SARATOGA SPRINGS — The Saratoga Winter Club will hold their annual Saratoga Cup and Northeast Series I Short Track Speed Skating Meet on Saturday, Nov. 12 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Weibel Avenue Ice Rink. Admission is free and open to the public. Speed skaters from the Capital District as well as from Vermont, Massachusetts, New Jersey and beyond will compete at this East Coast tradition. It is the first time in the Saratoga Winter Club’s history that there is a female Race Director for the Saratoga Cup. Race Director Karolina Quinn said, “I’m very excited to be the first female Race Director in the history of our club, and it’s a role I take very seriously. I’m learning so much along the way and am having fun too! I will say that since joining the club several years ago, I’ve met and worked with several women who would be outstanding Race Directors, so while I may be the first, I’m sure I will not be the last.”
Warm-ups on race day will begin at 8 a.m. with racing commencing at 9 a.m. Racing will continue until around 4 p.m. Breaks will be taken to resurface the ice. “With Speedskating being the fastest human-powered sport in the world, the short track races are definitely very entertaining. During our Saratoga meet the races will be very quick and maintain constant action. At this meet you’ll see athletes from across the age and experience spectrum competing against one another, and supporting each other too, which is probably why so many athletes compete in the sport throughout their lives,” said Quinn, whose son will be competing in the meet along with other local kids, teenagers, and an adult from the Saratoga Winter Club.
Want to be part of the action? Volunteers are still needed to help with office positions including timers and judges. It’s a way for local high school students to fulfill community service hours in a fast-paced, exciting environment. Contact swc.skt.fst.brn.trn@gmail.com for more information. The Saratoga Winter Club has been an institution in Saratoga since the late 1800’s. It has produced world-class speed skaters including more than half-a-dozen Olympians, including SWC Head Coach Amy Peterson Peck who is a five-time Olympian and three-time Olympic medalist.
Photo (left to right): Sue Commanda, Board President, Saratoga Regional YMCA Rick Schumaker, former Saratoga Regional YMCA Board President and Frederic J. Resseguie Leadership Award Recipient Bill Dake, Chairman Stewart’s Shops and Saratoga Regional YMCA Board of Trustee Member Scott Clark, Chief Executive Officer, Saratoga Regional YMCA. Photo provided
SARATOGA SPRINGS —On Thursday, Oct. 13, the Saratoga Regional YMCA hosted its second annual Impact Celebration at the Saratoga Hilton to celebrate and reflect on its success with staff, volunteers, donors, board members and community partners. During the celebration, SRYMCA awarded its former Board President and CFO of the Fort Miller Group, Rick Schumaker, the prestigious Frederic J. Resseguie Leadership Award.
The Frederic J. Resseguie Leadership Award recognizes those who have displayed outstanding leadership for the Saratoga Regional YMCA and its community. It is named after Dr. Frederic J. Resseguie, who in 1957 donated his home on 509 Broadway to assist the YMCA in reopening in Saratoga Springs. Rick is only the seventh recipient of this award since its beginning in the early 1970’s, with past recipients including major YMCA and community partners such as Nancy Lester and Michael Toohey.
Chairman of Stewart’s Shops and past recipient, Bill Dake, presented Rick with the award and reflected on many of his successes during his decade of service under the Saratoga Regional YMCA. Rick joined the Y’s Board of Directors in 2012 and went right to work, playing a vital role in several growth opportunities for SRYMCA such as the Outdoor Expansion at West Ave to implement their new outdoor pavilion, Adventure Ropes Course, and numerous play spaces and activity areas for summer camp and programming to utilize. Rick was also vital to the 2018 Malta Capital Campaign in partnership with the Saratoga Hospital and has continued to help SRYMCA reach its annual fundraising campaign goals across its association.
Now, Rick is on the Board of Trustees for SRYMCA and continues to be one of their vital voices in the community. He and the Fort Miller Group have provided leadership gifts for their Annual and Capital Campaigns cumulating to over $500,000 during his time on the board, and now are major donors of the West Ave Capital Campaign with the Saratoga Senior Center. The Frederic J. Resseguie Leadership Award is a well-deserved honor for Rick, who has and will continue to be a major ally for the Saratoga Regional YMCA.
SARATOGA SPRINGS —On Saturday, Nov. 19, the Saratoga Springs Firefighters IAFF Local 343 will be hosting the Saratoga Springs Police PBA in the annual Saratoga Springs Fire & Police Holiday Hockey Classic. The game will be played to benefit the Franklin Community Center’s Holiday Assistance Program.
