“Since I was a young kid, I've wanted to be a racetrack announcer and am proud to say my first full-time position will be at Finger Lakes,” Stabile said. “I'm looking forward to being a part of a place that is rich in racing tradition, where one of my favorites, Funny Cide, wrapped up his career.”

Stabile was the back-up announcer on the New York Racing Association circuit from 2018-2023, where he co-hosted the Talking Horses handicapping show, as well as America's Day at the Races/Saratoga Live on the Fox Sports family of networks. He is currently one of the track announcers at Yonkers Raceway. He also has called races at The Meadowlands and Freehold Raceway.

“We are excited to have Anthony joining our racing team. His vast knowledge of New York State Thoroughbred racing will serve him well in his new role,” said Finger Lakes president and general manager Chris Riegle.

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Following the four-day opening week, which starts on Thursday July 11, racing will be conducted five days a week, Wednesdays through Sundays, apart from closing week, when the 2024 summer meet will conclude on Monday, Sept. 2.

Saratoga Live, the television show produced by NYRA in partnership with FOX Sports, will return for its ninth season to provide daily coverage of the summer meet to a nationwide audience on the networks of FOX Sports.

Click here for the complete 2024 Saratoga stakes schedule.

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Highlighted by the 154th renewal of the $1.25-million GI Travers Aug. 26 and the $1-million GI Whitney Aug. 5, the 40-day summer meet will open Thursday, July 13 and continue through Monday, Sept. 4.

Whitney Day provides a trio of Grade I events, including the GI Test S. and the GI Saratoga Derby Invitational.

The Travers Festival offers nine stakes including six Grade Is from Wednesday, Aug. 23 through Saturday, Aug. 26. The lucrative Travers Day card features five Grade I stakes, including the GI Resorts World Casino Sword Dancer, GI Ballerina H., GI Forego and GI H. Allen Jerkens Memorial.

Following the four-day opening weekend, racing will be conducted five days a week, Wednesdays through Sundays, apart from closing week, when the 2023 summer meet will conclude on Labor Day.

Saratoga Live, the acclaimed television show produced by NYRA in partnership with FOX Sports, will return for its eighth season to provide expansive on-site daily coverage of the summer meet to a nationwide audience on the networks of FOX Sports.

The complete stakes schedule for the 2023 summer meet is available at https://www.nyra.com/saratoga/racing/stakes-schedule/.

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Highlighted by the 153rd renewal of the Grade I, $1.25 million Runhappy Travers S. Aug. 27 and the Grade I, $1 million Whitney Aug. 6, the 2022 summer meet will open Thursday, July 14 and continue through Monday, Sept. 5.
The Travers Day card will include six stakes races, including five Grade I events.

With a focus on the New York-bred program and certain categories of stakes races, the 2022 summer meet will feature a purse increase of more than $1.1 million over 2021.

Saratoga Live, the acclaimed television show produced by NYRA in partnership with FOX Sports, will return for its seventh season to provide daily coverage of the summer meet to a nationwide audience on the networks of FOX Sports.

Following the four-day opening weekend, racing will be conducted five days a week, Wednesdays through Sundays, apart from the final week, when the meet will conclude on Labor Day.

The reconstructed Wilson Chute, last in use in 1992, marks the return of one-mile races on the Saratoga main track.

The Johnstone Mile for New York breds, to be run out of the Wilson Chute Aug. 12, is named in honor of the longtime horseman and NYRA employee Bruce Johnstone who passed at age 76 in February 2020 following a lengthy battle against cancer.

Saratoga will also pay tribute to the late Suzie O'Cain on Wednesday, July 20 with a 1 1/16-mile turf event for state-bred sophomore fillies.

O'Cain, who passed away in January following a battle with breast cancer, and her husband, Dr. C. Lynwood O'Cain, managed the late Carl Lizza's Highcliff Farm in Delanson, N.Y. for more than 20 years.

