The Travers Stakes is an American Grade I Thoroughbred horse race held at Saratoga Race Course in Saratoga Springs, New York…which is nicknamed the “Mid-Summer Derby”….and is the third-ranked race for American three year olds according to international classifications….behind only the Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes….which was first held in 1864, it was named for William R. Travers, the president of the old Saratoga Racing Association….when his horse, Kentucky, won the first running of the Travers. The race is the highlight of the summer race meeting at Saratoga….just as the Belmont Stakes is the highlight of the spring meeting at Belmont Park. The purse was increased to $1,000,000 in 1999 and then to $1,250,000 in 2014. The purse for the 2015 renewal was increased to $1,600,000 due to the presence of Triple Crown winner American Pharoah….and we at ImaSportsphile are just “tickled pink” that we have this little piece of The Travers history featuring the great Alysheba…..who was owned by the Scarborough family from Midland, Texas….where our Bone Daddy….the original Sportsphitle was raise…. and it is in our horse racing library…..and when you add the eloquence and ellegance of Jim McKay to the mix….this video becomes another “large nugget of gold” in our treasure chest of memories.
