SARATOGA SPRINGS — The glitzy Boots and Bling Casino Night held this month raised more than $100,000 for ReRun Thoroughbred Adoption. The 501(c)(3) program is the largest thoroughbred rehabilitation and retraining program in the Northeast.

The event, held at Sugar Plum Farm on Gilbert Road, was attended by more than 250 people and featured a casino night, dinner, and a live auction with a selection of exclusive items showcasing a unique connection to the world of horse racing. These included halters belonging to Dornoch; the 2024 Belmont Stakes winner, and the 2024 Kentucky Oaks and Kentucky Derby winners; Thorpedo Anna and Mystik Dan, and Funny Cide’s Preakness sheet.

ReRun Thoroughbred Adoption accepts horses after their racing careers from New York trainers, owners, and farms, regardless of the connections’ ability to donate. Each year, ReRun takes in over 125 horses and places most in pre-approved homes.

SARATOGA SPRINGS — An event benefitting the Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation (TRF) and the Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund (PDJF) will be held 6-8 p.m. July 31 at the Adelphi Hotel 

The 2024 Casamigos “For Jocks and Horses” event will include gourmet hors d’oeuvres, a signature Casamigos cocktail crafted exclusively for the event, and a silent auction featuring unique items and experiences. 

The Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation (TRF) is a national organization devoted to providing a lifetime sanctuary for Thoroughbreds after their racing careers as well as opportunities for people wishing to improve their well-being through the undeniable healing power of horses.

VIP Admission ($125) includes a complimentary bottle of Casamigos autographed by the Saratoga Jockey Colony plus all general admission benefits. General Admission ($50 includes entry to the event, hors d’oeuvres, and a signature cocktail. Tickets are available online at https://donorbox.org/events/577889   

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Trumpet, horn, trombone, euphonium, and tuba players of all ages are invited to join Philadelphia Orchestra musicians on the SPAC stage in a shared music-making event. 

Showcased as The Philadelphia Orchestra “PlayIN” at Saratoga Performing Arts Center, the event takes place 1:30 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 1.

PlayINs have involved community musicians who play the violin, flute, double bass, viola, harp, woodwind and brass sections of the Orchestra. The Aug. 1 PlayIN is curated specifically for brass instruments and is the seventh annual event for SPAC. 

Openings are limited; interested musicians are encouraged to sign up online at spac.org. A PDF of all the music to be performed will be available to download on spac.org. The event is free and open to the public and audiences are encouraged to attend (audience members do not need to register for the event).

PlayINs are signature events for The Philadelphia Orchestra and part of the ensemble’s HEAR initiative, a portfolio of programs promoting the role of music in Health, Education, Access and Research. The PlayINs have taken place regularly in Philadelphia since 2012 and in Saratoga since 2017 and are part of a full array of programs designed to promote access for people of all ages to experience orchestral music either as listeners or performers. 

Participants will join the following Philadelphia Orchestra musicians during the event: Jeffrey Lang, associate principal horn; Christopher Dwyer, horn; Matthew Vaughn, co-principal trombone; Blair Bollinger, bass trombone (leader of the PlayIN); Carol Jantsch, principal tuba; Travis Peterson, trumpet. 

The afternoon PlayIN on August 1 precedes The Philadelphia Orchestra’s performance: Rhapsody in Blue Celebrates 100, conducted by David Robertson. The evening celebrates the 100th anniversary of Gershwin’s iconic Rhapsody in Blue with legendary jazz pianist Marcus Roberts and his trio alongside the orchestra. The program continues with one of the orchestra’s signature pieces, Rachmaninoff’s Symphonic Dances, written for and premiered by The Philadelphia Orchestra in 1940 and 1941.

For additional information on the PlayIN, as well as the schedule for The Philadelphia Orchestra’s SPAC season from July 31 – Aug. 17, visit spac.org.  

SARATOGA SPRINGS — The Saratoga Automobile Museum will present its Annual Gala, celebrating the Museum and the 2024 feature exhibition – “Enzo Ferrari: An Obsession with Speed,” on July 26. 

This year’s Gala, of which legendary car collector Lawrence Auriana is the Honorary Chairman, will offer guests an unparalleled experience with a silent auction, book signing by Pam Yates, cocktail hour, formal dinner, music, gaming tables, and the presentation of the Museum’s Drive For Excellence Award. The highlight of the evening will be a panel discussion moderated by automotive historian, Donald Osborne.

