Saturday (August 5th) at Saratoga Race Course is the 96th running of the Whitney Stakes.

The Queen of Saratoga, that was the nickname bestowed upon Marylou Whitney the socialite, philanthropist and Thoroughbred breeder/owner who always graced Saratoga Race Course with her presence, but never with more grandeur than on the race day that bears her family name.

Marylou died at the age of 93 in 2019, two weeks before she was inducted into the National Racing Hall of Fame.

Four years later, the field for the $1 million Whitney, one of the hallmark races of every Saratoga meet, will include the reigning Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile Winner CODY’S WISH, the Morning Line favorite (1-2) in a field of six.

The Whitney is a staple of summer racing at Saratoga. First run in 1928, the race was run as a handicap through 2013 and has been contested at the 1 1/8-mile (9 furlongs) distance since 1940.

The race is for older horses, three-year-olds and up, is held annually in late July or early August and has attracted many of Thoroughbred racing’s biggest stars over the years.

Top Thoroughbreds to have Won the race include WAR ADMIRAL, KELSO, ALYDAR, EASY GOER, VICTORY GALLOP, MEDAGLIA D’ORO, LAWYER RON, and HONOR CODE.

The Whitney is slated as race ten on a card of twelve Saturday, with a scheduled Post Time of 5:40.