SARATOGA SPRINGS — The New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA) will invite racing fans to continue a summer tradition during Breakfast at Saratoga, driven by the Capital District Transportation Authority (CDTA).

Breakfast at Saratoga welcomes guests to enjoy a morning meal on The Porch of the Clubhouse at Saratoga Race Course while the thoroughbreds train on the main track. Breakfast is held daily from 7 to 9:30 a.m. and is available on a first-come, first-served basis; reservations are not accepted. There is no breakfast on Runhappy Travers Day, Saturday, Aug. 28 and Labor Day, Monday, Sept. 6.

The morning breakfast buffet is $20 for adults and $12 for kids under 12 years of age. Admission is free during breakfast hours. NYRA TV analyst and handicapper Anthony Stabile, who also serves as the host of Breakfast at Belmont, will provide commentary and conduct interviews with trainers and connections during Breakfast at Saratoga.

Tram tours run from 7:30 to 9 a.m. and depart from the Clubhouse entrance approximately every 15 minutes. 

For more information about Saratoga Race Course, visit NYRA.com/Saratoga. 

SARATOGA SPRINGS — ESPN 104.5 The Team, the Capital Region’s radio home for New York sports, will feature live, full card coverage of all the exciting action from Saratoga Race Course each weekend during the 2021 season. 

Live coverage of thoroughbred racing from Saratoga will begin each Saturday and Sunday at 1 p.m. and include every race through final post broadcast on 104.5 FM, as well as streamed worldwide at 1045theteam.com or available by downloading the free 104.5 The Team App. 

Presented by NYRA Bets, NYSCOPBA, Tech East Fire and Water Restoration, and Michelob Ultra, the weekend broadcasts will simulcast a portion of Saratoga Live, the nationally acclaimed horse racing telecast produced by NYRA in partnership with FOX Sports. The audio simulcast will feature expert commentary and analysis from the paddock to post time of each race. 

On Fridays, the station will also air live race calls by NYRA track announcer John Imbriale during “The Drive with Charlie and Dan” which will originate from Saratoga beginning at 3 p.m.

In the event of Yankees baseball broadcasts, racing coverage will be available via 1045theteam.com and on the free 104.5 The Team App. 

MASSAPEQUA — David Cassidy memorabilia, including a surprise, one-of-a-kind item donated by horse trainer Gary Contessa, will be auctioned off only on ithinkiloveyou.org starting Friday, July 9 at 7 p.m. through 10 p.m. on July 16. 

The I Think I Love You Animal Foundation®, Inc. will hold its first world-wide online event, on Facebook: “David Cassidy: Then & Now” starting on Friday, July 9 at 7 p.m. Special guests include David’s friends from the “Then” years – award-winning R&R photographer Henry Diltz and life-long friend Sam Hyman. Representing the “Now” or more recent years, is David’s friend and American horse trainer Gary Contessa. Rick Segall, who played young, raven-haired Ricky, the four-year-old Partridge Family neighbor who sang with the group in season four, will host the online event.

Primary photographer during both the Partridge Family era and Cassidy’s ‘70’s solo career, Henry Diltz of Henry Diltz Photography and Morrison Hotel Gallery, has generously granted the use of rare photos of David Cassidy with animals from his extensive vintage catalog to I Think I Love You Animal Foundation®. Many of the photos were taken during David Cassidy’s domestic and world tours from the ‘70’s and while he starred on The Partridge Family television series, which aired on ABC from 1970 – 1974 and not made available since the ‘70s. Five of these photos will be signed by Henry Diltz.

I Think I Love You Animal Foundation®, Inc. is a 501c3 nonprofit organization based in New York and formed in the memory of late actor and singer David Cassidy. I Think I Love You Animal Foundation® provides financial support to animals in need of sanctuary or medical attention, especially retired thoroughbred racehorses who require rescue from emergent situations, restoring spirit and dignity and creating new “Happy Trails” for all animal friends. The Foundation supports this mission by providing financial assistance through grants, awards, and scholarships to bona-fide 501c3 charities whose activities promote improved animal welfare and quality of life through rescue operations, adoption placement, disaster relief, equine retirement assistance, and programs of education. 

In addition to owning domestic animals and a beloved parrot named Elmer, David Cassidy was an owner of thoroughbreds and he supported safe retirement programs for racehorses. Gary Contessa, David’s friend and horse trainer, is a co-founder and director of I Think I Love You Animal Foundation®. 

