Saratoga has been accredited since 2009, the alliance’s first year. | Photo: Anne M. Eberhardt/The Horse

The National Thoroughbred Racing Association (NTRA) Safety & Integrity Alliance has reaccredited Saratoga Race Course, home to one of the world’s most prestigious annual race meets.

Located in Saratoga Springs, New York, the 155-year-old racetrack kicked off a 40-day stand on July 20; after opening weekend, racing will continue Wednesdays to Mondays, plus a Labor Day holiday card on Closing Day, Sept. 3. The meet will include 69 stakes races—37 of them graded—worth $18.8 million in purses. Travers Day on Aug. 25 includes six Grade 1 events, capped by the 149th running of the Grade 1 $1.25 million Travers, for 3-year-olds. There are Grade 1 races every Saturday of the season and 18 overall.

Saratoga’s reaccreditation was the culmination of a lengthy process that began with the track’s completion of an extensive written application and continued as the track hosted several meetings with alliance officials. An on-site review included inspections of all facets of the racing operations and interviews with track executives, racetrack personnel, jockeys, horsemen, veterinarians, stewards, and regulators