Saratoga and Katie Davis Shine in New Netflix Show
“Race for the Crown” poster via Netflix.
SARATOGA SPRINGS — “A Star is Born” has been adapted for the screen four times, most recently in 2018 with Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper. The fifth adaptation might have to be set here in Saratoga Springs, where native daughter Katie Davis has solidified herself as a bona fide leading lady, thanks to the new Netflix documentary series “Race for the Crown,” which premiered on Tuesday.
The show, which chronicles the lead up to the Kentucky Derby, the Derby itself, the Preakness Stakes, and the Belmont Stakes, explores both the downtown and iconic racecourse of Saratoga through the eyes of Davis, a female jockey who tosses out memorable one-liners such as: “If I didn’t become a jockey, I would’ve liked to have been on a SWAT team just to knock doors down.”
The fifth episode of the six-episode series introduces viewers to Davis while she plays with her kids at a family home in Saratoga. Throughout the penultimate and final episodes of “Race for the Crown,” Davis gushes about her hometown.
“I grew up here in Saratoga,” Davis proudly states. “It’s such a special place. My daddy bought this [house] in 1995. We all just come for the summer and camp out.”
Although Davis comes from a family of jockeys, the show spotlights her unique status as a woman in a male-dominated sport.
“There’s not many women that ride Saratoga, so when the fans see a woman, they’re all like ‘yeah, this is awesome!,’” Davis says. “My arms are bigger than most men, but I’ve learned that it’s not about how strong you are, it’s more about finesse and connecting with horses.”
A montage of clips showing Davis riding at Saratoga is followed by scenes that demonstrate the everyday challenges of being a female jockey, such as when a parking attendant at the Pimlico Race Course won’t allow her to enter a jockeys-only parking lot.
Davis, with tears in her eyes, also speaks about being told by a former agent that she wouldn’t be able to make it as a jockey. Of course, that didn’t stop her from doing it anyway.
“If somebody says I can’t do something, watch me,” she says.
After an unsuccessful attempt to win the Black-Eyed Susan Stakes at Pimlico, Davis returns home to ride Union Trail during a race at the 2024 Belmont Stakes Festival. She wins in a runaway, prompting cheers from spectators as she enters the Saratoga winner’s circle.
“Man, just like riding in Saratoga alone, it’s like going to Yankee Stadium,” Davis says after the victory.
The show also follows Davis as she strolls downtown with her husband and kids during the Belmont on Broadway event.
“Saratoga, it’s such a family environment,” Davis says. “People are always friendly. So when I rode the first year here, I wanted to connect with the fans because that’s what’s important to me because they are our livelihood. They are going to keep us going in this industry.”
Netflix viewers are treated to shots of a crowded downtown, where Davis chats with and embraces friends and fans. A few b-roll shots show a Saratoga mounted police officer, the Adirondack Trust building, green Belmont banners affixed to lamp posts, and local shops like Uncommon Grounds and James and Sons Tobacconists.
“There are just a handful of towns in the world where their charm derives from the fact they are racing towns,” says racing broadcaster Nick Luck. “Newmarket in England, Deauville and Chantilly in France. In the United States, Lexington, Kentucky, and, of course, Saratoga. Even though the Belmont Stakes is not at its spiritual home, it is at a very important venue and one which will never give you a free pass.”
Almost the entire sixth episode is set in Saratoga, with particular focus on Jayson Werth, a former MLB star and co-owner of ‘24 Belmont Stakes winner Dornoch. Werth’s unexpected, Cinderella-story win at Belmont serves as the final emotional crescendo of the series.
Saratoga makes a couple cameo appearances in earlier episodes of the show as well. In episode one, trainer Todd Pletcher is seen at the Oklahoma Training Track, and billionaire horse owner Mike Repole chats with the Netflix crew as he walks around barns and offices in the backstretch.
All in all, “Race for the Crown” serves as a flattering advertisement for the Spa City.
Celebrated Saratoga Running Coaches Retire
A sign in Saratoga Springs celebrates the many achievements of the Blue Streaks’ cross country program during the Kranicks’ tenure.
