That’s a Wrap! Highlights From the 2026 Saratoga Race Course Summer Meet
Another unforgettable summer of racing has come to a close at Saratoga Race Course. The 2026 summer meet concluded on Labor Day, September 7, after a season filled with major victories, career milestones, memorable events, and more than 1 million fans passing through the gates.
From Leading Change’s victory in the Travers to Sovereignty’s return to the winner’s circle, here are some of the biggest highlights from the 2026 season at the Spa.
Attendance and Wagering Highlights
Saratoga Race Course continued to draw huge crowds in 2026. According to the New York Racing Association (NYRA), paid attendance for the summer meet reached 1,045,373, marking the 11th consecutive year the meet has surpassed 1 million in paid attendance.
Total wagering handle reached $905,425,541 during the summer meet.
When the five-day Belmont Stakes Racing Festival is included, Saratoga hosted 50 days of racing in 2026 with a combined paid attendance of 1,149,677 and wagering handle exceeding $1.1 billion.
The season also marked the end of an unusual chapter in Saratoga racing history. Saratoga Race Course hosted the Belmont Stakes Racing Festival from 2024 through 2026 while the new Belmont Park was under construction, along with the July 4th Racing Festival in 2025 and 2026.
Travers Day Results
One of the biggest moments of the summer came on August 29 with the 157th running of the Grade 1, $1.25 million DraftKings Travers.
A talented field included Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes winner Golden Tempo and Preakness winner Napoleon Solo, but it was Leading Change, trained by Brad Cox and ridden by Manny Franco, who came out on top.
A crowd of 47,659 watched Leading Change capture the Midsummer Derby and remain undefeated through his first three starts.
Travers Day generated more than $60.8 million in wagering handle, the second-highest total in the history of the event.
The Grade 1 Whitney delivered another major moment when reigning Horse of the Year Sovereignty returned to Saratoga and won the $1 million race on August 8.
The victory earned Sovereignty an automatic berth in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Classic at Keeneland in October.
Whitney Day generated more than $46.8 million in wagering, also the second-highest handle in the history of the event.
Manny Franco Earns His First Saratoga Riding Title
It was a summer to remember for jockey Manny Franco, who captured his first Saratoga riding title with 73 victories.
Franco competed on 44 of the meet's 45 racing cards and finished ahead of Flavien Prat, who recorded 67 wins, and Jose Ortiz, who finished with 66.
His summer included several major stakes victories, most notably his Travers win aboard Leading Change. Franco also tied the Saratoga single-day record for a jockey when he won six races on August 7.
His 73 victories were especially impressive during an extended Saratoga season. The record for a traditional 40-day Saratoga meet remains Ramon Dominguez's 68 wins in 2012.
Chad Brown Wins Sixth Straight Training Title
Trainer Chad Brown added another Saratoga title to his résumé in 2026, recording 42 victories to earn his sixth consecutive training title and ninth overall at the Spa.
The Mechanicville native won nine stakes during the meet, including four Grade 1 races. His Grade 1 victories came with Fully Subscribed in the Personal Ensign, Ways and Means in the Ballerina, My Gun’s Loaded in the Alabama, and Kathynmarissa in the Diana.
Linda Rice finished a close second in the trainer standings with 40 victories, while Brad Cox finished third with 23.
Klaravich Stables Remains a Leading Owner
Klaravich Stables earned its eighth Saratoga leading owner title and 32nd owners' title at a NYRA meet.
The stable recorded 17 victories at Saratoga, all with horses trained by Chad Brown. Those wins included graded stakes victories from Fully Subscribed and Ways and Means.
Linda Rice finished second among owners with 15 victories, followed by Michael Dubb with 10.
Career Achievements
The 2026 meet also provided the backdrop for several impressive career achievements.
Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher recorded his 6,000th North American victory when Versailles Road won the finale on Whitney Day.
Jockey Luis Saez earned his 4,000th career victory, while Hall of Fame jockey Javier Castellano reached the 6,000-win milestone during the meet.
Special Events and Fan Experiences.
The summer wasn't only about what happened on the track. Saratoga Race Course once again offered special events and activities throughout the season.
Highlights included the return of the Corgi Cup, where five-year-old Kona of Smithtown took home the title, along with the second annual NYRA STAR Kids Day.
The track also hosted FIFA World Cup 26 viewing parties and welcomed members of the United States Women's Olympic gold medal-winning hockey team on Whitney Day.
Looking Ahead to Saratoga 2027
With the 2026 meet complete, attention now turns toward next summer.
The reopening of Belmont Park marks the end of Saratoga's temporary role hosting additional racing during the construction project. NYRA has announced plans to return Saratoga to a 40-day summer meet in 2027.
After a summer featuring more than a million fans, memorable Grade 1 performances, milestone victories, and another thrilling Travers, the countdown to Saratoga 2027 has officially begun.
Stay tuned for updates in our Saratoga Racing Guide >>
