Screenshots of the redesigned Saratoga Race Course and Skidmore Athletics websites.
SARATOGA SPRINGS — The online homes of both the Saratoga Race Course and Skidmore Athletics underwent renovations recently, launching redesigned websites this week and last.
According to the New York Racing Association (NYRA), its new site features “easier navigation for players, visitors, and horsemen; a unified racing command center with live video, picks, entries, and results; and an improved mobile experience.” NYRA’s revamped Saratoga Race Course page can be viewed at: www.nyra.com/saratoga.
Skidmore College said that its athletics site features “a bold, modern design” as well as streamlined navigation, an improved user experience, a greater focus on events, an updated facilities page, and easier access to live game coverage. Skidmore partnered with SIDEARM Sports for the project. The new site can be seen at: SkidmoreAthletics.com.
SARATOGA SPRINGS — Saratoga Central Catholic’s varsity bowling team continued their winning streak with an emphatic 5-0 victory over Berlin-New Lebanon at Saratoga StrikeZone last Thursday.
The Saints were led by Jason Pescetti, who achieved a season-high 644 series, with games of 221, 223, and 200. Mark Mahay also delivered a standout performance, recording a season-high 584 series, including a 215 in Game 3.
Berlin-New Lebanon had strong efforts from Myra Snyder, who rolled a 493 series, and Avyn Capasso with a 480 series. However, Saratoga Central Catholic’s consistency across all three games proved insurmountable.
The Saints won all three games with scores of 1069-967, 1105-868, and 1064-949, culminating in a total pinfall of 3238 to Berlin-New Lebanon’s 2784.
PORTER CORNERS — The Town of Greenfield Recreation Department will hold a Winterfest Celebration on Saturday, January 25 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Brookhaven Winter Park (333 Alpine Meadows Road, Porter Corners).
The event will begin with a 5K snowshoe race. Families or individuals are invited to register for $20 a person at https://www.runreg.com/brookhaven-trails-snowshoe-race. Snowshoes are available for rental for $15 for adults and $10 for kids and seniors.
A free community celebration following the race will include horse-drawn sleigh rides, a snowman building competition, outdoor story time, food specials, live music, and more.
New York State Assemblywoman Carrie Woerner was recently appointed to the Assembly’s Racing and Wagering Committee. Photo provided.
SARATOGA SPRINGS — New York State Assemblywoman Carrie Woerner, whose district includes Saratoga Springs and other parts of Saratoga County, was appointed the new chair of the Assembly Racing and Wagering Committee last week by Speaker Carl E. Heastie.
“The racing and wagering industry is deeply woven into the fabric of my district and plays a vital role in the economies of both our local communities and the entire state of New York,” Woerner said in a news release. “The potential for growth in this sector is immense, with far-reaching benefits that include supporting small businesses, providing equine therapy for veterans and others in need, and channeling wager revenue to fund education for our children. I look forward to showcasing how this powerful economic engine positively impacts so many individuals and communities.”
Woerner previously served on the Racing and Wagering Committee and currently represents both the Saratoga Race Course and the Saratoga Casino Hotel’s harness track.
Other members of the committee include Scott Bendett, Michael Durso, Jeff Gallahan, Paula Elaine Kay, Stacey Pheffer Amato, Angelo Santabarbara, Nader J. Sayegh, Michaelle C. Solages, Clyde Vanel, and Jordan J.G. Wright.
The Schuylerville varsity football team poses after winning the 2024 Class C New York State championship. Photo provided by the Schuylerville Central School District.
SCHUYLERVILLE — Eight members of the Schuylerville varsity football team that captured its first-ever Class C State championship in December have been selected to the 2024 Class C All-State team by the New York Sports Writers Association.
Quarterback Ollie Bolduc and running back Landen Cumm, both seniors, were named co-players of the year. Offensive lineman Josh Bowen and linebacker Chase DeLisle made the first All-State team, while placekicker Silas Schulte-Lindhorst was selected to the second team. Defensive end Luke Griffen, offensive lineman Emajie White, and linebacker Jameson Brownell all received honorable mention.
The accolades further cement the Schuylerville football program’s stellar reputation. Under Coach John Bowen, the Horses have won more than 100 games and captured five sectional championships (including three in a row from 2019 to 2021), before securing their first state title in 2024.
A rendering from the Henry Street Pilot Project shows a 2020 plan for new bike lanes in Saratoga Springs. Image via the final report prepared by Barton & Loguidice, D.P.C.
“The issue here is some sort of leadership to actually follow through and get these projects done.”
SARATOGA SPRINGS — Much happened in the city of Saratoga Springs in 2024: the first Belmont Stakes Racing Festival, the first Republican mayor in a decade, and the approval of a massive new Tree House Brewing location. But one thing missing from this list, according to a local organization, is the construction of new bike lanes.
There is support for the lanes, and some funds as well. Yet, in 2024 not a single new bike lane was created in the Spa City. This, says the nonprofit advocacy group Bikeatoga, is “extremely disappointing.”
For Union Avenue, a final plan to create bike lanes does exist but hasn’t yet been presented to or discussed by the city council.
“It simply fell off the table,” said Bikeatoga’s Advocacy Chair Ed Lindner. “We would’ve liked to have seen them move forward on actually building the final recommendation.”
