Sea Shadows, the 2022 Saratoga Harness Horse of the Year. She is trained by 2022 leading trainer and Horseperson of the Year Melissa Beckwith and driven by Hall of Fame Driver Wally Hennessey. Photo by Melissa Simser.
SARATOGA SPRINGS — Live harness racing has returned to Saratoga Casino Hotel for its 82nd season beginning Saturday, Feb. 4. The 2023 schedule will consist of 150 racing programs running through mid-December.
“We’re expecting some great racing this year,” said Race Secretary Peter Iovino. “We have over $18 million in purses, averaging $120K in purses per program.”
In addition, the track will be hosting NY Sire Stakes races starting in June, featuring the best New York bred horses in the state who will race for over $1 million in purses. The premier event of the season will be the 14th Annual Joe Gerrity Jr. Memorial Pace with a $250,000 purse on Saturday, July 22.
“As in the past, we’re confident this race will attract a field of top pacers looking to break the track record of 1:48:4 set by Dancin Yankee in the 2014 Gerrity,” Iovino said.
The winter, spring and fall schedule will include matinee racing on Sunday, Monday and select Tuesdays, post time 12 p.m. and Saturdays, post time 5 p.m. The summer live racing schedule will be Friday, Saturday and Sunday evenings with a post time of 6:45 p.m.
For a complete live racing schedule, go to www.saratogacasino.com.
SARATOGA SPRINGS — Registration is now open for the upcoming Saratoga Miss Softball season until March 5.
Saratoga Miss Softball is open to girls aged 4 to 16, and there are no residency requirements. Games are played at Veterans Memorial Park at 10 Adams Rd in Saratoga Springs. There are four levels offered: T-Ball (ages 4-5), Mini-Minor (ages 6-8), A Level (ages 9-12), and AA Level (ages 13-16).
To register or find more information, visit saratogamiss.com.
SARATOGA SPRINGS —The Saratoga Men’s Baseball League is looking for players ages 28 and over for the upcoming season. The season runs from May through August. For more information, call or text 518-470-7894 by March 1.
SCHENECTADY — Numerous athletes from the Saratoga Springs and Ballston Spa varsity indoor track teams took home championship wins at the Section 2 Indoor Track Championship Meets at Union College on Jan. 28 and 29.
Eight athletes from Saratoga won Section 2 Division 1 titles across five events. Sheridan Wheeler won the Section 2 Division 1 Girls Championship in the 3,000-meter run, while Amelia McBain won the sectional title in the pole vault.
The Blue Streaks’ team of Anya Belisle, McKinley Wheeler, Heidi Berglund, and Emily Bush won the Section 2 Division 1 Girls Championship in the 4 x 800 relay. Genevieve Duchaussee won the Section 2 Division 1 Girls Championship in the shot put, and Mason Talarico won the Section 2 Division 1 Boys Championship in the 1,600-meter run.
Ballston Spa saw six athletes win Section 2 Division 2 Championships in a total of six events.
Scotties’ senior Isaiah Hannah captured the Section 2 Division 2 Boys Championship in both the 45-meter dash and the 50-meter hurdles, while Harriet Healey won sectional titles in both the 300-meter dash and the 600-meter run.
Healey was also a part of the Scotties’ sectional-winning 4 x 200 relay team, along with Petrina Zborovsky, Anna Zito, and Livia Wiltsie. Madalyn Wilson won the Section 2 Division 2 Girls Championship in the 1,500-meter race walk.
See below for a list of top finishers from both schools:
Saratoga Girls
The team of Anya Belisle, McKinley Wheeler, Heidi Berglund, and Emily Bush won the Section 2 Division 1 Championship in the 4 x 800 relay (10:06.35). Amelia McBain won the Section 2 Division 1 Championship in the pole vault (12’ 3”), also placing fifth in the 50-meter hurdles (8.37) and the triple jump (34’ 0.5”).
Sheridan Wheeler took home the Section 2 Division 1 title in the 3,000-meter run (10:12.33), with McKinley Wheeler in second (10:21.72) and Berglund fifth (10:59.59).
Genevieve Duchaussee won the Section 2 Division 1 title in the shot put (33’ 11”). McKinley Wheeler placed third in the 1,500-meter run (4:49.77), with Sheridan Wheeler in fourth (4:50.27).
