Saratoga Springs, NY — Live harness racing returns to Saratoga Casino Hotel for its 82nd season on Saturday (Feb. 4). The 2023 schedule will consist of 150 racing programs running through mid-December.

Opening day fans will receive a ski cap (while supplies last) courtesy of the Saratoga Harness Horsepersons Association and Saratoga Casino Hotel. On Sunday (Feb. 5) customers can enter to spin the prize wheel to win a free bet worth $25 up to $100. Drawings will take place after races 2-10.

Saturday will also feature an exclusive SaratogaBets offer that allows SaratogaBets members to spin a prize wheel in the Mezzanine from 3-7 p.m. to win up to a $100 deposit into their SaratogaBets account. SaratogaBets members will also earn an additional 10 percent on their winning Saratoga Harness wagers while playing on property through the SaratogaBets mobile app or any self-service betting terminal. Interested horseplayers can log on to www.saratogabets.com to sign up for a free account.

“We’re expecting some great racing this year,” said Race Secretary Peter Iovino. “We have over $18 million in purses, averaging $120,000 in purses per program.”

In addition, the track will be hosting New York Sire Stakes races starting in June, featuring the best New York bred horses in the state who will race for more than $1 million in purses.

The premier event of the season will be the 14th annual Joe Gerrity Jr. Memorial Pace with a $250,000 purse on Saturday (July 22).

“As in the past, we’re confident this race will attract a field of top pacers looking to break the track record of 1:48.4 set by Dancin Yankee in the 2014 Gerrity,” Iovino said.

The winter, spring and fall schedule will include matinee racing on Sunday, Monday and select Tuesdays, post time 12 p.m., and Saturdays, post time 5 p.m. The summer live racing schedule will be Friday, Saturday and Sunday evenings with a post time of 6:45 p.m. For a complete live racing schedule go to www.saratogacasino.com.