The 2026 Travers Stakes will be run Saturday, August 29 at Saratoga Race Course. The Grade I race is contested at 1¼ miles on dirt for 3-year-olds with a $1,250,000 purse.
| Date | Saturday, August 29, 2026 |
| Track | Saratoga Race Course |
| Distance | 1¼ miles |
| Surface | Dirt |
| Grade | Grade I |
| Purse | $1,250,000 |
| Age | 3-year-olds |
| Post Time | 6:35 PM ET |
| # | Horse | Jockey | Trainer | Odds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Emerging Market (KY) | R Santana, Jr. | C C Brown | 15/1 |
| 2 | Leading Change (KY) | M Franco | B H Cox | 12/1 |
| 3 | Napoleon Solo (KY) | J R Velazquez | C Summers | 8/1 |
| 4 | The Puma (KY) | J Castellano | G Delgado | 8/1 |
| 5 | Renegade (KY) | T Gaffalione | T A Pletcher | 3/1 |
| 6 | Ocelli (KY) | E J Zayas | D Beckman | 20/1 |
| 7 | Sea Strike (KY) | F Prat | C C Brown | 5/1 |
| 8 | Baby Vino (KY) | P Lopez | L Schultz | 10/1 |
| 9 | Golden Tempo (KY) | J L Ortiz | C DeVaux | 5/2 |
| 10 | Silent Tactic (KY) | L Saez | M E Casse | 10/1 |
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The Travers Stakes is the centerpiece of the Saratoga summer meet and one of the most historic races for 3-year-old Thoroughbreds in the United States. The Grade I event is contested over 1¼ miles on dirt and offers a $1.25 million purse in 2026, regularly bringing together leading horses from the Triple Crown season and emerging late-summer contenders.
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The Travers Stakes was first run in 1864 and is named for William Travers, the first president of Saratoga Race Course. His horse Kentucky won the inaugural running. The Travers is one of the oldest stakes races for 3-year-olds in the United States.
The race has produced some of Saratoga's most memorable moments. Man o' War won the 1920 Travers, while Jim Dandy shocked Triple Crown winner Gallant Fox at 100-1 in 1930. Alydar was awarded the 1978 Travers after Affirmed was disqualified for interference.
Arrogate delivered one of the greatest performances in race history in 2016, winning by 13½ lengths and setting the Saratoga track record for 1¼ miles in 1:59.36.
Recent Travers winners include Tiz the Law in 2020, Essential Quality in 2021, Epicenter in 2022, Arcangelo in 2023, Fierceness in 2024 and Sovereignty in 2025.
Sovereignty won the 2025 Travers Stakes under jockey Junior Alvarado for trainer Bill Mott, completing the 1¼ miles in 2:00.84.
| Year | Winner | Jockey | Trainer | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Sovereignty | Junior Alvarado | Bill Mott | 2:00.84 |
| 2024 | Fierceness | John R. Velazquez | Todd A. Pletcher | 2:01.79 |
| 2023 | Arcangelo | Javier Castellano | Jena M. Antonucci | 2:02.23 |
| 2022 | Epicenter | Joel Rosario | Steven Asmussen | 2:00.72 |
| 2021 | Essential Quality | Luis Saez | Brad H. Cox | 2:01.96 |
| 2020 | Tiz the Law | Manuel Franco | Barclay Tagg | 2:00.95 |
The 2026 Travers Stakes is scheduled for Saturday, August 29 at Saratoga Race Course in Saratoga Springs, New York. It will be run as Race 13, with post time set for 6:35 PM ET.
The Travers Stakes is contested at 1¼ miles, or 10 furlongs, on the dirt at Saratoga Race Course.
The 2026 Travers Stakes carries a purse of $1,250,000.
The Travers Stakes is restricted to 3-year-old Thoroughbreds.
Golden Tempo is the morning-line favorite for the 2026 Travers Stakes. Check USRacing.com for current race-day odds and updates.
The latest 2026 Travers Stakes odds are listed in the odds table above and will be updated as race-day prices change.
The Travers Stakes is a Grade I Thoroughbred race for 3-year-olds held annually at Saratoga Race Course in Saratoga Springs, New York. The race is contested at 1¼ miles on dirt and carries a $1.25 million purse in 2026.
The Travers Stakes is held at Saratoga Race Course in Saratoga Springs, New York.
You can bet online at BUSR. Create an account, fund your account, and select Saratoga and the Travers Stakes from the available racing markets. BUSR also offers a 10% horse betting rebate paid daily on selected wagers.
Sovereignty won the 2025 Travers Stakes under jockey Junior Alvarado for trainer Bill Mott, completing the 1¼ miles in 2:00.84.
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