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Author: Kacie Cotter-Harrigan

Saratoga Racing: Off Track Betting, Online Streaming, Merchandise, and More

Written by Kacie Cotter-Harrigan on . Posted in Winner's Circle.

SARATOGA SPRINGS ­— The New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA) has worked closely with the City of Saratoga over the past couple weeks to set up Saratoga for another year of horse racing. However, with the threat of the Coronavirus still looming about they are going to be switching to a more virtual approach to racing this year. While fans won’t be able to get the full in-person experience of a day out to the races, the NYRA is still looking to offer them a way to partake in the quintessential Saratoga summer experience.

While broadcasting the races on live television and online is nothing new for Saratoga racing, the NYRA is promoting their “Saratoga Live” broadcast nationwide for all racing fans to watch. These broadcasts can be viewed on Fox Sports 2 and MSG+ from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. or on FS Regionals from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. on all racing days. Be aware that with the uniqueness of this racing season, all times and dates are subject to change. Be sure to check the NYRA Website for more information on broadcast times and channels as to not miss out on the best races this season.

One of the main appeals for fans and newcomers alike is betting on the races. The amount of upsets and the thrill of close stake races definitely backs up the nickname of the Saratoga Race Course, “Graveyard of Champions.”  Off-Track Betting (OTB) is becoming more popular with the absences of on course betting. The thrill of betting on horses, whether it be letting it ride on long odds, taking the safe bet, or just choosing the horse with the best name is an experience that is many horse racing fans enjoy. There are many different OTB sites across the capital region that make it easy to stop in and place bets on your favorite horses. Also, there is OTB Mobile Wagering so people can place horse bets easy. The ease of using a mobile app to bet, as well as the constant access to race results makes it a popular way for people to partake in Saratoga Racings main appeal.

However, NYRA isn’t just looking to simulate the racing experience, but are also looking to highlight local non-profit organizations in the Saratoga County area as part of Community Outreach. While racing is center stage during any visit to the track, the booths setup also help to contribute the atmosphere and helps to give back to the local community for being so supportive of the race course. This year, NYRA will be featuring these non-profit organizations on their websites community tab. In statement by NYRA’s President and CEO, Dave O’Rourke, “We encourage fans to visit our website throughout the season to learn more about the impact these organizations have on our community.”

Also, to go along with this unique season, NYRA and the City of Saratoga Springs are joining with two local non-profit organizations in a joint initiative to fundraise for the community through the sale of Saratoga Race Course face masks. This announcement comes after their original launch of the masks in mid-June which quickly sold out. The masks come in packs of three featuring different designs: a white mask with a red Saratoga logo, a blue mask with a red logo, and a red mask with a white logo. Fans that want get some of this limited time merchandise should act fast and preorder on the NYRA webpage before they sell out again.

With the first few days of racing underway, be sure not to miss out on any of the action and know that NYRA is doing their best to keep things fresh and new this season. For any scheduling or event news, be sure to check out the NYRA webpage for Saratoga at nyra.com/saratoga.

Lerman Comes Back to the Spa 35th Season for his Lambholm Horses

Written by Kacie Cotter-Harrigan on . Posted in Winner's Circle.

Roy Lerman is not one for reflection, but he does have a unique career to reflect upon.

This will be the 35th season at Saratoga as the owner, trainer, and breeder of Lambholm. Initially, Lerman planned to stay at the former Hobeau Farm in Florida for the summer due to the uncertainty around the COVID-19 pandemic.

However, when Belmont Park started racing at the beginning of June and the Florida weather started getting warmer, he decided to bring a small group of horses to New York.

“I had made no plans of coming up here because I didn’t know what was going on,” Lerman said. “I was planning to stay on the farm in Florida for the 2-year-olds still in training. Once [the track] said they were going to run, we decided to come up here. It wasn’t a good alternative to stay in Florida because we are 300 miles from Gulfstream Park. Plus, it’s brutally hot down there.”

Lerman has brought just 12 horses to his well-manicured private stable, which is a few hundred yards from the main track. Besides the improving 3-year-old Joyous Times, he has seven 2-year-olds who are still in training, including East Wing (by Soldat, winner the 2010 With Anticipation Stakes) and Private Code (by Honor Code, winner of the 2015 Whitney Stakes). Although, Lerman indicated those young horses may still need time.

“None of these 2-year-olds are ready to run yet,” he said. “I never push them along, but if they get ready, then they are ready. They have been training and breezing regularly in Florida. Now, it’s time to start increasing their speed.”

