Saratoga Living - "The Races!" 2025

*(herbie’s burgers has arrived)

THE CITY. THE CULTURE. THE LIFE.

FIT CHECK BELMONT EDITION FOR THE PLOT 4 HORSE RACING STORYLINES TO FOLLOW THIS SEASON THE NATIONAL MUSEUM OF RACING at 75 & COLIN QUINN COMES TO TOWN the races!

DYLAN DAVIS ON HIS HOME TURF

The homegrown jockey is at the top of his game. Next stop: Saratoga.

BY BRIEN BOUYEA • photography by SHAWN L a CHAPELLE

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starting gate

DYLAN DAVIS grew up around horse racing in Saratoga, and has since become one of the country’s elite jockeys. Now, the Saratoga Springs High School grad has his sights set on winning a riding title in his own backyard.

BY BRIEN BOUYEA

American Racing, Rewound

A new coffee table book published by the National Museum of Racing explores the history of horse racing in the US, track by

Heading

How

Breeding Ground

While

eye on the prize

“Saratoga is so prestigious, says Dylan Davis. “If you’re not motivated here, you’re in the wrong profession.” photography

550 WATERFRONT SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY

PRIVATE RESIDENCE SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY 385 BROADWAY

SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY

COAT ROOM SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY

starting gate

24 From the Editor 26 Saratoga

FIRST TURN

33 CHIC PEEK: Saratoga Quarter Poles

34 BOOK CLUB: Find Me In Saratoga

34 NEW BIZ: Little Guests Concierge

34 GOOD NEWS: Double H Ranch

35 PITCH IN: RISE Housing and Support Services

35 SAVE THE DATE: Charity Harness Match Race

35 OVERHEARD: in Saratoga

37 TRACK FACT: So You Want to Own a Racehorse...

39 LIVING THE LIFESTYLE: Men’s Track Fashion 40 INTERVIEW: Colin Quinn 42 TBT: Cab Calloway

45 12 UNDER 12: Christopher and Nicholas Mason

OFF TRACK

75 UPH’s Shaken & Stirred

78 saratoga living’s Cocktails & Clairvoyance and 10 other parties

HOME STRETCH

THE FINISH LINE

NOW TAKING LOT HOLDS IN PHASE 2A

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saratoga living

8 Butler Place Saratoga Springs, NY 12866 518.294.4390

Volume 27, No. 4

July • August 2025

Copyright © 2025 Empire Media Network, Inc. All rights reserved.

No part of this publication may be reprinted or otherwise reproduced without written permission from Empire Media Network, Inc.

All editorial queries should be directed to editorial@saratogaliving.com or sent to 8 Butler Place, Saratoga Springs, NY 12866.

saratoga living assumes no responsibility for unsolicited submissions.

Natalie Moore EDITOR

CREATIVE DIRECTOR Kathleen Gates

DESIGNER Linda Gates

SENIOR WRITER Cierra Orlyk

SPORTS EDITOR Brien Bouyea

FASHION EDITOR Tiina Loite

EDITOR AT LARGE Susan Gates

EDITORIAL INTERN Graciella Dorsey

WRITERS

Natalli Amato, Lisa Arcella, Maria McBride Bucciferro

Chris Carola, Sarah Carpenter, Jeff Dingler

Sara Foss, Teresa Genaro, Leigh Hornbeck

Simon Murray, Tom Pedulla, Nicole Russo, Kathleen Willcox

PHOTOGRAPHERS

Francesco D’Amico, Samantha Decker, Dori Fitzpatrick

Elizabeth Haynes, G. Sonny Hughes, Hannah Kuznia, Shawn LaChapelle

Rachel Lanzi, Jess McNavich, Megan Mumford, Konrad Odhiambo

Zack Skowronek, Fiona Stevens, Ethan Thompson, Alex Zhang

Annette Quarrier DIRECTOR OF SALES

CHIEF OPERATIONS OFFICER Tina Galante

PUBLISHER, CAPITAL REGION LIVING Teresa Frazer

SALES MANAGER, CAPITAL REGION LIVING Tara Buffa

SUBSCRIPTIONS MANAGER Rachael Rieck

Anthony R. Ianniello, Esq. CHAIRMAN Tina Galante

CHIEF OPERATIONS OFFICER

ON THE COVER Jockey Dylan Davis shot on location at Saratoga Race Coure. Photography by Shawn LaChapelle.

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Photo: The Inn at Erlowest, Lake George

This past June, it finally happened. My social battery officially ran out. It was a long time coming.

Over the course of my last eight years in Saratoga, I’ve strived to be everything, everywhere, all at once: writer, editor, photographer, social media manager, blogger, podcaster, fly on the wall, party planner, party guest, party crasher, paparazzo, cheerleader, critic, and, my all-time favorite imaginary title: chief vibe officer. To be all those things, you have to show up. That’s been my mantra. Show up.

from the editor

Recharge

That MO has served me well. I’ve made friends as an adult (!), not to mention brought exposure to saratoga living and helped promote the Spa City itself. The good news is that I love it—talking to anyone, whether I know them or not, at length. I always say that my favorite part of my job is going out and mingling with the townspeople. When I went downtown for Belmont on Broadway earlier this summer, I ended up missing the entire Gin Blossoms concert because I was busy talking politics at Coat Room with three middleaged Brooklynites. It’s hard, I’ve found, to properly yap over the sound of live music.

That’s why, this past June 7, I had no problem going to the Belmont Stakes alone. My friends weren’t interested in dropping $88 for a ticket that didn’t even get you a seat, but I knew people that would be there, and figured I’d wander around the track grounds catching up with acquaintances and befriending strangers. Until I got there, and realized that the only place I wanted to be was down the street at my friend’s backyard Belmont watch party, or, better yet, sitting in my parents’ front yard, eating Chinese food and watching my nephews ride their bikes around the driveway.

So, at 5pm, a full two hours before the biggest moment in Saratoga horse racing, I left. The craziest part? I didn’t miss much. Sure, I didn’t witness Sovereignty make his thrilling Triple Crown comeback or see the insanely long line to get into the Horseshoe in person. But I did get to

have my friend Max’s infamous smoked tofu (don’t knock it ’til you try it), and I did see my parents (who live down the road) for the first time in what felt like a month.

out of

While I was fully recovered and back in action before the end of June, heading into track season, I’m reminding myself that the Saratoga summer is a marathon, not a sprint. There’s simply too much going on for you to be able to do everything, and the world won’t end if you skip out on one track day, or one party. I can’t believe I’m saying this, but there is a world beyond 267 Union Avenue. Go climb a mountain, read a book by the lake, drink water, spend time with your people. Recharge. Just be back in time for the Travers.

NATALIE MOORE EDITOR @natalie_rae_moore / editorial@saratogaliving.com

office

Natalie Moore and Pete Konrad skipping town this past spring to spend some time hiking in the Lake George region.

Want to keep the conversation going?

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READERS’ FAVORITE!

This Couple Got Married in the Paddock at the Belmont Stakes

HOW CHAD BROWN, THE SARATOGA BUGLERS, A SHOTGUN

OFFICIANT LICENSE, AND A PAIR OF KOHL'S SHOES MADE IT ALL HAPPEN. PLUS: MORE SCENES FROM BELMONT STAKES DAY.

for lulu and richard argento, getting married was a formality they’d put off for years. The Saratogians were already parents of three, and Lulu had already taken Richard’s last name. They’d planned to finally make their marriage official at the courthouse on the morning of June 7, and then head over to Saratoga Race Course for the Belmont.

But why not kill two birds with one stone?

aisle be damned Between Races 8 and 10 on Belmont Day (Race 9 was cancelled due to rain), the path leading into the Saratoga Race Course paddock became an impromptu wedding ceremony aisle.

After some persuading by their friend Alex Esler, who managed to get a one-day marriage officiant license online, the couple was sold on tying the knot physically at the track. When Alex ran into trainer Chad Brown at the Belmont Ball on Friday night and told him about the wedding, he one-upped her idea. The Argentos shouldn’t just host their wedding on the track grounds…They should host it on hallowed ground: in the paddock. Scan the code for the rest of the story.

Frameology Optical

You're not ordinary; your glasses shouldn't be either. With a curated selection of hand-crafted European eyeglasses and sunglasses, FRAMEOLOGY OPTICAL is every glasses-wearer’s dream, offering unique collections not available anywhere else in the area. Each frame is carefully designed to accentuate your best features and sit naturally and comfortably—but the best part? If you like a pair, it’s yours! Frameology Optical rarely orders the same pair of glasses twice. Translation: You won’t see someone wearing the same pair of glasses all over town. If you have been searching for something different, or struggling to find a frame that makes you smile, grab your prescription and bring it to this local luxury eyewear shop, where a passionate team of eyewear enthusiasts awaits to guide you through the process of finding your perfect pair.

FRAMEOLOGY OPTICAL SARATOGA ● 426 MAPLE AVENUE, SARATOGA ● 518.886.1525 ● frameologyoptical.com

Therapeutic Horses of Saratoga

Discover a meaningful and memorable way to bring your team together at THERAPEUTIC HORSES OF SARATOGA

Set against the backdrop of the nonprofit’s peaceful farm, team-building events include interactive activities with gentle therapy horses and skilled facilitators designed to strengthen communication, collaboration, and trust. Sessions are thoughtfully tailored to your team’s goals, which are discussed in a planning conversation beforehand. The organization also offers equineassisted mental health programs, individual horse visits, farm experiences, and specialized support for military members and veterans. Email info@thsaratoga.org for more information and to start planning your unforgettable team outing.

