MECHANICVILLE — The Saratoga Racers rang in the new year on the road, splitting a pair of contests on Jan. 3 and 11. The American Basketball Association (ABA) squad will wrap up its away series with two more games this weekend against the Hudson Valley Rivermen and Herkimer Originals, before returning home on Jan. 24.
On Jan. 3, against the Binghamton Bulldogs, Saratoga fell 127 to 109 in a game that featured 11 lead changes. It was the Racers’ second-straight loss, dropping their season record to 4-3. All three of the Racers’ losses this season have come at the hands of teams ranked in the top 20 of the ABA’s weekly power rankings.
John Ryals III collected 24 points to lead all Saratoga scorers. The Racers poured in buckets at will in the paint, shooting 38-65 from inside the arc and 9-26 (35%) from beyond the arc. Saratoga pressured the ball all game, collecting 17 steals. Tobias Holmes led his team with 3 swipes. Joey Harden led Saratoga with 7 rebounds. Holmes finished with 19 points, RJ Rosa added 13, and Isaiah Grandison and Luke Perez both netted 11.
On Jan. 11, the Racers fared better, beating the Boston Sharks 161 to 124. The victory improved Saratoga’s season record to 5-3. Donovan Williams scored 15 points, grabbed 11 rebounds, and dished out 13 assists, earning the first-ever triple-double in Racer’s history.
Holmes led all scorers with 39 points, and every other Racer who played in the contest finished with a double-digit scoring performance.
Saratoga controlled the game from the opening tip, never giving up the advantage. The lead reached a peak of 48 points at 106-58.
The Racers again scored at will in the paint. They went 48-77 from inside the arc. They controlled the glass, collecting 66 total rebounds, with Isaiah Grandison leading the team with 16 boards. Williams led his squad with 13 assists and 7 steals. Additional top scorers for Saratoga included Rosa (32 points), Wheelings (25), Cam Thomas (19), Grandison (18), Williams (15), and Perez (13).
SARATOGA SPRINGS — Two snowshoe events organized by Saratoga Stryders, an affiliate chapter of the Road Runners Club of America, are planned for next month.
The Saratoga Winterfest 5K Snowshoe Run/Walk will be held on Sunday, Feb. 1 at 11 a.m. in the Saratoga Spa State Park. There will be no indoor facilities and participants will meet in the quadrangle near the restrooms.
The Camp Saratoga 8K Snowshoe Race will be held on Saturday, Feb. 7 at 10:30 a.m. at Wilton Wildlife Preserve & Park.
Registration for both events can be done online through www.runsignup.com with day-of onsite. A limited supply of Dion snowshoes will be available to rent for $10 on a first come/first serve basis.
For more information about these events, visit www.saratogastryders.org. Questions? Call Laura at 518-581-1278 or laura@saratogastryders.org.
Photo of Leo O’Brien by Coglianese Photo, provided by the New York Racing Association (NYRA).
SARATOGA SPRINGS — The New York Racing Association (NYRA) recently mourned the loss of legendary trainer Leo O’Brien, who passed away on Jan. 8 at the age of 85 following a lengthy battle with Lewy Body Dementia.
O’Brien trained New York-bred millionaires Fourstardave, Fourstars Allstar, and Irish Linnet. Fourstardave was nicknamed “The Sultan of Saratoga” because he won at least one race at the Saratoga Race Course every year from 1987 to 1994. The Fourstardave sports bar at the track was named in the horse’s honor, as was the Grade 1 Fourstardave race run each summer at the Spa.
O’Brien and his late wife, Joan, raised two children together. Their daughter Leona worked in the NYRA press box from 1992-95 and is married to Hall of Fame jockey John Velazquez, who is the all-time leading rider at Saratoga.
