Distance
1¼ miles
Surface
Dirt
Eligibility
3yo only
Grade
G1
About the race
The 'Mid-Summer Derby.' Saratoga's signature 3-year-old race, run at 1¼ miles, the same distance as the Kentucky Derby.
Race history
First run in 1864, the oldest major American horse race. Run at the same 1¼-mile distance as the Derby, the Travers is the test that separates true 3-year-old champions from one-shot Derby winners. Triple Crown winners have used the Travers to confirm their division. Others have had their record damaged here; Jim Dandy beating Gallant Fox in 1930 is the namesake of the Jim Dandy Stakes.
Betting trends
What sharps watch for
- 01
Saratoga is the 'Graveyard of Favorites.' The Travers favorite is often value-against, not bet on.
- 02
Off-the-Triple-Crown horses (those who skipped the Belmont and took the summer to refresh) win at a noticeable clip.
- 03
Pace dynamics matter more here than at any other 3-year-old race. Saratoga's straight pull to the first turn rewards tactical speed.
Recent winners
Last 5 editions
| Year | Winner | Odds |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Fierceness | — |
| 2023 | Arcangelo | — |
| 2022 | Epicenter | — |
| 2021 | Essential Quality | — |
| 2020 | Tiz the Law | — |
Where to bet the The Travers
US pari-mutuel wagering happens through licensed operators. TVG (FanDuel-owned) and TwinSpires (Churchill Downs) are the two largest dedicated US racing platforms; both ship win/place/show plus the full exotic ladder (exacta, trifecta, superfecta, daily double, Pick 3/4/6) at the Saratoga Race Course meeting.
Other Summer stakes
Bet responsibly · 21+ · 1-800-GAMBLER