Photos via the Saratoga Springs City School District.
SARATOGA SPRINGS — Art and Linda Kranick, the head coaches of the Saratoga Springs girls track and field program, retired last week, according to a statement released by the district.
“It is with a profound mixture of gratitude and sadness that I announce the retirement of our esteemed coaches, Art and Linda Kranick, who have dedicated their lives to the success and development of our distance running program since 1985,” the statement said. “Their impact on our athletics and the larger realm of cross-country and track and field is unparalleled, and their departure marks the end of an extraordinary era in our school’s history. As stated previously, this is due to a private medical situation, and we ask for your grace and empathy during this difficult time for Art and Linda.”
“As we celebrate their storied careers,” the statement continued, “we recognize the countless lives they have touched through their dedication, passion, and unwavering support. Art and Linda’s commitment to fostering teamwork, resilience, and a love for the sport will have a lasting influence on all who have had the privilege of learning from them. Since the inception of their coaching careers, Art and Linda have molded our distance program into the most successful in state history.”
In their nearly 40-year career, the husband-wife coaching duo garnered almost too many accolades to count.
The Blue Streaks girls cross country team was crowned state champions dozens of times throughout the Kranicks’ tenure, beginning in 1987 and culminating with another state title in 2023. For two years in a row (2020 and 2021), they were ranked the best team in the entire country. In 2004, the squad won the inaugural Nike Cross Nationals Team Championship. That ‘04 team, said MileSplit NY, is often considered one of the best cross country teams ever.
In 2005, the boys team also won the Nike Cross Nationals, making Saratoga the first-ever team to win the title in both genders. As recently as 2022, the Kranicks were named the National High School Cross Country Coaches of the Year. Notable Blue Streak cross country stars in years past have included two-time Foot Locker National Champion Erin Davis and 2018 NCAA First Team All-American Aidan Tooker.
In recent years, the Kranicks had come under scrutiny for alleged instances of abusive coaching, which were detailed in a legal complaint filed in October 2023. In that document, 1989 graduate Kristen (Gecewicz) Gunning said that the running program was “a toxic culture of control and abuse of middle and high school girls all in the name of winning.” 1999 graduate Lauren Hogan said that some aspects of the Kranicks’ program “caused immense damage to me both mentally and physically.” An updated version of the legal complaint also included more than a dozen witnesses who made various claims against the cross-country and track program. The claims spanned from the 1980s to 2022.
Art and Linda Kranick pose alongside student-athletes after being named the 2022 National High School Cross Country Coaches of the Year.
Despite the allegations, the Kranicks never lost the support of the Saratoga Springs School District, which rehired them even after the abusive coaching claims. Many runners, students, parents, and other members of the community also defended the Kranicks following the legal complaint.
At a school board meeting in March 2024, standout varsity runner Emily Bush said, “As much as I love this sport, I can tell you all confidently that I would not be doing it if I felt like I was in an abusive environment. The skills I’ve gained are invaluable and I can’t stress that enough.”
At that meeting, five parents of current or former Saratoga runners also expressed support for the Kranicks’ program. One of them criticized local media outlets for only highlighting negative aspects of the program. Another, Carl Strock, said he sympathized “with those who thought the program was extreme. I thought it was too. You don’t get to be national champions by taking it easy, by having a lot of days off. You get to be national champions by pushing yourself and by others pushing you.”
In August 2024, Superintendent Dr. Michael Patton told Saratoga TODAY that he did not have any concerns about the Kranicks moving forward. “I’ve been here for seven years and have gotten to know the Kranicks very well,” Patton said. He added that, in the past year, the Kranicks had met all of the athletic department’s expectations.
A report published in March 2024 by the Harris Beach law firm seemed to question the district’s decision to rehire the Kranicks. But the report also noted that there were a number of people who praised the Kranicks “for their successes and positive contributions.”