Bush finished second in the 1,500-meter run (4:43.59) and third in the 1,000-meter run (3:04.70). Duchaussee placed third in the 300-meter dash (43.74) and seventh in the 600-meter run (1:45.92). Belisle finished fourth in the 1,000-meter run (3:05.55) and eighth in the 600-meter run (1:47.77), while Natalie Wilding took eighth in the 1,000-meter run (3:22.72).
Claire Braxton finished third in the pole vault (8’ 0”), while Leah Harden and Sloane Mulcahy tied for fourth in the high jump (4’ 8”). Lily Collins placed 10th in the 300-meter dash (47.85).
Saratoga Boys
Mason Talarico won the Section 2 Division 1 Championship in the 1,600-meter run (4:31.52). Owen Blaisdell took second place in the 1,000-meter run (2:46.26), while the team of Aidan Slavett, Nathaniel Providence, Alex Lansford, and Charles Dybala finished second in the 4 x 400 relay (3:54.80).
Ethan Straughter placed second in the long jump (19’ 8.75”) and sixth in the 45-meter dash (5.92), while Connor Varian finished third in the 300-meter dash (40.18). Thomas Isenovski took third place in the 3,200-meter run (10:13.42), with Hudson Shaw fifth (10:19.03) and Max Vogel in 10th (10:55.35).
Joao Dos Anjos Neto finished third in the pole vault (12’ 0”) and fifth in the long jump (18’ 6.5”), while Michael Briscoe placed fourth in the pole vault (10’ 0”). Dybala was fourth in the 600-meter run (1:34.30), with Gianangelo Lanza in sixth (1:36.41).
Caleb Yuhasz took sixth in the 1,600-meter run (4:56.32), while Evan Rando placed seventh in both the high jump (5’ 2”) and triple jump (37’ 1”). Samuel Bernd placed fourth in the shot put (39’ 3.5”), while Luke Dacey finished 10th in the 1,000-meter run (2:59.28).
Ballston Spa Girls
Harriet Healey won the Section 2 Division 2 Championship in the 300-meter dash (43.40) and the 600-meter run (1:45.53), also winning as part of the Scotties’ 4 x 200 relay team with Petrina Zborovsky, Anna Zito, and Livia Wiltsie (1:57.03).
Madalyn Wilson won the Section 2 Division 2 crown in the 1,500-meter race walk (10:26.67), also taking third in the 3,000-meter run (11:32.65). Wiltsie took third in the 45-meter dash (6.43), with Zborovsky fourth (6.47).
Zborovsky also placed seventh in the long jump (13’ 3.5”), with Ashley Beck sixth (14’ 0.75”). Zito finished seventh in the 50-meter hurdles (9.37) and ninth in the 300-meter dash (47.65).
Sarah Himmelwright finished second in the 1,500-meter racewalk (10:39.22), with Amy Taylor in third (10:39.46).
Ballston Spa Boys
Isaiah Hannah won the Section 2 Division 2 Championship in the 45-meter dash (5.74) and the 50-meter hurdles (7.18). Hannah, along with Kala’l Makanani, Alijah Burgess, and Michael Stamper, placed second in the 4 x 200 relay (1:45.07).
Makanani also finished second in the 300-meter dash (39.93) and ninth in the long jump (17’ 0.5”). Stamper placed third in the 45-meter dash (5.93), while Silas Bashant took fifth place in the 600-meter dash (1:35.56) with Jacob Armer (1:36.25) in eighth.
Armer also finished 10th in the 1,000-meter run (2:57.38), while Joseph Sabatino took seventh place in the high jump (5’ 2”). Joseph Fodera finished eighth in the 1,600-meter run (5:00.69), with Matthew Meerdink in 10th (5:07.48).
Schuylerville’s Macey Koval (12) looks to drive to the hoop during the Black Horses’ 57-52 win over Amsterdam on Feb. 1. Photo by Super Source Media Studios.
SCHUYLERVILLE — The Schuylerville varsity girls basketball team held on for a big 57-52 victory at home over Amsterdam on Friday, powered by 24 points from senior Macey Koval.
The Black Horses jumped out to an 18-13 lead after one quarter, but the Rams hung around, cutting the deficit to 32-29 at halftime. Schuylerville used a strong defensive third to push the lead back to six, and held on through the fourth for a 57-52 victory.
Koval led all scorers with 24 points in the win. Amanda Pflieger had 13 points for Schuylerville, hitting a trio of three-pointers, while Lauren King added nine points. Anika Buff had eight points, with Sophie Bodnar adding three points for the Black Horses.
