The DraftKings Travers Stakes is coming to Saratoga Race Course this Saturday, and if you’re planning to attend New York’s biggest day of summer racing, we have ten things you need to know before you go.

1. The Travers is also known as the “Mid-Summer Derby”

Star 3-year-old Golden Tempo (Eclipse Sportswire)

Why is the Travers called the Mid-Summer Derby? Well, a couple of reasons: the Travers is restricted to 3-year-old Thoroughbreds, which is what defines a Derby; also, because the race attracts such an incredible field. For instance, on Saturday you’ll be seeing the winners of all three 2026 Triple Crown races in the Travers: Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve and Belmont Stakes Presented by NYRA Bets winner Golden Tempo and Preakness Stakes winner Napoleon Solo. Kentucky Derby runner-up Renegade and Derby third-place finisher Ocelli also are among the 10 horses entered. The Travers has all the makings of a special 3-year-old horse race.

2. Reserve your Travers tickets ahead of time and save!

Fans who buy their Travers day tickets in advance save money! General admission tickets are $5 less when purchased in advance. Tickets may be purchased in-person at the NYRA Box Office by Gate A if you’re already in Saratoga, or online. 

3. Know all about the big race

Dominant 2025 winner Sovereignty (Eclipse Sportswire)

So, you already learned that only 3-year-old Thoroughbreds can run in the Travers; here’s what else you need to know. The Travers is a 1 ¼-mile dirt race, meaning the runners will both start and finish the race in front of the track’s grandstand, affording fans unparalleled views of the action. The 2024 Travers was one of the best in the race’s long history, with Fierceness defeating the filly Thorpedo Anna by a head in a thrilling finish, and last year's edition was a tour de force from Sovereignty, who used a 10-length runaway victory to help nail down Horse of the Year honors. If you want to learn more about the runners for this year's race, be sure to check back for our Travers Stakes Cheat Sheet sponsored by NYRA Bets.

4. Travers day features an abundance of very important races 

If you’re in the mood for top-level horse racing, Travers day is flat-out amazing. That’s because in addition to the marquee race, there are five other stakes races, including three that will earn their winners expenses-paid spots in the Breeders’ Cup World Championships at Keeneland on Oct. 30-31. They are the Personal Ensign Stakes, a qualifying race for the Longines Breeders’ Cup Distaff; the Forego Stakes, a "Win and You're In" Challenge Series race for the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile; and the Resorts World Casino Ballerina Stakes, a qualifier for Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint.

Basically, Travers day is a mini-Breeders’ Cup and some of the best Thoroughbreds in the world will show up in Saratoga this Saturday.

5. There’s a boat involved

Pletcher in the 2024 Travers canoe (Anne M. Eberhardt/BloodHorse)

Since 1961, the canoe floating in the Saratoga infield pond has sported the colors of the Travers Stakes winner’s silks. (Silks, for the record, are the jerseys that the jockeys wear in each race; every racehorse owner has their own set with colors and designs exclusive to them.) In 2012, two canoes were deployed to the infield pond: that’s because that year’s Travers had a dead heat for first with Alpha and Golden Ticket tying for victory. The 2024 canoe, pictured above, features the colors of Mike Repole’s Repole Stable, co-owner of that year's winner, Fierceness.

6. Want a picnic table? Set an alarm, bring a newspaper, and limber up ...

Hustle for a Travers picnic table (Eclipse Sportswire)

Travers day is the biggest day of the year in Saratoga, so if you want to score a free picnic table, you’re going to have to do a little work for it. First of all, plan on getting in line early: some people even camp outside of the gates overnight. That’s because there is an ironclad tradition in Saratoga: any picnic table or trackside bench with a newspaper on it has been claimed for the day, and fans want to make sure that they snag a good spot for Travers day by claiming their seats as soon as gates open at 9 a.m. for morning training on Travers day. When those gates open, it’s a race to the best spot, so maybe start stretching at 7:45 a.m. or so.

Just remember: the newspaper is sacred. Never, ever move someone else’s newspaper. You don’t want to bring that kind of bad luck to your Travers day bets.

7. If you love an upset victory, the Travers Stakes is for you

Keen Ice (left) stuns American Pharoah (Eclipse Sportswire)

Betting small to win big is the absolute best, and the Travers is the perfect chance to do just that. From 1901-2025, only 53 favorites in 120 fields have won – and just since 2010, longshots have fared well: for a $2 win wager, 2014 winner V. E. Day returned $41, 2015 victor Keen Ice paid $34 when he defeated Triple Crown champ American Pharoah, 2012’s dead-heat co-winner Golden Ticket returned $26.80, and 2016 winner Arrogate paid his backers $25.40 while in the process setting a track record for 1 ¼ miles. Not a bad ROI on a $2 swing!

8. Javier Castellano is the winningest Travers jockey in history

Castellano in 2014 (Eclipse Sportswire)

No jockey has ever won more Mid-Summer Derbys than Hall of Famer Javier Castellano: he’s notched seven wins in the historic race, including piloting Keen Ice to the aforementioned upset win in 2015. His most recent win came in 2023 aboard Arcangelo. 

Castellano will be aboard ESMARK Tampa Bay Derby winner The Puma, so he might be worth a long look at his 8-1 morning-line odds.

9. Things start a little bit earlier than usual on Travers day, and the fun lasts all day long for everyone involved

An impromptu autograph signing for a young fan. (Eclipse Sportswire)

Unlike other Saratoga race days, Travers day starts early.

As mentioned above, gates open at 9 a.m. ET; also, first post time for the first race of the day will be 11:05 a.m.

One thing unique about horse racing is how accessible the (human) star athletes are; you might see several of the track’s top jockeys stopping for fan pictures or autographs throughout the day.

10. Explore a variety of dining and entertainment options in picturesque Saratoga Springs

Fans in town for Travers weekend will have no shortage of options for where to go to dine and what to do before or after the races. The town is abuzz with activity during the entire Saratoga summer meet and especially during Travers week. Check out our recent dining, bar/brewery, and breakfast spot guides for recommendations when visiting this picturesque horse racing mecca.