Saratoga to feature steeplechase racing on Wednesdays

Steeplechase racing will be featured on Wednesdays during the upcoming 36-day

Saratoga racing season, which begins on July 27 and continues through Labor Day, September 5.

The lone exception to "Steeplechase Wednesdays" will be the $75,000 A.P.

Smithwick Memorial Steeplechase H. (NSA-G2), which was originally scheduled for

August 11. The 2 1/16-mile test has been rescheduled for August 8 and will share

the card with the $150,000 National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame S. (G2). The

move was made because three standouts of steeplechase racing -- trainer Sidney

Watters Jr., jockey Thomas Walsh and five-time champion Lonesome Glory -- will

be inducted along with trainer Nick Zito into the Hall of Fame that morning at

10:30 a.m. (EDT) during a public

ceremony at Fasig-Tipton's Humphrey S. Finney Sales Pavilion

on East Avenue in Saratoga Springs, New York.

The $150,000 New York Turf Writers Cup Steeplechase (NSA-G1), originally

slated for September 1, will now be run on August 31.

There will be nine steeplechase races offered during the meet, matching last

year's total. There will be one steeplechase race held on the first, third and

fifth Wednesday at the Spa; and two held on the second, fourth and sixth

Wednesday.

In other Saratoga news:

As usual, the $1 million Travers S. (G1) on August 27 is the highlight of the

Saratoga season. This year, admission prices for Travers Day have been increased

from $3 to $5 for general admission and $5 to $10 for clubhouse admission.

"We are always reluctant to raise our prices, even with a modest increase

like this one," said Charles E. Hayward, president and chief executive officer

of the New York Racing Association. "Still, we believe in treating our customers

right, and while we had to increase the Travers admission prices, we have also

bolstered the Travers Day card with the addition of the Hopeful (S. [G1])."

The seven-furlong Hopeful is traditionally the most important juvenile race

at Saratoga. The $250,000 event joins a 12-race card that includes the $250,000

King's Bishop S. (G1) and $200,000 Fourstardave H. (G2). NYRA will offer a $1

million guaranteed Pick 4 pool on the four races.