For many racing fans in the US, there’s a summer tradition that stands out, and yet, for readers in the UK or elsewhere, it’s a race you might not know well.
On August 23, 2025, the 156th Travers Stakes will take place at Saratoga Race Course in Saratoga Springs, New York.
Known as the “Midsummer Derby,” this is a race with roots stretching back over 150 years, featuring some of the best three-year-old Thoroughbreds in the country. If you’re looking to add extra excitement to the day, you can always Bet on Horse Racing with Betmaster as you follow the action.
First run in 1864, it is America’s oldest stakes race exclusively for three-year-olds and even predates the Belmont Stakes and Kentucky Derby.
The event is named after William R. Travers, the first president of Saratoga Race Course, whose own horse, Kentucky, won the inaugural running.
With its excellent reputation, it is well known as an event for top-class performers and is a fixture at Saratoga’s famed summer meet.
Evolution Over Time
Like any major event, the Travers has seen its fair share of change. The race distance has varied over the years, starting at 1¾ miles (from 1864 to 1889), then shifting to 1½ miles (1890-1892), and finally settling at its current ¼ mile (10 furlongs) on dirt since 1904.
Sponsorship and prize money have also evolved. The purse rose above $1 million in 1999, reached $1.25 million in 2014, and is slated again for 2025 at that figure, solidifying its status among America’s top races.
Entry Process
With such a huge prize on the table, there’s tough competition for a spot at the starting gates, and runners earn entry to the Travers through success in other major graded stakes such as the Kentucky Derby, Preakness, Belmont, and Jim Dandy.
The field is typically capped at 14 runners to ensure safety and fair competition. While winning is clearly the goal, the race also serves as a springboard to further Grade 1 opportunities, notably the Breeders’ Cup Classic in the autumn.
So, with a lot on the line for this year’s renewal, how will the race shape up, and which horses are likely to qualify?
Likely 2025 Contenders
As summer unfolds, the Travers narrative takes shape around the best three-year-olds of the season. According to expert panels and recent prep results, here are the top likely runners for 2025:
Sovereignty – 2025 Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes winner, aiming for a historic campaign. Connections opted to skip the Preakness, thereby ruling out a shot at the Triple Crown, but the Travers could be on the cards instead.
Journalism – Runner-up in the Derby, Michael McCarthy’s stable star returned to win the Preakness Stakes and is very much considered a top threat for the Travers. Having twice been beaten by Sovereignty this season, this is the chance to turn the tables.
Baeza – Despite high hopes, John Shirreffs Baeza has yet to win a Group 1 this season, with connections having to settle for second in the Santa Anita Derby and third in both the Kentucky Derby and the Belmont Stakes.
Rodriguez – While he might get an entry, it’s tough to see how one fourth-place finish at Group 1 level would mark Rodriguez out as a potential winner in the 2025 Travers Stakes. That said, racing is a funny old game and favourites have lost before!
There’s also lively debate over whether a ‘late developer’ could emerge to upset these favourites, as happened with Keen Ice in 2015 when he shocked Triple Crown winner American Pharoah.
If you’re interested in seeing the potential field come together, then watch the Jim Dandy Stakes on July 26, 2025, which is expected to clarify the pecking order among the leading hopefuls.
And remember, when the stalls are drawn, post #2 has the highest percentage of winners since 1901 (23 winners), closely followed by posts 4 and 3.
Standing in the American Racing Calendar
In terms of prestige, the Travers sits just behind the Triple Crown races, which are the Kentucky Derby, Preakness, and Belmont Stakes, and is widely considered the most significant mid-summer contest for three-year-olds.
Winning both the Kentucky Derby and the Travers, for example, is a significant feat, while a Travers win can often help secure Eclipse Award honours for a three-year-old champion.
In an effort to focus more on horse welfare and fair play, New York racing authorities have implemented strict integrity and safety protocols.
Horses must be on site several days in advance, undergo vet checks, and wait as the commission monitors contenders to guard against banned substances.
What Makes The Travers Unique?
With more than 30,852 thoroughbred races held across the United States every year, it always takes something special to make any one of them stand out.
Sure, running for more than 150 years does help, as does the purse of $1.25 million, but races like the Travers always have to have something unique about them. The Kentucky Derby has its mint juleps, and the Travers? Well, that has a canoe!
And yes, you read that correctly. Since 1962, a canoe in the middle of Saratoga’s infield lake has been painted in the colors of the winning owner’s silks after each renewal. It’s a quirky tribute, but one that owners absolutely love.
Prestige is also signified by the Trophy, with the winning connections receiving a gold-plated replica of the Man o’ War Cup, inscribed annually with the winner’s name.
Memorable Winners
Throughout its 150+ renewals, the Travers has seen some tremendous champions. A few highlights:
Whirlaway (1941) remains the only horse to win both the US Triple Crown and the Travers.
Damascus (1967) won by an astonishing 22 lengths, a record margin that still stands.
Arrogate (2016) electrified racing fans with a time of 1:59.36, the course record for 1¼ miles.
Jim Dandy (1930) pulled off arguably the race’s greatest upset, defeating Triple Crown winner Gallant Fox at odds of 100-1. His name now graces the Jim Dandy Stakes, the Travers' key prep race.
Jockey Javier Castellano has ridden seven Travers winners since 2006, making him the most successful rider in race history, while the influential Dwyer Brothers, George D. Widener Jr., and Rokeby Stable each have five wins as owners.
Looking Ahead
It would be easy for a race like the Travers to get lost among the better-known races in the US, but for horse racing fans, the 2025 renewal promises the usual mix of proven stars, potential upsets, and a welcoming festival feel.
The Travers remains one of New York’s and America’s proudest racing institutions, and as the field assembles over the coming weeks, all eyes will be on Saratoga on August 23 for the next memorable chapter in this great race.
