SARATOGA SPRINGS — The National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame will open a new exhibition, At the Races with Saul Steinberg, in the Link Gallery on Jan. 18. Made possible by the generous donation of the artwork to the Museum’s permanent collection by the Saul Steinberg Foundation, the drawings featured in this exhibition span the period of 1955 to 1959. 

Three were published in his book “The Labyrinth” in 1960. One was later published in the 1963 Sports Illustrated article “Steinberg at the Races’’ that featured scenes at racetracks from Paris to Los Angeles.

Steinberg (1914-1999) was born and raised in Romania. In 1933, after a year at the Faculty of Philosophy and Letters at the University of Bucharest, he applied to the Faculty of Architecture but was denied entry because he was Jewish. Steinberg then moved to Italy, enrolled at the architecture school of the University of Milan, and began creating cartoons for the Italian humor magazines Bertoldo and Settebello. 

By 1940, Steinberg was seeking to leave Italy and started drawing for American publications. Once in the United States in 1942, The New Yorker offered him a contract. Soon after he was recommended for employment as a consultant at the Office of War Information, then received a commission in the U.S. Naval Reserve in 1943 and was granted citizenship. After the war, he returned to New York to resume his work. 

Steinberg resisted convention throughout his career as an artist. He produced drawings, paintings, prints, collages, sculptures, and murals. Best known for the visual wit of his pen-and-ink drawings featured in The New Yorker for close to 60 years, Steinberg also contributed to other magazines, including TIME, LIFE, Vogue, Harper’s Magazine, and Sports Illustrated. 

In 1952, Steinberg visited Saratoga Springs on commission from Harper’s to provide drawings for an article about the city. Though he previously produced a series of drawings of horses and their riders in the 1940s, this visit may have prompted his interest in thoroughbred racing. 

“We are excited to exhibit the artwork of Saul Steinberg in a different light and bring together those with an appreciation of art as well as thoroughbred racing,” said museum curator Jessica Cloer.

New Fitness Room at the Saratoga Springs Rec Department  

The Scott T. Johnson Recreation Center offers popular exercise equipment including a treadmill, rowing machine, free weights, and more. Participants must sign up for a Drop-In Rec Card prior to coming. Visit www.SaratogaRec.com and click Programs, Rec Center, Drop-In Sessions for complete information.

Drop-In Fitness Classes 

The Saratoga Springs Recreation Center at 15 Vanderbilt Avenue is currently offering drop-in classes in Balletone and Pumped up Strength. 

Balletone is a cardio and strength program that combines dance, pilates, and fitness moves, and is open to everyone 18 years and older. Pumped up Strength is a combination strength training and cardio program and is open to everyone 18 years and older. Both incorporate fun and energizing music to keep you moving. A City or Non-City Drop In Rec Card is required in order to participate. Visit www.SaratogaRec.com and click Programs, Balletone or Pumped-Up Strength for complete information.

Drop-In Sessions

The Saratoga Springs Recreation Center at 15 Vanderbilt Avenue is currently offering Open Adult (17+) Basketball, Open Gym, and Pickleball sessions. A City or Non-City Drop In Rec Card is required in order to participate. Visit www.SaratogaRec.com, and click on the basketball for the schedule, information, and to sign up for your City or Non-City Drop-In Rec Card.

Contact the Recreation Department at 518-587-3550 x2300 or recreservations@saratoga-springs.org with questions.

SARATOGA SPRINGS — The Ballston Spa varsity wrestling team continues to roll, with the Scotties capturing first place in the Saratoga Invitational on Jan. 7.

Ballston Spa’s team score of 182.5 points put them on top, finishing ahead of second-place Shenendehowa (168.5 points). Saratoga, the host school, placed third with 138.5 points.

Scottie seniors Darrien Insogna and Connor Gregory each won the finals in their respective weight classes. At 215 pounds, Insogna pinned Garrett Bidwell of Windsor High School at 3:53. Gregory, wrestling at 160 pounds, earned a forfeit victory over Windsor’s Mason McCombs in the finals.

Ballston Spa’s Ralph Keeney also advanced to the finals at 110 pounds, losing an 11-1 major decision to Luke Satriano of Valley Central. Tristan Hinchcliff and Cameron Hinchcliff, wrestling at 118 and 126 pounds, respectively, each won the consolation finals in their weight classes.

Eighth-grader James Capasso also advanced to the consolation finals at 145 pounds, falling via pin to Shen’s Davin Leavey at 4:20. Brennan Livingston, at 189 pounds, lost to Glens Falls’ Nathan Phipps in the consolation finals.

