The New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA) today announced the stakes schedule for the 2025 July 4th Racing Festival, which will be held at Saratoga Race Course from Thursday, July 3, through Sunday, July 6.
Typically held at Belmont Park, the July 4th Racing Festival at Saratoga will serve as a prelude to the traditional summer meet and conclude the Belmont at the Big A spring/summer meet.
Following the 2025 Belmont Stakes Racing Festival from June 4-8, live racing on the NYRA circuit will return to Aqueduct Racetrack from June 12 to June 29 prior to the July 4th Racing Festival at Saratoga.
With the addition of the Belmont Stakes and July 4th Racing Festivals, Saratoga will host nine live race days in 2025 outside of the traditional 40-day summer meet.
The festival begins on Thursday, July 3 with two stakes on tap in the Listed $150,000 Wild Applause for sophomore fillies traveling one mile on the turf, and the Grade 3, $175,000 Victory Ride for sophomore fillies sprinting 6 1/2 furlongs.
Friday, July 4 will feature a stacked card of five stakes races, headlined by the Grade 1, $750,000 Belmont Derby Invitational for sophomores going 1 1/8 miles on the turf. The program is supported by the Grade 2, $400,000 Suburban at 10 furlongs for older horses; the Grade 3, $200,000 Manila for sophomores going one mile on the turf; the Listed $150,000 Harvey Pack for older horses sprinting 5 1/2 furlongs on the turf; and the Listed $150,000 Schuylerville for juvenile fillies sprinting six furlongs.
Grade 1 action continues into Saturday, July 5 as sophomore filly turf routers take center stage in the Grade 1, $500,000 Belmont Oaks Invitational traveling 1 1/8 miles. Two other Grade 3 events are featured on the program in the $175,000 Kelso for older horses going one mile on the turf and the $175,000 Sanford for juveniles sprinting six furlongs.
The weekend closes out on Sunday, July 6 to conclude the 2025 Belmont at the Big A spring/summer meet.
Daily admission for the July 4th Racing Festival will be available for $7 when purchased in advance or $10 day-of. For additional information on hospitality and tickets, including bundled general admission for the Belmont Stakes and July 4th Festivals, visit BelmontStakes.com/tickets.
For the complete stakes schedule for the July 4th Racing Festival, please visit https://www.nyra.com/saratoga/racing/stakes-schedule/.
For the 2025 calendar of live race dates, visit NYRA.com/2025