Flier image for the Saratoga Farm Showcase via the Saratoga PLAN website.
SARATOGA SPRINGS — Over the last century, the number of farms in Saratoga County has decreased by 84%. As local farmers work hard to survive and thrive, the first-ever Farm Showcase on June 22 aims to give the community a taste (literally) of what the county’s farms have to offer.
More than twenty local farms, providing everything from ice cream to beer to fresh produce, will participate in the event, which is organized by Saratoga PLAN (Preserving Land and Nature), a nonprofit land trust.
Michelle Culbert, Saratoga PLAN’s associate director, said that local farmers are finding creative ways to market themselves directly to consumers. The Saratoga Farm Showcase is one way to do that.
“Attending these types of events, going right to the farm store and purchasing directly from the farm, is the best way to support local farmers,” Culbert said.
Farms are rapidly evaporating, primarily due to development and urban sprawl. Developers like farmland because it’s usually flat and cleared of trees. Although this loss of farmland is happening nationwide, it’s even more pronounced in Saratoga County, the second-fastest growing county in the state. “We’re feeling it here more than elsewhere in the state,” Culbert said.
Part of Saratoga PLAN’s mission includes farmland conservation, which the organization says is “important to the long-term health of the economy, the environment, and the social fabric of our community.”
Participants in the upcoming showcase include Hop City Maple, King Brothers Dairy, McMahon of Saratoga Thoroughbreds, Arnold’s Farm Fresh Produce, City Goat Farm, Dancing Grain Farm Brewery, and Smith’s Orchard & Bake Shop, among others.
Culbert said the inaugural showcase’s success will be measured both by ticket sales and, more importantly, how much everyone involved enjoys the experience.
Tickets for adults cost $10. Kids are free. All tickets must be purchased by Thursday, June 20. There are no day-of ticket sales.
Included with a ticket comes a tour map with a list of participating farms and their special offerings and discounts, as well as an insulated cooler bag filled with farm goodies. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit https://saratoga-plan.snwbll.com/ticketing/saratoga-farm-showcase.
SARATOGA SPRINGS — This month, the city implemented new procedures designed to enhance security throughout City Hall.
Beginning with the City Council meeting on June 4, members of the public were subject to search and wanding prior to entering meetings, and a metal detection system sited on the building’s first floor, just outside council meeting chambers.
The change follows a Department of Public Safety review of security options and the recommendation of the city’s Insurance Carrier, NYMIR, to install a metal detection system prior to entering the City Council Meetings. At this time, the procedures will only be in place at City Council meetings.
Some of the specifics: all members of the public entering the City Council meetings will be subject to search and wanding, with all bags, packages, containers and property items subject to search. If any prohibited items are found on a person or in their belongings, they will not be allowed entry, according to the city.
Among prohibited items: firearms, alcohol, noxious materials (including Pepper Spray and Mace), edged weapons (these could be utility, pocket or Swiss army knives, and scissors), “nuisance” devices (such as bullhorns and whistles), stun guns, and a variety of other items deemed to be a security risk or disruptive to governmental activities, at the discretion of Saratoga Springs Police Department. Note, there will be no storage facilities at City Hall, such as lockers, to store any personal belongings.
The council is in general agreement that the first-level council chambers, with a maximum allowable capacity of 49, offers a superior locale for meetings, compared to the much larger capacity music hall on the third floor where occasional meetings have been staged in the past.
“We’re going to always try to meet in this room,” city Mayor John Safford said.
SARATOGA SPRINGS — The Gardens at Yaddo have reopened for the season and will welcome visitors through Oct. 13, 2024.
The sanctuary, located on the public access grounds of the artists’ retreat at Yaddo, invites the public to immerse themselves in the gardens.
Open Hours: Monday through Thursday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., as well as Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Guests entering on weekends are asked to use the East Entrance. Limited parking is available, with additional guidance provided on yaddo.org/gardens/.
The Yaddo Reads Lending Library, a micro lending library stocked with books curated for children and young adults is accessible during Garden Open Hours and is freshly stocked with new titles for young readers.
Programs: The Art of Wellness series returns, with yoga classes held in the gardens on select Sundays through October. The Wine & Roses series pairs live music with vintage selections in the gardens. The Nature of Art features talks and readings exploring Yaddo and the region.