Each day since coming to Saratoga in mid-June, Lerman noticed that the area is not quite the same – especially around the track – as everyone is trying to be safe.

“You don’t get a sense of excitement or anticipation here,” he said. “I see a couple of guys who are here. There is no socializing. Saratoga is not the same. People can go to a restaurant, but I haven’t. I don’t want to be paranoid, but I also want to be safe.”

Lerman even had similar experiences when he was racing horses in Florida and more recently at Belmont.

“Nothing is the same,” he said. “When I was racing at Tampa, I knew it wasn’t the same. That’s a nice small facility that can hold 5,000 people, but no one was there. It was like virtual racing. When I was at Belmont a couple of weeks ago, it was bizarre. I came in, checked the horse in the barn, saddled the horse in the paddock, watched the race, got in my car, and drove back.”

Horse racing was not Lerman’s first career. He started as a lawyer for the Department of Labor and a private practice after graduating from Syracuse University and Georgetown Law School. At the same time, he had an interest in horse racing as he slowly made a career of buying a farm to develop and race horses in the mid-Atlantic region.

“It was a long slow process,” he said. “I had farms in Virginia. The principle reason I kept the practice going was for my son. If he ever wanted to become a lawyer, that would make his life easier. I wanted to leave possibilities for him.”

Today, his son Ethan is an assistant judge and has a general practice firm in Missoula, Mont., which also focuses on equine and racing issues. Even Lerman continues to be an occasional consultant on legal matters.

“I still have people who call me about cases in which I can tell them about as a lawyer,” he said. “I will tell them that not every lawyer is the same just like not every doctor is the same. There are different qualities and specialties. It happens all the time. We review the case with them. I am only a consultant in that sense.”

Lerman also indicated there are some similarities in being a lawyer and a trainer, especially since it takes time to develop a case – or a horse.

“The development of a race horse is not too dissimilar of the evolution of a case,” he said. “It takes a long time to get to the end of a civil case and a complex criminal case. You can’t jump over any step in a legal case. It’s the same thing with racehorses. If you skip over a step, you might get away with it, but not often.”

Since saddling his first horse at Shenandoah Downs in West Virginia in February 1978, Lerman has seen his fair share of winners. This includes his first stakes winner with Lava in the 1982 Capital City Handicap at Penn National, back-to-back victories with Dance Mask in his first trip to Saratoga in 1985 and winning the Grade 3 Long Island Handicap in 2016 with Evidently.

Lerman has also bred, raised, and sold many horses, including 1996 Breeders’ Cup Classic winner Alphabet Soup, whose auction bid was never met for $29,000 at the Fasig-Tipton Midlantic 2-year-olds in training sale in May 1993. George B. Ridder eventually purchased Alphabet Soup privately before the late-developing horse won five other graded stakes races in California.

Lerman knew Alphabet Soup had a lot of potential as a 2-year-old, which was confirmed by two of his exercise riders on the farm: Kim Keppick and Olympian medalist Karen O’Connor, the spouse of Olympian gold medalist David O’Connor.

“I knew something about him,” Lerman said. “However, these two riders were excellent. Kim and Karen rode this horse with a couple of other girls in Virginia. They loved this horse. That opened my eyes to the horse.”

Alphabet Soup, who was also a sire at McMahon Thoroughbreds in Saratoga from 2011-2013, has been retired from breeding since 2015 and stands at Old Friends Farm in Kentucky.

As for Lerman, he plans to stay in this business as long as he can. However, one thing Lerman does not regret is his career decision from being a lawyer to owner, trainer and breeder.

“It’s beats spending a career in the labor department as an attorney,” he said.

We’re Scaling Mountains

Written by Kacie Cotter-Harrigan on . Posted in Food.

Hello my Foodie Friends!

We are living during difficult times because of the coronavirus pandemic. Those challenges can affect us both physically and emotionally. 

Staying active during the COVID-19 pandemic is important for both our physical and mental well-being. During our recent times of social distancing, increased outdoor activity has been a positive trend; especially taking advantage of the beautiful Adirondack area we are part of. 