Annika Fedullo led Amsterdam with 16 points in the loss. Felise Fowler added 11 points, while Natalee Agresta and Rosalie Sculco each had 10 points. Liana Brown added three points, while Sharazade Cooper had two points for the Rams.
Schuylerville turned its momentum into another win on Monday, cruising past Gloversville 56-30 on the road. The Black Horses are 10-8 overall, and have won five straight games.
Amsterdam hosted Broadalbin-Perth on Monday, falling 53-45. The Rams are 9-8 overall, and will play South Glens Falls in the Foothills Showcase on Feb. 12.
Photo provided by Schuylerville Central School District.
SCHENECTADY — The Schuylerville girls’ indoor track team won the Foothills League Championship at Union College on Jan. 22. Every athlete scored either individually or in a relay, while the team won 8 of the 16 events contested. In addition, several athletes broke Schuylerville school records throughout the season in various events.
The Black Horses girls’ team finished with a team score of 134 points, with second-place Scotia-Glenville finishing with 114 points.
“The team has put in a tremendous amount of work this season, often training in difficult weather conditions,” said Assistant Coach Justin Vianese. “They have approached every challenge with a positive attitude. Their efforts have enabled them to realize their goals, whether a personal record, school record, or team championship. It’s great to see the athletes believe in themselves and know their hard work has paid off.”
See below for results and records from the Schuylerville varsity track teams:
Kiera Rogan: Rogan holds the new school record for the 3000m, with a finishing time of 10:28:66. Rogan beat the previous record by 26 seconds during the Dec. 10 Tri County Indoor Track League Meet at Union College. Rogan also holds the new school record for the 1500m, with a finishing time of 4:50:83. Rogan beat the previous record by 15 seconds.
Nikki Stark: Nikki Stark set the new school record for the 50m hurdles with a time of 8.70. Stark broke the old record of 9.14 from 2016. Starks also holds the new school record for the 200m hurdles with a time of 30.24. Stark broke the previous record by more than 9 seconds at the Jan. 8 Ed Cepiel Invitational in Springfield, MA.
Ryan Stark: Ryan Stark holds the new school record for the indoor triple jump with a jump of 34’ 1”, eclipsing the old record of 34’ 1/2”. Stark beat the previous record at the Armory High School Holiday Classic in NYC on Dec. 29.
Meaghan Lynch: Meaghan Lynch set the new 45m school record with a time of 6.53 seconds. Lynch beat the previous record of 6.54 seconds at the Foothills League Championship at Union College on Jan. 22.
BURNT HILLS — Three Ballston Spa wrestlers earned first-place finishes in their respective weight classes, helping the Scotties capture the team championship at the 2023 Section 2 Division 1 Class 2 Tournament on Feb. 4.
Ballston Spa’s Ralph Keeney, Connor Gregory, and Darrien Insogna placed first in their respective weight classes, while Tristan Hinchcliff, Cameron Hinchcliff, William O’Connor, and Jacob Perkins finished as runner-ups in their weight classes.
Tyler Perkins placed third at 132 pounds, while Cole Donnelly placed third at 285 pounds. Quinton Warlikowski earned a fourth-place finish at 102 pounds, and James Capasso earned a fourth-place finish at 145 pounds. Gavin Whipple and Anthony Prastio each placed fifth in their weight classes.
All 13 wrestlers will head to the Section 2 Division 1 Championships this weekend at Cool Insuring Arena.
At 110 pounds, Keeney pinned all three of his opponents, defeating Amsterdam’s Breyana Montalvo in the quarterfinals, Queensbury’s A.J. Spero in the semifinals, and South Glens Falls’ Dylan Keech in the championship match.
Gregory, wrestling at 160 pounds, pinned Burnt Hills’ Andrew Martin in the quarterfinals and pinned Scotia-Glenville/Galway’s Alwalid Bourkia in the semifinals. Gregory earned a 3-0 decision over Queensbury’s Lucas Schell in the championship.
Insogna won at 215 pounds by pinning Burnt Hills’ Julian Goss in the semifinals, and pinning Averill Park’s Connor Byers in the championship match.
Tristan Hinchcliff advanced to the championship at 118 pounds by earning a 12-5 decision over Mohonasen’s Nico Rivera in the semifinals, falling to Burnt Hills’ Tyler Whiteley by a 5-2 decision. Cameron Hinchcliff pinned Ben Taylor (Burnt Hills) in the semifinals at 126 pounds, losing an 8-6 decision to Averill Park’s Jacob Hanlon in the championship.