For those considering wedding ceremonies or photography sessions, the gardens are available for reservations, with a suggested donation.
The main gate of the Yaddo estate is located on Union Avenue between the racecourse and Exit 14 of the Northway. For more information on public events, visit https://yaddo.org/event-category/public/.
Photo via Saratoga Athletics social media accounts.
SARATOGA SPRINGS — The Saratoga Springs varsity girls lacrosse team captured its second-straight Section 2, Class A sectional title last week against Colonie Central, 11 to 10.
The Blue Streaks had a come-from-behind victory, scoring four goals after being down 10 to 7.
“The girls definitely felt they had what it took to win sectionals again and used defending their title as their motivation,” Coach Jennifer Furze told Saratoga TODAY.
After capturing the sectional championships, Saratoga advanced to the regional finals, where they faced the Suffern Mounties last Saturday afternoon in Queensbury. Heading into the contest, Furze said her team was “confident, hungry” and eager to beat Suffern after losing to them last year.
“Strategic game play will be important against this team,” Furze said. “They love to drown the clock. They played keep-away for much of the second half on us last year. I would love to give them a taste of their own medicine.”
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In the anticipated matchup, Suffern scored four goals early, forcing the Blue Streaks to play catchup. Much like their victory in sectionals, Saratoga rallied late. But this time, it wasn’t enough. Suffern took the regional title, 10 to 8.
During the game, Saratoga senior Carly Wise netted her 300th career goal.
Coach Jennifer Furze said her team attributed its success this season to several different factors. “We focus on positives every day, ending each practice by listing three positive take-aways. We communicate well and keep composure during stressful game situations. We support one another and spend time taking care of our mental conditioning as well as our physical.”
It was a memorable and emotional season for the Blue Streaks lacrosse team. Last month, they paid tribute to Olivia Allen, a recent Saratoga grad who succumbed to leukemia in March. Coach Furze’s daughter was close friends with Allen.
“A team that fought to the very end,” read a message posted to the team’s social media account. “We are so proud of our [lacrosse] fam and honored to be called a Blue Streak. We had many victories this season and continue to stay united.”
Seattle Slew.. One of the immortals who took the Belmont Stakes and later left his mark at the Spa..
The Belmont Stakes is without question one of America’s greatest horse races. It has gained its prestige for many reasons. Let’s take a look at them.
The race, although long associated with Belmont Park, had its origins prior to being held there. The race actually dates back to 1867. It made its debut at Jerome Park. The track was owned by August Belmont Sr, the agent for the Rothschild families holdings on this continent and Wall Street financier Leonard Jerome. Of note, Jerome also was one of the original co-owners of Saratoga racetrack. The first running of the race was at 1 5/8 miles and won by a three year old filly named Ruthless. She lived up to her name when she romped home against her male opponents in the Travers Stakes here later that summer.
The race was run at its present distance of 1 1/2 miles for a short time beginning in 1874. In the following years it was conducted at distances from 1 1/8 to 1 3/8 miles. With the closure of Jerome Park in 1890, the race found a new home at nearby Morris Park.
When the Westchester Racing Association opened the original version of Belmont Park in 1905, the race became a permanent fixture there. Some of the early winners include the likes of the great unbeaten champion Colin in 1907. Sir Barton entered the winner’s circle in 1919. He is considered to be the first winner of The Triple Crown, although that term did not originate until the 1930s. The one and only Man o’ War strutted his stuff a year later in 1920. America’s greatest racehorse walked home in spectacular fashion, eased up twenty lengths clear of the field.
In 1926 the race was lengthened from 1 3/8 to its present distance of 1 1/2 miles. Belair Stables Gallant Fox became the second Triple Crown champion and the first to navigate the longer distance in 1930. Since then a Who’s Who of American racehorses have competed for the exquisite Belmont Stakes Trophy. Many have reached out to immortality in taking the race. The thirteen Triple Crown winners lead the way. Then there are the likes of Native Dancer, Nashua, Gallant Man, Sword Dancer, Damascus, Easy Goer, A.P. Indy and Point Given. They showed their mettle and tenacity in winning the “The Test of Champions.”