Lace up your shoes and get on the trail. Whether running, biking, or simply taking a scenic stroll through the woods, this activity is safe and provides a wealth of health benefits. Chances are that your eating habits have changed a lot in the past few weeks. Along with the focus on our physical activity is our dietary approach to being home. Rather than downing chips—chocolate or potato—it is possible to look at this time at home as an opportunity to adopt or even improve healthy eating habits. Making healthier food choices can help with improving the quality of your diet.  However, regulating the size of food portions is a simple process that can help with weight loss or avoiding weight gain. Weighing out food before it is eaten is a convenient method of controlling portion sizes and is something you can easily do at home with basic kitchen equipment. A digital kitchen scale can help with measuring. 

A pointer to assist with weighing:

Weigh out the desired portion size. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, a standard portion for most meats and fish is 3 ounces. Look for portion size information on packages and use online resources such as MyPyramid.gov to learn about the recommended portion size of other foods. Weigh the food before it has been washed or cooked. Place the plate of food on the scale. The calibrated scale will measure the weight of the food only. Remove or add more of the foods until you reach the required portion. You can remove the plate as many times as you like provided that you do not press the tally button for a second time. For Food Safety reasons, you need to wash the plate thoroughly with hot water and detergent between weighing different foods. 

We are cooking more at home now. Cooking puts you in control of the ingredients that end up in your meal. Many of us are really experiencing the joys of eating together with family regularly. Stop by  Compliments to the Chef, your neighborhood Kitchen and Cutlery store, located at 33 Railroad Place in Saratoga Springs to select a digital scale to assist with weighing ounces, pounds, fluid ounces, grams, and milliliters. As we continue to scale the mountain during this time, use a scale at home to help you with your dietary and food management approach. Kitchen scales make cooking and baking much easier. Remember my Foodie Friends: “Life Happens in the Kitchen.”

 Take Care,
John & PaulaREARDON SalmonPotatoSalad

Farmers’ Market Programs Make Food Accessible

Written by Kacie Cotter-Harrigan on . Posted in Food.

Connecting our community with locally produced food is a priority of the Saratoga Farmers’ Market. While this connection supports the local economy, it also ensures that people of all economic levels have access to fresh, locally-sourced food.

With this purpose, the Saratoga Farmers’ Market has partnered with the federal government’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), FreshConnect program, and Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program for WIC participants and Seniors (FMNP). 

“These programs are vital for providing our community with food while also supporting the livelihood of farmers and producers,” says Emily Meagher, the market’s administrator. “We are proud to offer these ongoing programs that encourage our community to shop local and eat healthily.”

At the farmers’ market, SNAP participants and veterans, service members, and their immediate families may use their Benefit card at the market information tent on Wednesdays and Saturdays where market staff can exchange EBT money for farmers’ market EBT coins. These coins never expire and may be spent directly with farmers’ market vendors. Vendors are not able to give cash change for purchases; however, they will make up any difference in product.

EBT coins may be used to purchase EBT allowable foods including fruit and vegetables, bread and baked goods, meat, fish, and poultry, dairy products, honey and maple products, and value-added foods like soup mixes, sauces, and jams and jellies. Herb plants and plants that produce food may also be purchased with EBT coins. 

In addition to participating in the SNAP program, the farmers’ market also offers FreshConnect coupons. For every $5 a customer spends with their EBT benefits, they will receive a $2 FreshConnect coupon to spend at the farmers’ market. 

Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program (WIC and Senior) coupons may also be used to purchase fresh fruit and vegetables at the farmers’ market. FMNP senior coupons are given to individuals age 60+ who are living on a limited income. The Saratoga County Office for the Aging will be handing out booklets of 5, $4.00 FMNP coupons (limit one per person) to eligible seniors on Monday, July 27, 2-5 p.m., at the Clifton Park Farmers’ Market and Wednesday, August 5, 3-5 p.m., at the Saratoga Farmers’ Market. No proof of income or identification is needed; individuals simply sign a paper attesting that they are over the age of 60 and their income is under the limit.

The Saratoga Farmers’ Market is 3-6 p.m. Wednesdays and 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturdays at the Wilton Mall. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram, and subscribe to our newsletter at www.saratogafarmersmarket.org/weekly-newsletter.

FM Kebabs

Reopening Saratoga County’s Economy

Written by Kacie Cotter-Harrigan on . Posted in Business.

On May 12, Preston Allen, the Chair of the Saratoga County Board of Supervisors announced the creation of a Saratoga County Reopening Advisory Committee chaired by Waterford Supervisor Jack Lawler.