The panel discussion will focus on Ferrari as its theme, and will include a group of experts commenting on all aspects of the iconic marque, including Pam Yates: Author and Executive Producer of the Michael Mann Film, “Ferrari,” Professional racing driver Derek Hill, historic race car driver Joe Colasacco, and Luigi Chinetti Jr. – the son of the legendary Ferrari importer and founder of the Ferrari North American Racing Team.

The evening begins with cocktails at 5:30 p.m., during which the panel discussion will be held. Dinner will be served at 6:30 p.m., and awards will be presented during the evening.

For more information and to purchase tickets, visit saratogaautomuseum.org or contact Megan Hennessey at 518-401-5185, megan@saratogaautomuseum.org.

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Join Saratoga Bridges at the Easy Goer dining area at the Saratoga Race Course for the 34th Annual Travers Day at the Races on Saturday, Aug. 24 at 11:30 a.m. 

Enjoy premium seating, a buffet, a complimentary cocktail, general admission to the Clubhouse, Post Parade program and a special gift from Saratoga Bridges. 

Tickets are $225 per person, or $250 per person for the Honorary Committee. To purchase tickets go to: www.saratogabridges.org and click on fundraising events, then click on Travers Day at the Races. Seats are limited.

Saratoga Bridges has provided services and programs to children and adults with developmental disabilities and their families for more than 60 years by promoting their abilities and achievements in every aspect of community life.

For more information on the Travers Day event, please contact Saratoga Bridges at (518) 587-0723 or via email at info@saratogabridges.org. We look forward to seeing you! 

BALLSTON SPA —Frederick Douglass interpreter Nathan M. Richardson will speak about the meaning of American Democracy in the words of the former slave turned writer, orator and abolitionist. 

The program will be held at the Frederick Allen Elks Lodge No 609, 69 Beekman Street in Saratoga Springs on Sunday, July 28 at 2 pm and is jointly sponsored by the Lodge and the Saratoga County History Center at Brookside Museum.

Richardson is a published author, performance poet and Frederick Douglass Historian. He has been conducting living history performances on Douglass for the last 10 years after 22 years of service in the United States Army. In his talk Richardson will discuss Douglass’ relationships with abolitionists William Lloyd Garrison and Harriet Tubman, and several United States Presidents including Abraham Lincoln and Ulysses Grant. Discussion with the audience will follow his presentation.

“Frederick Douglass spoke at least twice in Saratoga County during his long career as a public speaker, first as a young man in 1849 in Schuylerville and Quaker Springs, and then as a renowned statesman in Saratoga Springs in 1870 celebrating the 15th Amendment to the Constitution that granted African American men the right to vote” said Jim Richmond, of the History Center’s Program Committee. 

Frederick Allen Lodge No. 609 was chartered in 1925 and was named in honor of Frederick Joseph Allen who worked as a Redcap at Union Station in Albany and later become Custodian of Saratoga Springs City Hall. The Saratoga County History Center, formerly known as the County’s Historical Society, has operated Brookside Museum in Ballston Spa since 1972.

Registration is available at the History Center’s website https://brooksidemuseum.org/   Donations received during registration will be shared between the Museum and the Lodge.

SARATOGA SPRINGS —On Monday, July 22, at noon the City of Saratoga Springs, in partnership with the Saratoga Springs Preservation Foundation, will present a free virtual program, “Lunch & Learn: Standards & Guidelines for Design Review” with Barbara A.M. Howard via Zoom.

Howard is the Managing Partner and Director of Heritage Preservation for Stonebridge Learning, where she develops mobile applications, digital publications, and online courses to help people recognize, preserve, and integrate historic resources into everyday life. In addition, she is a Commission Assistance and Mentoring Program (CAMP) trainer through the National Alliance of Preservation Commissions (NACP).

Howard will present the differences between preservation, rehabilitation, reconstruction, and restoration. She will review the Secretary of Interior’s Standards for Rehabilitation, which serves as the basis of many historic review ordinances and design guidelines. She will also discuss the significance, integrity, and historic character of resources. This program counts towards the annual training required for Certified Local Government members throughout New York State. It will also count toward AIA and AICP continuing education credits.

To learn more and register visit saratogapreservation.org, call 518-587-5030, or email Sydney Hedge, Preservation & Programs Coordinator, at shedge@saratogapreservation.org. Space is limited and advanced registration is required.