Belmont Park was rebuilt during the early 1960s. The makeover would close the venue for five years. During that period the race was moved to Aqueduct Racetrack.
This created a dilemma. At Belmont the circumference of the track is 1 1/2 miles. Aqueduct on the other hand is a 1 1/8 miles oval. The same can be said of Saratoga’s configuration. The NYRA top brass at the time made the decision to keep the race at its historic distance. This meant that the race would start close to the far turn leading into the stretch, and then once around the Aqueduct oval. For five years beginning in 1963 the plan, though not ideal, worked with no mishaps. Belmont re-opened in 1968.
There were no changes made to the race until the dreaded Covid 19 made its appearance in 2020. Like everything else the racing world was turned upside down. The race was run at a distance of 1 1/8 miles and complicating things further, preceded both the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes.
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There was an eerie feeling on race day as patrons were not allowed to enter Belmont Park for the event.
Four years later Belmont Park finds itself being reconstructed for its second rebirth. “The Test of Champions” has the perfect temporary home here at Saratoga. This weekend all roads will lead to the Spa for a spectacular four days of racing loaded with an abundance of high caliber stakes races highlighted by the Belmont Stakes.
NYRA has decided to run the race at 1 1/4 miles, the same distance as the Kentucky Derby and the Travers Stakes.
These are different times than the five years that Aqueduct kept the race at its historic distance. Surely there are concerns that the start off of the turn may cause a mishap that would put the horses and jockeys in peril. The thought had crossed my mind that lengthening the race to 1 5/8 miles for the two years might have been a better remedy.
The race would start midway down the backstretch taking any problem on the turn out of play.
To get a definitive answer, I reached out to Ed Bowen, a prolific writer and historian with decades of familiarity with horse racing.
He answered it this way:
“I think the idea has some appeal, but there is a countering point in my mind. That is, since 1 1/2 miles is regarded today as such a test of stamina for a three- year- old in June that going even farther is worrisome as perhaps too much. All things are generalizations, whereas horses are individuals, of course, but as a point of stewardship of the well- being of the horses I think that going to 1 5/8 miles is a negative.
Enough has changed since the 19th Century phase when the Belmont WAS run at 1 5/ 8 miles that I don’t think that phase is a precedent easily applied today.”
There you have it. That being said, the race is still at a formidable distance. American racehorses are accustomed to the most important races being run at 1 1/4 miles. The lone exception is the Belmont Stakes. It is still a daunting task when considering the fact that these racehorses are stretched to their outer limits going serious distances three times in five weeks.
The time has come. Belmont at Saratoga is here. Saturday at approximately 6:30 PM the horses will prance on to the track. The crowd will go silent as the voice of Frank Sinatra belts out the Belmont theme song “ New York, New York.” Ten minutes later the contestants will enter the starting gate. They’re all in..and they’re off for the 156th running of the Belmont Stakes!
Old Tavern Farm Tour; National Museum Of Racing And Hall Of Fame – 10:30 AM
Belmont Stakes Weekend Kickoff Party at The Mill on Round Lake – 11 AM till close
Spring Water Tours, Saratoga Spa State Park – 11am and 1pm
Belmont at Saratoga Poster Artist Greg Montgomery Meet & Greet at Impressions of Saratoga – 6 PM to 8:30 PM
Dark Horse Children’s Book Signing with Author Maddy Zanetti at The Dark Horse Mercantile – 6 PM to 8:30 PM
Hardy at the Saratoga Performing Arts Center – 6:45PM
Larry Campbell and Teresa Williams (7 years in Levon Helm’s band, 8 years in Bob Dylan’s band) perform at Caffe Lena – 8 p.m.
Saturday, June 8
Belmont Stakes Day Saturday Morning Social at the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame – 9 AM to 11 AM
Belmont Champagne Brunch: Holiday Inn Saratoga Springs – 9 AM to 1 PM
Meet Upset, The Miniature Dark Horse of Saratoga at The Dark Horse Mercantile – 11 AM to 1 PM
Local authors autograph copies of their books at Northshire Bookstore Saratoga: Syrl Kazlo – Chilled to the Dog Bone; Kelly Daugherty fellow contributors to The Grief Experience; James Dillon – Making Contact; Sandy Zelka – Blood Red Poppy, 2 pm to 4 pm.