In addition to Supervisor Lawler, the advisory group includes: Cathi Duncan, Director of Saratoga County Public Health Services; Saratoga County Sheriff Michael Zurlo; Town Supervisors Ed Kinowski, of Stillwater; Eric Connolly, of the Town of Ballston; Tom Richardson, of Mechanicville; Kevin Tollisen, of Halfmoon; Dan Pemrick, of Greenfield; and City of Saratoga Springs Supervisor Matt Veitch; as well as Charles Wait, of The Adirondack Trust Company; Gary Dake, of Stewart’s Shops; and myself, Todd Shimkus, of the Saratoga County Chamber.

This Advisory Group was tasked with working with Saratoga County Administrator, Spencer Hellwig, who was himself named to the region’s control group, to help navigate the complicated process of reopening Saratoga County’s economy. 

The Advisory Group has met once a week for the last 9 weeks. Each meeting includes a report on the work of the regional control group as it has sought to clarify the details for local businesses and officials as we’ve progressed to our phase 4 reopening. The advisory board also receives updates on how Saratoga County is doing in terms of the key health metrics by which our communities are being judged in order to reopen our economy. We also have a weekly update from Sheriff Zurlo relative to compliance issues arising from calls to New York State’s various hotlines to report potential issues.

The first action taken by the Advisory Board was to set up a new page on Saratoga County’s website at www.reopeningsaratogacounty.com. This website is a one-stop shop for local employers to get the latest information about the phased reopening of our economy. In less than 6 weeks, the site has registered more than 35,000 views. Every day, the site is updated as daily directives from the Governor’s office are announced.

Saratoga County also has an online COVID 19 Dashboard. This is updated every day and includes the latest local information about: confirmed cases; deaths; active cases; recovered cases; and hospitalization. This site also includes confirmed cases by municipality as well as confirmed cases, hospitalizations and deaths by age. 

Led by Supervisors Matt Veitch and Ed Kinowski, the Advisory Board is exploring how Saratoga County can continue to help local employers with personal protective equipment. 

Supervisor Eric Connolly worked with Sheriff Zurlo and myself to create a video which allowed the Sheriff to talk about the most common complaints his office is receiving. As you might guess, most complaints are about the wearing or not wearing of masks. This video can be viewed at www.reopeningsaratogacounty.com. 

At the recommendation of the Saratoga County Reopening Committee, the Board of Supervisors voted 17 to 6 to authorize an expenditure of $50,000 out of the $1 million COVID 19 budget to promote Saratoga County’s Reopening within the Capital and Hudson Valley regions.

The Saratoga County Chamber was asked to create and manage this campaign. We agreed to do so at no cost to the County so that every dollar spent will help to attract visitors and customers to our locally owned businesses as they do everything they can to survive this pandemic. 

This ad campaign will reach hundreds of thousands of people via social media, digital marketing and television advertising. 

We’re inviting people to “Feel the Freedom” in Saratoga County. 

Every week now, the reopening advisory board is being updated on this campaign and its reach. We’re monitoring data to see what impacts reopening our local economy is having on public health.

We’re confident that this type of public-private partnership will help us to reopen our economy safely and that we are Stronger Together.

Summer Stakes Schedule for Saratoga: All the dates you need to know

Written by Kacie Cotter-Harrigan on . Posted in Winner's Circle.

SARATOGA SPRINGS — The Saratoga Springs Race Course got the all clear to open up without a live audience for the hectic 2020 summer. Lots of fans were bummed about not being able to go out and experience one of Saratoga’s top summer attractions. However, NYRA is looking to keep these enthusiasts entertained over the summer by streaming their races online and by making off track betting even more accessible. With eight weeks packed full of stake races and derbies, be sure not to miss out on any of the action this summer. 

WEEK 1

• Thursday, July 16
   GIII Schuylerville and GIII Peter Pan

• Friday, July 17
   Shine Again

• Saturday, July 18
   GI Coaching Club American Oaks and
   GII National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame

• Sunday, July 19
   GII Lake Placid

WEEK 2

• Wednesday, July 22
   Lubash (NYB)

• Thursday, July 23
   GI A. P. Smithwick (Steeplechase) and
   NYSSS Statue of Liberty Division

• Friday, July 24
   GIII Quick Call

• Saturday, July 25
   GI Alfred G. Vanderbilt (Hdcp.) and
   GII Ballston Spa

• Sunday, July 26
   GII Bernard Baruch (Hdcp.)