This program has been essential in providing local families assistance during the holidays. The hockey game and toy donation associated with it has the goal to ensure that every child in the area has the opportunity to wake up on Christmas morning to a present waiting for them. The game has seen continued growth with increased support each year it has been played.
This year’s game will be held at the Weibel Ice Rink (30 Weibel Ave., Saratoga Springs) with doors opening at approximately 6 p.m., after the conclusion of the Skidmore College game against Southern Maine. Gametime is scheduled for 7 p.m. Admission to the game is free with the donation of a new and unwrapped toy (or monetary donation). The game will include raffling items from various sponsors; King’s Tavern, Panza’s on the Lake, Skidmore Hockey and the Adirondack Thunder, with all proceeds going to the Franklin Community Center. If you would like to donate but can not attend the game on Nov. 19, toy collection boxes are open at the following locations: Saratoga Springs Fire Department Station 1 at 60 Lake Avenue, Saratoga Springs Fire Department Station 2 at 166 West Avenue, Saratoga Springs Police Department at 5 Lake Avenue, Kings Tavern at 241 Union Ave and Panza’s on the Lake at 510 NY-9P, Saratoga Springs.
If you have any questions please contact Chris Stewart at 518-338-2664 or email at ssfd159@yahoo.com.
COLONIE — On Tuesday, November 1, the Saratoga Blue Streaks squared off against Shaker High School in the Class AA Section II final hosted in Colonie. The fans in attendance didn’t have to wait long for the scoring as Saratoga’s leading scorer for the season – Ryan Farr – netted the ball off an assist from Owen Eldridge in the twelfth minute. In what would be a back-and-forth contest all night, Shaker needed less than a minute to equalize as Lesedi Sekhobo knotted things at 1-1, which is how the first half would finish.
Midway through the second half, the deadlock was broken by Shaker’s Kofi Sarfoh by way of a header from Nick Pepe. Just nine minutes later, Brendan Degan notched another for the Bison as they took what looked like a commanding 3-1 lead with less than 10 minutes left in the final. But Saratoga stepped up, and the effort was led by one player in particular, the previous goal scorer and junior Ryan Farr. Farr was the first to the ball as a cross from Lucas Verghese swung into the penalty area with just under 9 minutes remaining. Farr’s header would make it 3-2.
“Ryan Farr is unbelievable,” said Shaker coach Dan Fountain in a post game statement. “We had him triple-teamed and he was still causing us fits and scoring a bunch of goals. He’s just an unbelievable player and the team uses him well.”
With 2 minutes left, the hattrick was complete as Vincent Devito assisted Farr for his third goal of the night.
“He’s been amazing all season and he kind of took the team on his shoulders and got us those goals,” said coach Jeffery Geller about Farr. “The team was definitely feeding off his energy, but we’re a little gutted on how it ended,” Geller would say to the media after the match.
How it ended was frustrating for both Saratoga fans and players alike. Ultimately, it was a line judge’s decision to give a penalty to Shaker in golden goal overtime (meaning if one team scores, it’s over). Shaker’s Ben Halek lined up to take the kick, and with the stroke of his boot sent Saratoga home and claimed the Section II title for Shaker High. With 18 seniors on the Saratoga squad, the abrupt end of the season on a penalty kick may feel sour, but with an overall record of 15-1-1 and Class AA ranking of #2 in New York State, hopefully the momentum of this year can carry the program for years to come.
“Not only did we have a great season, but I felt like this group is a family,” said Geller. “I’m going to miss a lot of these boys next year. They fought for each other. They played for each other all year and I really can’t ask for anything more.”
Flightline racing the 2022 Metropolitan this past summer. Photo courtesy of NYRA
This year’s Breeders’ Cup World Championship races will be held over two days – Friday, Nov. 4 and Saturday, Nov. 5 at Lexington, Kentucky’s stately Keeneland Race Course and as usual it will have a strong Saratoga connection. The beautiful fall Keeneland setting is complemented by the surrounding world-class horse farms affording fans the opportunity to visit past champions as well as current contenders. In addition to its racecourse, Keeneland is the industry’s leading auction house founded in 1936. Keeneland’s mission is to continually invest in the industry and to preserve the tradition of Thoroughbred racing. It’s motto “Racing as it was meant to be” resonates with many in Saratoga who revere racing traditions and customs.