“His love of horses was second to none,” said Contessa. “By honoring his memory in this way, we are carrying on his genuine love of horses and his desire to see them all have the care they deserve, long after their racing career is over.”

Bidding starts on Friday at 7 p.m. EST and ends July 16 at 10 p.m. EST. Bids are accepted only on the official website for ITILY™, the non-for-profit animal foundation. For more information or to make a donation visit the website ithinkiloveyou.org. 

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Single-day general admission tickets for the 2021 season at Saratoga Race Course are now on sale for at Ticketmaster.com. 

General admission tickets may also be purchased on the day of the event at all track admission gates. Single-day Grandstand admission is $7 and Clubhouse admission is $10 – the same as in 2019. A Grandstand general admission ticket provides access to the popular Saratoga backyard, trackside apron and select areas of the Grandstand. Clubhouse admission provides access to Clubhouse dining areas, including the Turf Terrace, Club Terrace and The Porch.

Fans may also purchase season admission passes. A season pass provides admission to all 40 days of the Saratoga meet, including Runhappy Travers Day.

Clubhouse season passes are available for $75. Grandstand season passes are $50 and may be purchased in-person at more than 150 participating Capital Region Stewart’s Shops or online.

Fans will not be required to provide proof of vaccination for admission to Saratoga Race Course. Non-vaccinated individuals will be required to wear a facial covering during their day at Saratoga Race Course, in accordance with federal CDC guidance.

The 40-day summer meet at Saratoga Race Course will feature 76 stakes worth $21.5 million in total purses highlighted by the 152nd renewal of the Grade 1, $1.25 million Runhappy Travers on August 28 and the Grade 1, $1 million Whitney on August 7, as the anchors of two of the most prestigious racing days in North America.

Following the four-day opening weekend from Thursday, July 15 through Sunday, July 18, racing will be conducted five days a week, Wednesdays through Sundays, with the exception of the final week, when the meet will conclude on Labor Day.

For more information about hospitality and dining areas and to purchase tickets, visit a NYRA.com/Saratoga. 

SARATOGA SPRINGS — The 15th Annual Firecracker 4 Road Race is set to take place this weekend. Here is more information you should know before Sunday, July 4. 

The race will start and end at the Saratoga Springs City Center. Runners will line up at the start at 9 a.m. and thunder down Broadway, enjoying a four-mile road race through welcoming neighborhoods and the incredible sights of Saratoga Springs. The course will feature entertainment, and there will be a festive finish with food, music, awards, and activities. 

Admission is $30 per runner. Proceeds from the Firecracker 4 benefit local non-profits and causes. Runners are encouraged to register at either the Fleet Feet store in Albany or Malta to get a $5 off and a $5 coupon to Fleet Feet. 

Packet pick-up, where you receive your shirt and bib (race number), will be at the following dates, times, and locations:

• July 1: 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Fleet Feet Albany

• July 2: 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Fleet Feet Malta

• July 3: 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Saratoga City Center

• July 4: 7 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. at Saratoga City Center 

The “Run-Your-Colors” competition is a category of the race created to encourage teams of runners from organizations that share in the promotion of fitness. All registered teams are featured on the Firecracker website by name. Winners will be showcased on the website for a year following the race and will be thrown a party at Barrel House with a drink and lite fare. 

To register or volunteer, visit www.firecracker4.com

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Registration for Fall programming began June 28. Various programs will be offered throughout the Fall, including T-ball/baseball, boxing, field hockey, ice skating lessons, soccer, pickleball, and volleyball. 

Soccer – Youth & Adult Programs: The soccer program takes a participant through their first steps on the field to game play in a recreational environment; there is also a league for adults who want to continue playing the game. 

The programs for Kickers & Youth League runs Sept. 9 – Oct. 30 at the Saratoga Casino & Hotel (34 Jefferson Street, Saratoga Springs). All participants will need water, cleats, and shin guards. *No jewelry or watches.

Little Kickers is a parent/child introductory program that teaches basic soccer fundamentals through games and activities. It is for ages 3-5, and will be on Saturdays from 9 to 9:45 a.m. Before Aug. 23, fees are $45 for city residents and $65 for non-city residents. After Aug. 23, fees are $70 for city residents and $90 for non-city residents.