WEEK 3

• Wednesday, July 29
   Dayatthespa (NYB)

• Thursday, July 30
   John Morrissey Hdcp. (NYB)

• Friday, July 31
   Coronation Cup

• Saturday, August 1
   GI Whitney (BC), GI Personal Ensign (BC),
   GI H. Allen Jerkens Memorial presented by 
   Runhappy, GII Bowling Green, and Caress

• Sunday, August 2
   Birdstone Stakes

WEEK 4

• Wednesday, August 5
   Summer Colony

• Thursday, August 6
   NYSSS Cab Calloway Division

• Friday, August 7
   GII Saratoga Special

• Saturday, August 8
   GI Runhappy Travers, GI Ballerina Hdcp. (BC),   
   GI Longines Test, GIII Troy, and GIII Waya

• Sunday, August 9
   Alydar Stakes

WEEK 5

• Wednesday, August 12
   GII Adirondack

• Thursday, August 13
   Union Avenue Hdcp. (NYB)

• Friday, August 14
   Perfect Sting

• Saturday, August 15
   Saratoga Derby Invitational and GI Alabama

• Sunday, August 16
   Saratoga Oaks Invitational

WEEK 6

• Wednesday, August 19
   Bolton Landing

• Thursday, August 20
   GI New York Turf Writers Cup (Steeplechase) and
   Tale of the Cat (NW GSS)

• Friday, August 21
   Skidmore

• Saturday, August 22
   GI Fourstardave (Hdcp. BC)

• Sunday, August 23
   GI Diana

WEEK 7

• Wednesday, August 26
   Mahony

• Thursday, August 27
   NYSSS Times Square Division and Smart N Fancy

• Friday, August 28
   GIII Lake George

• Saturday, August 29
   GI Sword Dancer (BC), GI Forego presented by
   America’s Best Racing, GII Amsterdam, and
   GIII Saranac

• Sunday, August 30
   GIII Shuvee

WEEK 8

• Wednesday, September 2
   GIII With Anticipation

• Thursday, September 3
   P.G. Johnson and NYSSS Park Avenue Division

• Friday, September 4
   Albany (NYB), Fleet Indian (NYB), Funny Cide  
   (NYB), Seeking the Ante (NYB), West Point Hdcp
   (NYB), and Yaddo Hdcp (NYB)

• Saturday, September 5
   GI Woodward Hdcp, GII Glens Falls, GII Prioress,  
   and GII Jim Dandy

• Sunday, September 6
   GI Spinaway, GII Honorable Miss (Hdcp.), and  
   Lucky Coin (NW SS in 2020)

• Monday, September 7
   GI Runhappy Hopeful and Lure

NOTE: Dark Days are Mondays and Tuesdays (excluding Mon. Sept 7). 
For live racing, scheduling, and news updates, check out the NYRA website atwww.nyra.com/saratoga.

Trying to Rebound from the COVID-19 Pandemic for the Saratoga Meet

Written by Kacie Cotter-Harrigan on . Posted in Winner's Circle.

LIKE MANY IN THE NEW YORK RACING INDUSTRY, Bond is looking to come back from the pandemic shutdown for his 33rd Saratoga meet from both the racing and breeding areas.

H. James “Jim” Bond is one of the optimistic and well-liked people in New York racing as an owner of a racing stable and farm, a trainer, a breeder and a personality on the backstretch.

That optimism and hard work, which came from his late father through their years of training horses at Finger Lakes during the 1970s and 1980s, has brought him success and winners that include Tizway, Behrens, Will’s Way, Val’s Prince and Buddha. Though, just like with other people in the industry, there have also been challenging times.

However, when the COVID-19 (the coronavirus) pandemic forced New York horse racing to shut down for a little over two months, that may have been the biggest challenge for the 62-year-old Rochester native, especially since it was close to impacting his family’s livelihood.

“I was very nervous,” he said. “It was really hard for myself and my family. During the COVID-19 pandemic, we had earned around $60,000, compared to last year at this time when we earned over $400,000. It was shaky. If we hadn’t started racing by June, I don’t think we would have made it through July and August. We would have had to do some soul searching.”

The situation is looking better for Bond and his team as he continues to prepare and train horses for his 33rd Saratoga Racecourse meet, but it didn’t happen immediately.

Within the first eight days of when Belmont resumed racing June 3, Bond’s horses were struggling to finish in the money. Then after Queenofeverything graduated from the maiden ranks on June 12, several of his horses have followed suit with better races, including recent maiden winners Graetz and Giacosa, as well as a good second-place finish from two-time stakes winner Rinaldi coming off the near 10-month layoff.

