Triple Crown winner or not, Travers caps crowd at 50K

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. (AP) Triple Crown winner American Pharoah or not, the crowd for the Travers Stakes at Saratoga Race Course on Aug. 29 will be capped at 50,000.

The New York Racing Association made the announcement Thursday, explaining in a news release the decision was made for security and facility capability concerns.

Racing officials say 20,000 general admission tickets remain.

NYRA first capped attendance for the Belmont Stakes, when American Pharoah completed his Triple Crown run before a paid crowd of 90,000 on June 6.

The largest Travers crowd since 1976 is 66,122 in 2003; the record for the Belmont is 120,139 in 2004.

Last week, the track said it would raise the Travers purse $350,000 to $1.6 million if American Pharoah runs. The Travers is among several races being considered for the Triple Crown winner's next start.