156th running of the Belmont Stakes at Saratoga Race CourseHorsin’ Around at UPH: Universal Preservation Hall – 4 PM to 8 PM
Belmont Stakes Viewing Party at Dance Fire Studio – 4 PM to 8 PM
Belmont Watch Party at The Bunker – 9 AM to 12 AM
Enchanted Equestrian Evening of Modern Songs at Skidmore College – 7:30 PM to 9:30 PM
Larry Campbell and Teresa Williams (7 years in Levon Helm’s band, 8 years in Bob Dylan’s band) return performance at Caffe Lena – 8 p.m.
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Sunday, June 9
Brunch with Commentator at Old Friends Cabin Creek – 10 AM to 1 PM
Opera Saratoga Gala at The Canfield Casino – 6 PM to 9 PM
For upcoming events featuring Home Made Theater, Caffe Lena, the N.Y. State Writer’s Institute and Opera Saratoga see Saratoga Today’s A&E section – pages 34, 35, 36.
For more information on weekend events visit: www.discoversaratoga.org.
The Saratoga Springs varsity softball team poses after capturing the Section 2 Class AAA championship. Photo via Saratoga Athletics social media accounts.
MALTA — Against all odds, the underdog Saratoga Springs varsity softball team won the Section 2 Class AAA title last Thursday against Guilderland, 11 to 4. The victory came despite the Blue Streaks finishing with a 6-11 record on the season.
Saratoga began the month with a string of losses against Shaker, Vestal, and Camden. But a refusal to give up resulted in a pair of shutout victories against Colonie Central and Shenendehowa on May 16 and 21, respectively. Then on May 23, the Blue Streaks defied the odds against Guilderland, who had a 18-4 record on the year.
Coach Geoffrey Loiacono attributed the postseason success to a couple impactful seniors returning from injuries. “Olivia Tetreault and Sarah Decker, both seniors, were out for some time,” Loiacono told Saratoga TODAY. “Both of those players are big roles not only on defense but also offense and leadership.”
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In the game against Guilderland, Tetreault had 4 hits and 4 RBI.
This year’s section title is the second the Blue Streaks have earned in the last three seasons. Their last Section 2 championship was in 2022.
The Blue Streaks anticipated a tough year, thanks to their new AAA classification. “Our league,” Loiacono told Saratoga TODAY at the start of the season, “is a grind, day in and day out. There are no guaranteed games across the board.”
Saratoga’s next game, sure to be another challenge, will be a regional title game on Saturday, June 1 at 5 p.m.
Outside the Saratoga Springs City Center on Broadway May 29, 2024.
SARATOGA SPRINGS — A week-long festival marking the first appearance of the Belmont Stakes in Saratoga Springs will take place in the Spa City.
Nicknamed “Belmont On Broadway” and billed as a locally based multifaceted celebration, the 2024 Belmont Stakes Racing Festival is slated to take place June 4 -9 and will feature a free outdoor concert and other events complimentary to the June 6-9 four-day meet at Saratoga Race Course.
The signature kick-off event to the week will be a free outdoor concert on Broadway in front of the Saratoga Springs City Center on Wednesday, June 5. The concert will begin at 6 p.m. with Tops of Trees, a Saratoga-based original eight-piece rock and soul ensemble, followed by the Virginia-based Pat McGee Band taking the stage at 7 p.m.
The headlining act will be Blues Traveler. The popular band is anticipated to take the stage shortly after 8 p.m.
The staging area is expected to be situated on Broadway itself and in close proximity to the City Center. The performing bands will face south, towards Lake Avenue. Much of upper Broadway will be closed to vehicle traffic during the event, allowing music fans to watch from the paved roadway. Individuals who require a seat are asked to bring a folding chair that is not inside of a bag.
What NOT to bring. NO: coolers, backpacks, large bags, strollers, pets, glass bottles, alcohol or weapons of any kind. Leaving a bar or restaurant with alcohol will not be permitted. No smoking.
The Concert
The free concert takes place 6 to 10 p.m. on Wednesday, June 5 on Broadway. The stage will be installed adjacent to the front of the Saratoga Springs City Center.