Like most years the Breeders’ Cup will feature many horses that ran at Saratoga this summer or have a significant Saratoga ties.
The Breeders’ Cup series of races spans two days of racing at varying distances, surfaces and categories. This years’ event will feature 14 races for total purses of more than $31 million. The five races featuring two-year-olds will be run on Friday’s card which is dubbed “Future Stars Friday.” The remaining nine races for older horses will be run Saturday, Nov. 5, with the $6 million Breeders’ Cup Classic ending the card with an expected post time of 5:40 p.m. The races will be televised live on USA Network and FanDuel TV (formerly TVG) with the Classic being shown on NBC between 3:30 and 6 p.m. Eastern Time.
The Breeders’ Cup event was first run in 1984 and was created to be a televised season ending event much like the Super Bowl or World Series. Having initially eschewed television coverage for fear of giving away its product, racing found itself with a shrinking fan base and difficulty creating new fans. The traditional stakes races were televised but predicting who would run and how much interest there would be in any particular fall stakes race proved difficult and not conducive to television promotion. As a multi-race event the Breeders’ Cup was meant to assure the appearance of stars and fans. While it was originally meant to rotate among North American race tracks (and it did so in its early years) in recent years, due to a myriad of factors including weather and politics, it has alternated between California and Kentucky. The races draw stars and challengers from each racing division with a formidable complement of runners from overseas.
One interesting statistic from a handicapping perspective, longshots have done extremely well in the series since its inception. A flat win bet on all runners that started at odds of 20-1 or above shows a significant profit and return on investment.
This year the Breeders’ Cup entrants are owned by a mixture of traditional owners and diversified ownership groups. Saratoga-based West Point Thoroughbreds will be front and center having partial ownership of undefeated super horse – Flightline – who will be the overwhelming favorite in the Classic while other entrants will be owned by traditional private stables.
Like most years, this one will see several equine stars try to eclipse their respective fields at short odds to claim champion status in their respective divisions. However the major focus of the two days will by Flightline and his super star status.
Flightline is undefeated and unchallenged albeit, in a lightly raced career. He has produced runaway victories in each of his starts and showed the speed to control the race on the front end as well as the ability to stalk a speedy opponent. To date there does not appear to be any weakness in his performances. The field of challengers will be replete with horses that ran this year at Saratoga. Older runners including the speedy Life is Good and the steady winner Olympiad (who also has a Saratoga connection through owner LNJ Foxwoods) are expected to challenge. Three-year-old runners taking on older horses for the first time in the Classic include Travers winner Epicenter and Kentucky Derby winner Rich Strike.
Earlier on Saturday The Distaff for fillies and mares will see one of two Todd Pletcher-trained Saratoga winners – Malathaat or Nest go to the post as favorite.
The focus on the grass races will be on the European entrants who have typically performed well on Keeneland’s grass course as both the weather and the surface are conducive to their conditioning and running style. Internationally based runners have factored in each running of the series.
For many runners it will be their final race before moving onto the breeding shed to pass on their genes to future generations. This annual two-day flurry of first class racing usually provides lasting memories. It is well worth the watch.
SARATOGA — This past weekend, the Saratoga Boys JV Volleyball won the Suburban Council “End of the Season Tournament,” hosted at Burnt Hills High School. This tournament encompasses the last round of matches for the junior varsity season. The Blue Streaks went 7-1 in pool play – receiving a first-round bye. After the bye, the Streaks squared off against Columbia High, who they would sweep two games to nil. In the finals, Saratoga came out on top against rivals Shenendehowa to win the tournament and put an exclamation mark on their season. The team is coached by Coach DiFusco.
SARATOGA — On Sunday, October 30, the Saratoga Springs Recreation Department will host a “Halloween Skate” at the Weibel Avenue Ice Rink. The first 50 paid admissions at each session who wear something Halloween themed will receive one admission ticket to an upcoming family skate or open public session. From 2pm to 3:30pm the rink will host a family skate, designed for families and younger children. After the Zamboni (or maybe in this case the “Zomboni”) resurfaces the ice, open public skate will take place from 3:45-5:15 p.m. So, lace them up and dress up as the city celebrates Halloween on the ice! For more information on the recreation department and upcoming events, visit: www.saratoga-springs.org/2649/Recreation-Department.