Following a national title victory in 2022, then-senior runner McKinley Wheeler said that “it really meant a lot” to be a part of the Blue Streaks team. “All the effort and work Mr. and Mrs. Kranick put into this program, and our training, and our success, is just really moving,” she said. “They’re really great coaches, and just overall great people. Going through these years, and being able to go to these meets and experience what we did, I’m just really grateful.”
The Kranicks have been tentatively replaced by Tom Reilly as the girls head coach, with Shane Cassidy acting as his assistant.
City Council Invites Public to Talk Fowl
SARATOGA SPRINGS — The City Council will host a Public Hearing on May 6 in advance of a vote seeking to ban roosters in Saratoga Springs.
Inevitable jokes aside, “this is serious to a lot of people,” city Mayor John Safford said.
Current City regulations set crowing cock noise restrictions from midnight to 7 a.m. The amendment would not allow roosters to be kept at any time on any property in the city, excepting as part of a farming or agricultural business in conformance with the UDO.
“We intend to eliminate roosters throughout the entire city. Right now, they’re just allowed, in part, in the inner (tax) district,” said Public Safety Commissioner Tim Coll.
“Over the last few years, we’ve had a half-dozen complaints about roosters. Obviously, they’re very noisy. The UDO covers a hen house which has certain specifics – but I think a ‘no rooster’ ordinance is appropriate,” Coll said.
The amendment specifies the term “rooster” as any adult male domestic chicken or any adult male bird capable of crowing.
Hens, which lay eggs, would still be permissible. Area municipalities have similar ordinances.
The cities of Albany and Rensselaer and the village of Ballston Spa all prohibit roosters, but each allows up to six hens via respective local licensing and permitting processes. Some require the written consent of nearby residents, while others are subject to noise provisions. The town of Wilton also prohibits roosters but allows up to 12 female chickens via a $20 permit fee, with a $10 annual renewal cost. The cities of Schenectady and Mechanicville prohibit altogether the keeping of any livestock or poultry.
“We’re going to give homeowners at least several months to re-home the rooster,” Coll said. “Our code enforcement officers right now are looking for establishments that will accept the roosters.”
The public hearing will take place at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, May 6 at City Hall in Saratoga Springs, in advance of that night’s council meeting.
Saratoga County DOH Announces Recognitionas One of the Healthiest Counties in the Country
Saratoga County, as depicted in the County Health Rankings & Roadmaps 2025 annual data release.
SARATOGA COUNTY — Saratoga County officials announced last week that its Department of Health has successfully transitioned to a full-service health department.
The County began the transition to a full-service local health department in 2021 working cooperatively with the NYSDOH and with oversight from the Saratoga County Board of Supervisors Public Health Advisory Task Force.
As of April 1, 2025, Saratoga County Department of Health (SCDOH) has assumed responsibility for all 22 mandated programs of Environmental Health from New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH) and is currently enforcing programs such as restaurant inspections, children’s camps inspections, investigating lead poisoning, and more to ensure clean and safe environments.
The county continues to be recognized as one of the healthiest counties in the nation, according to the County Health Rankings & Roadmaps annual data release, which may be viewed here: https://www.countyhealthrankings.org/. Data can be searched specifically by county and also in comparison to other counties.
“Our staff have worked diligently throughout the transition and are ready to take on this responsibility to better serve our community and respond to their needs efficiently and effectively,” Daniel Kuhles, M.D., M.P.H., Commissioner of the Saratoga County Department of Health said in a statement.
“The transition to a full-service health department is not just a change in structure; it is a vital investment in the health and well-being of our community. We have worked closely with NYS DOH for a couple of years to transfer Environmental Health responsibilities as we recruited professionals to join our team,” said county Board of Supervisors Chairman Phil Barrett.
For more information about the Saratoga County Department of Health, visit www.saratogacountyny.gov/DOH.
Ballston Spa Robotics Team Heads to World Championship
Photo via the 0xBe4 robotics team Facebook page.
BALLSTON SPA — Ballston Spa’s 3US First Robotics Team 3044 0xBE4 has received and accepted a wild card invitation to attend the World Championships happening in Houston, Texas from April 16-19. They are one of 600 out of 3,690 teams worldwide to receive an invitation.