Bikeatoga says that the city spent $40,000 on consulting and engineering fees to design improved pedestrian crossings, slow down traffic, and extend bike lanes from East Avenue to Congress Park. Hired consultants produced a final plan that maintained the current four travel lanes and on-street parking, improved pedestrian crossings, and included a paint-only bike lane. But the city has yet to do much of anything with it.
There’s also the Downtown Connector, which currently ends at Lake Avenue. A 2020 Henry Street Pilot Project study recommended that the connector be extended to Congress Park, where it could link up with the proposed connection to the West Side and Railroad Run. But again, little progress has been made.
“It’s these connections that we’re missing,” Lindner said. “Until you have a connected network, you don’t have anything. We now have a half of a bike lane on Union Avenue, a half a bike lane on Lake Avenue; we need to connect those.”
Despite the lack of new lanes, there are some “rays of hope,” according to Bikeatoga. The city’s Complete Streets Advisory Board (which Lindner called “excellent” and “extremely well qualified”) presented the city council with some project ideas that Bikeatoga says the council should support. The city is also currently applying for grant funding to build the Crescent Avenue bike lane, and may be moving ahead with the Grand Avenue multi-use path.
“The issue here isn’t expertise,” Lindner said. “The issue here is some sort of leadership to actually follow through and get these projects done.”
The creation of new bike lanes is designed to aid those who’d like to bike around town but don’t feel safe riding in traffic. A network of connected lanes could increase ridership, according to at least one study published in the American Journal of Public Health. Data analyzed from ten American cities that worked on improving and connecting their bike networks showed that all ten cities had both increased ridership and decreased accidents, injuries, and fatalities. Another study of 74 U.S. cities found that dense bike networks with direct connections were the most likely to increase bike commuting. A third study from Portland State University also asserted that bike lane networks are especially valuable for women and low-income families.
For those reasons and others, Bikeatoga’s principal advocacy goal is for Saratoga Springs to build a functional bike lane network.
“We have a lot of good ideas. We have a lot of studies and plans. It’s time for the city to commit,” Lindner said. “If you talk to people in City Hall, they’ll tell you that it’s happening, but the results speak for themselves.”
State Senator Jim Tedisco and Saratoga Springs Mayor John Safford pose with award winners at the Saratoga Casino Hotel’s annual harness racing awards ceremony. Photo via Sen. Jim Tedisco’s office.
SARATOGA SPRINGS — The Saratoga Casino Hotel and the Saratoga Harness Horseperson’s Association held their annual awards ceremony and banquet last week, celebrating the most impressive achievements at the harness track in 2024.
Winners included By the Book (Horse of the Year & Trotter of the Year), Robyn Mangiardi (Horsewoman of the Year), Pickup Man Hanover (Pacer of the Year), Brett Beckwith (Driver of the Year & Most Driving Wins in a Single Card), Mark Beckwith (Horseman of the Year & Trainer of the Year), Greystone Treasure (Most Wins), Jennifer Newton (Rising Star – Owner), Brian Cross (Rising Star – Trainer), Pamela Pinney and Dave Coon (Most Dedicated Owners), Jackie Greene (Most Eight Holes), Henceforth (2×5 Gelding Pacer of the Year), Pitboss Hanover (2×5 Mare of the Year), Cross Creek Samara (Rising Star & 2×5 Trotter of the Year), Arizona (Filly and Mare Pacer of the Year), George Mason (Most Dedicated Groom), and Bronze Over N (Senior Citizen Award).
State Senator Jim Tedisco and Saratoga Springs Mayor John Safford were on hand to help dish out the awards.
Balloons drop at noon during the Saratoga Regional YMCA’s first Noon-Year’s Eve event. Photo provided.
ARATOGA SPRINGS — Families rang in the New Year a little early at the Saratoga Regional YMCA’s first-ever free Noon-Year’s Event, held at the Saratoga Springs branch on December 31. Over 500 attendees enjoyed bounce houses, crafts, and other activities, all leading up to a countdown and ball drop at noon.
“This was a fun way for families to celebrate New Year’s together,” said Kristi Savage, Senior Program Director, in a press release. “Since most kids don’t stay up until midnight, we thought a daytime celebration would be perfect. We’re excited to build on the success of this year and look forward to expanding the event in 2025.”
For more information on upcoming events and programs, visit srymca.org.
Wrestlers pose on the awards podium after the annual Saratoga Invitational held at Saratoga Springs High School on Saturday. Photo provided by Coach Jake Zanetti.
SARATOGA SPRINGS — The Saratoga Springs varsity wrestling team finished first overall in the annual Saratoga Invitational on Saturday that also featured competitors from Ballston Spa, Queensbury, Averill Park, and South Glens Falls.
Individual first-place winners included Brendan Stoutenburg and Danny Dacey, while Luke Stoutenburg, Taylor Beaury, and Gianni Delgado all finished second.
The Blue Streaks recently finished ninth overall at the Windsor Christmas Tournament, where Beaury secured his 100th varsity win. Prior to Windsor, Saratoga placed second overall at the Lee Van Slyke Memorial Dual with a record of 4-1.
he first reported thoroughbred born in New York State in 2025 arrived at the Irish Hill Century Farm in Stillwater last week. The colt is the product of the stallion Mind Control and the chestnut mare Weekend Hottie. Photo via New York Thoroughbred Breeders, Inc. / Courtesy of Emily O’Neil-Hopkins.