Saratoga sophomore Taylor Beaury, at 126 pounds, won the finals by earning a 6-0 decision over Averill Park’s Jacob Hanlon. Senior Lorenzo Paleschi, wrestling at 189 pounds, advanced to the finals before falling via pin to Whitehall’s Troy Austin at 2:19.

At 152 pounds, Saratoga senior Gordon Murray won the consolation finals with a 7-4 decision over Ryan McManman of General Brown High School. Danny Dacey fell in the consolation finals at 132 pounds to Averill Park’s Jamie Bartlett via pin at 4:57, while Patrick McKinley lost to Lansingburgh’s Jayden Morales by a 3-2 decision at 215 pounds.

Ballston Spa (5-0 Suburban Council) resumed league play on Wednesday, hosting Averill Park (4-1 SC). Saratoga, also 4-1 in the Suburban Council, hosted Shaker (2-3 SC) on Wednesday. Both matches concluded after press time. 

ALBANY — Around The Post Pickleball is holding the first-ever pickleball tournament at Albany Capital Center from Jan. 13-15. More than 170 pickleball players from New York, Massachusetts, Vermont, Connecticut and Rhode Island will compete.

The 1st Annual Capital Center Classic Pickleball Tournament has two divisions: Age 18 to 49, and 50+. The tournament is full and registration is closed, but members of the public are welcome to attend and watch the competition.

Games begin at 8 a.m. each day starting Friday, Jan. 13. The last games of the day are scheduled for 6 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 13, and Saturday, Jan. 14. On Sunday, Jan. 15, the final games of the day are scheduled to start at 5 p.m. Vendors and sponsors will have tables at the tournament.

Around The Post Pickleball is a Long Island-based company owned by Scott Green.

Albany Capital Center is located at 55 Eagle Street in Albany. A parking garage is located beneath the center at 7 Wendell St. The center is also connected by walkways to parking garages at the MVP Arena, Renaissance Albany Parking Garage and Empire State Plaza visitor’s parking.

JOHNSTOWN —The Ballston Spa varsity wrestling team ended 2022 with a big victory, being named Mountain Duals Champions after going 7-1 in the Johnstown-hosted tournament.

Scotties senior Darrien Insogna was 8-0 on the day, and was named Most Outstanding Wrestler of the tournament. Fellow senior Connor Gregory and 8th-grader Quinton Warlikowski also went undefeated on the day for the Scotties. Ralph Keeney was 7-1 for the day, while Tristan and Cameron Hinchcliff each earned five wins during the tournament.

Ballston Spa defeated Shoreham-Wading River 34-31 in the opening round, and cruised past Adirondack 52-15 in the second round. The Scotties beat Averill Park 40-28 in the third round, and Fonda-Fultonville-Johnstown 45-24 in the fourth round.

The team’s lone defeat on the day was in the fifth round to Saranac, 36-33. The Scotties responded, however, beating Central Valley Academy 36-30 in the following round before closing the tournament with a 51-19 victory over Unatego-Unadilla Valley.

Ballston Spa hosted Columbia on Wednesday, in a match that ended after press time.

SARATOGA SPRINGS — The Saratoga Central Catholic varsity boys basketball team defended its home court during the holiday break, winning a pair of games to capture the Saratoga Catholic Holiday Classic Championship on Thursday.

The Saints opened the tournament in style, cruising to a 60-35 win over Cambridge in the first round. In the championship round, Saints’ senior Justin Duscher led the way, earning tournament MVP honors after scoring a game-high 20 points and guiding the team to a 61-48 victory over Warrensburg. 

Aiden Dunne had 12 points for the Saints, while Hunter Fales added nine points. Ronan Rowe had seven points, with Tyler Weygand adding six points and Aiden Crowther scoring five points.

It is the second time Duscher has received MVP honors this season, as he was also named tournament MVP at the Mike Beson Memorial Tournament in November. 

Saratoga Central Catholic kept up its winning ways on Tuesday, earning their third straight win with a 60-41 victory over Berlin/New Lebanon. The Saints (7-3) will host Greenwich at 7:30 p.m. on Friday.

HUDSON FALLS — The Ballston Spa varsity boys’ basketball team continued its strong start over the holiday break, beating a strong Hudson Falls squad to improve to 8-0 on the season.

The Scotties went on the road and cruised past the Tigers in what was a battle of previously unbeaten teams. Hudson Falls, a Class B school, had already defeated two Class AA opponents this season (Shaker, Albany). Ballston Spa dominated, however, pulling away in the second quarter and running to an eventual 92-56 victory.