Earlier this month, the team was ranked the 4th best team in New York State following the New York Tech Valley FIRST Robotics Competition at MVP Arena. The squad also earned its 32nd team award with the Gracious Professionalism Award.
Prior to the event at MVP, 0xBe4 competed at the Finger Lakes Regional against 54 teams from New York, Ohio, and West Virginia. The team qualified in 11th place and was selected to compete in Eliminations with the 5th seed Captain. The team’s record was 10-4 and their robot placed in the top ten in many categories. At the time, they were ranked #147 out of 2,947 teams in the country, and they were ranked #189 out of 3,712 teams in the world.
Ballston Spa Middle Schoolers Crowned Odyssey of the Mind State Champs
Photo via the Ballston Spa Central School District.
ALLSTON SPA — The Ballston Spa School District’s Middle School Problem 4 team was recently crowned New York State Champions at the Odyssey of the Mind State Finals Tournament in Syracuse. The team was one of five squads representing Ballston Spa.
The Wood Road Elementary team, participating in the tournament for the first time, came in 8th place for their problem/division and got the highest spontaneous score.
Last Call Shot Down
BALLSTON SPA — A decades-long effort to curtail drinking hours in Saratoga Springs was narrowly rejected by Supervisors at the county table this week. The resolution requested the state Liquor Authority restrict the hours of sale of alcoholic beverages countywide.
The proposal to alter “Last Call’ hours had, in one form or another, been forwarded from the city of Saratoga Springs to the county three previous times during the past 20 or so years. In each case, the measure never secured necessary approval at the county subcommittee level to be brought for a full board discussion.
The April 15 Board of Supervisors meeting marked the first time the resolution came to a full board vote, even as more than one-third of the supervisors were absent from the meeting.
Supervisors, in number, voted 9-6 against the proposal to potentially alter Last Call hours in Saratoga County, with 8 of the 23 supervisors absent. The Board uses a weighted voting system based on population numbers in which county specific supervisors serve. Approximate calculations utilizing that system indicate that the measure failed 83,000 to 75,000, with 77,500 others left absent in the vote.
“The Saratoga Springs City Council has been debating this for almost two decades,” Saratoga Springs city Supervisor Michele Madigan told the Board prior to the vote, citing measures initiated by former commissioners John Franck – in 2010, and Chris Mathiesen – two years later. “I don’t believe were trying to limit businesses, but to ensure and enhance public safety,” she said.
To that point, city Public Safety Commissioner Tim Coll and county Sheriff Michael Zurlo had each expressed support for earlier Last Call times at bars.
“We went back four years and when you look at our use-of-force incidents in the nightlife district in Saratoga Springs, 55% of those incidents happened after 2 a.m.,” said Commissioner Coll. “Reducing the hours with earlier closing times has the potential for us to reduce overtime as well as to keep officers more safe.”
The New York State Alcoholic Beverage Control Law prohibits sales of alcoholic beverages for on-premises consumption between the hours of 4 a.m. and 10 a.m. on Sunday, and between the hours of 4 a.m. and 8 a.m. on any other day.
The proposed resolution requested the SLA implement changes effective Jan. 1, 2026 across Saratoga County that would set Last Call at 2 a.m. from Nov. 1 to April 30 (with a 4 a.m. exception on New Year’s Eve), and at 3 a.m. from May 1 to Oct. 31. The “Last Call” proposal specified that bars may stay open beyond the stipulated “Last Call” time and continue to serve food and drinks – merely that they may not involve alcohol.
Carving out the time change solely for the city of Saratoga Springs requires state approval and is not believed to be a viable option.
A Public Hearing was held at the county complex in Ballston Spa on April 9 to solicit community input on the proposed changes. Three people spoke in-person and four letters were received. Six of the seven public responses were in favor of the change. All six favoring the change came from Saratoga Springs city residents.
“The city (of Saratoga Springs) is asking for this, so maybe there’s more work to be done to try to show the impact on each town,” city Supervisor Matt Veitch said immediately following the Board vote on April 15.
