SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – The Dairy Haus ice cream shop at 476 Maple Avenue in Saratoga Springs, NY, will offer young racing fans free “Keen Ice Cream” cones in celebration of the eponymous thoroughbred’s participation in the Grade 1, $1.6 million Travers, which will be run for the 146th time at Saratoga Race Course on Saturday, August 29.
On both Travers Eve, Friday, August 28 and Travers Day, Saturday, August 29, children 12 and under will receive a free Keen Ice Cream cone, while supplies last. The custom made green and yellow-swirled cones with green and yellow sprinkles reflect the silks colors of Donegal Racing, Keen Ice’s ownership group.
The special offer from the Dairy Haus comes in partnership with Donegal Racing President and Founder Jerry Crawford. Keen Ice will compete in Saturday’s Travers after finishing second to American Pharoah in the 2015 Haskell Invitational at Monmouth Park.
“Donegal Racing loves it when kids show an interest in racing and this offer provides our youngest fans with a way to celebrate this historic race and the amazing Keen Ice,” said Crawford. “The Dairy Haus makes its own ice cream and is thought to be one of the top ice cream locations in northern New York. We are excited for children to show their love of racing by enjoying this special treat in celebration of the Travers.”
Keen Ice and jockey Javier Castellano will go out from post seven for trainer Dale Romans on Saturday with 12-1 morning line odds. After breaking his maiden in his second start, the son of Curlin has run exclusively in graded stakes, including a second-place finish in the Haskell, which brought him within three lengths of Triple Crown winner and fellow Travers contender American Pharoah.
The pair will compete again in front of a sold-out paid crowd of 50,000 fans at Saratoga Race Course during its signature day of the summer season.
The field for the Travers also includes the 2014 Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile winner and Jim Dandy winner Texas Red, 2015 Grade 1 TwinSpires.com Wood Memorial winner Frosted, multiple stakes winner Upstart, Curlin Stakes winner Smart Transition, 2015 Preakness Stakes runner-up Tale of Verve, Frammento, Mid Ocean and King of New York.
All Travers Day tickets are sold out. Fans are specifically advised not to travel to Saratoga Race Course on August 29 without tickets purchased in advance. The sell-out Travers Day follows the announcement of a paid attendance cap of 50,000 attendees in an effort to ensure the safety and enjoyment of all fans.
Clubhouse and grandstand season passes are valid and will be accepted on Travers Day. Fans possessing season passes are directed to show their pass at any of the Spa’s three gates as they normally would on all other race days.
The 2015 season at historic Saratoga Race Course continues through Labor Day, Monday, September 7. For more information about Saratoga Race Course, visit NYRA.com or call 518-584-6200.