WILTON — Michael Vincent Friday, passed away July 30th. Born on July 17, 1980, in Queens, NY he was the son of Joseph E. Friday and Anna Crivelli Friday. At the family’s request there will be no calling hours or service at this time. For online condolences, visit www.compassionatefuneralcare.com.
SARATOGA SPRINGS — Bradford Roth passed away Tuesday, July 29, 2025 at Saratoga Hospital. She was born on January 22,1960 in Lancaster, PA, the daughter of the late Charles Roth and Elizabeth Landis Roth. At the family’s request there will be no calling hours or service. For online condolences, visit www.compassionatefuneralcare.com.
MALTA — James Frank Wager Jr., 96, of Malta, New York passed away on July 20, 2025, at Wesley Community, Saratoga Springs after a period of declining health.
He was born on January 11, 1929, in Gloversville, New York. James was the son of the late James F. Wager Sr. and Camilla M. Wager (Togni) of Gloversville.
James proudly served in the U.S. Navy from January 1946 to November 1947 as a Fireman 1st Class. James first served on the USS New York BB34 during the Operation Crossroads Nuclear Weapon Test at Bikini Atoll of the Marshall Islands in July 1946. He then served on the USS Iowa BB61 where he completed his tour of duty.
James worked as a Food Broker Salesman for many years and serviced grocery stores throughout the Capital District.
He was a member and coach of the Saratoga Winter Speed Skating Club where he trained many boys and girls, some of whom went on to the Olympics. Among other hobbies James was a long-distance cyclist, snowmobiler, small engine technician, landscaper and loved fishing in all types of weather conditions.
James was predeceased by his lovely wife of 38 years Gloria F. Wager (Regina), his brother Donald Wager of California and sister Marguerite Kenison of Glens Falls.
He is survived by his seven children. Marie (Tina) DeVore (George) of Malta, NY, Gloria (Lori) Gould (Gerard) of Mooresville, NC, Phillip Wager (Cindy Sue) of Crossville, TN, Jeffrey Wager (Rhonda) of Newcomb, NY, Corina Stark (Darrell) of Waxhaw, NC, Cynthia West (Paul) of Mechanicsburg, PA and Andrew Wager (Laura) of Round Lake, NY, 17 Grandchildren, 27 Great Grandchildren, 1 Great-Great Granddaughter and numerous nieces and nephews.
At his request his body was donated to the Anatomical Gift Program at Albany Medical College. A private service will be held on a later date. Memorial contributions in memory of James may be made to Community Hospice of Saratoga, 179 Lawrence Street, Saratoga Springs, NY 12866.
The Wager Family offers a heartfelt thank you to the many caregivers from Community Hospice and Wesley Health Care who cared for James over the past year.
Online remembrances may be made at www.armerfuneralhome.com.
SARATOGA SPRINGS — Sherman Antoine Moore peacefully passed away in his Saratoga home the morning of July 28, 2025 surrounded by his loving family. He was 84 years old d had been ill for a short time.
He was born in Tupper Lake, NY to the late Clifford and Eva (La Porte) Moore. Sherman grew up in Schenectady, NY where he graduated from Mount Pleasant High School in 1958. Afterward, he attended Hudson Valley Community College before enlisting in the US Air Force and serving as a medic during the Vietnam War. That is where he met his love, Mary (Davis) Moore. They were married in October 1965. Leaving military service he again settled in Schenectady where he worked in the Sales/ Circulation department of the Schenectady Daily Gazette retiring after 22 years.
His work moved him to Saratoga in 1973. Saratoga became home to Sherman and Mary. The family now consisted of three young children, Michael, Joseph and Kathleen, who thrived in Saratoga and at St. Clement’s School. Sherman became active in volunteering to help fundraise as well as other projects at the school and parish.
Sherman was a friendly, kind man who loved his family above all else. He also enjoyed talking to people, learning about them and invariably making them smile by this random encounter. Sherman loved to see plants grow especially in his so called “pot vegetable on the deck garden” where he grew tomatoes, cucumbers, lettuce and peppers, sharing his bounty with family, friends and neighbors. At Christmas he made his peanut butter fudge for a long list of people. In the winter, Mary and Sherman took brief cruises enjoying the tropical sunshine. Come summer Saratoga racing time, he was immersed in the challenge of picking the winners. For a period of time, he even was a horse owner in Parting Glass Racing. He was a dedicated NY Yankees fan faithfully watching every play. Sherman also loved to play pinochle on the back deck with his sons, Mike and Joe, and his grandson Derek.
Sherman is survived by the love of his life, Mary (Davis) Moore; his sons, Michael J. Moore (Alison) and Joseph D. Moore (Theresa); his grandchildren, Ryan Moore, Derek Moore, Amanda (Moore) Hess (Corwin) and Rylee Moore; his son in law, Joseph F. Ruhmel; his brother, James Moore and his wife Carol; his sister in law, Marylyn Moore and many nieces and nephews.