The Irish-born O’Brien rose to prominence in the United States as a steeplechase jockey from 1964-76. When his riding career was cut short due to injury, he returned to Ireland to begin training steeplechase horses. He came back to the U.S. in 1981 with a solitary horse, Sports Reporter, who captured the International Gold Cup Steeplechase Handicap that September at Ligonier and, one month later, finished sixth in the Temple Gwathmey Steeplechase Handicap at Belmont Park. O’Brien would later make his name on the flat with the illustrious multiple graded stakes-winner Fourstardave.
Richard Migliore was the regular rider for Fourstardave’s last two seasons of racing and was aboard for his final score at Saratoga on July 24, 1994.
“My last win on Fourstardave was my favorite,” Migliore said. “It was the last hurrah, the last go-around, and there was so much pressure that day to keep the streak alive and go out a winner at Saratoga. The horse ended up being much the best that day, and I just had to keep him out of trouble. He was a special horse – how many horses will even race up there eight years in a row, let alone win eight years in a row?”
Upon his passing, Fourstardave was laid to rest at Clare Court on the Saratoga backstretch.
While Fourstardave enjoys legend status in Saratoga, his full-brother Fourstars Allstar would make history for O’Brien, becoming the first American-trained horse to win a European Classic by taking the Group 1 Irish 2000 Guineas in 1991 with future Hall of Famer Mike Smith at the helm.
O’Brien and his son-in-law Velazquez teamed up with a number of the venerable trainer’s top horses, including the multiple graded stakes-winner Irish Linnet, who won 19-of-62 starts for purse earnings in excess of $1.2 million.
According to Equibase statistics, O’Brien posted a record of 6,477-568-677-691 for purse earnings in excess of $27 million over his storied career.
In addition to his children Keith and Leona, he is survived by his grandchildren Lerina, Michael, Darby, Liam, Jacinta, Muireannm, and Jonjo.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations in O’Brien’s name to the Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund and/or the New York Racetrack Chaplaincy.
Saratoga Springs wrestler Danny Dacey was named Division 1 Wrestler of the Week by Friends of Section 2 Wrestling on Jan. 8.
Saratoga Central Catholic’s star girls varsity basketball player Sophia Ryan. Photo via SCC Athletics.
SPA CATHOLIC BOYS BASKETBALL TEAM RETURNS TO WINNING WAYS
After a tough three-game losing streak, the 6-4 Saratoga Central Catholic boys basketball team rebounded, earning three wins in their last four games.
On Dec. 29, the Saints snapped their losing streak with a 75 to 68 victory against Cambridge. The following day, they fell to Schuylerville by just one point, 53 to 52. In that close contest, Jasyn Thompson had 13 points, Thomas Zayac added 13, and Kihl Kelly chipped in 8.
On Jan. 3, Spa Catholic bested Corinth, 79 to 51. Thompson led his squad with 20 points, Kingston Davis had 15, and Kelly put 12 more on the board for Saratoga.
On Jan. 9, the Saints defeated Tamarac, 63 to 58. For Spa Catholic, David Redgrave Jr. netted 19 points, Bryce Peterson added 13, and Thompson contributed 8 points along with a whopping 8 blocks.
LADY SAINTS SNAP LOSING STREAK
The Saratoga Central Catholic girl’s basketball team has also struggled recently, falling in four-straight games before stopping the bleeding with a Jan. 12 win against Waterford-Halfmoon, 47 to 35. In that game, sharpshooter Sophia Ryan had a game-high 24 points, and Addison Whitbeck added 16 for the Saints.
On Jan. 8, Tamarac defeated Spa Catholic 67 to 59. Ryan had a stunning 34 points and Whitbeck netted 24.
In a 47 to 41 loss against Granville on Dec. 30, Ryan scored 23 and Whitbeck added 6 for the Lady Saints.
With their latest win against Waterford-Halfmoon, Spa Catholic improved their season record to 6-5.
“DANGEROUS” DANNY DACEY CROWNED WRESTLER OF THE WEEK
“Dangerous” Danny Dacey earned Week 3’s Division 1 “Wrestler of the Week” honors from the Friends of Section 2 Wrestling.