“We are a Board of Supervisors and we all look at our own towns first. They’re looking out for what happens in their towns, so I don’t hold any ‘no’ votes against those towns. They’re doing what they feel is right by their constituents,” Veitch said. “I’m not sure what the process would be to re-introduce it.”
“I don’t know if we’re going to see earlier bar closings any time soon, but we’re going to discuss it,” Supervisor Madigan added.
How They Voted
There are 23 supervisors on the board representing Saratoga County’s 21 municipalities. Each county is represented by at least one supervisor, with Clifton Park and Saratoga Springs – the two municipalities with the largest populations – each represented by two supervisors.
The board had established a population of 25,000 residents as the threshold for the number of supervisors each county would have to represent them; less than 25,000 residents meant one supervisor, more than 25,000 meant two. When 2022 census reports showed the population in the town of Halfmoon had risen above that 25,000 population threshold – indicating a second supervisor would be required, the board instead voted to approve raising the population threshold to 27,500, essentially maintaining one supervisor for the town.
As such, current Halfmoon Supervisor Kevin Tollisen carries the board’s single most powerful weighted vote, counting as more than 25,600, with the two supervisors in Clifton Park – counting at just over 19,000 each, closest behind.
The results of this week’s vote, calculated using Saratoga County Board of Supervisors Weighted Vote, Local Law No. 1 of 2022 is as follows:
In Favor: Charlton Joe Grasso 4,328; Clifton Park Philip Barrett 19,014.5; Saratoga Ian Murray 5,808; Saratoga Springs Michele Madigan 14,245.5; Saratoga Springs Matthew Veitch 14,245.5; Wilton John Lant 17,361.
Total In Favor: 75,002.5
Against: Corinth Eric Butler 6,500; Day Harry Brennan 819; Edinburg Robert Anderson 1,333; Hadley Arthur Wright 1,976; Halfmoon Kevin Tollisen 25,662; Malta Cynthia Young 17,130; Mechanicville Thomas Richardson 5,163; Moreau Jesse Fish 16,202; Waterford David Ball 8,208.
Total Against: 82,993
Absent: Ballston Eric Connolly 11,831; Clifton Park Angela Thompson 19,014.5; Galway J.D. Arnold 3,525; Greenfield Kevin Veitch 8,004; Milton Scott Ostrander 18,800; Northumberland Willard H. Peck 5,242; Providence Sandra Winney 2,075; Stillwater Edward Kinowski 9,022.
Total Absent at Vote: 77,513.5
REAL ID Set to Begin May 7; Rush Resulting in Longer DMV Wait Times in Saratoga
BALLSTON SPA — With the federal requirement of having a REAL ID to board domestic flights set to begin May 7, the Saratoga County DMVs have seen a 35% spike in foot traffic and increasing wait times for customers, according to the agency.
The May 7 deadline set by the federal Department of Homeland Security only relates to when “REAL ID-compliant” identification will be required to board planes flying within the United States and to enter certain federal buildings.
“If you plan to travel domestically by air in June or afterwards, you may want to consider delaying your visit to DMV until 45 to 60 days out to avoid the influx of customers and longer wait times currently being experienced,” Saratoga County Clerk Craig Hayner said in a statement.
Hayner emphasized that the state-issued Standard Driver’s License and Standard Non-driver ID will remain a valid ID in New York State.
“If you don’t travel by air domestically or enter certain federal buildings where a REAL ID is required, you can continue to use your Standard Driver’s License/Non-driver ID. No need to upgrade,” he said. “You are not required to upgrade to a REAL ID. It is a personal choice.”
A U.S. passport also is a form of REAL ID and is good for domestic and international flights. Other forms of REAL ID that will be accepted to board a plane after May 7 can be found on the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) website at www.TSA.gov/id.
For those who need to visit the DMV, Hayner advises ensuring documents are ready when arriving for a smooth and efficient transaction.
For more information about the forms of ID available through the DMV and what documents are required for each, go to https://dmv.ny.gov/driver-license/enhanced-or-real-id.