SARATOGA SPRINGS — This year’s last hurrah weekend for racing is more chock-full of activities than usual, including new downtown contests and free admission to Saratoga Race Course on Monday.

Final Stretch Weekend also features the traditional barbecue and family activities at the track and the downtown music festival.

The Final Stretch Downtown Music Festival attracts more local people than the more tourist-oriented Hats Off to Saratoga weekend at the beginning of the meet, observed Susan Farnsworth, festival organizer.

“I’m thinking that they know that the Final Stretch is a little calmer than Hats Off,” she said.

It’s an extravaganza,” said Gavin Landry, the New York Racing Association’s senior vice president for marketing and sales. “It’s the best one we’ve done so far.”

The occasion for all of the hype is because 2007 Horse of the Year Curlin is making his Saratoga debut in the Woodward Stakes today.

“This is the biggest horse since Secretariat,” said Joseph Dalton, president of the Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce. “Looking at the crowds on the street, it looks like it’s going to be an excellent Labor Day.”

The chamber coordinated a downtown window-decorating contest that was judged Friday. Winners were the Downtowner Motel, G. Willikers, Lyrical Ballad Bookstore and Impressions of Saratoga.

Businesses had to use a Curlin poster and streamers in burgundy and gold, the horse’s colors, in their display. The winners went even farther. For example, Dalton said, the Downtowner decorated several windows in the motel as if they were stable doors.

The four winners each get a free quarter-page ad in the Post Parade every day next year, Dalton said.

The first 20,000 fans at the track today also will get a Curlin poster designed by artist Peb Bellocq.

Regular folks have a chance to win a table for four at the Turf Terrace in the clubhouse and a $200 meal credit at next year’s Woodward. People wishing to participate may bring a ticket from a losing Woodward bet to any local business that sports a Curlin poster in the front window.

Non-gamblers or those who don’t like to watch racing can pick up a free voucher at the clubhouse entrance on Wright Street today from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. and turn it in to one of the businesses before Thursday.

One lucky Stillwater man is getting $1,000 from NYRA to bet on the Woodward any way he likes. The “Bet of a Lifetime” is a first-time promotion for NYRA, Landry said.

After the race card today, people can head downtown for the Final Stretch Music Festival on Broadway from 7 to 11 p.m. It runs the same time on Sunday. The live music festival will feature reggae, jazz, blues, acoustic, funk, folk and pop music.

“We try to mix it up. We try to get a little something for everybody,” said Farnsworth.

She noted that electric violinist Deni Bonet is new this year and so is Solid Smoke, a Motown band.

The other acts are Aged in the Hills, Bob Warren and Friends, Big Medicine, Grain Belt, the Brian Patneaude Quartet, the Racing City Chorus and Rich Ortiz.

They will play throughout the evening at various venues. For a complete schedule, visit www.saratoga.org.

Events for children will take place Sunday and Monday at the track during Family Fun Fest, with face painting and the ever-popular giant inflatables. Pony rides, caricatures, clowns, magicians, jugglers and spin art will be in the backyard to delight the youngest fans from 10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. today and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday.

A red and white Saratoga cooler bag is the season’s final giveaway on Sunday.

On Labor Day, fans get grandstand admission for free on Fan Appreciation Day, a thank-you from NYRA for racing fans who endured rainy weather during the first half of the meet.

The barbecue buffet on Monday costs $20 for adults; $14 for children ages 3 to 12.

The price includes clubhouse admission, a Post Parade program and the buffet at the At the Rail Pavilion and Paddock Pavilion.

For tickets, call 584-6200 ext. 4012 or 4476.

The final weekend kicked off Friday with sunset racing, happy hour prices, a Race to the Altar wedding in the Winner’s Circle and with city officials giving Curlin’s human handlers a key to the city.