683 RT 29, SARATOGA SPRINGS

518.290.6240 ● thsaratoga.org

Spoken Boutique

Whether you’re dressing for a day at the track, planning the perfect brunch look, or simply refreshing your summer wardrobe, SPOKEN is here to bring you effortlessly stylish pieces that make you feel like you Now at a new location in Ballston Spa, the boutique offers a thoughtfully curated collection that blends style with a touch of the unexpected—perfect for quietly confident women who appreciate comfort and individuality. As a locally owned business, Spoken prides itself on its warm, welcoming customer service. Come in and connect with the Spoken team while they help you find pieces that fit not just your body, but your life!

89 MILTON AVE, BALLSTON SPA 518.587.2772 ● spokensaratoga.com

OVER 25 YEARS!

Saratoga Candy

YOUR LOCAL FAVE!

SARATOGA CANDY CO., which opened in 1998, is family owned and operated and stays stocked with candies and 16 flavors of homemade fudge. First located at 5 Washington Street, it has now moved right around the corner to 353 Broadway. The store is known for its truffles and all the nostalgic candy you grew up with. For the perfect Saratoga souvenir or gift, try the shop’s signature horse-shaped chocolates or spring water taffy. Saratoga Candy Co. is open 10am–8pm Monday–Saturday and 11am–5pm Sunday all summer long. Stop in and say hi!

353 BROADWAY, SARATOGA SPRINGS ● 518.580.0499 saratogasweets.com

Bobbles & Lace

Turn heads at the track this summer with high-fashion clothing and accessories that don’t break the bank from BOBBLES & LACE. The woman-owned small business offers not only fun track outfits and statement pieces, but also jeans, shoes, jewelry, and other everyday basics. The boutique is so much more than its collection, though— the staff prides itself on creating a comfortable, fun shopping experience for its customers, with personal stylists available to help you curate your perfect track look or summer style. With new arrivals added every week, it’s never been easier to stay fashion-forward all summer long!

322 BROADWAY, SARATOGA SPRINGS 518.932.1287 ● bobblesandlace.com

You know PAPERDOLLS OF SARATOGA for its custom printing services and stationery offerings…But did you know the store, located in the Saratoga Marketplace, also has a robust selection of retail offerings? Stop by Saratoga’s exclusive retailer of Rebecca Ray Designs to shop bench-made accessories crafted with equestrian-grade leather, as well as home décor, hostess gifts, and entertaining necessities from fine purveyors including the Enchanted Home. Complimentary year-round gift wrapping and gift concierge services are also available!

454 BROADWAY, #4, SARATOGA SPRINGS ● 518.583.4084 ● paperdollsofsaratoga.com

PaperDolls of Saratoga

Greenfield Farmers Market

The GREENFIELD FARMERS MARKET you know and love is back—still brimming with old-fashioned charm and now featuring more than a dozen new vendors and live entertainment. Visitors will find food vendors selling maple syrup, pierogies, pickles, and more; artisan merchandise including woodwork, homemade soaps, and jewelry; local food trucks; and a large playground for kids of all ages. Stop by Middle Grove Park from 4–7pm every Thursday, from June 19 through September 18, to enjoy summer evenings filled with food, fun, and community.

428 MIDDLE GROVE ROAD, MIDDLE GROVE 518.893.7432 x307 greenfieldny.gov/community/farmers-market

Celtic Treasures

Long recognized as one of the largest importers of Irish gifts in Upstate New York, CELTIC TREASURES is proud to offer a selection of Mucros Weavers products, including the Lady Newsboy hat, Jessica Handbag, and poncho. Each piece is 100% wool with polyester lining for comfort and durability, and woven at the iconic Muckross House in Ireland’s Killarney National Park. Stop by to discover these stylish pieces and more that exemplify the timeless artistry of Ireland.

456 BROADWAY, SARATOGA SPRINGS

518.583.9452 ● celtictreasures.com

Crown Salon

Get pampered the CROWN SALON way! Whether you’re looking for a haircut, color, blowout, lightening, event style, makeup, wax, or a spray tan, the team at Crown is ready to welcome you with warmth and professionalism—and wow you with stunning results. With two convenient locations in Saratoga and Glens Falls—and online booking now available—Crown strives to make luxury accessible to those with busy schedules, leaving you feeling beautiful and relaxed after every visit.

15 BALLSTON AVENUE, SARATOGA

mycrownsalon.com

The Blue Lady

Feel right at home at this upscale, family-friendly rental in the heart of Saratoga Springs. Just minutes from Saratoga Race Course, Saratoga National Golf Club, and downtown, THE BLUE LADY comfortably sleeps up to eight with 3 bedrooms, 1.5 baths, a three-season room with a pull-out king bed, and a gourmet kitchen. Outside, enjoy a spacious yard, private in-ground saltwater pool, cozy fire pit, and relaxing porch. It's perfect for weekend getaways (minimum two nights), events, baby showers, or small intimate weddings. Contact Ann Murphy directly at 518.920.3153 or amurphy4150@yahoo.com to book this unforgettable space.

Elegant Gifts * Home Decor * Hand Bags * Jewelry Winery Tasting Room & Bottle Shop

Children's Gift + Apparel Boutique Curated

Curated Fashion for Men & Women

first turn

DÉCOR

Your Home Needs This

A SARATOGA QUARTER POLE IS THE PERFECT ACCENT PIECE FOR A SPA CITY HOUSE.

BY NATALIE MOORE

The best way to tell people you love horse racing without telling them you love horse racing? By displaying your very own quarter pole at your home or business.

For the uninitiated, a quarter pole is the large, striped pole on a racetrack that indicates to jockeys that the finish line is a quarter mile away. But this is Saratoga, where the Travers is a holiday and rooting for the longshot is a religion…Did you really think someone wouldn’t make the quarter pole into a piece of home décor?

Enter Saratoga Quarter Poles, a business run by Marylou Doyle and her

husband, James, that sells miniature versions of—you guessed it—Saratoga quarter poles. They come in several sizes, from an 18-inch one all the way up to the custom seven-footer Frivolous Boutique owner Beth Jameson hangs dresses on in her store. The couple has made poles for Saratoga shops, a Massachusetts horse farm, and even a wedding, with the couple’s names replacing the traditional “Saratoga” lettering. All the poles are made by hand in a tiny workspace in Saratoga. A portion of profits go to Double H Ranch and ReRun.

“The most rewarding part is making people happy,” Doyle says. “I’ve seen

the cat’s meow Saratoga Quarter Poles come in several different sizes, from a cat-sized one to a Katie Davis–sized one.

them draw incredible emotion from people, and that really touches me. To create something that warms a heart or brings back a special memory is such a gift.”

Premade 18-inch and 54-inch quarter poles can be purchased at Impressions of Saratoga; for custom poles, contact Doyle on Instagram at @SaratogaQuarterPoles

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A Saratoga Scavenger Hunt

It turns out that the woman behind Saratoga’s many painted lawn jockeys is more than a one-trick pony. This spring, Saratogian Patrice Mastrianni authored Find Me in Saratoga, a children’s book in which young readers are led around Saratoga by two of the city’s most iconic residents—a duck and a squirrel. On the way, readers discover the “early history, mystery, and folklore” of this legendary city, from the grand hotels to the Battles of Saratoga and beyond. Get a copy at the Saratoga Springs History Museum, Saratoga Candy Co, Frivolous Boutique, Saratoga Olive Oil, Impressions of Saratoga, G. Willikers, or at findmeinsaratoga.com

Baby on Board

when you’re traveling and forget your toothbrush, it’s easy enough to find a replacement. But what if you’re traveling with your little one, and your Airbnb doesn’t have a crib, or you forgot your baby bottle warmer at home? Little Guests Concierge (littleguestsconcierge. com) can help.

and became so much of an ordeal that my husband and I just stopped traveling.”

Little Guests Concierge is, essentially, what Manhin wishes he had in those moments.

“Traveling was always such a complexity, lugging bulky gear and setting things up,” says Dirk Manhin, father and founder of Little Guests. “It was stressful,

Parents visiting Saratoga Springs can rent necessities spanning four categories (sleep, mealtime, bath and diaper, and playtime), and have them delivered to their place of accommodation upon arrival—no overstuffed suitcases required.

All products are handselected and high-quality,

guest who?

Little Guests products; (inset) Dirk Manhin (at left) with his husband, Brian Carkner, and daughter, Alessandra.

and meet rigorous safety and cleaning standards. Manhin, whose background is in loyalty programs for major financial institutions, isn’t the only one behind the million-dollar idea—Little Guests is co-owned and -managed remotely by Jen Lim, Manhin’s former colleague who lives in California. Though the duo spans coasts, Saratoga made perfect sense for their debut.

“Saratoga is such a great community, with really vibrant tourism and a family atmosphere,” Manhin says.

“So, it was a no-brainer to launch our first location here.” Key word? First

—CIERRA ORLYK

Camp just got even more fun. In June, following the success of a $5.5 capital campaign, Double H Ranch—a camp that provides specialized programs and year-round support for children living with chronic and serious illnesses and their families—unveiled a new outdoor gathering space that’ll be used by generations of campers to come. Dubbed the RayMax Camp-A-Theater (named in honor of the late Dr. Ray Walsh, the camp’s founding volunteer physician, and Max Yurenda, its founding CEO), the open-air venue is perfect for assemblies, talent shows, dances, special presentations, and staff trainings. “Having a safe, inclusive place for children to gather, express themselves, and connect with nature is invaluable,” says Double H CEO Alison Wilcox. “This project represents more than just a physical structure—it’s an investment in the joy, growth, and wellbeing of every camper.”

RISE to the Occasion

It’s no secret that homelessness has been an ongoing issue in Saratoga Springs. And while community support for organizations that serve the Spa City’s most vulnerable population tends to ramp up heading into the cold-weather months, help is needed year-round. “Everyone deserves food, safety, compassion, and a roof over their head, no matter what their income is, if they use substances, or if they’re struggling with their mental health,” says Victoria Furfafo, director of outreach and advocacy at RISE Housing and Support

donation station

Saratoga’s only low-barrier, yearround homeless shelter is in constant need of donations.