Dacey recently won a gold medal at the Windsor Christmas Tournament on Dec. 29., placed 2nd at the Saratoga Invitational on Jan. 3, and pinned three competitors at the Lee Van Slyke Memorial Duals on Dec. 20.
SCHUYLERVILLE COACHES EARN ACCOLADES
Schuylerville High School varsity football coach John Bowen was recently named the Times Union Small School Coach of the Year, following the conclusion of the 2025 season. Bowen guided the Black Horses to a Section 2 championship and an 11–1 overall record, with the season ending in the state semifinals. Coming off a historic prior year for the program, Bowen made it clear early on that this team would not live in the shadow of the past.
“We’d be remiss if we didn’t acknowledge some of the blueprint from last year, but we put that behind us and focused on moving forward,” said Bowen. “We weren’t going to spend time looking in the rearview mirror. This was their team—their narrative to write, their chapter in the book of Schuylerville football. The seniors did an unbelievable job owning that.”
Schuylerville High School varsity girl’s soccer head coach Paul Rogan also recently received an honor: 2025 Class B Section 2 Coach of the Year. Under Coach Rogan’s leadership, the team advanced to the Section 2 Class B championship game for the first time in program history, finishing the season as sectional runners-up with a 12-4-3 win-loss-tie record. The milestone appearance marked a breakthrough year and highlighted the team’s growth, resilience, and competitive spirit. Rogan credited the success to his players and staff.
“Being named Coach of the Year is a testament to the skill and dedication of the wonderful players on the team, as well as the efforts of coaches Wian, Gallagher, and Letzring, and the athletic department,” said Rogan. “Coaching the Schuylerville varsity soccer team continues to be one of the great joys of my life. This year’s team embraced the challenge of a highly competitive schedule, never backed down from anyone, and always brought their very best effort. Their determination and heart defined our season. I look forward to next year’s team building on the successes of this year’s group.”
SKIDMORE HOCKEY EVENS OUT SEASON RECORD
Coleman Jenkins scored the game winner with 4:02 remaining as Matthew Franzoi scored twice for the Skidmore College men’s hockey team in a 4-2 victory over visiting Plattsburgh State last Saturday night. Skidmore (6-6-2, 3-3-1 SUNYAC) scored the contest’s first two goals and overcame two quick Plattsburgh goals to tie it up for the win. Franzoi, a senior, opened the scoring at 12:22 of the first period and added his second goal of the night at 5:44 of the second to give the Thoroughbreds a 2-0 lead. Jenkins netted the game-winning goal with 4:02 remaining in the third period, finishing a feed from Shane Baker and Jack Bartfield.
Skidmore outshot the Cardinals 37-23, including a 28-15 advantage through two periods. Both teams went scoreless on the power play while also both scoring shorthanded goals. Skidmore surrendered just one shot across its two penalty kills.
Up next, Skidmore is back at home to host Potsdam (Jan. 16) and Canton (Jan. 17) at the Saratoga City Rink.
SKIDMORE WOMEN’S B-BALL TEAM SCORES FIRST LEAGUE VICTORY
The Skidmore College women’s basketball team led from start to finish in a 65-49 Liberty League road victory over William Smith College last Friday night. Skidmore (3-7, 1-2 Liberty League) controlled the lead for 38.5 of the game’s 40 minutes (96 percent) and faced just one deficit in the evening (3-2). Madison Meyer paced the Thoroughbreds with 16 points to go along with six rebounds and two steals. Claudia Schneider chipped in 10 points, seven rebounds, and two assists. Ruby Krop and Stella Criniti each scored eight points for Skidmore. Krop also posted a game-high eight rebounds and four blocks.
