DraftKings Travers: Official 2026 Guide

DraftKings Travers: Official 2026 Guide

The Travers is Saratoga's most famous race! The 2026 DraftKings Travers Stakes is on Saturday, August 29.
DraftKings Travers: Official 2026 Guide

Travers Day 2026

🎪 Day Schedule
🏃 Picnic Tables
🍹 Eat & Drink
🐴 Meet a Racehorse
🏇 Stakes Races
📺 TV Schedule
ℹ️ Security

Travers History & Traditions

Early Years of the Travers

The first running of the Travers Stakes was in 1864. That makes the Travers three years older than the Belmont Stakes, and more than a decade older than the Kentucky Derby! It remains the oldest stakes race for three-year-old horses in the country.

The Travers is named after William Travers, a lawyer, investor, and the first president of Saratoga Race Course. William Travers' horse, Kentucky, won the inaugural Travers Stakes in 1864.

Of the first five editions of the Travers, three were won by fillies. The 1867 winner, Ruthless, the second filly to win in the Travers, had also won the inaugural running of the Belmont Stakes earlier in the summer of 1867. However, a filly hasn’t won the Travers Stakes in over a century. Lady Rotha in 1915 was the last filly to win the Travers; Thorpedo Anna came within a head in 2024.

1941 Triple Crown champion Whirlaway wins the Travers

Most Notable Runnings of the Travers Stakes

1881 Travers: Hindoo
1918 Travers: Sun Briar
1920 Travers: Man o' War
1930 Travers: Jim Dandy
1962 Travers: Jaipur
1978 Travers: Affirmed
1982 Travers: Runaway Groom
1992 Travers: Thunder Rumble
2004 Travers: Birdstone
2012 Travers: Golden Ticket & Alpha
2015 Travers: Keen Ice
2016 Travers: Arrogate
2023 Travers: Arcangelo
Sar Man O War Cup
The Man o' War Cup, awarded to the Travers winner

The Travers Trophy  🏆

The Man o’ War Cup is a solid gold trophy awarded to the winner of the Travers. Created in 1920 by Tiffany & Co., the trophy was commissioned for the match race between 1920 Travers winner Man o’ War and 1919 Triple Crown winner Sir Barton. Man o’ War won the contest by 7 lengths, and drank from the cup in the Winner’s Circle after his victory.

In 1936, the trophy was donated to Saratoga Race Course and has been presented to the Travers-winning connections each year since. The winning horse’s name is engraved inside the bowl for eternity.

Sar Canoe
The canoe in the colors of Robert LaPenta, part-owner of 2018 Travers winner Catholic Boy

The Travers Canoe  🛶

The fable of the Saratoga canoe has murky origins. Newspaper reports as early as 1927 mention a canoe in the infield lake; some saw it as a sign that the racing season was near, while others speculated that the vessel would provide unlucky bettors transportation home via the Hudson River.

In 1962, fans returned to find that the original blue paint had been covered over with the colors of Calumet Farm, whose horse Beau Prince had won the 1961 Travers. Each year since, the Travers-winning owner's colors have been painted onto the canoe, which floats peacefully in the lake for the following year.

Travers Stakes Winners

The 2025 Travers Stakes was won by Sovereignty, trainer Bill Mott, jockey Junior Alvarado, and owner Godolphin.

All Past Winners
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