In this episode, Dr Christine discusses arthritis, Charlie opens up about the Casino ghosts and Brien recaps the 2024 summer racing highlights and dishes about the next year of horse racing in Saratoga. Enjoy! Happy Fall!
SARATOGA SPRINGS — The 2024 summer meet at Saratoga Race Course is underway and will continue through Monday, Sept. 2. Racing will be conducted five days a week, Wednesdays through Sundays, apart from the final week, when the meet will conclude on Labor Day. Admission gates will open for live racing at 11 a.m. First post time is 1:10 p.m.
week FIVE stake races
*Mondays and Tuesdays = Dark Days. No racing.
Friday, August 9
Evan Shipman Handicap (NYB):
3&UP, 1 Mile – Dirt, Purse $125,000
Union Avenue Handicap (NYB):
F&M 3&UP, 6 Furlongs – Dirt, Purse $125,000
Saturday, August 10
GI FanDuel Fourstardave Handicap (BC): 3&UP, 1 Mile – Turf, Purse $500,000
GII Saratoga Special: 2YO, 6 1/2 Furlongs – Dirt, Purse $200,000
GII Troy: 4&UP, 5 1/2 Furlongs – Turf, Purse $300,000
GI Saratoga Derby Invitational: 3YO, 1 3/16 – Turf, Purse $600,000
Galway: F3YO, 5 1/2 Furlongs – Turf, Purse $150,000
Sunday, August 11
Mahony: 3YO, 5 1/2 Furlongs – Turf, Purse $150,000
Wednesday, August 14
GI Jonathan Sheppard: 4&UP, 2 3/8 – Turf, Purse $150,000
Suzie O’Cain (NYB): F3YO, 1 1/16 – Turf, Purse $125,000
Thursday, August 15
Rick Violette (NYB): 3YO, 1 1/16 – Turf, Purse $125,000
purdy’s summer concert stage
The Purdy’s Summer Concert Stage will host live musical performances each afternoon of the season from popular local and regional bands.
Friday, August 9: The Swingin’ Palms
Saturday, August 10: IMI
Sunday, August 11: Twangbusters
Wednesday, August 14: Franklin Micare Band
Thursday, August 15: American Cafe
TASTE NY PAVILION:
Every Thursday-Sunday
beginning July 11
New York-made food and beverages will be available for sample and purchase at the Taste NY Pavilion, located inside Gate A at the Top of the Stretch, where fans can enjoy New York craft beers, wines, spirits, cheese and chocolate (must be 21 and over to sample and purchase alcoholic beverages). Featured products hail from Montauk to the Finger Lakes and the Hudson Valley to the Adirondacks as a showcase of the state’s robust food and beverage industry.
SARATOGA BREAKFAST AND BREEDING FARM TOUR:
Every Wednesday-Saturday and select Sundays,
beginning July 12
The popular Saratoga Breakfast and Breeding Farm tours, which were first introduced in 2022, will be expanded this summer to meet growing demand. The program will be offered Wednesday through Saturday (excludes July 13, Aug. 24), plus select Sundays, beginning Friday, July 12 through Saturday, August 31. This yearwill feature newcomer Sugar Plum Farm to supplement incumbents Song Hill Thoroughbreds and Old Tavern Farm.
Fans will enjoy a buffet breakfast during morning training at Saratoga Race Course before boarding a CDTA trolley to that day’s breeding farm before returning to the Spa for the afternoon’s races.
Tickets must be reserved in advance at NYRA.com. Each tour accommodates up to 52 guests. Admission to Saratoga Race Course is included in the package.
Adirondack Day
wednesday, august 14
Presented by the Adirondack Regional Tourism Council, the afternoon will include interactive exhibits highlighting the seven New York counties that comprise the Adirondack region, including beverages, cheese samples, apples, reenactors, live music and more as the attractions of the Adirondacks fill the Taste NY Pavilion.
Stewart’s Shops Day at the Races
wednesday, august 14
Stewart’s Shops will celebrate its longstanding partnership with Saratoga by providing free ice cream for fans in the backyard! Complimentary scoops will be available while supplies last.
Fans can also purchase NYRA Bets gift cards and Saratoga season passes at over 100 participating Stewart’s Shops locations.