The Thoroughbreds held decisive edges in points off turnovers (25-9), second-chance points (20-4), and bench scoring (25-8). Skidmore limited the Herons to single digit scoring in both the first and second quarters, building a commanding 32-17 halftime advantage. The Thoroughbreds outscored WSC 22-6 in the paint during the opening half. Skidmore extended the margin with a 15-2 run spanning nearly eight minutes, highlighted by a stretch of nine unanswered points. A Criniti 3-pointer in the final minute of the third quarter pushed Skidmore’s lead to a game-high 20 at 51-31. The Thoroughbreds again led by 20 in the fourth before a late William Smith push set the 65-49 final.
Skidmore has now won 10 straight meetings against William Smith, with the Herons’ last victory in the series coming in 2019.
SARATOGA SPRINGS — Charlie Greiner, a right-handed pitcher and member of the 2025 Saratoga Springs Section 2 Class AAA state champion baseball team, has been signed by the Amsterdam Mohawks, the team announced last weekend.
Greiner, who is committed to Florence Darlington Tech, is a submarine pitcher, which means he delivers his pitches closer to the ground in an almost underhanded or sidearm fashion.
“Greiner has exploded on the area baseball scene over the last two years,” the Mohawks said in their signing announcement.
The Saratogian’s fastball has been clocked at 85 mph, and he was the closer on the mound for the Blue Streaks when they won the state title last year. He currently attends the PDG Baseball Academy as a post grad.
The Mohawks 2026 season will begin around the end of May.
The Red Oak Ridge trailhead at Moreau Lake State Park was updated in 2025 with a new trail map, boulders, and a crosswalk to the parking lot. Photo provided by NYS Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation.
GANSEVOORT — Building on the momentum of the statewide First Day Hikes, all are welcome to join a park educator for free monthly guided hikes at Moreau Lake State Park throughout 2026. Those who complete 10 of the 12 hikes will win a special prize.
The full list of hikes and each hike’s distance and elevation gain/loss are detailed below. Hikers should assess the difficulty for themselves based on these descriptions.
Sunday, January 11: Lake Bonita to Waterfall: 2.9 miles, +/- 297 feet
Sunday, February 8: Whispering Pines at Big Bend Preserve: 4.2 miles, +/- 53ft.
Sunday, March 15: Waterfall Trail Loop: 4.6 miles, +/-550 ft.
Sunday, April 12: Lake Bonita Loop: 1.89 miles, +/- 145 ft.
Sunday, May 17: Cottage Park Loop: 5.2 miles, +/- 973 ft
Sunday, June 14: Stonewall Trail: 3.2 miles, +/- 426 ft.
Sunday, July 12: Baker to Moreau Overlook: 2.5miles, +/- 521 ft.
Sunday, August 16: Western Ridge Overlook: 3.7 miles, +/- 855ft.
Sunday, September 6: High Rock Loop: 5.52 miles, +/- 886 ft.
Sunday, October 11: Spring Overlook: 3.2 miles, +/- 690 ft.
Sunday, November 15: Mud Pond: 2.5 miles, +/- 155 ft.
Sunday, December 13: Nature Trail: 3.03 miles, +/- 200 ft.
All dates are subject to change, and rain dates will be made to account for inclement weather. The hiking pace will match the slowest hiker to accommodate all regardless of the hiker’s ability.
These hikes are recommended for ages 13+. There is a 25-person limit per hike. Hikers are required to register in advance to reserve a spot by calling 518-793-0511.
All hikes begin at 9:30 a.m. at the Moreau Lake State Park Office at 605 Old Saratoga Road in Gansevoort, where parking is available. Hikers will then caravan to the respective trailhead together. Hikers are encouraged to be prepared with appropriate clothing for the weather, as well as waterproof hiking shoes, plenty of water, and snacks or a lunch. Moreau Lake State Park will have a limited number of trekking poles, micro spikes, and snowshoes for the winter, as well as sunscreen and bug spray for the warmer months available for hikers to use.
For more information on Moreau Lake State Park including hiking, events, and camping information, visit parks.ny.gov/parks/moreaulake.
Photos of Saratoga Springs varsity wrestler Danny Dacey provided by Coach Jake Zanetti.