Big Kickers has teams and coaches. Teams will practice skills for the first half of the session and play games the other half. It is for kindergarteners, and will be on Saturdays from 10-10:45 a.m. Before Aug. 23, fees are $45 for city residents and $65 for non-city residents. After Aug. 23, fees are $70 for city residents and $90 for non-city residents. 

Youth League (Co-Ed) is separated into grade appropriate divisions to expose players to skills and is based on level of play. Divisions are Co-Ed. The kickers play once per week, on the weekend. All other divisions play once during the week and once on the weekend. Divisions and schedules may change depending on registrations. League is for grades 1-12. Grades 1 & 2 will play Monday, 5:30-6:30 p.m., and Saturday, 11:15 a.m. -12:15 p.m. Grades 3 & 4 will play Tuesday, 5:30-6:30 p.m., and Saturday, 9-10:30 a.m. or 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Grades 5-8 will play Wednesday, 5:30-6:30 p.m., and Saturday, 10-11:30 a.m. or 12-1:30 p.m. Grades 9-12 will play Tuesday,Wednesday and Thursday, 5:30-7 p.m., and Saturday 9-10:30 a.m., 10:45 a.m.-12:15 p.m., or 12:30-2 p.m. Before Aug. 23, fees are $60 for city residents and $80 for non-city residents. After Aug. 23, fees are $85 for city residents and $105 for non-city residents. 

Adult Rec. League play is very informal, keeping with the Rec. format. While informal, FIFA laws shall generally apply. Play is without refs, so players are expected to be self-policing. No official score or standings are kept. Games will be two, 25 minute halves. Players may register individually, or request to be on the same team. One head coach is needed per team. Four teams max with up to 12 players per team. It is for ages 18+ and will run Sept. 8-Oct. 28 on Thursdays from 5:30 -7 p.m. Before Aug. 23, fees are $45 for city residents and $65 for non-city residents. After Aug. 23, fees are $70 for city residents and $90 for non-city residents. 

Visit www.SaratogaRec.com and click programs for complete information and to register. Contact the Recreation Department at 518-587-3550, ext. 2300 or recreservations@saratoga-springs.org with questions.

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Registration is open for the annual Spa City Baseball Camp. Session I will begin Monday. 

The Spa City Baseball Camp for ages 8-14 will hold their first session July 5 – July 8 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at West Side Rec. Field in Saratoga Springs (Coach Waldron Way). The cost of the camp is $175, and the price includes a t-shirt. The second session will be Aug. 9 – Aug. 12; same time, cost, and location. 

These sessions are designed to give each player a professional instruction in vital areas of baseball, such as hitting, pitching, defense, and base running. There will be individual attention paid to each player. This will be a hands-on clinic where participants will be working to improve their skills. Players will need to come prepared with their own baseball hat, cleats, glove, batting helmet, bat, water, snacks, and sunscreen.

The Spa City Baseball Camp is run by Saratoga Central Catholic baseball coaches, Coach Alphonse Lambert and Coach Dale Long; this will be Coach Lambert’s 30th year running this camp.

To register for Session I, go to www.spasaints.com and fill out the registration form. Bring a check, payable to Spa City Bombers, to the first day of camp on Monday, July 5. 

To register for Session II in August, fill out the registration form on spasaints.com and mail the check to the address listed on the form. 

NEW YORK — New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Basil Seggos released the State’s final Deer Management Plan at the beginning of June. The plan is the product of public input, expert review, and sound science that will improve the management of white-tailed deer across New York State. In addition, to enact several management recommendations included in the plan, DEC issued proposed regulations that are available for public comment until Aug. 8, 2021. 

Major elements of the plan include: establishing desired deer population trajectories for 23 ecologically unique regions of the state using an assessment of deer impact on forest regeneration and public preferences for deer population changes; monitoring deer populations for disease and taking steps to reduce disease risk; providing additional hunter opportunity and increasing antlerless harvest strategically where needed; promoting hunter choice for buck harvest by encouraging hunters who want to take older, larger-antlered bucks to voluntarily pass up young, small-antlered bucks; encouraging deer hunters to use non-lead ammunition to reduce lead exposure of non-target wildlife; assisting communities to prevent and respond to local deer overabundance through development of community-based deer management programs; working with landowners and land managers to monitor deer browse impacts on forests with the Assessing Vegetation Impacts of Deer (AVID) protocol; and understanding and addressing public values and interests regarding deer and deer management decisions. 

To begin the implementation or portions of the management plan, DEC is proposing rule changes that will improve deer management, simplify big game hunting, expand hunting opportunity, and increase hunter safety. 