SARATOGA — On Monday, October 17, the Saratoga Central Catholic Volleyball program hosted Waterford Halfmoon for their 14th annual “Saints Spike Out Cancer” event. The event raised $2,400 for the Mollie Wilmot Radiation and Oncology Center of the Saratoga Hospital. This year, fundraising efforts were aided by students of St. Clement’s, who donated $3 to wear pink during their school day and dress out of their uniform. For over a decade, the school-wide effort in October has raised tens of thousands for worthy causes in cancer awareness and prevention for local health groups.
SARATOGA SPRINGS — On Saturday, October 15, the 22nd Annual Great Pumpkin Challenge was held in the Saratoga Springs Spa State Park. With close to 1,000 participants who ran, walked or rolled, $35,000 was raised for Saratoga Bridges’ non-funded or underfunded programs and services. The 5k and 10K races resulted with 5K winners, Ramon Dominguez from Saratoga Springs and Elizabeth Predmore from Ballston Lake. The 10K winners were, Ethan Carey from Queensbury and Dana Bush from Saratoga Springs. First, second and third place prizes were given out by age group.
The event featured NET Chip Timing from Albany Running Exchange, homemade refreshments made from individuals at Saratoga Bridges and donated food and beverages from Hixny, Uncommon Grounds, Bimbo Bakeries USA, Hannaford, DeVoe’s Rainbow Orchard, Healthy Living and Fresh Market. The event also hosted a costume contest and favorite pumpkin contest decorated by members of Saratoga Bridges during their day and residential programs. Many “Bridges Buddies” participated in the 5K upon completing the agency’s Walking and Wheeling Program. This initiative was developed by their wellness committee to pair staff and individuals in a 4-week training program leading up to The Great Pumpkin Challenge. Plus, over 120 people volunteered from BOCES’ Criminal Justice students, Goldman Sachs’ Community TeamWorks, Saratoga Spa Catholic and Saratoga Bridges staff, board members and friends. With sponsors, event organizers, volunteers, local food shops that donated and over 1,000 participants, this event highlighted a true community effort. Those that walked, ran, rolled or just helped the event run smoothly to raise funds, reflected Saratoga Bridges’ mission to empower individuals with intellectual disabilities in order for them to pursue their life goals through knowledge, collaboration and experience.
For people who missed out on participating in the 22nd Annual Great Pumpkin Challenge, they can still do so virtually by Friday, November 4 at www.saratogabridges.org. For $30, they will get the long-sleeve moisture wicking shirt and can use the official course – www.saratogabridges.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/GPC-2022-Updated-Map-for-Web.pdf through the Saratoga Spa State Park or at location of their choice.
SARATOGA SPRINGS — The National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame will host its “Countdown to the Breeders’ Cup” preview program Saturday, Oct. 29 at noon in the Hall of Fame. Racing experts Jeff Carle and Michael Veitch will provide analysis and predictions for each Breeders’ Cup race. The program is free to attend for museum members and is included with paid admission for non-members.
Carle was the leading apprentice jockey at the Belmont Park spring and fall meets in 1989, as well as that year’s Saratoga meet. He won 290 races during his career and had purse earnings of more than $5.3 million. After his riding career ended because of injuries, Carle turned to training. He operated a public stable for 10 years and won several stakes races. Carle has appeared on a variety of Capital OTB programs and produced a variety of news and featured stories for the network. Aside from hosting programs, he has also served as a public handicapper for the Schenectady Daily Gazette.
Veitch covered horse racing for The Saratogian and its racing supplement, The Pink Sheet, from 1979 through 2017. He serves as chairman of the Museum’s Hall of Fame Historic Review Committee and is a member of the Hall of Fame Nominating Committee. A former host of “Down the Stretch” on Capital OTB, Veitch’s writing has appeared in a variety of media outlets, including Daily Racing Form. He is the author of four books on Saratoga racing history: Foundations of Fame: Nineteenth Century Racing in Saratoga Springs, Summit of Champions: Thoroughbred Racing in Saratoga Springs 1901-1955, Legacy of Excellence: Thoroughbred Racing in Saratoga Springs 1956-2008, and The Travers: 150 Years of Saratoga’s Greatest Race (co-authored with Brien Bouyea).
The program will also include drawings for prize packages such as wine baskets and Museum memberships. Brien Bouyea, the Museum’s communications officer, will serve as the event moderator. The Breeders’ Cup World Championships will take place Nov. 4 and 5 at Keeneland Racecourse in Lexington, Ky. For more information about the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame, including upcoming events, please visit www.racingmuseum.org or call 518-584-0400.