SARATOGA SPRINGS — It took around one minute for Saratoga Springs varsity wrestler Danny Dacey to pin his foe and secure a gold medal at the Windsor Christmas Tournament on Dec. 29.
It was an especially remarkable feat considering Dacey had previously finished third at the same tournament a year ago.
Dacey’s rapid rise is attributable to dedication and hard work, said his Coach Jake Zanetti, who described Dacey as “exactly what you want in any athlete, especially in wrestling.”
“He’s a super hard worker,” Zanetti continued. “He leads by example… He’s just doing everything right. He’s super dedicated.”
Zanetti credited Dacey, who as of press time had an 18-1 record this season, with leading the charge on 6 a.m. morning lifts for his team. “He’s not afraid to put in the extra work and be that guy,” Zanetti said.
At the Windsor Tournament, Dacey faced four opponents and pinned all of them. At the Lee Van Slyke Memorial Duals on Dec. 20, he pinned three more competitors, dispatching two of them in under a minute (one in 44 seconds, the other in 25). In one event after another this season, it’s been nothing but W’s for Dacey, until he placed 2nd at the Saratoga Invitational on Jan. 3, his only loss thus far.
But the Blue Streaks as a whole captured their third-straight team title at that home tournament. Brendan Stoutenburg won his second-straight title at 110 lbs., and Chase Matter also took the top prize at 144 lbs.
Matter was plagued by injuries last season but has made up for lost time, earning a 19-2 record this season as of Jan. 7. Stoutenberg, a defending Section 2 champion, is 18-4.
Zanetti said that his squad struggled a bit at the beginning of the season due to some of his athletes still playing football while the wrestling program was starting. (In December, the Blue Streaks competed in a state championship football game for only the second time in program history). But since then, things are starting to mesh, and the victories are piling up.
“We definitely dropped some early team losses, but we’re doing all the right things to hopefully set ourselves up for a good team and individual postseason,” said the coach.
SARATOGA SPRINGS — On Dec. 22, the Saratoga Central Catholic Lady Saints basketball team came out on top with a 62 to 52 win against the Hartford Tanagers. The victory improved Spa Catholic’s season record to 5-1. Sophia Ryan had a team-high 19 points, followed by Addison Whitbeck’s 16.
Prior to their win against Hartford, the Lady Saints suffered their first loss of the season, 89 to 37, against Greenwich on Dec. 18. Ryan again had a team-high 19 points, while Whitbeck chipped in 7.
Meanwhile, Saratoga Catholic’s boys’ basketball squad fell to Greenwich, 58 to 44 on Dec. 19. For the Saints, David Redgrave netted 14 points and Thomas Zayac added 11. The team was 3-3 this season heading into their annual Christmas tournament. On Dec. 29, they regained a winning record, defeating Cambridge 75 to 68. In that contest, four Saints finished with double-digit scoring, including Redgrave (21), Jasyn Thompson (16), Kihl Kelly (12), and Bryce Peterson (11).
Art and Linda Kranick pose alongside student-athletes after being named the 2022 National High School Cross Country Coaches of the Year. Photo via the Saratoga Springs City School District.
SARATOGA SPRINGS — Just two days before Christmas, USA Track & Field (USATF) banned former Saratoga Springs High School girls running coaches Art and Linda Kranick, rendering them “permanently ineligible” to coach.
USATF listed its reasons for the ban as emotional and physical misconduct.
The decision was announced nearly two months after the death of Art Kranick. Art and his wife Linda both officially retired from coaching in April.
The misconduct allegations against the Kranicks stem from a legal complaint filed in Oct. 2023. In that document, 1989 graduate Kristen (Gecewicz) Gunning said that the running program was “a toxic culture of control and abuse of middle and high school girls all in the name of winning.” 1999 graduate Lauren Hogan said that some aspects of the Kranick’s program “caused immense damage to me both mentally and physically.” An updated version of the legal complaint also included more than a dozen witnesses who made various claims against the cross-country and track program. The claims spanned from the 1980s to 2022.