Services, which operates Saratoga County’s only 24-hour, year-round, low-barrier homeless shelter. “The Adelphi Street shelter provides a safe location for people experiencing all of those things with zero judgment and unconditional support.”

To do that, RISE relies on donations of everything from paper goods and hygiene products to sweatpants and snacks. (For specifics, you can check out the organization’s Amazon wish list, linked at the Adelphi Street webpage on riseservices.org.) The shelter is also in need of volunteers to work in many different capacities, including hosting activities for residents, helping out with donation drives or events, and working behind the scenes. Local businesses can chip in by providing dinners for 35 people.

The sentiment shared by Furfafo and other members of the Adelphi Street team? When it comes to supporting Saratoga County residents experiencing homelessness, anything helps.

—NATALIE MOORE

“I know what a PDF is. It’s a public display of affection.”

overheard in Saratoga

“Usually if I’m having a beer at 3pm that means I’ll still be drinking at midnight."

Race

if you’ve been itching to check out Saratoga’s other horse track—the harness track over at Saratoga Casino Hotel—this event is for you. On Saturday, July 26, harness drivers Brett Beckwith and Sietske Spagnola will face off against jockeys Trevor McCarthy and Katie Davis McCarthy in two charity harness races to benefit Franklin Community Center and the Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation. “Trevor has a natural ability with horses, and this won’t be any different,” says Beckwith, a Saratoga native and rising star in harness racing. “The jockeys definitely stand a chance. This event brings a great crowd and atmosphere. It’s always good to promote the sport on both sides.”

“Don’t buy drugs. Become a celebrity and they’ll give them to you for free.”

“If I had a nickel for every dollar my grandparents gambled, I’d be a millionaire.”

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So You Want to Own a Racehorse…

FOUR WAYS THOROUGHBRED OWNERS ACQUIRE THE YOUNG HORSES YOU SEE RACING AROUND THE TRACK.

BY NICOLE RUSSO

1. Do it Yourself

A horse referred to as a “homebred” was bred and raised by the same person or stable that currently owns and races them. It’s a big investment of time and finances.

example: 2024 Travers Stakes winner Fierceness raced as a homebred for Mike Repole. He selected the pairing of stallion and mare for an early 2020 mating, then waited the 11-month gestation period plus two more years of development and training before the colt won his debut in August 2023 at Saratoga.

2. Buy ’em Young

Young stock is often purchased at yearling sales the year following the horses' birth or at 2-year-old in training

sales early the following year. Because yearlings have not yet begun any formal training, strong pedigrees and physical attractiveness will be the main factors in appealing to buyers. At 2-year-old in training sales, horses have learned to carry a rider and gallop on a racetrack, so buying is sometimes considered a lower-risk proposition. examples: Hall of Fame filly Songbird was purchased at the Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Selected Yearling Sale in 2014 for $400,000, and went on to earn more than $4.6 million. At the 2-year-old in training sales last year in Ocala, a big gray colt made headlines when his gallop helped him sell for $1.2 million. He is now Preakness thirdplace finisher Sandman.

born and raised Fierceness, a homebred owned by Mike Repole, racing to victory in the 2024 Travers Stakes; (below) Zulu Kingdom was bought through a private purchase and has gone on to become a multiple graded stakes winner.

3. Claim for Fame

Sometimes, young horses appear in claiming races, where every horse in the race can be purchased for a designated price. Regardless of the result, the owner who entered the horse gets any purse money earned as well as the purchase price, while the person who claimed the horse goes home with a new athlete. Sometimes, playing the claiming game is like playing the stock market—you try to buy low and high, and there's a chance you’ll uncover a diamond in the rough to campaign long-term. examples: The most famous example of high-level claiming success recently is Rich Strike. He originally raced for Calumet Farm, then was claimed for $30,000 by RED-TR Racing out of his second career start. He went on to upset the 2022 Kentucky Derby and earn more than $2.5 million.

4. Make a Deal

While training or racing, a young horse might catch the eye of a prospective buyer, who can approach the current owner to negotiate a private purchase. example: Zulu Kingdom won his career debut in France in 2024. He was then privately purchased and came to the US to race for Madaket Stables, Michael Dubb, William Strauss, and Michael Caruso. The Chad Brown trainee is now a Grade 1 winner.

LIVING THE LIFESTYLE

The Boys Are Back in Town

THOUSANDS OF MEN—BOTH LOCALS AND OUT-OF-TOWNERS—ARE ABOUT TO DESCEND ON SARATOGA RACE COURSE. BUT ARE THEIR WARDROBES READY FOR THE OCCASION? n BY NATALIE MOORE

If you take a look around Saratoga Race Course, there’s a pretty good chance you’ll spot more men than women. From serious horseplayers and owners to the casual fan and bachelor party bro, guys rule the roost that is the track—and they look darn good doing it.

“The vibe and style of men’s fashion at the track is definitely louder than everyday life,” says Heidi Owen West, owner of Broadway menswear store Union Hall Supply Co. “It’s more playful…They like to step outside their normal box and have a little more fun.”

What exactly does that look likein practice?

Bolder colors (think pinks and greens to match the silks on the jockeys racing around the track), statement pieces (patterned pants, anyone?), and hats (anything from fedoras and boaters to truckers and cowboy hats).

lookin’ good Some looks from last year's Belmont Stakes Racing Festival, as well as Saratoga T-shirts and a pair of sensible-yetstylish track shoes from Union Hall.

“A lot of the time, men look at a hat as something functional—to keep them cool and keep the sweat from dripping,” Owen West says. “It’s usually more utilitarian for men than it is for women, where hats are often purely fashion. That said, I will say this: When it comes to hats, there’s really no wrong choice. It’s all about your personal style and your personal flair.”

While a hat is certainly a fun addition to any outfit, there are some staples guys should definitely have in their closet heading into track season. On the top, consider some

breathable short-sleeve options—linens are great, or you can go even more casual with a funky golf shirt (at press time Union Hall had one with mini mint juleps all over it). On the bottom, go with a tech trouser or lightweight linen pant and a comfortable pair of slipon shoes, whether it’s a hybrid sneaker or a two-tone docksider-style shoe. And if you’re venturing beyond the picnic area, you’ll need to step it up a notch.

“In the Clubhouse area, people wear suits—full-on suits,” Owen West says. “You need a collared shirt, a jacket/blazer, and dress shoes, at the very least. We love a fun tie. It’s a great spot to bring in a pop of color.”

But if that’s not your scene, don’t worry. Union Hall has options for even the most casual track-goer, including exclusive Saratoga T-shirts just for this summer. “It’s fun to wear something with Saratoga and the year printed on it,” Owen West says. “Because whether you realize it or not, you’re in the middle of history.”

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INTERVIEW

5 Questions for Colin Quinn

THE NYC COMEDIAN IS HEADED TO BALLSTON SPA TO PERFORM AT A FUNDRAISER THAT SUPPORTS OUR NATION’S FIRST RESPONDERS. n BY SARA FOSS

You know him from Saturday Night Live, where his duties included anchoring the parody news segment Weekend Update; the MTV game show Remote Control; and notable roles in popular movies, including the Judd Apatow film Trainwreck, where he played Amy Schumer’s dad. On August 30, New York City–based comedian Colin Quinn will bring his topical brand of comedy to Ballston Spa when he performs at a benefit for the Tunnel to Towers Foundation, a nonprofit that helps 9/11 families, first responders, and military veterans with housing. We caught up with the comedian a couple of months ahead of the show.

Your cousin is helping put this fundraiser on. Does your family have a personal connection to the cause?

I’ve done Tunnel to Towers things a lot. It is a great cause. Everybody from the city knew a few people that died on 9/11. I definitely did.

It seems like your comedy is still very newsy. Do you go into politics for a set like this?

I do. Everything is politics now. There’s no area that politics doesn’t enter the national conversation, because the national conversation is everybody running their mouth online at all times. So, whatever you say, there are people having an opinion on it. A lot of my stuff is about how we think now because of

colin the shots “The challenge is being able to articulate what’s going on in the world right now and getting laughs, especially for different age groups—not just people my age,” says Quinn.

social media, and how insane we really all are. A lot of it is about the space program and AI and stuff like that— where we’re going as people.

I mentioned you to a friend of mine, and she immediately recalled your guest appearance on the TV show Girls. What’s your fan base like now?

My fan base is very mixed. I’d say when I do a show, some of it’s young— anywhere from late twenties comedy nerds to people in their sixties.

What do you think brings them all in?

Most people who come to see me know I’m not doing a lot of sex jokes or stuff like that. They don’t expect to be in a party atmosphere. I’m not the kind of guy that’s fun for people that are drunk. I’ve never been, and I’m less and less that guy the older I get. If you want to sit in a very uncomfortable chair with a hard back laughing intermittently based on your hearing, then I’m the one to see.

Is stand-up your bread and butter?

It’s my bread and butter. It really is so rewarding, still. It’s such an honest appraisal of where you’re at comedically. If I go up there and I’m talking about what I want to talk about and getting laughs, then I’m like, “This is great. I can still do it.” Whatever your thing is, you always feel good if you can do it. And for me, success is laughs.

Colin Quinn will perform a comedy show at the Tunnel to Towers fundraiser, happening Saturday, August 30 at 6pm at a private residence in Ballston Spa. Tickets are $75 and include dinner, music by Skippy & the Pistons, the comedy show, and a raffle ticket. Email candmwagner@msn.com for more information.

office hours According to Cab Calloway’s son, the legendary performer’s wife used to call the New York racetracks her husband’s second office.