Ballston scored 35 points in the second quarter to take a 54-33 lead into halftime, and never let up from there. Senior guard Michael Miller had 32 points for the Scotties, with fellow senior Nick Verdile scoring 24 points. Hudson Falls senior Peyton Smith led the Tigers with 25 points in the loss. 

Ballston Spa (8-0 overall, 4-0 Suburban Council) resumes league play today with a road contest against Troy (4-2 overall, 4-0 Suburban Council) at 7 p.m. 

MOUNT VERNON —The Saratoga Springs varsity hockey team traveled downstate over the break, splitting a pair of games against strong Section 1 competition.

The Blue Streaks lost 3-2 to Pelham, the defending Division 2 State Champions, on Tuesday before rebounding with a 4-2 win over Cortlandt on Wednesday.

Saratoga trailed 1-0 after one period against Pelham, and surrendered a second-period goal to go down by two, but Blue Streak goals from senior forwards Charlie Oke and Payton Borak tied the game entering the third period. 

The teams played an even third period, but Pelham broke through in the final minute, taking the lead on a goal by Luke Green with 55 seconds remaining. The Blue Streaks were unable to find another tying goal, and Pelham held on for a 3-2 victory.

Borak and Oke scored for Saratoga, with Jake Badar, Grady Frasier, and Maddox Pemrick picking up assists. Xander Clarke made 25 saves on 28 shots in goal for the Blue Streaks.

Saratoga was able to respond the following day, however, earning a 4-2 win over Cortlandt, another Section 1 opponent. The Rebels struck first early in the game, taking a 1-0 lead, but a goal by Jayson Carpenter tied the game for Saratoga just over a minute later. A goal by Badar gave the Blue Streaks a 2-1 lead after one period.

Badar added his second goal midway through the second period, extending the lead to 3-1 after two. Cortlandt responded with a power-play goal early in the third, making it 3-2, but with 5:43 remaining, Borak finished a feed from Jack Murauskas, scoring to push the lead back to two and help lock up a 4-2 win for the Blue Streaks.

Badar had two goals for Saratoga, with Carpenter and Borak each adding one. Pemrick had two assists, with Victor Cutting, Daniel Klochaney, Murauskas, Oke, and Matt Rissetto all adding one assist each. Matt Barber earned the win in goal, stopping 12 of 14 shots.

Saratoga (2-6-1 overall, 0-3-1 CDHSHL) resumed league play by hosting the G/M/S/V/S Storm on Wednesday, in a game that ended after press time. 

SCHENECTADY —The Saratoga Springs and Schuylerville varsity boys and girls indoor track teams continued their season over the break, competing in a Section 2 league meet at Union College on Dec. 29.

Below are results from athletes who earned points for each school:

Saratoga

The Saratoga girls team placed second with a total of 70 points, trailing only Columbia (96 points). 

Anya Belisle took first place in both the 600-meter run (1:49.4) and the 1,000-meter run (3:13.2) for Saratoga. The team of Tong Ang, Iley Centea, Reagan Owen, and Natalie Wilding won the 4×800 relay (11:17.4). 

Saratoga sophomore Lily Collins earned points in three events, placing third in the triple jump (28’ 10.75”), fourth in the 300-meter dash (46.7), and sixth in the 45-meter dash (6.6). Eighth-grader Natalie Wilding placed second in the 3,000-meter run (11:31.5). 

Katie Turner finished fourth in both the 1,000-meter run (3:26.9) and the 1,500-meter run (5:22.1), while Ang placed third in the 1,500 (5:21.0). Leah Harden finished third in the 600-meter run (1:55.9), and sixth in the 50-meter hurdles (9.7). 

On the boys’ side, the Blue Streaks placed 10th as a team. Sophomore Nicholas Baldwin was the only boys athlete to earn points for Saratoga, finishing sixth in the long jump (15’ 9.75”). 

Schuylerville

The Schuylerville girls team placed sixth, with a team total of 32 points. Keira Rogan, a junior, took first place in both the 1,500-meter run (4:56.4) and the 3,000-meter run (10:35.5). 

Campbell Bailey finished fourth in the 50-meter hurdles (9.4), and tied for sixth in the high jump with teammate Taylor Brown. The team of Lillian Letzring, Abigail Morency, Brown, and Louisa Fabritius placed third in the 4×400 relay (5:10.0). 

The Schuylerville boys team finished fifth as a squad, earning a total of 6 points. The team of Ian Bailey, Henry Otto, Nathaniel Lanfear, and Kevin Schwerd took fourth in the 4×400 relay (4:38.0), while Bailey also finished fifth in the 1,600-meter run (5:57.9).