Travers Day draws enormous crowd to Saratoga Race Course (2024)

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. — It was off to the races, or better said the picnic tables, at the Saratoga Race Course for the 154th Travers Stakes.

Looked forward to by locals and out-of-town guests from all over the world, ‘The Midsummer Derby’ is a highlight of the Spa City summer and draws out enormous crowds.

“It’s the best of the best, it’s the Super Bowl of horse racing,” said Michael Reffelt from Niskayuna who attended his 25th Travers Day. “Honestly you have the three triple crown winners here racing, and it’s the last of the big races before the breeders cup so if you are a horse lover it’s the race to come to.

“My friends from Boston, my friends from New York City, they come up for this — it’s the money, it’s the big deal. If it’s not the Kentucky Derby or the Breeders Cup this is the best race on the books — and it’s good exposure for upstate New York and really gets Saratoga on the map. ”

For some, their Travers Day started late into Friday night, with some of the first people in line getting to the track at 8 p.m. and camping out until Saturday morning.

Why? Because of tradition, and they have picnic tables to grab.

Dave Destefano, a 70-year-old from Massachusetts was one of the first two people in line and shared he comes to Saratoga every year for the racing season. He’s had the same picnic table for years, right around the corner from the entrance since he said he can’t run too fast.

“I always stand in line for the Travers and then say I’m going to go back and get a couple hours of sleep, but I don’t,” Destefano said. “I get home then I come right back, too pumped up to sleep. It’s a great track. I’m up here for most of the meet, just really happy to be here. “

Melissa Miller was also one of the two people at the front of the very long line, and for her the reason she camped out was simple — her son.

“My son has a little business setting up canopies,” Miller said. “He’s the Canopy Kid, and I figured I’d let him get some sleep. I am looking forward to a nap, 12 hours in line is enough but we love Saratoga, can’t get enough.”

It’s a family affair for many people sending a few out to wait in line at the crack of dawn with hopes of securing a spot for the many still sung in their beds. It is especially the case for Kristen Vinciguerra and Denice Douchkoff who had 13 people relying on them at home to secure two tables.

“Everyone wants to get their spot, and we’re silly enough to get up this early to wait in line,” said Douchkoff, who had been in line since 5 a.m. “We’ve been in the same spot for the last three years, no strategy we really just walk as fast as we can to that area and pray no one takes it.”

Getting up early and waiting in line pays off and allows for a day full of fun and memories to be made. Be it enjoying the community of the picnic area or placing bets and cheering on their racer to victory.

“Everyone yelling at the screen, that is my favorite part,” Vinciguerra said. “Everyone yelling and rooting for their horses. Being out in the picnic area, it’s really great.”

Many traditions come with Travers Day including the Travers Blanket, a floral blanket made locally with thousands of carnations that are draped over the winning horse, The Travers Canoe, a tribute to winners since 1961 with a canoe being painted the colors of the Travers winner’s silks, and the Travers Trophy, also known as the Man O’ War Cup where a gold plated replica of the permanent award designed by Tiffany & Co. designed is presented to the winners.

For some Saratogians, attending Travers Day as a whole is their tradition. But others, like Brooke Edwards and Katie Rascoe, choose to brace themselves and brave the crowds of Travers Day for the first time.

“I keep trying to think of a strategy for what table we are going to get, if we even are going to get a table now,” Edwards shared their middle-of-the-line position and rumors she had heard about the rushing to the tables causing her to have doubts. “We heard that to even have a chance at getting a table you had to be here around five, and now that might not even be the case.”

However, the two first-time Travers Day goers were able to snag a table for their group, giving them a home base to spend time with friends and celebrate Edwards’s birthday.

“I laid my life on the line, but I got us a spot” Rascoe joked later after running to the table once they were through the gate. “With this luck, we’re going to win big, we have to.”

Be it someone’s first time, 25th, or more at Travers Day there is plenty of fun to be had, bets to places and horses to cheer on. With the racing season drawing to a close on Labor Day, only seven days of racing remain in the Saratoga racing season, it is important to soak up every minute possible at the track.

Travers Day is the perfect Day to do so.