The Other Cab Calloway

WHEN HE WASN’T PERFORMING FOR A PACKED HOUSE AT THE COTTON CLUB, THE FAMED BANDLEADER FREQUENTED THE NEW YORK RACETRACKS, INCLUDING SARATOGA, WHICH NOW HOSTS A RACE IN HIS HONOR.

BY MARIA M c BRIDE BUCCIFERRO

The world remembers Cab Calloway as “The Hi De Ho Man,” singer of the hit song “Minnie the Moocher” and star of Harlem’s legendary jazz club, The Cotton Club. Saratogian Ed Thomas, though, remembers a different Calloway—a lifelong horse-lover who grew up a short trolley ride from Baltimore’s Pimlico Race Course.

“I talked to him a lot in the late ’70s and early ’80s,” says Thomas, who crossed paths with the bandleader at NYRA’s downstate tracks. “I went up and down the escalators to look at the paddock, and he presented the trophy. I’d ask him how he was doing.”

In his youth, Calloway worked as a hot walker, cooling down racehorses at Pimlico, and never stopped loving the ponies. Later in life, his passion brought him up to the Spa City, where he became the only black guest at Union Avenue’s exclusive Saratoga Reading Room. His band also performed at the Black Elks Ball, held every year at the Canfield Casino on the evening of the Whitney Stakes.

In her memoir, Pride of Family, writer Carole Ione recalls when her grandmother “Be-Be” transformed her home on George Street bordering the Fasig-Tipton sales barns into the Spuyten Duyvil, a watering hole that became a hit with the racing crowd. “One night Be-Be’s old friend Cab Calloway came in and got the whole joint jumping, everyone singing chorus after chorus of ‘Minnie the Moocher,’ while Fred Astaire stood gracefully in the garden,” writes Ione. “Cab returned, and Be-Be could be seen doing some of her old dance steps with him.”

This summer, Saratoga Race Course will host the 22nd running of the Cab Calloway division of the New York Stallion Series, a one-mile race on the turf, on Thursday, August 14. While Calloway died of a stroke at his Westchester home in 1994 at the age of 86, racing fans in 2025 can still lift a glass to the Hi De Ho bandleader, and place a bet on his namesake race.

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12 UNDER 12

BANKING ON THE FUTURE presented by

CHRISTOPHER AND NICHOLAS MASON

AGES: 8 and 6 HOMETOWN: SARATOGA SPRINGS

SCHOOL: MALTA MONTESSORI

COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT: C.R. WOOD CANCER CENTER

scouts’ honor “Christopher and Nicholas are always finding ways to give back to their community and put a smile on someone’s face,” the brothers’ aunt, Annmarie Hordern, says. “These little acts of kindness go a long way and add up. While very young, they are prime examples of community leaders.”

When you ask most kids what they want for their birthday, you hear about toys, games, and the latest gadgets. But 8-year-old Christopher and 6-year-old Nicholas are a little different— they don’t ask for presents. Instead, they request gas gift cards to donate to the cancer patients of the C.R. Wood Cancer Center in Glens Falls.

The goal of the brothers is simple: to help patients get to their treatments and doctors’ appointments. After all, one of the biggest barriers to receiving care is transportation or, rather, being unable to afford the gas it takes to get there.

The boys don’t just wait until their birthdays to make change, though. Year-round, they collect bottles and use the funds from the returns to purchase Stewart’s gas cards for patients themselves.

“I like to help people in need,” Christopher says. “Everyone should help others!” His brother echoes his sentiment: “I like to help patients because they are very sick.”

Their spirit of service has already inspired their fouryear-old brother, who now also asks for gas gift cards instead of birthday presents. So the next time you find yourself questioning the future of the next generation, think of Christopher and Nicholas— and the compassion and generosity they’re already passing along.

This story is part of a series in which we feature young people from Saratoga Springs and the Capital Region who are making their communities a better place. Know a kid who fits the bill? Send their story to editorial@ saratogaliving.com for a chance to have them featured in a future issue!

Home Court Advantage

DYLAN DAVIS grew up around horse racing in Saratoga, and has since become one of the country’s elite jockeys. Now, the Saratoga Springs High School grad has his sights set on winning a riding title in his own backyard.

BY BRIEN BOUYEA | PHOTOGRAPHY BY SHAWN L a CHAPELLE

COVER STORY

(Acorn Stakes) NYRA

right at home Saratogian Dylan Davis at Chianti Il Ristorante, where he worked in high school; (opposite) Davis winning the Grade 1 Acorn Stakes aboard La Cara during this year’s Belmont Stakes Racing Festival at Saratoga.

hen your chosen profession is to ride some of the world’s fastest Thoroughbred racehorses at extreme speeds in an unpredictable and cutthroat sport where success or failure is determined by split-second decisions, finding serenity and balance can be difficult to achieve.

Although he is a passionate and focused competitor driven to maximize his natural talents as a jockey, Dylan Davis has prioritized finding that balance— both on the racetrack and in his personal life—and the results speak volumes.

On the track, Davis, a 2011 Saratoga Springs High School graduate, has emerged as one of the most successful and consistent jockeys in North America. His even-keel mindset defines a veteran rider who is confident in his abilities and resolute in his preparation. At the same time, Davis approaches

his vocation with a demeanor that makes it evident he enjoys his craft. Present in the moment and usually found smiling ear to ear, he is exactly where he wants to be in his career.

“I’m really blessed to get the opportunity to ride horses for a living and compete at the highest levels of the sport,” says the 30-year-old Davis, who’s closing in on 1,600 career wins. “None of this has come easy or been handed to me. I’ve had to work my way up from the bottom, which really makes me appreciate that process and what it has taken to get to where I’m at. I’m proud of what I’ve done so far, but I’m not satisfied. You have to stay hungry. There is no room for being complacent if you get some success. I can still improve in every way. This is a humbling sport, and nobody ever has it totally figured out. There is always more to learn.”

Through the recent Belmont Stakes Racing Festival at Saratoga Race Course, Davis ranks No. 10 among North American jockeys in 2025 purse earnings with $6,705,891. He has won 86 races so far, including five graded stakes (three

eight’s great Though Davis didn’t race in the Belmont Stakes himself, he came out of the five-day festival with eight wins from 30 mounts, including two Grade 1 first-place finishes on Friday, June 6.

Grade 1s). He has continued to build on the momentum he established during his career-best year in 2024, when he won 213 races with purse earnings of $16,456,954, ranking him No. 9 in both categories. He won 10 graded stakes last year, including his first Grade 1 at a New York Racing Association track aboard Carson’s Run in the Saratoga Derby.

Davis was particularly successful during this year’s Belmont Festival, winning eight races and placing in nine others from 30 mounts in the five days. His highlights included two Grade 1s on June 6—the Acorn aboard La Cara for Hall of Fame trainer Mark Casse and the Just a Game with Dynamic Pricing for five-time Eclipse Award winner Chad Brown—marking the first time in his 14-year career that he won two Grade 1s on the same card. His eight wins during the festival came for eight different trainers, demonstrating the appeal Davis has to many of the sport’s top conditioners. The eight wins also tied with reigning Eclipse Award–winning jockey Flavien Prat for second at the festival, trailing only Hall of Famer John Velazquez, who made nine trips to the winner’s circle.

The professional success Davis has achieved has been aided by a family that’s been entrenched in racing since his father, Robbie Davis, became a star jockey on the New York circuit in the 1980s. Robbie Davis rode 3,382 winners and is now a trainer in New York. Robbie’s passion for racing was handed down to Dylan, as well as his sisters, Jacqueline (Jacky) and Katie, who are also successful jockeys, and his brother, Eddie, an emerging trainer.

“It’s a great support system to have my dad, my sisters, and my brother all actively involved in racing,” Davis says. “We can all relate to what the others are experiencing. We’re competitive with each other, but first and foremost we’re family and we’re always rooting for each other to have success. Sometimes we’re working together, sometimes were trying to beat each other. It’s a fun dynamic.”

Although he had the family pedigree to become a jockey, that wasn’t initially the path Davis envisioned for himself. While growing up, he fell in love with speed in a different sport—motocross.

“I was about 9 when my dad got me my first motor bike, and I loved it,” Davis says. “The bikes got bigger as I got older. I had a Honda CR85 when I was 16 and that thing could cook at probably around 60 miles per hour. My friend Kevin Uebrick’s dad built a course with a bunch of jumps that we could practice on. It was a huge rush and so much fun. Crashes were part of the experience, of course, and I had a couple pretty big ones, but it made me tougher and gave me the mentality that

just because you are down, you are not out. Get back up and get back at it. That mindset has stuck with me.”

Davis rode in numerous American Motocross events while in high school, but he needed to graduate to a bigger bike if he wanted to continue in the sport. And his father was against it.

“A bigger bike meant more speed, bigger jumps—the next size up would have been a 125cc class, and my dad said ‘no way,’ that it was too dangerous,” Davis says. “I know that’s pretty ironic considering the risks we take as jockeys, but realistically it wouldn’t have been a good fit for me. I was pretty mad about it for a while, but Dad started getting in my ear about getting on horses. I eventually got over it, went to the barn, and the rest is history.”

After some early riding lessons with his father, Davis attended the North American Racing Academy in Kentucky, where he learned from Hall of Fame jockey Chris McCarron, who won more than 7,000 races in his career.

“Jacky had gone there and learned a lot, so I had an idea of what was in store for me,” Davis says. “It was a hands-on experience in all aspects of horsemanship. There wasn’t a lot of glamour to it. You’re mucking stalls, grooming horses, taking a full schedule of classes, riding. I just tried to soak it all up. It was typically a two-year program, but Chris called my dad and said I was pretty advanced and that I needed to get into the

All in the Family

But wait: Dylan isn’t the only Davis sibling whose career has recently taken off. Meet KATIE DAVIS, rising jockey and star of the new Netflix series ‘Race for the Crown.’

