Travers Day in Saratoga, August 29, referred to as "The Mid-Summer Derby, will include some of the finest thoroughbred race horses in the world. According to NYRA press information, attendance will be capped at 50,000 (latest reports say its already been sold out) but preceding Travers, there is some spectacular races on the day's card. They feature " the Grade 1, $1 million Sward Dancer on the turf, the Grade 1 $750,000 Personal Ensign for fillies and mares; the Grade 1 $700,000 Priority One Jets Forego; the 1, $500,000 Ballerina for fillies and mares; the Grade 1, $500,000 Kings Bishop for 3-year-old sprinters and Grade 2, $400,000 Ketel One Ballston Spa for turf fillies and mares." If you are planning on attending the Travers and looking for lodging in the area, I suggest you check out hotels a few miles from Saratoga. Clifton Park, 14 or so minutes south of the Spa city, has two recently opened hotels However you can check with hotels and motels in nearby Albany, Troy and Schenectady, as well as places in Lake George and points north. If Triple Crown winner, American Pharoah runs, the lodging situation will get tighter.

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