The Bond Racing Stable, which includes his wife Tina Bond, is currently fourth in wins with three and ranked among the top 25 owners in earnings (just under $100,000) over 21 racing days of the Belmont Spring Meet that includes the end of the Fourth of July weekend. That’s a respectable accomplishment as they race against hundreds of owners, including leaders Klaravich Stables, Michael Dubb and Juddmonte Farms.

Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, two people have kept the Bond Racing Stable together at Belmont: Kevin Bond and Ryan Bond, Bond’s older son and younger son, respectively.

However, Ryan was then brought back to the family’s Song Hill Farm in Stillwater to work with the mares to foal on March 1. That left Kevin alone to work with the Belmont stock during that challenging period, which included trying to keep the stable clean and everyone healthy.

“Kevin has done a great job,” the father Bond said. “He has a crew that has been together for a long time. I would send him charts to look over before feed time, then put those charts on the board for training the next day.”

“It has been different,” he added. “We’ve had to have our temperatures checked. Thank God no one got sick around the barn. We run a tight ship. I like cleanliness. We have been a step ahead of everything so far.”

While Kevin Bond had been training horses and managing the barn, Jim Bond knew the restrictions and shutdown around the pandemic were eventually going to impact his son, especially being limited to the living in his downstate home and the barn for the last five months.

“We talked about five times a day,” Jim Bond said. “I heard it in his voice. He would like to come home and have a home-cooked meal. I told him we were going to give him a break before Saratoga.”

While the race horses have been coming together, Bond also has concerns about the impact of COVID-19 on the breeding industry that includes the development of horses and the sales. Since the Saratoga horse sales are canceled this year, many New York breeders are looking to go out-of-state to sell their 2-year-olds and yearlings.

Because of that, there is the possibility that some of those state-breds won’t come back to compete in New York, which means those breeders don’t receive awards from New York Thoroughbred Breeding and Development Fund Corporation.

“There is a 50-50 shot that they may never come back to New York,” Bond said. “If they don’t run in New York, you don’t get any breeders’ awards. That is devastating for us.”

One of the areas that the Breeder’s Awards help recover is the stud fee cost. In past years, Bond has usually spent from $10,000 to $20,000 per stud fee for each of his mares. However, over the last two years, he has paid from $25,000 to $35,000 for each stud fee that includes champions Goldencents, Midnight Lute, and Mineshaft, as well as multiple graded stakes winners Tizway, Sky Mesa, and Munnings.

With just over a dozen 2-year-olds and 11 yearlings, Bond has the flexibility to sell some of them and keep others to develop into racehorses, especially since he had built an indoor arena for winter use rather than having those horses run around on a frozen ground with ice.

“We are very fortunate. I’ve got some great 2-year-olds,” he said. “We decided to keep the yearlings to race next year. We are probably going to invest $15,000-$17,000 more to find out if we have race horses. We have great clientele. Over the past few days, I’ve had investors, who have never bought a horse before, now buying 10 percent and 20 percent shares.”

While these last few weeks before the Saratoga meet have been hopeful for Bond, he is still concerned about the future of his racing stable and his farm, especially if COVID-19 forces another shutdown.

“I have been blessed and fortunate,” Bond said. “However, if COVID-19 comes back in the fall and they shut down racing, then basically we might done. We can only weather so much.”

A Farmers’ Market Guide to Berries

Written by Kacie Cotter-Harrigan on . Posted in Food.

Sweet, sour, tart, juicy — berries are a highlight of the summer season. At the Saratoga Farmers’ Market, local farms bring the very best. The variety includes gooseberries, strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, blackberries, and saskatoon berries. 

These locally sourced berries signify the diversity that grows in our region from late spring to early fall. Berries are known for their health benefits and antioxidants, but it’s their taste that makes them a coveted summertime treat.

Gooseberries are produced by a thorny shrub and are easy to grow, according to Laurie Kokinda, owner of Kokinda Farm. “Pick off the stems, rinse, and you can freeze them whole or cook them down first,” explains Kokinda. Gooseberries have a strawberry-grape flavor and are popular in jams, pies, and as a dessert topping. 

Strawberries can be found in bountiful harvests in the early summer with additional everbearing varieties that produce berries into late September. Locally grown strawberries are often smaller than those found in stores, however, they have much more flavor. 