By nature of the profession, the life of a jockey is filled with ups and downs. For female riders, the trials and tribulations of the sport can be tenfold. Katie Davis, the middle of three jockey siblings in her family, which includes older sister Jacqueline and younger brother Dylan, has experienced many highs and many lows in her career—and she’s still, as always, smiling. Davis, a Saratoga Springs native who is currently on pace for the best statistical year of her career with 27 wins and more than $1.6 million in earnings through mid-June, was recently featured in Netflix’s Race for the Crown, a six-part docuseries that followed horse owners, trainers, and jockeys during the 2024 Triple Crown racing season. Davis was featured alongside

the likes of Mike Repole, Ken McPeek, Jayson Werth, Brian Hernandez, Jr., and Frankie Dettori.

“My family, we’re all jockeys, but I’m the best,” Davis says on the show, before cracking a smile. “No, that’s cocky.”

Davis’ segments on Race for the Crown focus on the unique challenges she’s faced as a female rider in a male-dominated profession, including her own agent telling her she may not be cut out for the sport and security officers questioning her entrance to the track because they didn’t believe she was a jockey. Davis also received feedback that trainers didn’t want to use her on their horses because she has a young child.

“Horse racing is a maledominant sport, but I grew up competing against men, so it’s definitely not new to me,” she says. “There’s not many women that ride Saratoga, so when the fans see a women, they’re all like, ‘Yeah, this is awesome!’”

How does Davis plan to follow up her Netflix debut? By riding at Saratoga Race Course this summer, of course.

—BRIEN BOUYEA

real world of racing after only five or so months because there wasn’t much more I could get out of the school.”

Davis began his riding career at Saratoga in 2012, just a little more than a year after his high school graduation. It was tough going at first, as he finished his first summer at the Spa 0-for-16. He finally broke into the win column that September at Suffolk Downs in Boston aboard a horse named Soldier Sam in a $10,000 claiming race. That first year in the saddle was full of growing pains for Davis, who won only three times from 90 mounts.

“Lot of lessons learned early on…You have to pay your dues,” Davis says. “The trainers don’t know you yet and you have to earn their trust and build relationships. Just work hard, listen, trust the process, try to consistently improve.”

Although his success wasn’t immediate, Davis began to climb the ranks. He then connected with one of the key figures in his career, agent Michael Migliore.

“Mike’s been incredible to have in my corner,” Davis says. “We’ve been noses to the grindstone together since 2017— through winters at Aqueduct, injuries, ups and downs… everything you could imagine. He’s always been so sharp with great advice and has really given me confidence that I belong. There was a time I was struggling in New York and thinking about riding elsewhere, but he convinced me that sticking it out here would pay off. He was right, and we’ve come a long way together. He works just as hard as I do, which is why we have such a great relationship. Our communication is great, and we’re always looking to do better and keep building our business. He’s a big reason I’m where I’m at in my career.”

When he’s not racing, Davis prioritizes family time with his wife, Sara, and their children, 7-year-old Michael and 6-year-old Demi.

“I couldn’t do what I do for a living if Sara wasn’t in full support of it, because she’s really the one who brings everything together for our family,” Davis says. “She’s the backbone—balances everything for all of us. She does so much behind the scenes. We have a lot going on with the kids in school, Michael having a big interest in golf, Demi doing gymnastics, me being at the track so many hours. That’s our life…and we love it. Sara makes it all work so well.”

Next up for Davis is the annual summer meeting at Saratoga Race Course. He finished tied with Tyler Gaffalione for third in the Spa jockey standings in 2024 with 36 wins, behind only Irad Ortiz, Jr. (52) and Prat (45).

“Competing with the best riders forces you to raise your game, and that motivates me every day,” Davis says. “Saratoga is so prestigious. If you’re not motivated here, you’re in the wrong profession. I’d be at a loss for words if I ever won the riding title at Saratoga. I’d be hanging that trophy up real high. I just go back to great advice my dad gave me: He said it’s all about dedication, desire, and discipline. If you can give all three, you’ll be a champion.”

( Katie BRIEN BOUYEA

satisfaction (not) guaranteed “I’m proud of what I’ve done so far, but I’m not satisfied,” Dylan Davis says. “You have to stay hungry. There is no room for being complacent if you get some success. I can still improve in every way”; (opposite) Katie Davis has enjoyed success at her hometown track, winning 10 races at the Spa in the past two years and ranking in the top 20 in both wins and earnings in 2023.

gone but not forgotten

“The First Futurity” by Louis Maurer depicts a race at Sheepshead Bay, which operated in Brooklyn from 1879 until 1910, when anti-gambling laws in New York forced the track to close down.

the races!

American Racing, Rewound

A new coffee table book published by the National Museum of Racing explores the history of horse racing in the US, track by track.

BY TOM PEDULLA

hy was John Morrissey, the bare-knuckled boxer behind the establishment of Saratoga Race Course, known as “Old Smoke?”

What did racing fans in Louisville do before Churchill Downs was built?

Was the Belmont Stakes ever hosted in the Bronx?

Answers to these questions and so much more can be found in The Racetracks of America: From the Pre-Civil War Days to the 21st Century.

The 440-page work, created in partnership with the Keeneland Library, is part of the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame’s year-long 75th anniversary celebration. If ever there was a book meant for a coffee table, this is it.

Editor Brien Bouyea, Hall of Fame and communications director at the museum, worked with 35 contributors that represent a Who’s Who of the nation’s turf writers. Jay Hovdey, winner of multiple Eclipse Awards and a columnist for BloodHorse, wrote the foreword. The Spa City–based Bouyea, naturally, wrote the 10-page section on Saratoga, the country’s oldest major racecourse that’s still in operation today.

For Bouyea, who also serves as the sports editor of this very magazine, the opportunity to tell the story of almost 80 US racetracks was a labor of love. “Thoroughbred racing in America goes back before football, baseball, basketball, and any of the major sports today,” he says. “It’s kind of fascinating to dive into that history about what racing was like, what breeding was like, what the different tracks were like.”

Bouyea’s research included a trip to Keeneland Library, where he pored over thousands of images to supplement the Museum’s collection. “The visuals in this book were just as important as the narratives,” he says. “We wanted to give people a sense of time and place.”

As for answers to the questions about Morrissey’s nickname, pre–Churchill Downs Louisville, and the Belmont in the Bronx, you’ll have to pick up a copy of the new book and find them for yourself. Buy one at the National Museum of Racing or many stores throughout Saratoga Springs.

par for the course (from top) Seabiscuit after defeating War Admiral at Pimlico Race Course in 1938; the view from the Santa Anita Park grandstand in 2016; the betting shed at Benning Race Track, which hosted racing in Washington, D.C. from 1890 until 1908; (inset) a 1950 owner-trainer badge from Arlington Park, which closed in 2021; (opposite, from top) Lexington’s Kentucky Association was once the oldest racetrack in America; White Abarrio wins the Pegasus World Cup at Gulfstream Park in January 2025.

75 REASONS TO GO TO THE NATIONAL MUSEUM OF RACING AND HALL OF FAME THIS SUMMER

If you have kids…

1. The Museum hosts summer drop-in programs for children ages 5–12 on Wednesdays from 10–11am.

2. The Museum features a “Horse Play!” interactive gallery where kids can learn all about Thoroughbred racing by way of hands-on games, costumes, and life-sized plush horses.

3. Children 5 and under get in for free.

4. Children get a free Foal Patrol coloring book and crayons with their visit.

5. To ride the racing simulator—the only one of its kind in the US!

6. To take photos with the jockey statues outside and in the Winner’s Circle in the Race Day Gallery

7. To take a walk through a real starting gate in the Sculpture Gallery

8. To make it seem like your kids want to do all of the above when in reality, it’s you who really wants to

If you love history…

9. To learn about the architecture and history of the Museum itself in the “Laying the Foundation: The Architecture of the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame” exhibit

10. To see Keeneland Library’s “The Heart of the Turf: Racing’s Black Pioneers” exhibit, which highlights the lives and careers of 100 African American horsemen and women from the mid1800s to the present

11. To visit the John A. Morris Research Library, which contains more than 5,000 monographs, serials, and periodicals related to horse racing in the US and abroad (access to the library is by appointment only)

12. To learn all about the history of the Triple Crown (one leg of which now has a Saratoga connection!) in the Triple Crown Gallery

BY NATALIE MOORE

13. To take “A Look Through the Eyes and Life of Charlotte C. Weber,” an exhibition on display through November 2 focused on the life of the racing industry leader and owner of Live Oak

14. To go back in time (and we mean way back) to the earliest days of America by visiting the Colonial, Pre-Civil War, and PostCivil War galleries

15. To see the variety of jockey scales used throughout history

16. To learn about many racecourses from days past, including Long Island Union Race Course, depicted in a scarf commemorating the 1823 match race between American Eclipse and Sir Henry

17. To see the only existing part of the original Pimlico Race Course after the fire in 1966 burned down the old members’ clubhouse

18. To view early memorabilia from racing’s history, including the oldest pair of silks in the Museum’s collection, which belonged to John Cox Stevens

19. To learn how Steeplechase got its name (hint: it dates back to 18th century Ireland!)

20. To learn why race winnings are called a “purse” (hint: the term’s origin lies in actual silk purses)

tour story On Thursdays from 11–noon through August 28, legendary racecaller Tom Durkin hosts guided tours of the Museum. Reservations are required.