In addition to his parents, he is predeceased by his daughter, Kathleen (Moore) Ruhmel; his sisters Sue (Boudreau) Moore and Nancy (Moore) Latimer; his brothers, William Moore and Richard Moore; his sister-in-law Sandra (Sittner) Moore and his brother-in-law, George Latimer.
We are eternally gratefully for the kindness and care shown to Sherman by the nurses of Community Hospice in his final days.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, August 5, 2025 at St. Clements Church, 231 Lake Ave. Saratoga Springs, NY. Burial followed in St. Peter’s Cemetery, West Ave., Saratoga Springs, NY. Arrangements are under the direction of the William J. Burke & Sons/ Bussing & Cunniff Funeral Home, 628 N. Broadway, Saratoga Springs, NY 12866.
Online remembrances may be made at www.burkefuneralhome.com.
Letters to the Editor
Saratoga Springs has a long history with our nations flag going back to the 1700’s.
The Stars and Stripes are a symbol of our nations pride, and its appreciation for the sacrifices made by individuals who have given so much in service to our country.
Our flag does not belong to a political party or organization.
Old Glory belongs to all Americans and should be respected and flown in cities and towns across our nation.
As a salute to those who have served, take the flag you have sitting ion your closet and display it proudly. If you don’t have one, buy one that was made in the USA. I recommend our local flag company: saratogaflag.com.
If you have questions about how to display the red, white, and blue, go to: nationalflagfoundation.org
– Joe Dalton
Saratoga Springs
FLAG HOLIDAYS:
SARATOGA SPRINGS — Luciano Pecora, an 11-year-old golfer from Stillwater, recently got a hole-in-one on the 5th hole of the Saratoga Spa State Park Golf Course, his father Greg told Saratoga TODAY.
Luciano reached the par-3, 105-yard hole in one stroke with a 7-iron. It was, his father said, the first time he’d played on a real golf course.
A video shared with Saratoga TODAY showed Luciano triumphantly retrieving his ball. “Luciano’s first time playing ever and his first hole-in-one—crazy!” his dad said.
SARATOGA SPRINGS — A star-studded cast featuring champions Fierceness and Sierra Leone and a sextet of fellow millionaires led by four-time Grade 1 winner White Abarrio are set to line up for the 98th running of Saturday’s Grade 1, $1 million Whitney at Saratoga Race Course.
The 1 1/8-mile Whitney for 4-year-olds and up, a “Win and You’re In” qualifier for the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Classic November 1 at Del Mar, serves as the headliner on a 13-race program that includes five graded-stakes worth $3.2 million in purses.
Derrick Smith, Repole Stable, Michael B. Tabor, and Mrs. John Magnier’s Fierceness, the Champion 2-Year-Old Colt of 2023, had his perfect record over Saratoga’s main track ended in the Grade 1 Hill ‘n’ Dale Metropolitan Handicap on June 7. Prior to that, he had won three times at the Spa, highlighted by the Grade 2 Jim Dandy and Grade 1 DraftKings Travers last summer.
Fierceness encountered some early trouble in the Met Mile, contested out of the Wilson Chute, and pressed the pace but had to settle for second as the favorite behind Raging Torrent, who was retired in July with a leg injury.
“He was second-best on the day,” Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher said. “The way it unfolded he had a bit of a rough start from the inside draw. We had some concerns about the Wilson Chute to begin with but, in all fairness, Raging Torrent ran a good race. We just regroup and get back around two turns and look forward to running him the way he’s been training.”
Second to Sierra Leone in the Breeders’ Cup Classic, Fierceness won the Grade 2 Alysheba May 2 in track-record fashion at Churchill Downs in his only other start this year. Hall of Famer John Velazquez is named to ride Fierceness from post 9 in the field of 10.
Pletcher also entered Repole and St. Elias Stable’s Mindframe, a winner of his last three starts. After capturing the Grade 2 Gulfstream Park Mile March 1 in his return from more than seven months away, the 4-year-old Constitution colt won the Grade 1 Churchill Downs sprinting seven furlongs and Grade 1 Stephen Foster going 1 1/8 miles, the latter June 28.
Although Pletcher entered both horses, the veteran conditioner noted that he did so with the intent to run one horse.
Pletcher is a four-time winner of the Whitney, finding previous success with Left Bank [2002], Lawyer Ron [2007], Cross Traffic [2013] and Life Is Good [2022].
