Taste NY coming back to Saratoga track

The New York Racing Association (NYRA) today announced the return of the Taste NY at Saratoga series for its third season at the Saratoga Race Course.

The initiative is from the state Department of Agriculture and Markets. At this venue, it will provide patrons opportunities to sample and purchase such items as craft beers, wines, spirits, and ciders from New York State providers, along with a wide variety of products made exclusively in New York. The offerings will include wines, spirits, and ciders on Thursdays, craft beers on Fridays, and New York foods and artisan crafts on Sunday throughout the season.

The series will take place on-track at the Saratoga Pavilion, with the Thursday and Friday editions from noon to 5 p.m., and the Sunday market opening at 10:30 a.m.

"We are proud to have been one of the first organizations to embrace the Taste NY program, beginning at Saratoga Race Course in 2014 and subsequently expanding the partnership to include Belmont Park," said Chris Kay, NYRS president and CEO. "NYRA has played an important role in introducing all that is great about this signature program to others, especially the many out of state tourists that visit Saratoga for the world's finest horse racing meet, and we intend to do so again."

There is no admission charge for the Saratoga Pavilion. Wines, ciders and spirits will be available in increments of five samples for $5 on Thursdays, while selections of craft beer will be available for the same on Fridays. There is no sampling fee for foods on Sundays. Not all vendors will be present each week.

Participating vendors in the Thursday cider, wine and spirits tasting:

Albany Distilling Company, Albany Awestruck Premium Hard Ciders, Sidney Benmarl Winery, Marlboro Brotherhood Winery, Washingtonville Harvest Spirits Farm Distillery, Valatie Heron Hill Winery, Hammondsport Kaneb Orchards, Massena Nine Pin Cider Works, Albany Saratoga Courage Distillery, Greenfield Center The Saratoga Winery, Saratoga Springs Slyboro Cider House, Granville Thirsty Owl Outlet & Wine Garden, Saratoga Springs Thousand Islands Winery, Alexandria Bay

Participating breweries in the Friday craft beer tasting:

Adirondack Brewery, Lake George Brewery Ommegang, Cooperstown Brooklyn Brewery, Brooklyn Browns Brewing Company, Troy Captain Lawrence Brewing Company, Elmsford Druthers Brewing Company, Saratoga Springs Empire Brewing Company, Syracuse Good Nature Brewing, Hamilton Ithaca Beer Company, Ithaca Keegan Ales, Kingston Lake Placid Brewery, Lake Placid Olde Saratoga Brewing Company, Saratoga Springs Saranac Brewery, Utica

The summer meet at Saratoga Race Course will begin on Friday, July 22, and run through Labor Day.