21. To learn about individuals who have made extraordinary contributions to Throroughbred racing, including Coney Island Jockey Club and Jerome Park founder Leonard Jerome

22. To see historic racing memorabilia, big and small, including a pin from The Coney Island Jockey Club, which held races at Prospect Park in New York City until Sheepshead Bay Race Track opened in 1880

If you want to get involved…

23. To sign up for a membership, which includes unlimited year-round admission, a 50 percent discount on Oklahoma Training Track tours, a 15 percent discount in the gift shop, invitations to special events, and more

24. The Museum hosts a book club that reads horse racing–related books and meets every other month. Next read: Letters from Country Life: Adolphe Pons, Man O’ War, and the Founding of Maryland’s Oldest Thoroughbred Farm.

25. To pick up your book club book, available in the Museum’s gift shop

26. To learn how to get involved in Thoroughbred racehorse ownership at a Partnership & Syndicate meet-and-greet on Saturday, August 9 from 9–11am

27. For a handicapping seminar at 10am every Saturday (when Saratoga is running) in the Hall of Fame

28. To create a legacy and buy an engraved brick

29. Their Saturday Morning Social events feature special guests and free coffee and doughnuts from Stewart’s Shops.

If you’re

a horse racing superfan…

30. To stand in the presence of greatness at the Hall of Fame, a virtual education experience that opened in 2020 where you can read all about the sport’s greatest horses, trainers, jockeys, and Pillars of the Turf

31. To see the newest inductees in the Hall of Fame following the August 1 induction ceremony at Fasig-Tipton

32. It’s only 450 (ish) steps to Saratoga Race Course’s Union Avenue gate (yes, we counted).

33. To learn about the biology and breeding of horses in the Anatomy Gallery

34. To mingle with more than 25 Hall of Famers at a meet-and-greet on Saturday, August 2 at 9:30am

35. To learn about the Jockey Club and Thoroughbred registration and identification

36. To see Count Fleet’s Triple Crown trophy, which he won in 1943

37. To view important trophies from major stake races made by Cartier, Tiffany & Co, and S.R. Blackinton

38. To see the famous racehorse Lexington’s horseshoe, the first item accessioned into the Museum, which was worn during the race in which the horse set a record-breaking time for a four-mile heat

39. To learn about the 13 Triple Crown winners and see 10th winner Seattle Slew’s saddle

If you’re collecting experiences…

40. You can rent out a section of the Museum or the whole thing for private events including wedding receptions, fundraisers, showers, seminars, and more.

41. To get a guided, 45-minute museum tour

42. To get a one-hour museum tour led by legendary racecaller Tom Durkin (Thursdays through August 28)

43. To get a tour of the museum by Hall of Fame jockey and “King of Saratoga,” Angel Cordero, Jr. on August 6

44. You don’t need to be on a guided tour to get the full experience: Tune into the Museum’s audio tour on SoundCloud.

45. To get a 90-minute walking tour of Saratoga Race Course’s historic Oklahoma Training Track

46. The Museum’s Saratoga County Farm Tours give attendees a 90-minute tour through a different farm every month from April through October, and gain you free entry to the Museum.

47. To try your hand at calling a horse race in the new “Call the Race” interactive exhibit

If you love art…

48. The Museum regularly hosts Travers poster signings with artist Greg Montgomery.

49. To see a relic of Arlington Park in Illinois: the near-life-size statue titled “Against All Odds,” commemorating the first Arlington Million

50. To see equine artist John E. Ferneley, Sr.’s collection of notable British sporting art

51. To see the near-life-size statue of Seabiscuit on Union Avenue

52. To see artist Edward Troye’s calling cards (Troye worked at a time before cameras to capture the likeness of turf giants of the era, painting racehorses such as Lexington, American Eclipse, and Kentucky)

53. To see Edward Troye’s artist’s palette and brushes and feel like you are in the studio with him

#48

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54. To check out the new mural, “The Past Is the Present,” which was painted on the side of the building this spring by artist Celeste Susany

55. To view the statue of Secretariat in the C.V. Whitney Courtyard, donated by philanthropist Paul Mellon. Fun Fact: A second casting is currently at the Walk of Fame at Saratoga Race Course, awaiting its return home to the paddock at the new Belmont Park.

56. To see original works by American artist Fredrick Remington, who is best known for his depictions of the American West, but also produced works depicting Thoroughbreds on the racetrack

57. To see a candid racetrack moment depicted in “Saluting the Stewards,” an oil painting by Lee Townsend

58. To see the atmosphere and energy of a 20th century day at the races captured in Lee Townsend’s “Racetrack Crowd”

59. To see “Battleship” by William Smithson Broadhead, an oil pointing depicting the first American-bred horse to win the English Grand National, and learn about the history of Americanbred horses racing abroad

If you’re a casual fan or Saratoga tourist…

60. There’s free parking for Museum patrons while visiting the Museum.

61. To see “What it Takes: Journey to the Hall of Fame,” the Museum’s signature 16-minute film, which plays several times per day on a foursided screen in the Hall of Fame (it’s also available in Spanish)

62. If it’s too hot out, or it’s raining, you can watch

what’s going on at Saratoga Race Course on the big screen in the Museum lobby and explore 46,000 square feet of climate-controlled space.

63. The Museum is open from 9am–5pm seven days a week.

64. To pick up gifts for racing lovers in the gift shop

with Red Pollard up, when he set the track record for a mile and a quarter.

70. To see another prominent artifact from Seabiscuit: the leg brace used by jockey Red Pollard. He fashioned it for himself so he could ride again after an injury.

71. To view the aerial diorama of Saratoga Race Course

72. To go down memory lane with original signs from Saratoga Race Course’s clubhouse and grandstand

73. The Museum is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, so the cost of your ticket will support the Museum’s educational mission

65. There are free or discounted admission rates for veterans, individuals with special needs, EBT card-holders, and more.

66. To chat with the friendly and knowledgeable staff

67. To pick up the 2025 Official Guide to the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame

If you love Saratoga…

68. To pick up your copy of saratoga living magazine

69. If you’re a fan of the movie Seabiscuit, which was filmed in Saratoga, you’ll love checking out original artifacts from the horse’s life that were seen in the movie, including a saddle worn by Seabiscuit at the Santa Anita Handicap,

74. To celebrate the legacy of the Whitney family in the sport and view the Whitney Memorial Cup (it was awarded for many years to the winner of the Whitney Stakes, which was inaugurated in 1928 at Saratoga Race Course)

And lastly…

75. Because if you’ve made it this far, chances are, you really want to!

#54

#74

#64

#69

It’s Time to Tune In

Haven’t been following racing in the Saratoga offseason? These are the questions you should be asking as we head into the summer meet.

BY NICOLE RUSSO

CAN ANYONE DETHRONE HIM?

Sovereignty established himself as the leading 3-year-old in the country by winning both the Kentucky Derby and the Belmont Stakes. He will remain based at Saratoga’s Oklahoma Training Track all summer for trainer Bill Mott, and his main goal will be August’s marquee race: the Grade 1 Travers Stakes.

“I’d love to come back and take a crack at the Travers,” Mott said after the Belmont. “It’s a race that I’ve never won, and I think it’s a very important race for a 3-year-old like Sovereignty.”

Sovereignty may well next appear in the local prep for the Travers: the Grade 2 Jim Dandy Stakes.

Journalism, who sandwiched a Preakness Stakes win between runner-up finishes to Sovereignty in the Derby and Belmont, seems like the obvious choice to give the horse-to-beat a run for his money. But he returned to his California base following the close of the Triple Crown, and at press time, his summer plans were undetermined.

That doesn’t necessarily mean Sovereignty’s in the clear to romp to the Jim Dandy and Travers finish lines unchallenged; three-year-olds who passed on parts of the Triple Crown or who are later developers are waiting to challenge the leaders. Among those who will be based here all summer is the popular Sandman, the third-place finisher in the Preakness Stakes. He skipped the Belmont to focus on freshening up for Saratoga.

“I’m excited,” trainer Mark Casse says, “because he had a long campaign, and we’ve had some time to let him grow and strengthen up and be a better horse for the Jim Dandy.”

WHO

WILL COME OUT ON TOP?

Sovereignty is campaigned by Godolphin, and the filly divisions say even more about the depth of that stable. Immersive, Godolphin’s undefeated 2024 Breeders’ Cup

horse around (from top) The Brad Cox–trained Good Cheer won her first seven career starts before finishing fifth in the Acorn Stakes at Saratoga; 2023 Whitney winner White Abarrio may point to the Whitney again this year; (opposite, from top) Sovereignty winning the 2025 Belmont Stakes at Saratoga; 2024 Breeders’ Cup Classic winner Sierra Leone is trained by Mechanicville native Chad Brown.

it’s no wonder (from top) Nitrogen winning the Grade 3 Wonder Again Stakes during Belmont weekend; She Feels Pretty en route to a first-place finish in the New York Stakes.

Juvenile Fillies winner and divisional champion, was sidelined early this year with bone bruising, a mild malady—but a stablemate was waiting in the wings. Good Cheer won her first seven career starts, including the Kentucky Oaks. Both are trained by Brad Cox.

Despite Good Cheer’s good start, she finished a flat fifth in the Grade 1 Acorn Stakes at Saratoga (Graveyard of Champions, anyone?). Winning the race was La Cara, who took her second Grade 1 of the year and is poised for another great Saratoga meet.

“She loves it here,” Casse said of the filly, who won her maiden race at Saratoga last year.

Good Cheer and La Cara could meet in tests for 2025 divisional supremacy in the Grade 1 Coaching Club American Oaks in July and/or the Grade 1 Alabama Stakes in August. Meanwhile, keeping Good Cheer and Immersive (who returned to the races in June with a second-place finish at Churchill Downs) separate could be a nice problem for Godolphin and Cox to have. Immersive won the Grade 1 Spinaway Stakes at seven furlongs last year at Saratoga, which could make her a candidate for a race like the Grade 1 Test Stakes at the same distance.