To view the complete stakes schedule for the 2022 summer meet, visit https://www.nyra.com/saratoga/racing/stakes-schedule/.

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Saratoga Live, produced by NYRA in conjunction with FOX Sports, is in its sixth season broadcasting the summer meet at Saratoga Race Course to a national audience on the networks of FOX Sports with weekend regional coverage on newly named broadcast partner SNY. NYRA produced nearly 800 hours of national television coverage in 2020, more than doubling its output from 2019.

“The continued support of America's Best Racing allows NYRA and FOX Sports to provide new and existing fans with high quality television coverage that allows us to tell the stories that make our sport so special,” said Tony Allevato, NYRA's chief revenue officer and president of NYRA Bets. “Innovative live television is critical in our efforts to grow the sport, and we thank America's Best Racing for this important partnership.”

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America's Best Racing, created in 2012 as The Jockey Club's multimedia fan-development and awareness-building platform, began its partnership with NYRA and FOX Sports in 2019.

“America's Best Racing is excited to extend its sponsorship partnership through 2023 with NYRA as a co-presenting title sponsor of America's Day at the Races and Saratoga Live,” said Stephen B. Panus, President TJC Media Ventures/America's Best Racing. “The opportunity to spotlight the best of Thoroughbred racing across high-quality linear telecasts and non-linear streaming channels aligns perfectly with the mission of America's Best Racing.”

Broadcast to a national audience on the networks of FOX Sports, America's Day at the Races is the exclusive home of elite thoroughbred racing from Belmont Park and Churchill Downs. In addition, America's Day at the Races provides in-depth live coverage and analysis of thoroughbred racing from a variety of the sport's most prominent venues.

Saratoga Live, the critically acclaimed and award-winning television program produced by NYRA in conjunction with FOX Sports, is in the midst of its sixth season broadcasting the summer meet at historic Saratoga Race Course to a national audience on the networks of FOX Sports with weekend regional coverage on newly named broadcast partner SNY.

NYRA produced nearly 800 hours of national television coverage in 2020, more than doubling its output from 2019, and continues to enhance its programing this year under Tony Allevato, NYRA's chief revenue officer and president of NYRA Bets.

“The continued support of America's Best Racing allows NYRA and FOX Sports to provide new and existing fans with high quality television coverage that allows us to tell the stories that make our sport so special,” said Allevato. “Innovative live television is critical in our efforts to grow the sport, and we thank America's Best Racing for this important partnership.”

For additional information, and the current NYRA television broadcast schedule, visit NYRA.com

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Live coverage of Thoroughbred racing from Saratoga will begin each Saturday and Sunday at 1 p.m. and include every race through final post broadcast on 104.5 FM, as well as streamed worldwide at 1045theteam.com or available by downloading the free 104.5 The Team App.

Presented by NYRA Bets, NYSCOPBA, Tech East Fire and Water Restoration and Michelob Ultra, the weekend broadcasts will simulcast a portion of Saratoga Live, the nationally acclaimed horse racing telecast produced by NYRA in partnership with FOX Sports.

On Fridays, the station will also air the live race calls by NYRA track announcer John Imbriale during “The Drive with Charlie and Dan” which will originate from Saratoga beginning at 3 p.m.

“We received great feedback about this partnership last season and are excited to continue to offer Capital Region horse racing fans the opportunity to enjoy the audio simulcast of Saratoga Live through the local ESPN Radio affiliate,” said Tony Allevato, NYRA Chief Revenue Officer. “This is yet another convenient way for our fans to access the thrill and excitement of Saratoga.”

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Presented by America's Best Racing and Claiborne Farm, Saratoga Live will provide full card coverage of nearly every race day to a national audience on the FOX Sports family of networks beginning Thursday, July 15. The 2021 summer meet, which will mark the return of fans to Saratoga following the lifting of COVID-19 protocols in New York State, will feature 76 stakes worth $21.5 million in total purses highlighted by the 152nd renewal of the Grade 1, $1.25 million Runhappy Travers on Saturday, August 28.

