In an effort to bolster the Travers Stakes Day card Aug. 27, the New York Racing Association has added the Hopeful Stakes (gr. I) to the stakes lineup that day.NYRA also announced that general admission and clubhouse prices have been increased for Travers Day, highlight of the Saratoga meet that runs from July 27-Sept. 5.When the Travers Stakes (gr. I), the "Mid-Summer Derby," is renewed for the 136th time this year, general admission will be $5 and the clubhouse admission is being raised to $10. On all other race days at Saratoga -- there is no racing on Tuesdays -- general admission is $3 and clubhouse admission is $5. While increasing the Travers admission charges, NYRA has cut the cost of season passes for the Saratoga meet. The clubhouse season pass will cost $75 this year, compared with $100 last, and the grandstand season pass cost was pared from $50 to $35,
"We are always reluctant to raise our prices, even with a modest increase like this one," said Charles E. Hayward, president and chief executive officer of the New York Racing Association. "Still, we believe in treating our customers right, and while we had to increase the Travers admission prices, we have also bolstered the Travers Day card with the addition of the Hopeful. We believe that it is still a great value to be part of one of the biggest day's in racing." Last year, the $250,000 Hopeful, for 2-year-olds at seven furlongs, was run Aug. 21, one week before the Aug. 28 Travers.Also on the 12-race Travers card are the grade I, $250,000 King's Bishop for 3-year-olds at seven furlongs and the grade II, $200,000 Fourstardave Handicap for 3-year-olds and up at 1 1/16 miles on the turf. NYRA is offering a guaranteed $1 million Pick 4 on those four races: the Fourstardave (race 8, 4:38 p.m.); the Hopeful (race 9, 5:18 p.m.); the King's Bishop (race 10, 5:50 p.m.) and the Travers (race 11, 6:30 p.m.). All times are Eastern.