th anniversary of our nation’s founding,” said Dave O’Rourke, NYRA President and CEO. “We look forward to welcoming back fans to one of America’s most revered sports venues during a festive and family-friendly July 4th holiday weekend.”
Headlined by the Grade 1, $750,000 Belmont Derby and Grade 1, $600,000 Belmont Oaks on Independence Day, the July 4th Racing Festival will include six graded events among 10 stakes races held over three days of competition.
Admission gates will open daily at 11 a.m. First post on Friday and Sunday is 1:10 p.m. First post on Saturday is 12:35 p.m.
Back by popular demand after a highly successful debut in 2025, Dollar Dogs will return on Saturday, July 4, with $1 Carnegie Deli Hot Dogs available at concession stands throughout Saratoga Race Course where hot dogs are traditionally sold.
Several of the weekend’s festivities will be presented in partnership with Saratoga 250, which is leading the community’s efforts to commemorate Saratoga’s pivotal role in the American Revolution and the 250th anniversary of the Battles of Saratoga in 2027.
Fans attending Opening Weekend will receive a commemorative Stars and Stripes themed Saratoga tumbler presented by Saratoga 250. The 16-ounce double-walled insulated clear tumbler with lid and reusable clear straw is free with paid admission on Friday, July 3 and Saturday, July 4, while supplies last.
As the centerpiece of Opening Weekend festivities, Independence Day will transform Saratoga Race Course into a celebration of America’s founding, featuring revolutionary-era entertainment, historical tributes, family activities and fan-favorite food offerings.
F
ans attending on July 4 will enjoy the Musicians of Ma’alwyck Fife and Drum Corps, whose stirring colonial-era music will help transport guests back to the Revolutionary War period.
The ensemble will feature percussionist Andrew Janack, who performs regularly with the Albany Symphony Orchestra, alongside flutist and fife player Dr. Yvonne Chavez Hansbrough, a distinguished soloist. The musicians will be accompanied by more than a dozen historical reenactors in period attire roaming the grounds and interacting with fans.
The celebration will also include Uncle Sam, who will greet fans and visitors throughout the afternoon.
During the three-day holiday weekend, fans can view a replica of Henry Knox’s War Cannon, a symbol of one of the most significant military achievements of the Revolutionary War. The display will be accompanied by complimentary samplings for fans 21 and older of the Saratoga 250 signature summer cocktail, Victory at Saratoga, which features Freeman’s Farm at Saratoga Bourbon produced by War Cannon Spirits of Crown Point, NY.
Subourbon Life, presenting partner of the Grade 2, $500,000 Suburban, will offer complimentary samples for fans 21 and older of its bourbon-based ready-to-drink cocktails on July 4.
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