O’Connor, wrestling at 138 pounds, won a 9-4 decision over Queensbury’s Timothy Paculavich in the semifinals, and was pinned by Burnt Hills’ Gabriel Goss in the championship. Jacob Perkins beat Thomas Pawlinga (Burnt Hills) by 5-3 decision in the semifinals at 172 pounds, losing a 3-2 tiebreaker decision to Averill Park’s Elias Goosmann in the championship.
The Scotties finished with the top overall team score at the tournament, with 248.5 points. Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake, the host school, was second with 243 points.
Pictured with family members are the Saratoga Catholic varsity boys basketball seniors, from left: Kam Cox (14), Matt Murphy (33), Aidan Dunne (5), Justin Duscher (25). Photo by Super Source Media Studios.
SARATOGA SPRINGS — The Saratoga Central Catholic varsity boys basketball team got back in the win column on Senior Night, honoring the Saints’ four seniors with a 41-35 victory over Waterford-Halfmoon on Tuesday.
“We’ve come a long way,” said head coach Shea Bromirski, who credited the seniors for their leadership. “It’s a classy group. We have really good kids here.”
Senior Justin Duscher, who led the Saints with 15 points, said it was meaningful to have the senior ceremony and noted the closeness of the Saratoga Catholic squad.
“I came here last year, and these guys welcomed me with open arms,” said Duscher. “This team’s a really tight-knit group of guys. It’s a special moment.”
Saratoga Catholic has four seniors: Kam Cox, Aidan Dunne, Justin Duscher, and Matt Murphy.
Dunne said it was an exciting night, saying his teammates “mean the world” to him.
“They’re like the closest group of friends you could have,” Dunne said. “You’re with them every day.”
The Saints led 9-5 after a low-scoring first quarter, and the defensive affair carried into the second, with Saratoga Catholic taking a 17-12 lead into halftime.
Dunne had nine points in the first half to pace the Saints, who limited the Fordians to just five made field goals in the half. Bromirski said that defense has been a main point of emphasis for the Saratoga Catholic team this season.
“That’s what we hang our hat on, is the defensive end of the floor,” said Bromirski. “That’s something we talk about every day in practice. … They bought in to playing that end of the floor.”
But Waterford-Halfmoon opened the second half on a 12-0 run, jumping to a 24-17 lead with 3:27 left in the third. Duscher, the Saints’ leading scorer, stepped up at the end of the quarter, hitting back-to-back three-pointers to cut Waterford’s lead to one entering the fourth.
Bromirski said that Duscher making big shots is “what he’s done for us all year.”
“Every time that we’ve won a close game or done something, he’s been our guy who makes big shots for us,” Bromirski said. “He’s one of the best kids I’ve ever coached, one of the best people I’ve ever coached.”
The teams traded baskets early in the fourth, with the Saints taking the lead for good on a basket by Aidan Crowther with 3:24 remaining. Duscher then scored to give Saratoga Catholic a 36-33 lead, and a steal and fastbreak for Hunter Fales made it 38-33 with 2:08 left.
The Saints held strong defensively in the final minutes, sealing a 41-35 win with free throws from Duscher. Bromirski said the team came alive late after “doing the little things.”
“I talk to these guys religiously about (how) the ball goes in the hoop when you do the right things,” said Bromirski. “When you’re playing as hard as you can, and you’re getting every loose ball, somehow the ball starts to find the basket.”
Duscher’s 15 points led all scorers, while Dunne added nine in the win for the Saints. Ronan Rowe had six points, Fales and Crowther each had five points, and Ryan Gillis added one point for Saratoga Catholic.
Derrick Ponture and Anthony Scunziano each had 13 points for Waterford-Halfmoon. Matt Soden added five points, while Nate Griner had four points.
Saratoga Catholic (11-8) will play Waterford-Halfmoon again on Friday in a Wasaren League crossover game, with the Section 2 Class C Tournament to follow.
“Our resume’s pretty good. I would think that we would be somewhere in the top half of the Class C bracket,” Bromirski said. “… Then we’ll see who we play on Tuesday, and we’ll go from there.”
“Just to lock in,” said Dunne of the team’s mindset. “I don’t think we’re playing our best basketball right now, but we were a couple weeks ago, and we can get back to that.”
ALBANY — Original Talking Heads member Jerry Harrison and noted touring member Adrian Belew have announced 18-additional tour dates for their upcoming ‘Remain In Light’ tour, in celebration of the band’s iconic 1980 record.
