SARATOGA SPRINGS — The Head of the Fish Regatta returns this Halloween weekend, drawing in thousands of rowers to compete on Fish Creek. But the largest rowing event in Saratoga Springs initially had humble beginnings upon its establishment in 1986.
The regatta was originally founded as a way for Tom Frost and his fellow members of the Saratoga Springs Rowing Club to raise money to purchase a boat and other equipment for the club. 37 years later, the event has grown more than anyone imagined.
Kate Mastrangelo, daughter of Tom Frost, said it is “pretty amazing” to see how the regatta has grown over the years.
“They didn’t expect it to end up being a big thing, you know? They just needed to make enough money to buy a boat,” said Mastrangelo. “They just didn’t have the equipment, and that was the whole beginning of the race. Just so that they could actually go places and row. And boy, did that take off.”
Held on Oct. 28 and 29, the Head of the Fish will welcome Frost back to this year’s event to honor him for his part in establishing and running the regatta. Now operated primarily by the Saratoga Rowing Association, this year’s event is expected to attract between five to eight thousand participants, said regatta director Kristi Wagner.
“It is really a very meaningful experience to have so many people love this area, and have such a good time, and enjoy coming back year after year,” said Wagner. “It gives us a lot of pride, obviously in the rowing aspect of it, but more in the community. … There’s something for everyone. It makes me happy that we can show off Saratoga in such a positive light.”
Through the years, one major draw to the Head of the Fish has become its trophies, which began as literal heads of fish. Today, they are made with plaster molds of fish heads, but the trophies originated from Frost himself, who would bake and mold real fish heads onto plaques each year. Frost would also draw and design shirts and posters for the regatta each year.
“He would talk to fishermen all over the eastern seaboard, and find out what kinds of fish they could get him, and how could they get it to him,” said Mastrangelo. “He had people delivering coolers full of fish heads. … He just would get so excited about what he could find.”
The Head of the Fish offers nearly 100 events for a variety of age groups, ranging from middle school to adults, ensuring numerous rowers the opportunity to take home a fish head trophy of their own.
“We have a lot of different options, so there’s really something for everyone,” said Wagner. “There’s an opportunity for everyone to race if they wanted.”
The regatta offers single races, doubles, triples, quads, eights, single-gender, mixed-gender, and more, Wagner said. Saturday will consist of primarily college and adult events, while Sunday will consist of middle and high school-age events.
The races take place on Fish Creek, lasting 3,200 meters. Wagner said visiting teams will typically launch from the Saratoga Lake State Boat Launch or the Lee’s Park boat launch, traveling up Fish Creek as a warmup before racing back down.
37 years after the inaugural Head of the Fish, Mastrangelo said it will be “a really cool honor,” for her father to attend the regatta and be recognized for his work in creating it, and said he will appreciate the honor. She was also sure to credit his fellow members of the Saratoga Springs Rowing Club for their efforts in creating the regatta as well.
“I think it’s pretty awesome to have him honored for what he did,” Mastrangelo said. “There were a lot of other people involved too, though, and I do hope at some point that’s recognized.”
Chris Chase, founder of the Saratoga Rowing Association who ran the regatta for almost 20 years, emphasized the Head of the Fish has become a strong community event, crediting local police departments and Lee’s Park and Campground among others for their support through the years. The regatta is also supported by a sizable number of volunteers each year.
“I can’t say enough about the job the Saratoga Sheriff’s Department did for us,” said Chase. “They would send out units for the water, and they would send out units for the road. … Lee’s Park, he’s got 200 acres over there. This never happens without his 200 acres.”
Wagner also emphasized the regatta’s goal of working with local vendors and companies.
“I want to keep things as local as possible, and give business as best we can to other local companies,” Wagner said. “I think we’ve been developing and continuing some cool relationships.”
Over the years, the regatta has helped grow the presence and participation of rowing in Saratoga Springs, with Chase saying Saratoga “became quite the rowing town.”
“People who came here loved Saratoga,” Chase said. “It became like a mini-rowing town. It was on your calendar somehow. … We were lucky to have such an embracing community.”
With the regatta taking place on Halloween weekend, Wagner added that some rowers will dress up, saying, “It’s just definitely a fun event.”
“And in the fall, rowing races are competitive, but really, our main racing season is in the spring,” said Wagner. “... Obviously, it’s competitive, and we do have a lot of really competitive teams that come and race, and everyone’s trying to win and trying to go as fast as they can, but there’s also this air of, ‘This is a really fun sport, and this is why we all do it.’ It’s a really cool combination of everything.”