Blueberries are just beginning to ripen and at Butternut Ridge Farm, Debbie Stevens reports that their harvest will begin in 1-2 weeks. Sweet, juicy, and loaded with antioxidants, blueberries are ideal for eating fresh, or in sauces and baked goods. 

Raspberries are cold-hardy and long-lived. They produce sweet, flavorful fruit suitable for fresh eating, sauces, and preserves. “Our raspberry and blackberry bushes have been on our farm for generations,” says Andy Burger of Burger’s Market Garden. “We hand-pick these all-natural, small-batch crops fresh for every market, and our purple raspberries are really wonderful.”

Blackberries are renowned for their nutritional value as they are packed with fiber and vitamins C and K. The delicate fruit is popular in desserts, jams, seedless jelly, and sometimes wine. “Get them while you can because their growing season can be short-lived depending on the weather,” advises Andy Burger. “Freezing these berries is as easy as spreading them on a baking sheet to freeze overnight and throwing them in a zip-lock freezer bag.”

Saskatoon berries are exclusively available at Scotch Ridge Berries & Trees. Saskatoons are similar to blueberries in their composition and nutrition, though they are more closely related to the apple family. Many describe their taste as having a sweet, nutty almond flavor. They typically ripen in late June or early July depending on the seasonal climate.

The Saratoga Farmers’ Market is 3-6 p.m. Wednesdays and 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturdays at the Wilton Mall. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram, and subscribe to our newsletter at www.saratogafarmersmarket.org/weekly-newsletter.

FM BlueberryFool

Big Boy Driving the Boat

Written by Kacie Cotter-Harrigan on . Posted in Food.

Hello my Foodie Friends!

I love to tell this story especially during the summer and thinking about being at the ocean. Our family has precious memories of our summer experiences being on the coast of New England. Prior to moving to Upstate New York, we lived on the coast of Connecticut. Our good neighbors and friends, Ron and Deede, owned a fifty foot “boat” named “The Graduate” that they docked in West Greenwich Rhode Island in Narragansett Bay. 

Weekend excursions included boating to Newport Rhode Island or just hanging out on the boat. Ron is a master captain in boating and comes from a military background in the Navy. He is also a master chef. Ron was always very proud driving “The Graduate” and serving his crew incredible seafood dishes. Ahh…what fabulous memories of our rides. Our children were very young at the time of most of our adventures. There was one very special time when Ron allowed three-year-old Johnny to take the helm and to sit in Ron’s chair to drive the boat. Johnny sat proudly with a very determined look in Ron’s captain’s chair, holding firmly onto the boats’ steering wheel and exclaimed “big boy driving the boat!” It was precious. Each summer that we were able to join Ron and Deede on “The Graduate,” Ron would allow Johnny to take the helm and be the “big boy driving the boat.” These are among the special memories of being on the water, with amazing friends, breathing in the sea air and feeling it on your skin. With boating brought the feasting on spectacular seafood meals made by Ron and Deede. Clams and oysters were one of Ron’s favorite seafood items to create delightful dishes with. Special tools that Ron would use included a clam and oyster knife and a cut proof glove. The clam knife was important for proper shucking of the clams. Once you learn the basics, shucking clams and oysters is not difficult. Practice makes perfect and the reward is delicious. It all starts in the preparation.

1. Make sure the clams you’re going to be shucking are alive. A clam shell that is open or opens easily by hand is dead. Throw away any open clams.
2. Clean your clams using a stiff brush under cold running water to remove any sand and salt.
3. You may skip this step but soaking your clams will flush through any sand they may have inside. Use 1/3 of a cup of salt per gallon of cold water. Stir the salt until it dissolves. Soak the clams for 30-45 minutes then drain.
4. Either refrigerate your clams for at least an hour or pack them in ice for 30 minutes. This puts them to sleep and makes it easier for you to open them. I prefer the ice method.
5. Make sure you have a towel and a clam knife. 

This summer make some seafood meals to remind you of the ocean and those precious memories you have made with friends and family. In my mind, I am dreaming of being the “big boy driving the boat!” Stop by Compliments to the Chef, your Neighborhood Kitchen and Cutlery store located at 33 Railroad Place for your seafood tools and other cool tools to help you with your summer cooking. Remember my Food Friends, “Life Happens in the Kitchen” with good times, friends, and great food (gathering safely).

 Take Care,
John & PaulaREARDON ClamOysterChowder