When first run in 1901, the SARATOGA SPECIAL was a winner-take-all event for two-year-olds in which owners could nominate their horses in sets of three for one fee. However, each owner could only run one horse in the race, regardless of how many good two-year-olds he had in his stable; in other words no entries were allowed. These conditions were changed in 1959, when the Special was turned into a regular stakes race, with individual nominations and entries.
The SARATOGA SPECIAL was run at Belmont Park (Widener Course) in 1943, 1944, and 1945. Not run in 1911 and 1912. Run at five and a half furlongs prior to 1906. From 1906 through 1993, run at six furlongs. Distance changed to six and a half furlongs in 1994. Prior to 1959, run as sweepstakes with the entire purse awarded the winner. In 1935, there was a Dead Heat for win. In 1953, Porterhouse finished first, but was disqualified and placed last. In 1969, only three horses started.