Despite the allegations, the Kranicks never lost the support of the Saratoga Springs School District, which rehired them even after the abusive coaching claims. Many runners, students, parents, and other members of the community also defended the Kranicks in the wake of the legal complaint.
In an interview with Saratoga TODAY in Aug. 2024, Superintendent Dr. Michael Patton said he did not have any concerns about the Kranicks. “I’ve been here for seven years and have gotten to know the Kranicks very well,” Patton said. He added that, at the time, the Kranicks had met all of the athletic department’s expectations.
In a statement released by the district following the Kranicks’ retirement, school officials said the running coaches’ “impact on our athletics and the larger realm of cross-country and track and field is unparalleled, and their departure marks the end of an extraordinary era in our school’s history.”
Following the USTA’s decision, Linda Kranick told The Daily Gazette that she intended to appeal the ruling. “This is an attempt by a few individuals to tarnish our reputation using lies,” she told the Schenectady-based newspaper.
Junior Alvarado atop Sovereignty, winner of the 2025 Belmont Stakes at Saratoga. Photo by Angelo Lieto, provided by NYRA.
SARATOGA SPRINGS — The New York Racing Association (NYRA) recently announced that the Saratoga Race Course will host 51 days of thoroughbred racing in 2026, highlighted by the five-day Belmont Stakes Festival and a 46-day summer meet that will include the July 4th Racing Festival, which was held at Saratoga for the first time in 2025.
“Each summer, Saratoga Race Course stands at the center of the racing world,” said David O’Rourke, NYRA President & CEO. “The 2026 season will be particularly special as we celebrate the final Saratoga edition of the Belmont Stakes Racing Festival and honor America’s 250th anniversary at one of the country’s most historic sporting venues. While Saratoga has served as the ideal temporary host for the Belmont Stakes and July 4th festivals, we look forward to returning to the traditional 40-day summer racing schedule at Saratoga in 2027.”
To allow for the uninterrupted construction of a new and re-imagined Belmont Park, Saratoga will host the Belmont Stakes Racing Festival for the third and final time from June 3 through June 7. It will be highlighted by the 158th running of the Grade 1, $2 million Belmont Stakes presented by NYRA Bets on June 6.
Following the conclusion of the Belmont at the Big A spring/summer meet, the NYRA circuit will return to Saratoga for a 46-day summer meet to open with the July 4th Racing Festival from July 3, through July 5.
To accommodate the 2026 calendar, Saratoga will then host a series of four-day racing weeks, Thursday through Sunday, from July 9 through July 26, prior to the resumption of the five-day racing week beginning July 29. The 2026 summer meet will conclude with a six-day closing week from Sept. 2 through Labor Day, Sept. 7.
With the new Belmont Park to re-open in September for live racing, 2026 will mark the final year of adjustments to the customary racing schedule at Saratoga. This period of transition began in 2024 when NYRA held a four-day Belmont Stakes Racing Festival in Saratoga for the first time. In 2025, NYRA expanded the Belmont Stakes Racing Festival to five days and shifted the July 4th Racing Festival to the Spa, resulting in 49 days of live racing during the 2025 season.
In 2027, Belmont Park will once again host the Belmont Stakes and July 4th Racing Festivals, while Saratoga Race Course will revert to its traditional 40-day summer meet.
“We are excited to have one more opportunity to showcase our amazing community to the world by hosting the Belmont Stakes and July 4th Festivals,” said Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce President Todd Shimkus. “To kick off the Belmont Festival, we will again host a Belmont on Broadway concert free for locals and visitors to our community, and the July 4th All American Celebration to add to the festivities at the track. These two festivals helped drive up revenue at local hotels, restaurants, bars, stores and shops throughout the area in 2025, and the same will be true as our historic run hosting these events concludes in 2026.”
For the 2026 calendar of live race dates, which is pending New York State Gaming Commission approval, visit www.nyra.com/inc/schedule/.