Peter Brant, Mrs. John Magnier, Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith, Westerberg and Brook Smith’s Sierra Leone is searching for his first win in three starts this year after finishing third in the Grade 2 New Orleans Classic and second by one length in the Stephen Foster. Beaten a nose in the Grade 1 Kentucky Derby last spring, he also finished behind Dornoch and Mindframe in the Belmont and Fierceness in the Jim Dandy and Travers prior to his Breeders’ Cup Classic triumph.
Gary Barber, C2 Racing Stable and La Milagrosa Stable’s White Abarrio is the richest of the Whitney participants with more than $7 million in purse earnings from 22 starts, 10 of them wins, including a 6 1/4-length romp in the 2023 Whitney for previous trainer Rick Dutrow, Jr. Now back with Saffie Joseph, Jr., the 6-year-old son of Race Day won the Grade 1 Pegasus World Cup and Grade 3 Ghostzapper at Gulfstream Park to open 2025 but most recently finished a troubled fourth in the Met Mile.
Joseph, Jr. has another entrant in Daniel Alonso’s well-traveled 6-year-old Skippylongstocking, an 11-time winner that comes out of a popular three-quarter-length victory in the Grade 2 Hollywood Gold Cup May 26 at Santa Anita, his first time going 1 1/4 miles. A veteran of 15 different racetracks in 32 starts, Skippylongstocking prompted the pace in last year’s Whitney before tiring to be fifth behind Arthur’s Ride.
Also returning from last year’s Whitney is Hillwood Stable’s Post Time, who ran third at odds of 25-1 for Maryland-based trainer Brittany Russell. By 2016 Whitney winner Frosted, the 5-year-old Post Time ran second in last year’s Met Mile and has never been worse than third in 18 starts, 11 of them wins including the 2024 Grade 2 Carter presented by NYRA Bets at Aqueduct.
Second in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile and third in the Grade 2 Cigar Mile presented by TwinSpires.com to cap last year’s campaign, Post Time has two wins in three starts this year. Third, beaten 1 1/4 lengths by 2024 Kentucky Derby winner Mystik Dan in the Grade 3 Blame May 31 at Churchill Downs, he scored a popular 3 1/2-length victory in the 1 1/8-mile Deputed Testamony June 28 at Laurel Park last time out.
Highland Falls, a 5-year-old homebred of Hall of Famer Curlin, will represent Godolphin Stable and trainer Brad Cox in the Whitney. Highland Falls won three times last year including his only prior run at Saratoga in the Grade 1 Jockey Club Gold Cup, before being defeated in the Breeders’ Cup Classic. He launched his 2025 campaign with a 5 1/2-length optional claiming allowance triumph going one mile June 27 at Belmont at the Big A.
Completing the Whitney field are Winchell Thoroughbreds’ $1.4 million earner Disarm [Joel Rosario, post 6, 120 pounds, bar shoes OFF], runner-up in the 2023 Travers and third in last year’s Jockey Club Gold Cup for Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen; and Jonathan Hardoon’s Mama’s Gold [Romero Maragh, post 4, 120 pounds], most recently second in the 1 1/8-mile Commentator for New York-breds July 4 at Saratoga for conditioner James Ferraro.
The New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA) today announced the lineup of attractions, entertainment, and events for the 2025 summer meet at historic Saratoga Race Course.
Highlighted by the 156th edition of the Grade I, $1.25 million DraftKings Travers on Saturday, August 23, and the Grade I, $1 million Whitney on Saturday, August 2, the 40-day summer meet will open on Thursday, July 10 and run through Monday, September 1.
Following the four-day opening week, racing will be conducted five days a week, Wednesdays through Sundays, apart from the final week, when the meet will conclude on Labor Day.
First post will be 1:10 p.m. every day except Saturdays, when first post will be 12:35 p.m. The only exceptions are Whitney Day featuring a 12:05 p.m. first post and DraftKings Travers Day with first post at 11:40 a.m. Post times for Labor Day weekend will be announced at a later date.
Admission gates will open for live racing at 11 a.m. for all but Whitney Day, when gates will open at 10 a.m. and DraftKings Travers Day, when gates will open at 9 a.m.
Racing Hall of Fame Anniversary Weekend):
Friday, August 1 – Sunday, August 3
The National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame is celebrating its 75th anniversary with new exhibits and events, highlighted by the annual Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony at the Fasig-Tipton Sales Pavilion on Friday, August 1. The Class of 2025 includes seven new inductees: contemporary category racehorse Smarty Jones; 1900-1959 Historic Review Committee racehorses Decathlon and Hermis, and trainer George H. Conway; and Pillars of the Turf inductees Edward L. Bowen, Arthur B. Hancock III, and Richard Ten Broeck.
Whitney Day:
Saturday, August 2
New for 2025, the Grade 1, $750,000 FanDuel Fourstardave has been added to a blockbuster Whitney Day card that will now include four grade 1 events and six total stakes headlined by the $1 million Whitney.