Season six of Saratoga Live will offer fans the most extensive and comprehensive coverage yet with more than 220 hours of live programming during the 2021 summer meet, which runs from Thursday, July 15 through Labor Day, Monday, September 6. With the exception of Whitney Day, Runhappy Travers Day and Labor Day weekend, which feature a first post time of 12:30 p.m., Saratoga Live will begin at 1 p.m. Eastern.

Building on their commitment to showcase the finest racing the sport has to offer, FOX broadcast network (FOX) will present a special Opening Weekend show on July 17 highlighted by the 83rd running of the Grade 1, $500,000 Diana. For the third consecutive year, FOX will air the Grade 1, $1.25 million Runhappy Travers on Saturday, August 28 as part of 6.5 hours of Runhappy Travers Day coverage on FOX and FOX Sports.

“Nothing tops a summer day at Saratoga,” said Michael Mulvihill, FOX Sports Executive Vice President, Head of Strategy and Analytics. “With the world's greatest racing meet back in front of full crowds, we couldn't be more excited to celebrate with an opening weekend special on FOX featuring the Diana Stakes. Our expanded coverage across FS1 and FS2, bookended with the Runhappy Travers in August, gives horseplayers a full summer of action and highlights our unique partnership with NYRA.”

NYRA and FOX Sports began their collaboration in 2016 during the first season of Saratoga Live, when FS2 aired 80 hours of live coverage of the summer meet. Since then, coverage of horse racing on FOX Sports has grown considerably each year. In 2020, FOX Sports aired more than 700 hours of horse racing coverage and analysis on its family of networks.

In addition to daily national coverage on FOX Sports, 2021 will see the addition of SNY as a regional NYRA broadcast partner. SNY viewers can look forward to eight consecutive weekends of racing from Saratoga, with coverage of Saratoga Live to kick off on Saturday, July 17 and continuing Saturdays and Sundays through August 29.

“The continued growth and expanded reach of Saratoga Live reflects the sustained excellence of the summer meet at Saratoga Race Course,” said Tony Allevato, NYRA Chief Revenue Officer. “It's our privilege to present the most extensive and comprehensive racing coverage in the country on FOX Sports and SNY, and we are looking forward to a spectacular summer at the Spa.”

In March, FOX Sports and NYRA announced an expanded partnership agreement that established FOX Sports as the official wagering partner of NYRA Bets and extends FOX Sports' television rights agreement with NYRA through 2030. The new agreement ensures at least 700 hours of horse racing coverage on FOX Sports and guarantees that the Runhappy Travers will air on FOX through 2030.

Saratoga Live will again feature a talented broadcast team leveraging a diverse set of experiences to entertain, educate and inform viewers. In 2021, that group includes hosts Greg Wolf and Laffit Pincay III, with analysis and handicapping from Maggie Wolfendale, Acacia Courtney, Andy Serling, Paul Lo Duca, Jonathon Kinchen and Michelle Yu. Viewers can look forward to commentary and insights from Eclipse Award-winning jockey Richard Migliore and Hall of Fame jockey Gary Stevens. Following his debut as NYRA track announcer in 2020, John Imbriale will again handle the race calling duties at Saratoga.

In yet another expansion to the Saratoga Live schedule, 2021 will see the addition of Saratoga's weekly steeplechase events to the coverage. Generally held as the first race of the card on Wednesdays or Thursdays, these National Steeplechase Association offerings include premier races such as the Grade 1, $150,000 A.P. Smithwick Memorial and the Grade 1, $150,000 Jonathan Sheppard (formerly the New York Turf Writers Cup). Joining the Saratoga Live broadcast team in 2021 for steeplechase racing analysis will be Joe Clancy, publisher of the Saratoga Special.

The current 2021 Saratoga Live broadcast schedule can be found at www.nyra.com/saratoga/racing/tv-schedule.