Thoroughbred Aftercare Day
thursday, august 15
Thoroughbred Aftercare Day pays tribute to an array of organizations involved in finding new homes and careers for retired racehorses. The featured race will be the Rick Violette Stakes, named for the late NYTHA President who was a founding member of the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance (TAA).
Family Sundaysevery sundayFamily Sundays feature a wide variety of free family-friendly activities, games, attractions and educational activities each Sunday inside the backyard Family Zone, located near Gate A.
FAYETTEVILLE — Dolores A. Nelson, a beacon of love and resilience, passed away peacefully on August 2, 2024, at the age of 91, surrounded by her loving family. Born on April 19, 1933, to the late Howard and Evelyn (Magnussen) Van Jones, Dolores’s life was a testament to her unwavering spirit and the joy she brought to those around her.
Dolores was the cherished wife of the late Robert Nelson, who she adored until his untimely passing on April 1, 1987. Together, they navigated the life of a Navy family with grace and fortitude. Dolores’s role as a Navy wife entailed creating a nurturing and dynamic home for her four beloved children, Robert L. Nelson II (Donna), Donna Scrivener, Laura Ricardo (Peter), and Sandra Nelson, across various locales, including Japan. Her ability to instill a love for culture and knowledge in her children was unparalleled.
After settling in Burnt Hills, Dolores became a treasured member of her community, forming lasting friendships and engaging in work that mattered to her. She served with dedication as a certified tumor registrar at Saratoga Hospital and continued to share her expertise as a consultant, even in distant cities like San Diego and Monterey, California.
Despite the sorrow of losing her husband, Dolores continued to honor his memory, cherishing the life they shared while embracing new adventures and friendships. Her zest for life was infectious; she traveled the globe, from riding elephants to white water rafting on her 80th birthday. Dolores was the epitome of a social butterfly, often being the life of the party and effortlessly making new acquaintances.
Art and creativity were integral to Dolores’s life. She crafted beautiful dolls in Japan, was an active member of a craft painting club, and enjoyed the camaraderie of the Red Hat Society. Her competitive spirit shone through in her love for bridge, Mahjong, and Scrabble, where she was known to be unbeatable.
Music and dance were Dolores’s passions, and she reveled in the sounds of Frank Sinatra and big band music. Her encounters with Sinatra and Dean Martin were among her cherished memories, as was her love for dancing and singing.
Dolores’s compassionate heart led her to volunteer at the USO in Brooklyn during the Korean War, where she met her future husband. Her commitment to service continued in Japan, where she comforted Vietnam War servicemen as a Grey Lady, and later as a Hospice volunteer, providing solace to the terminally ill.
Above all, Dolores was an extraordinary mother and grandmother. She is survived by her children; Robert L. Nelson II (Donna), Donna Scrivener, Laura Ricardo (Peter), and Sandra Nelson grandchildren Robert Nelson III (Claudia), Rachel Nelson (Adam Rigg), Patrick Scrivener, Daniel Scrivener, Nelson Ricardo, and Neva Ricardo, and sisters Barbara Drollinger and Gina Ferranti. She leaves behind a legacy of love, strength, wisdom, and humor. Dolores was a pillar of support to her family, offering a warm hug and the reassurance that everything would be alright, no matter the circumstance.
Dolores faced life’s challenges with courage, inspiring all who knew her with her kindness and gentleness. A woman of deep faith, she departed this world with the confidence of being welcomed into eternal love by Heaven and those who preceded her in passing.
Calling hours for Dolores will be held today, Friday, August 9, from 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. at the Glenville Funeral Home, 9 Glenridge Road, Glenville. A funeral service will follow at 12 p.m. at the funeral home. Interment will be at St. Anthony’s Cemetery, Glenville.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations in Dolores’s name may be made to a charity of one’s choice. Online condolences www.glenvillefuneralhome.com
Jewish War Veterans Post 36 had a community outreach booth at Saratoga Race Course’s opening day on July 11. Pictured here are Post Commander Dr. Sam Gottesman, left, Post 36 member Allan Kasin, center, and Capital District Council Commander Richard Goldenberg, right. Post 36 regularly meets at Congregation Shaara Tfille in Saratoga Springs. Photo provided by JWV Post 36.