WILL THEY LIVE UP TO THEIR REPUTATIONS?

Nitrogen and the older She Feels Pretty cemented their domination of their respective turf filly divisions on Belmont Stakes weekend, despite dealing with challenging courses.

She Feels Pretty has won four straight graded stakes dating to last October for Saratoga Springs native Cherie DeVaux. The most recent of those came in the Grade 1 New York Stakes on June 6, her class asserting itself despite running on a yielding turf course she didn’t care for.

She will look to continue her winning streak in the Grade 1 Diana Stakes on July 12 at the Spa.

Meanwhile, the 3-year-old Nitrogen has won five straight stakes—four of those on turf. When the Grade 3 Wonder Again Stakes on June 7 was rained off the turf, she rolled by 17 lengths on the sloppy, sealed dirt track. She will keep training toward the Grade 1 Belmont Oaks on the Saratoga turf. After that, she could move to the next race in the turf series—the Grade 2 Saratoga Oaks—or has the option of running on dirt again in a race like the Alabama for Casse.

CAN THEY DO IT AGAIN?

Fierceness is stabled at Saratoga for a third straight summer for Todd Pletcher. He was a dazzling debut winner here en route to a 2023 championship, then won both the 2024 Jim Dandy and Travers, handing eventual Horse of the Year Thorpedo Anna her only loss on the season.

Fierceness returned to action this year with a record-setting performance in the Grade 2 Alysheba Stakes at Churchill Downs, but then incurred his first loss at Saratoga when he was second in the Grade 1 Metropolitan Handicap on the Belmont undercard. Fierceness will look to rebound in August at Saratoga.

Says Pletcher of what’s next for the horse: “I’m sure we’ll point for the Whitney.”

White Abarrio, the 2023 Whitney and Breeders’ Cup Classic winner, could also point to the Whitney in a deep older horse division that includes 2024 Breeders’ Cup Classic winner Sierra Leone, trained by Mechanicville native Chad Brown.

Meanwhile, after racing in Kentucky in June, Thorpedo Anna is expected to be stabled in Saratoga this summer, and could target the Grade 1 Personal Ensign Stakes.

What will happen is anyone’s guess. What we do know? We’ll be at Saratoga all summer long to watch it unfold.

Photos by Meri Light Photography

RETROSPECTIVE

Heading East

How leading California horse ANCIENT TITLE lived up to his reputation on the New York racing circuit by winning the 1975 Whitney Stakes.

BY BRIEN BOUYEA

ince its inaugural running in 1928, the Whitney Stakes has been one of Saratoga Race Course’s signature events. The race has been won by 21 Hall of Fame horses, including Ancient Title, a talented California-bred gelding whose victory in the 1975 edition still resonates as one of the greatest Whitney performances 50 years later.

“I was privileged to ride a lot of really good horses in my career,” Hall of Fame jockey Sandy Hawley said in

a recent interview. “Ancient Title was right up there with the best of them.”

The 1975 Whitney was the 48th running of the race and the first to be contested under handicap conditions. With a top reputation from winning 13 stakes races in California, Ancient Title was assigned the high weight of 128 pounds. Trained by Keith Stucki—who galloped the legendary Seabiscuit at Saratoga in 1937—Ancient Title shot to the Whitney lead heading into the backstretch but was soon tested as the Allen Jerkens–trained Group Plan, carrying only 115 pounds, threatened as the finish line neared.

Jockey Jorge Velasquez moved Group Plan to the rail and made a furious rush in the stretch, but Ancient Title wouldn’t relinquish the lead and won by a neck in a thriller. The gritty effort in the stretch was characteristic of Ancient Title’s style. “He was a horse who knew where the wire was and he’d fight you for it,” Hawley said. “He wasn’t the type to back down from a challenge. If he had a lead near the finish, he wasn’t going to let anyone go by him.”

Ancient Title went on to finish third in a pair of races at Belmont Park before returning to California, where he won six more stakes races before being retired in 1978. After seven years on the track, Ancient Title’s career earnings totaled $1,252,791—a record for a horse bred in California. He won or placed in 44 of his 57 races and registered 20 stakes victories.

HANDICAP

/ˈhandē ˌkap/ noun

Ancient Title was inducted in the Hall of Fame in 2008.

“He won a lot of big races, but I think getting the Whitney and proving he could win outside of California showed a lot of people that he deserved that reputation as a top horse,” said Hawley. “It’s a special race that can really make a horse’s career. Ancient Title earned a lot of respect that day.”

A race in which horses are assigned differing weights to carry based on past performances in an effort to level the playing field and create a more competitive race.

title wave “He was a special talent— very powerful, a lot of natural speed,” jockey Sandy Hawley says of 1975 Whitney Stakes winner Ancient Title, seen here in the Santa Anita paddock. “He could be tough to ride because he was so strong, but you knew he’d give you a heck of an effort. He moved with such force that it felt like he could pull you right over his neck at any second if he wanted to. He was a darn good one for sure.”

ON THE FARM

BREEDING GROUND

WHILE ALL EYES ARE ON SARATOGA COUNTY’S HORSE FARMS COME TRACK SEASON, DEDICATED DAIRY FARMERS ARE USING ADVANCED BIOTECHNOLOGIES TO PRODUCE SOME OF THE COUNTRY’S HIGHEST QUALITY MILK ALL YEAR LONG.

BY SARA FOSS | PHOTOGRAPHY

BY

DORI FITZPATRICK

n Saratoga Springs, no one would bat an eyelash at a Thoroughbred being sold for hundreds of thousands of dollars. The horses that race at the Spa are elite athletes that have been carefully bred for speed and strength; in just a handful of years, they can rack up millions in winnings on the track, and millions more in stud fees after they retire.

But a dairy cow going for hundreds of thousands of dollars? It’s actually more common than you’d think.

“We have some pretty exceptional dairy genetics and a couple of farms that really specialize in that,” says Cornell Cooperative Extension of Saratoga County’s Nicolina Foti.

“They kind of fly under the radar. They are ahead of the horse industry in terms of technology by 10 to 20 years. They’ve been doing this a long time, and they’re damn good at it.”

While The Jockey Club has banned the registration of Thoroughbred horses produced through artificial insemination, the dairy industry has embraced the practice. Ever wonder why King Brothers Dairy’s ice cream tastes so darn good? It’s not luck—it’s science.

These days, farmers have been using increasingly sophisticated reproductive technology, such as embryo transfer and in vitro fertilization (IVF), to improve the genetic profile of their dairy herds. (Gone are the days when dairy cows were bred the old-fashioned way, by impregnating the mother cow with a bull.) For many, the goal is to boost milk

output while also producing high-quality, rich and creamy milk that’s chock full of butterfat and protein. Butterfat—the fatty part of milk—is a key ingredient in cheese, butter, and, yes, that King Dairy ice cream.

Area farms’ widespread adoption of these new technologies has helped put Saratoga County on the map for dairy production, especially in the Northeast; Saratoga County now supplies high-quality milk that's used in Chobani yogurt and Land O’Lakes butter. Sarah Bowley, owner of Eclipse Genetics, makes the trip from Rhode Island to Saratoga nearly weekly to provide her company’s IVF services.

“You still have your cows getting pregnant and making milk once they have a calf,” Bowley says, “but you’re making better calves.”

Bowley works closely with King Brothers, as well as Clear Echo Farm, another Schuylverville farm that currently milks 650 cows and produces about 93 pounds of milk per cow daily. (The average US dairy cow produces 65-75 pounds daily.) Clear Echo is a sixth-generation farm that’s run by Matt Peck, who took over the herd from his father two years ago.

“Our family has always had a passion for advancing the dairy industry, advancing the genetic pool of the Holstein breed,” Peck says. “It boils

in the clear Schuylerville’s Clear Echo Farm is one of the local operations that’s leading the charge to make dairy farming more efficient by way of reproductive technologies; (opposite) Clear Echo currently milks around 650 cows.

down to what for every farmer is the ultimate goal: providing food for the community, for the world. The best way to do that is by looking at the genetics.”

The use of reproductive technology has had substantial benefits for New York’s dairy industry, which is currently on an upswing, according to Ben Weikert, interim department chair of animal science at SUNY Cobleskill. “We’re seeing that our cows produce a lot more milk with fewer resources,” he says. “The cows are healthier. We also have more sustainable practices because we can produce more protein and nutrient-rich products for less environmental impact.”

What exactly are these cutting-edge reproductive technologies that are changing the dairy game in upstate New York and beyond? While artificial insemination—using frozen semen stored in tanks to impregnate cows— has been a common practice in the dairy industry for decades, farmers are taking it up a notch with embryo transfer and IVF, two methods that

allow a premium dairy cow to “mother” dozens of offspring every year by way of surrogates, as opposed to one every nine months the traditional way.

While the high cost of IVF has historically been a barrier for smaller, less elite dairy farms, more companies are now offering it, and the prices are dropping, which has led to more farms using the technology. “It definitely is a growing area,” Weikert said. “For a long time, some of those procedures were cost-prohibitive.”

Another reproductive tool is sexed semen—semen manipulated to produce offspring of a specific gender. This practice enables farmers to “produce” more female cows, which in turn increases the value of their herd, because female cows are the ones that make milk.

In recent years, dairy farmers like Peck have also started using genetic assessments to determine how well new calves will fit into their operations. Clear Echo can take a hair sample from a two-month-old calf, send it to

pecking order Clear Echo’s Matt Peck took over his family’s sixthgeneration farm from his father two years ago; (opposite) ice cream and merchandise from the King Brothers Dairy farm store in Schuylerville.

a lab, and receive a detailed genetic profile that includes information on milk yield potential, metabolic health indicators, and more. In 2022, a dairy cow with “one-in-a-million” genetics was sold—along with the rights to 40 of her unborn offspring that were being carried by surrogates—for a whopping $1.9 million to a syndicate comprised of Rensselaer County’s AOT Holsteins, Saratoga County’s Kings-Ransom Farm (the farm where King Brothers Dairy is produced), and buyers in Vermont and Wisconsin.