For more information about the 2021 summer meet at Saratoga Race Course, please visit NYRA.com.

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Accordingly, SNY will present America's Day at the Races and Saratoga Live on select weekends throughout the summer and into the fall. During that period, SNY will broadcast 15 weekends of live racing to viewers across the tri-state area.

“We are excited to partner with NYRA to bring world class Thoroughbred racing to our viewers,” said Steve Raab, President of SNY. “This summer should be an exciting season from New York's historic racetracks as fans return to the stands just in time for the heart of the racing season at Belmont Park and Saratoga Race Course.”

America's Day at the Races will premiere on SNY on Saturday, June 26, with live coverage and analysis of the 63rd running of the Grade 2, $250,000 Mother Goose, and $100,000 Wild Applause. SNY coverage of America's Day at the Races from Belmont Park will continue Sunday, June 27, when the broadcast is expected to include the $100,000 Saginaw. The shows will begin at 5 p.m. on both days.

“NYRA appreciates the opportunity to bring the best Thoroughbred racing in the country into the homes of even more sports fans this summer on the television home for all New York sports,” said Tony Allevato, NYRA Chief Revenue Officer. “We thank SNY for its interest and commitment to horse racing and look forward to expanding the reach and impact of our high-quality broadcasts in the months ahead.”

Following a special July 4 broadcast of America's Day at the Races from Belmont Park on SNY, the racing action and attention of the sport will turn to Saratoga Race Course, where the summer meet will open on Thursday, July 15 and continue through Monday, September 6.

The 40-day summer meet at historic Saratoga Race Course will feature 76 stakes worth $21.5 million in total purses highlighted by the 152nd renewal of the Grade 1, $1.25 million Runhappy Travers on August 28 and the Grade 1, $1 million Whitney on August 7.

Saratoga Live is NYRA's award winning and critically acclaimed daily show from Saratoga Race Course. Complete with 35 cameras providing fans with every angle, virtual graphic technology and the sport's top commentators, Saratoga Live presents the most extensive horse racing television coverage of any show in the country.

SNY viewers can look forward to eight consecutive weekends of racing from Saratoga, with coverage of Saratoga Live show to kick off on Saturday, July 17 and continuing Saturdays and Sundays through August 29 and including coverage and analysis of Runhappy Travers Day and Whitney Day, two of the richest and most prestigious days of thoroughbred racing in North America.

Following the conclusion of the summer meet at Saratoga, thoroughbred racing on the NYRA circuit returns to Belmont Park for a 28-day fall meet, which will open on Thursday, September 16 and continue through Sunday, October 31.

SNY will wrap up its 2021 coverage of NYRA racing with broadcasts over three consecutive weekends of America's Day at the Races beginning on September 18.

For the complete SNY broadcast schedule, please visit sny.tv.

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Highlighted by Tiz the Law's dominant performance in winning the 151st running of the Grade 1, $1-million Runhappy Travers, the meet was conducted without spectators and with only a limited number of essential personnel, horsemen and owners on-site due to the continued impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

All-sources handle for the 2020 summer meet totaled $702,535,468 compared to $705,343,949 wagered from all sources on Saratoga in 2019.

Average daily handle for the 40-day meet was $17,563,387. The 2019 meet, which was run across 39 days due to the cancellation of a full card due to weather, generated average daily handle of $18,085,742.

Pari-mutuel wagering funds the majority of the NYRA purse account, which is awarded to horsemen and, in turn, benefits hundreds of small businesses operating at NYRA tracks and others dependent on the thoroughbred racing industry.

“NYRA thanks the horsemen and women as well as the entire backstretch community whose professionalism and dedication in adhering to our COVID-19 protocols enabled us to conduct our summer meet without interruption,” said NYRA President & CEO Dave O'Rourke. “We would also like to thank city and county leaders for their efforts in working with us to ensure the safety and well-being of all participants, and the Saratoga community for welcoming us without reservation. While the 2020 Saratoga meet was a success in many ways, it will most be remembered for the absence of our passionate fans and the irreplaceable energy that they bring to Saratoga each summer. Despite not being able to attend in person, horseplayers watched and wagered with tremendous enthusiasm, and we thank them for their continued support.”