6-6:45 p.m. – Tops of Trees. Saratoga-based original eight-piece rock and soul ensemble. Performed at the pre-fireworks performance Saratoga New Year’s Fest and recently earned a 2024 Capital Region Thomas Edison Award (Eddie) nomination for Jam Band of The Year.
7-8 p.m. – Pat McGee Band. Hailing from Virginia, the band features an upbeat party vibe. McGee has performed at Caffe Lena as well as previously performing as an opening act for Blues Traveler. The group’s most recent reunion album, Sugar Packet, was released in 2020.
8:30 -10 p.m. – Blues Traveler.
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Street Closures
Broadway will be closed to vehicles between Van Dam Street and Lake Avenue beginning approximately 5 a.m. on Wednesday to 2 a.m. on Thursday, for the concert event.
Additionally, roughly between 5 p.m. and 11 p.m. Wednesday, off-shoot streets extending east and west of Broadway – as well as Broadway itself between Lake Avenue and Washington Street – will be closed to vehicles starting shortly before the start of the concert and lasting for about an hour following its conclusion.
City Public Safety Commissioner Tim Coll said his department has been preparing for the Belmont Festival for several months and working collaboratively with federal, state, and local partners.
On April 17, 15 agencies, including the Saratoga Springs Police Department) and the Saratoga Springs Fire Departments, NYRA, FBI, NYS Police and the Saratoga County Sheriff, participated in a joint Table Top Exercise led by the FBI’s Critical Incident Respond Group out of Washington D.C. and including various hypothetical scenarios and encouraged discussion and communication between agencies,” Coll said.
Getting There
Complimentary shuttle transportation will be provided by CDTA from 3 to 11 p.m. from two remote parking locations.
One bus will run between Route 50 Lot at Saratoga Performing Arts Center and the bus stop on Broadway at Congress Park.
One bus will run between the Wilton Mall bus stop and the corner of High Rock Avenue and Lake Avenue.
The buses will visit the two locations approximately every 20 minutes.
Note for those driving: The City Center Parking Garage WILL be open. The parking facility, located between Maple and High Rock Avenues, has secure covered parking for more than 600 vehicles., and features a pay per park system.
June 4 – 9, Belmont On Broadway Is a Six-Day Celebration
Officials expect hosting the Belmont Stakes Racing Festival at Saratoga will serve as a significant boost for local businesses. The estimated economic impact of the Belmont on the nine-county region is more than $50 million in 2024.
That $50 million projection comes from applying a mathematical formula that takes the overall economic activity of the annual 40-day summer meet at Saratoga and assigning it to the number of days of the upcoming Belmont festival. That overall 40-day meet figure, was detailed in a study commissioned by the Saratoga County Industrial Development Agency and released in 2023.
How Did The Belmont Land in Saratoga?
With a massive $455 million renovation project slated to take place at Long Island’s Belmont Park, the New York Racing Association decided to stage the high-profile Belmont Stakes at Saratoga.
That temporary relocation of the Belmont Stakes – a race which traditionally sites the third and final leg of the Triple Crown – will also see Saratoga serve as host site in June 2025. The Belmont’s normal Long Island home venue is currently anticipated to be ready for a downstate return in 2026.
Additional Happenings
The Saratoga Springs Downtown Business Association will host a themed window decorating contest featuring 17 decorated storefronts. The displays will be graded on a point system according to how well each window meets the Fun Factor, Creativity, and Visual Impact criteria. Winners will be announced June 5 and prizes include two Clubhouse Reserved seats (winner), two Grandstand Reserved seats (runner-up), and two Grandstand Admission tickets (third place) for Belmont Stakes Day at Saratoga Race Course.
A number of other local events are either being specially staged, or otherwise linked to the Belmont. Specific information about many of those events may be found at: discoversaratoga.org.
The Belmont on Broadway concert is sponsored by Death Wish Coffee, NYRA Bets, Saratoga County, the City of Saratoga Springs, Druthers Brewing Company, Adirondack Trust Company, D. A. Collins Companies, UHY Advisors, and Saratoga Casino Hotel.
The organizing committee is comprised of leaders from the Saratoga County Economic Development Corporation, Saratoga Springs City Center, Discover Saratoga, Saratoga Springs Downtown Business Association, and Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce.