The ‘Remain In Light Tour’ will find Harrison and Belew performing songs from this monumental period of the band’s history alongside a powerhouse band, including former members of Turkuaz, Julie Slick on bass, and Yahuba Garcia-Torres on percussion.
The show will be staged Wednesday, March 8 at Empire Live, located at 93 N. Pearl Street, Albany. Call 518-900-5900, or go to: empirelivealbany.com
Firebird will be staged July 21 & 22 as part of the New York City Ballet’s four programs this summer at SPAC. Photo provided.
SARATOGA SPRINGS — The Saratoga Performing Arts Center has announced the return of its resident companies — New York City Ballet and The Philadelphia Orchestra — to their summer home in Saratoga Springs for a celebratory season that will feature masterworks from the classical cannon, alongside SPAC premieres and debuts.
New York City Ballet returns with the full company from July 18 – 22, with its roster of more than 90 dancers under the direction of Artistic Director Jonathan Stafford and Associate Artistic Director Wendy Whelan, accompanied by the New York City Ballet Orchestra, led by Music Director Andrew Litton.
The Company will present four programs including “NYCB On and Off Stage,” hosted by NYCB dancers for a unique “behind the curtain” experience featuring excerpts from the week’s ballets.
Highlighting the season are contemporary new works including Play Time by Gianna Reisen set to music by Solange Knowles; Love Letter (on shuffle) by Kyle Abraham, featuring the music of James Blake; and Liturgy by Christopher Wheeldon with music by Arvo Pärt, in addition to two works by Justin Peck including the SPAC premiere of his first full-evening ballet, Copland Dance Episodes, set to four of Aaron Copland’s most acclaimed musical scores: Appalachian Spring, Billy the Kid, Fanfare for the Common Man, and Rodeo, as well as Scherzo Fantastique set to music by Igor Stravinsky, which had its World Premiere at SPAC in 2016.
Also featured is a program dedicated to three story ballets including Balanchine’s Swan Lake, Robbins’ Fancy Free and Firebird by both choreographers.
The Philadelphia Orchestra’s three-week residency (Aug. 2 – Aug. 19) will feature Music Director Yannick Nézet-Séguin (Aug. 11–12) leading two programs including a Rachmaninoff 150th birthday celebration, and appearances by cellist Yo-Yo Ma (Aug. 17) and violinist Gil Shaham (Aug. 16), returning for the first time in a decade in a special SPAC premiere leading Vivaldi’s The Four Seasons.
Making their 2023 SPAC debuts is a diverse roster of artists including Emmy-, Grammy-, and Tony Award-winning icon Audra McDonald (Aug. 10) for a Broadway program, and global “little orchestra” Pink Martini, featuring China Forbes (Aug. 4), in addition to pianists Isata Kanneh-Mason (Aug. 3) and Bruce Liu (Aug. 11). The 2023 season also includes a diverse line-up of conductors making their SPAC debuts, including Fabio Luisi (Aug. 2-3) for the opening two nights including the popular Festive Fireworks program, Enrico Lopez-Yañez (Aug. 4) to lead Pink Martini alongside the Orchestra, Roderick Cox (Aug. 9) in a performance of Beethoven’s Seventh Symphony, and Xian Zhang (Aug. 17) for Yo-Yo Ma Plays Dvořák.
SPAC also revealed its 2023 festival theme of EARTH would be integrated throughout the Orchestra’s residency, highlighted by Earth: An HD Odyssey (Aug. 18), featuring ravishing images of the planet on a large LED screen accompanied by Richard Strauss’ epic tone poem Also Sprach Zarathustra featured in 2001: A Space Odyssey and John ¬Adams’ exhilarating Short Ride in a Fast Machine. Continuing the theme, Yannick Nézet-Séguin will lead the Orchestra in the SPAC premiere of Pulitzer-Prize winning composer John Luther Adams’ Vespers of the Blessed Earth, alongside Stravinsky’s famed The Rite of Spring (Aug.12).
The popular film nights will also return to delight audiences of all ages as the Orchestra accompanies, live to picture, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire™ in Concert (Aug. 5) and Jurassic Park in Concert (Aug. 19), celebrating the 30th anniversary of the film.
Tickets will be available beginning on Feb. 14 at 10 a.m. for members (tiered by level) and on Feb. 23 at 10 a.m. for the general public. For specific program dates and performances, visit spac.org for details.