A total of 409 races were run this summer including 226 on dirt and 183 on the turf. 32 races were taken off the turf due to weather. Average field size over the 409 races was 7.4. This compares to 403 total races run in 2019, including 225 on dirt and 178 on turf. 38 were taken off the turf due to weather. Average field size in 2019 was 7.9.

Klaravich Stables was the meet's leading owner with 13 wins. Trainer Todd Pletcher claimed the H. Allen Jerkens training title for the 14th time in his illustrious career with 32 wins. The Ortiz brothers battled down to the final race of the meet as Irad Ortiz, Jr. edged out Jose Ortiz 59 to 58 to claim the Angel Cordero, Jr. riding title.

NYRA Bets, the official betting partner for Saratoga Race Course, experienced significant growth during the meet. NYRA and locally-based Stewart's Shops partnered this summer to unveil a new method for fans to fund their NYRA Bets accounts through the introduction of NYRA Bets Gift Cards. Horseplayers responded enthusiastically and purchased more than 12,000 gift cards at Stewart's Shops between Opening Day and Labor Day.

During this season without spectators, fans turned to Saratoga Live, NYRA's highly-acclaimed and award-winning television program, in greater numbers than ever before. Average viewership of Saratoga Live on FS1 totaled approximately 120,000, while just under 1.3 million viewers watched the Runhappy Travers on FOX. Overall time spent viewing Saratoga Live increased by 300 percent during the more than 210 hours of live programming broadcast on FOX Sports throughout the meet.

NYRA was active on the charitable front to help support the Saratoga community during the pandemic.

NYRA Cares generated $13,380 for the Adirondack Trust Company Community Fund which will distribute the money to locally-based charities and non-profit organizations impacted by COVID-19. The Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce raised the funds through an online auction of items provided by NYRA as well as through donations from fans.

NYRA donated $20,000 to four Saratoga Springs charities through the sale of Saratoga Race Course-branded face masks. NYRA worked closely with Saratoga Springs Mayor Meg Kelly in selecting the beneficiaries which provide food, shelter and other critical resources. The funds were divided evenly among AIM Services, Inc.; Franklin Community Center; Shelters of Saratoga and the SNACpack Program (Saratoga Nutrition Assistance for Children).

NYRA also made good use of its popular picnic tables which went unoccupied during the season by lending them to the Saratoga Springs City School District, the City of Saratoga Springs and the village of Schuylerville to enable students and residents to enjoy outdoor dining while maintaining social distancing.

“NYRA has not only been an outstanding partner from a philanthropic standpoint, but also as a leader in the continued effort to keep our community safe,” said Mayor Kelly. “For months, we have worked closely with NYRA to ensure this year's meet would be a success despite the challenging environment. We thank NYRA for its commitment to the health and safety of all city residents this summer.”

As a not-for-profit organization, NYRA's mission is to strengthen and grow the sport of thoroughbred racing in New York state, which drives an industry responsible for 19,000 jobs and $3 billion in annual economic impact, including $240 million alone in the Capital Region during a traditional Saratoga summer meet.

Live racing returns to Belmont Park on Friday, September 18 for the 27-day fall meet, which includes 38 stakes worth $5.58 million in purse money. Following opening weekend at Belmont, live racing will be conducted Thursday through Sunday, with the exception of Columbus Day weekend, when live racing will be offered on Monday, October 12 and will resume on Friday, October 16. The meet runs through Sunday, November 1.

New York state currently requires all racetracks to operate without spectators in attendance to combat the spread of COVID-19.

America's Day at the Races will present daily television coverage of the Belmont Park fall meet with coverage to air on FOX Sports and MSG Networks.

For more information, visit NYRA.com.

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