Saratoga Race Course will host a Best in Pink fashion photo contest from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. at the Jockey Silks Porch.
Adirondack Day:
Wednesday, August 6
Presented by the Adirondack Regional Tourism Council, fans will enjoy local products and attractions representative of the Adirondack region of New York State.
Backstretch Tram Tours:
Fans can go behind the scenes with a free, guided backstretch tram tour. Tram tours depart from the clubhouse entrance beginning at 7:30 a.m. with the last one leaving at 9 a.m. and running every 30 minutes. Tours are available on a first-come, first-served basis and are approximately 45 minutes in length. Tours are available every live racing day with the exception of DraftKings Travers Day and Labor Day.
Stake Races
*Mondays and Tuesdays = Dark Days. No racing.
FRIDAY, August 1
National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame (G2): 3YO, 1 Mile-
Turf, Purse $400,000
Saturday, August 2
Whitney (G1)(BC): 4&UP, 1 1/8 – Dirt, Purse $1,000,000
FanDuel Fourstardave (G1) (BC): 4&UP, 1 Mile – Turf,
Purse $750,000
Test (G1) pres. by Ticketmaster: F3YO, 7 Furlongs – Dirt,
Purse $500,000
Saratoga Derby Invitational (G1): 3YO, 1 3/16 – Turf. Purse $750,000
Saratoga Special (G2): 2YO, 6 1/2 Furlongs – Dirt, Purse $200,000
Sunday, August 3
Troy (G2): 3&UP, 5 1/2 Furlongs- Turf, Purse $300,000
Adirondack (G3): F2YO, 6 1/2 Furlongs – Dirt, Purse $175,000
Wednesday, August 6
Birdstone: 4&UP, 1 3/4 – Dirt, Purse $150,000
Thursday, August 7
Galway: F3YO, 5 1/2 Furlongs – Turf, Purse $150,000
SARATOGA SPRINGS — The Saratoga Performing Arts Center (SPAC) recently announced that a panel discussion, “Music and Mind with Renée Fleming: Harnessing the Arts to Heal and Connect,” will occur on Aug. 14 at 4 p.m. at the Spa Little Theater.
Five-time Grammy Award-winning soprano Fleming—curator of the anthology “Music and Mind”—will host a discussion with experts that will explore research on the connections between the arts and health. The event is free to attend.
The exploration will begin with an introduction from Renée Fleming, highlighting the intersection of music, neuroscience, and healthcare, alongside personal stories and insights from her career. She will also share findings from her book “Music and Mind,” which features discoveries on how the arts support healing in areas ranging from pain relief and the treatment of anxiety and depression, to regaining speech after stroke or brain injury, to improving mobility for individuals with conditions like Parkinson’s disease and MS. In addition to these therapeutic applications, the book delves into topics such as evolution, brain function, childhood development, and the role of technology in arts and health.
Brief presentations will follow: psychology and neuroscience researcher Dr. Psyche Loui will speak on music-based interventions for individuals with cognitive impairment and Alzheimer’s; licensed creative arts therapist Bree Beaudette will discuss art therapy techniques that promote healing and personal growth; and SPAC Vice President of Education Dennis Moench will explore SPAC’s commitment to inclusive arts programming, cultivating access to shared creative experiences for all minds and bodies. A panel discussion led by Fleming will follow, culminating with a Q&A and book signing.
To register for this free event, visit spac.org. Seating is limited.
SARATOGA SPRINGS — Cynthia Erivo—acclaimed singer, actor, and co-star of hit Hollywood musical “Wicked”—has canceled her Aug. 22 performance at the Saratoga Performing Arts Center (SPAC) “due to scheduling conflicts beyond the artist’s control.”
Replacing Erivo in SPAC’s summer lineup will be seven-time Grammy Award-winning artist Jon Batiste, whose new album “Big Money” is set to be released on the same day of his Aug. 22 show, giving audiences a chance to experience his latest music live prior to a national tour that begins on Aug. 27.
“While we are disappointed that Cynthia Erivo will not be joining us this summer, we are elated to welcome Jon in celebration of his highly anticipated new album,” said Elizabeth Sobol, the CEO of SPAC, in a news release.
The first half of Batiste’s show will feature music from his upcoming album performed alongside his band. The second half of the show will mark his debut with The Philadelphia Orchestra. This appearance will be Batiste’s first time back at SPAC following his Saratoga Jazz Festival performance in 2018.
Tickets to the Cynthia Erivo show will be automatically transferred to “A Special Evening with Jon Batiste and The Philadelphia Orchestra” on Aug. 22. For existing ticketholders who prefer a refund or a credit to redeem at a later date, a request form will be emailed directly to be completed by Friday, Aug. 1. Questions can be directed to the box office at boxoffice@spac.org.