The DEC is proposing to: extend legal hunting hours for deer and bear to begin 30 minutes before sunrise and end 30 minutes before sunset; increase hunter safety by requiring all hunters pursuing deer or bear with a firearm to wear a solid or patterned fluorescent orange or fluorescent pink hat or vest or jacket; increase antlerless deer harvest by establishing a 9-day firearms season in September for antlerless deer in certain WMUs (Wildlife Management Units); allow hunters to harvest deer of either sex during the early muzzleloader season in three northern New York WMUs; and, simplify bear hunting in the Adirondack portion of the Northern Zone by extending the regular firearm season to cover the entire hunting period. 

Details about the proposals are available at DEC’s website www.dec.ny.gov. DEC is accepting public comments on the proposed regulation changes through Aug. 8 2021, by emailing: WildlifeRegs@dec.ny.gov (use “Big Game Hunting Rules” in the subject line). 

QUEENSBURY — Registration is still open for the Girls Summer Soccer ID Clinic and Girls Basketball Clinic at SUNY Adirondack in July. 

Girls Summer  Soccer ID Clinic

The soccer clinic will be held on July 17 from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. for high school juniors and seniors, as of Fall 2021. Check-in will be at 8:45 a.m. Players will receive instruction from SUNY Adirondack Women’s Soccer Coaches – skills and concepts, followed by game play. All activities will take place on the SUNY Adirondack grass soccer field. 

This clinic is free, with an enrollment cap of 30 players. To register, go to sunyadktimberwolves.com. Click on Student Athlete, then Summer Clinics/Leagues. Registration is open until the day of the clinic. 

Coaches are fully vaccinated and NYS health and safety guidelines will be followed. For more information, contact Coach Rob Kelly at wsoccer@sunyacc.edu or 518-526-0666.

Girls Basketball Clinic

The basketball clinic will be held July 19 through July 22 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the SUNY Adirondack Gymnasium for girls in grades 5-12, as of Fall 2021. 

Players will be grouped according to age, and adjusted for experience. The clinic is an opportunity for players to work and focus on fundamentals while receiving personal attention in passing, shooting, dribbling, rebounding, and defense. Fun activities and competitions played daily, along with discussions of nutritional goals and off-court activities to benefit on-court game. 

There are no spectators allowed. Players will need to bring their own filled water bottle and lunch/snacks. 

The cost is $225 and includes a clinic t-shirt. There is $25 discount for each sibling in the same immediate family. Enrollment cap is 50 players. 

Registration is open until July 5. To register, go to sunyadktimberwolves.com. Click on Student Athlete, then Summer Clinics/Leagues. From there, you can also view the tentative daily schedule and payment options on brochure link – page 2.

Cornelius Tavarres, Head Women’s Basketball Coach, will be the Clinic Director. For more information, contact wbasketball@sunyacc.edu or 518-791-0207.

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Clarkie Carroll, a local athlete and 2021 Saratoga Springs graduate, is headed to the Jr. PGA Championships on July 12. 

Carroll started playing golf in his pre-teen years after he was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer. Unable to play lacrosse or other contact sports because of the chemotherapy and hip surgery he underwent, Carroll took up golf instead. 

“I golf pretty much every day now,” said Carroll. “It has become a part of my daily routine.” 

Practice pays off. Not only has Carroll played on the varsity golf team at Saratoga Springs when they won three consecutive Sectional Titles, but he made the state team in 2019 and was a Section II All-Star this past year. 

July 5 and 6, Carroll competed against 30 other young golfers in the NENY (Northeastern New York) Jr. PGA Championships at the Town of Colonie Golf Course. He went 74-64-138 to win the championship by 9 strokes.

“It felt good to finally have stuff click,” Carroll said about this experience playing in the tournament.

And it must have been an experience trying to balance end-of-the-year high school events and golfing, as Carroll’s high school prom was right after his first round of the NENY Jr. PGA Tournament. 

“I hustled back [after prom],” he said. “Thankfully I had a late tee time, so it all worked out.” 

Carroll is currently ranked as the top Northeastern New York player of the year (Boys 16-18) on the NENY PGA Jr. website. He advances to the Jr. PGA Championships, July 12 – 15, at Kearney Hills Golf Links in Lexington, Kentucky. 

“There will be a lot of really good competition there,” said Carroll. “I’m excited to go.”