Saratoga Race Course closed its 2026 summer meet with more than $905 million in wagering and paid attendance above 1 million, finishing an unusual three year stretch in which Saratoga also hosted the Belmont Stakes Racing Festival while Belmont Park was being rebuilt.
The final numbers
NYRA reported paid attendance of 1,045,373 for the 45 day summer meet and total wagering handle of $905,425,541. Travers Day generated $60,863,320 in wagering, while Whitney Day produced $46,866,128. NYRA said each figure was the second highest in the history of the respective day.
When the five day Belmont Stakes Racing Festival is added, Saratoga hosted 50 days of racing in 2026. Total wagering across those dates reached $1,105,339,004, with paid attendance of 1,149,677.
Brown and Franco finish on top
Chad Brown finished the summer with 42 wins, earning his sixth consecutive Saratoga training title and ninth overall. Linda Rice was second with 40 wins, followed by Brad Cox with 23.
Manny Franco earned his first Saratoga riding title with 73 victories. Flavien Prat finished second with 67 and Jose Ortiz was third with 66. Franco also rode Leading Change to victory in the Travers Stakes and The Good Life in the Hopeful Stakes.
What comes next in New York
The focus now moves to Belmont Park, where live racing is scheduled to return on September 18. The Grade 1 Jockey Club Gold Cup will headline opening day and will offer an important late season route toward the Breeders’ Cup.
For complete official figures and meet honors, see the NYRA final meet report and the NYRA title report.