Bowley says the IVF industry helps farms target and propagate specific genetic profiles “rather than lining up every bull with every cow and hoping that you get good calves.” Over the past few years, finding balance between sought-after traits has become a major piece of her work.

“Maybe the bull’s got straighter legs, and the mother cow’s legs are a little

wonky,” she said. “Maybe she doesn’t produce a lot of milk, and he’s going to improve milk production.”

Right now, there’s a lot of consumer demand for dairy products such as yogurt and cheese, so there’s a lot of genetic selection for cows that produce milk with higher fat and higher protein content. But other traits matter too—specifically the health and longevity of the cows, which IVF can influence. “We want cows that gave good udder genetics so they’re not having mastitis issues,” Peck says. “We select for health traits, for longevity.”

The end goal? Healthier cows that produce more milk at a higher quality for a longer period of time. That’s where the dairy industry is headed. And thanks to forward-thinking farmers like Peck, Saratoga County’s cows are ahead of the curve. Purchase with a Purpose!

saratoga living’s 2025 Agent Spotlight

Saratoga’s motto has long been health, history, and horses, but it should also include another H—homes! That's because the Spa City has one of the hottest housing markets in the state, and a whole host of qualified and capable realtors who are ready to make your home ownership dreams (whether you’re buying your first home, buying your forever home, or downsizing) a reality. Meet 37 of them here:

© SCOTT BERGMAN PHOTOGRAPHY

Lisa Licata

Managing Broker, CBR, SRS, CRB, C-RETS, ABR

Assoc. RE Broker, Sterling Real Estate Group

c 518.506.3996 | o 518.688.2211

llicata06@gmail.com | sterling518.com

FUN FACT I love to travel (Aruba is one of my favorite spots) and I catch Dave Matthews Band concerts when I can.

Jaylene Leonbruno

Licensed Real Estate Broker, CSP, RENE, e-pro

Tailored Real Estate Group

c 518.744.0654 | o 518.400.2550

jaylene.tailoredreg.com | jleonbruno@tailoredreg.com

FUN FACT Jaylene is an uncommon name shared by fewer than 1 in 100,000 people in the world— so I am statistically rarer than a four-leaf clover!

Julie A. Bonacio

Broker/Owner

Julie & Co. Realty, LLC

c 518.701.5080

julie@bonacio.com

Judy Clow

Licensed Real Estate Salesperson

Tailored Real Estate Group

c 518.470.2306

judy.tailoredreg.com | judyclow@tailoredreg.com

FUN FACT I enjoy playing golf and spending time at the beach.

Chris Iwinski

Licensed Real Estate Salesman

Coldwell Banker International

c 518.405.6888

chris@iwinskiproperties.com

FUN FACT I can recite every line from Home Alone and once booby-trapped an open house to prove it.

Lisa A. McTygue

Licensed Real Estate Salesperson, ABR, GRI, PSA

Julie & Co. Realty, LLC

c 518.598.4098

lisamc@juliecorealty.com

FUN FACT I show Morgan horses.

Jennifer Fortune

Licensed Real Estate Broker/Owner, CBR

Fortune Realty Group, LLC. | c 518.858.2627

jennifer@fortunerealtygroup.com

FUN FACT My grandfather was a two-time Olympic bobsledder and bronze medalist who founded and built the North Pole attractions in Colorado and in Lake Placid, where I grew up spending half my time.

Helen Mastrion

Licensed Associate Real Estate Broker

Hunt Real Estate ERA

c 518.281.2324

helenmastrion.huntrealestate.com

helen.mastrion@huntrealestate.com

FUN FACT Once upon a time, I performed at Wembley Arena in London!

Heather Willig

Cartier Real Estate Group

Licensed Real Estate Salesperson

c 518.339.1534 | heather@thecartiergroup.com heatherwilligrealestate.com

FUN FACT I have been to Hong Kong and China six times, and have daily conversations with my dog, Scooby, where I make up everything that he would say to me.

Conner Roohan

Associate Broker

eXp Realty

c 518.857.2033 | connerroohan@gmail.com connerroohan.exprealty.com

FUN FACT I have lived in Saratoga Springs my whole life. I’ve been a licensed real estate professional for 11 years. King Dairy has the best ice cream in the area.

Ariane Milligi Fuller

Racing City Realty

c 518.682.2097

ariane@racingcityrealty.com racingcityrealty.com

FUN FACT I enjoy salt-water fishing; my husband bought me a Surfcaster for Mother’s Day!

Tina Nigro

Licensed Real Estate Salesperson Julie & Co. Realty, LLC

c 518.495.7164 tina@juliecorealty.com

Aspen Witt

Licensed Real Estate Salesperson

Julie & Co. Realty, LLC

c 518.369.8021

aspenwittsells@gmail.com

FUN FACT I was on the US Developmental Ski Team and was born and raised in Saratoga Springs.

Michelle Collins

Licensed Real Estate Salesperson

Cartier Real Estate Group

c 518.275.3260

michelle@thecartiergroup.com

FUN FACT I was an equine hoof care practitioner for 15 years.

Allison Bradley

Real Estate Salesperson

Four Seasons

Sotheby’s International Realty

o 518.580.8500 | f 518.580.8511 | c 518.339.7313

allisonbradley.fourseasonssir.com

FUN FACT I walked across the stage at SPAC during a Jethro Tull concert when I was 15.

Heidi Rotter

Licensed Associate Real Estate Broker

Howard Hanna Real Estate Services

o 518.371.4500 | c 518.378.3987

heidirotter@howardhanna.com

FUN FACT I’m a small-town gal turned host of The American Dream TV show who keeps a rotisserie chicken (aka my emotional support chicken) ready to eat on my desk. It's a whole vibe.

Ashley Jameson

Licensed Real Estate Salesperson

Northway Team at Compass c 518.682.7012

ashley.jameson@compass.com

FUN FACT I specialize in short-term rentals, and got my start renting out my childhood home in Saratoga Springs.

Sarah Trojanski

CSP Licensed Real Estate Salesperson

c 518.616.8428 | o 518.688.2211

sarah@trojanskibuilders.com | sterling518.com

FUN FACT I’ve run four marathons and raised money for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. I work alongside my husband, Dave Trojanski, a builder.

Melissa Cartier

Cartier Real Estate Group

c 518.321.5762

melissa@thecartiergroup.com

FUN FACT I can remember every floor plan of every house I've shown, but never the street number!

Scott Varley

The Scott Varley Team c 518.281.6808

info@scottvarley.com scottvarley.com

FUN FACT I was born and raised on West Avenue, where I lived until age 21.

Michele Funiciello

Licensed Real Estate Salesperson

Horse & Home Estates | c 518.265.0086

michele@horseandhomeestates.com

FUN FACT Our historic home, Circular Manor Inn, was once featured on HGTV’s If These Walls Could Talk..., because we discovered a bundle of love letters hidden in a locked bench on the stairwell.

Teri Kraszewski

Licensed Associate Real Estate Broker c 518.339.7614

terikraszewski@howardhanna.com

terikraszewski.howardhanna.com

FUN FACT I won a state championship in high school for soccer.

Lisa Vitiello

Real Estate Broker

Miranda Real Estate Group c 518.466.9083

lvitiellorealestate@gmail.com

lvitiellorealestate.com

FUN FACT I'm obsessed with fly fishing in Montana!

Charles B. Goodridge

Licensed Associate Real Estate Broker

Julie & Co. Realty, LLC o 518.350.7653 | c 518.409.1218

cgoods@juliecorealty.com

FUN FACT At age 10 I was sent to a proper English boarding school...Think classic uniforms and old-school discipline.

Kathleen “Kati” Hauser

Licensed Real Estate Salesperson

Roohan Realty

c 518.788.8606

hauser.kt@gmail.com

FUN FACT I like to sing for fun and occasionally for private parties.

Tara Garrett

Licensed Real Estate Salesperson

Roohan Realty

c 518.596.8307

tkane13@hotmail.com

FUN FACT I was in a movie and a television show when I was younger.

Valerie Thompson

Associate Real Estate Broker

Roohan Realty

c 518.421.7264

vhtrealtor@gmail.com

FUN FACT I was the drum majorette of my high school marching band.

Christine Hogan Barton

Associate Real Estate Broker

Roohan Realty

c 518.744.0732

cmh217@gmail.com

FUN FACT In addition to being an Associate Real Estate Broker, I am also a partner in Brand Strategy at Edgy Betty, LLC.

Michele Towne-Torres

Licensed Real Estate Salesperson

Roohan Realty

c 518.429.6623

torresix@msn.com

FUN FACT I love live music so I go to as many SPAC concerts as I can.

John Reardon

Associate Real Estate Broker

Roohan Realty

c 518.858.2228

john@saratogachef.com

Fun fact I won a talent show on a cruise ship and was offered a job as a performer but I declined as I was on my honeymoon.

Margaret “Meg” Minehan

Associate Real Estate Broker, GRI

Roohan Realty | c 518.366.3325

megjackminehan@hotmail.com

John “Jack” Minehan

Licensed Real Estate Salesperson, Roohan Realty

c 518.421.8662 | jminehan@roohanrealty.com

FUN FACT Two seasoned REALTORS®, one seamless experience

Colleen Yates

Licensed Real Estate Salesperson

Roohan Realty

c 518.681.7849

colleendyates@gmail.com

FUN FACT I like to play tennis.

Michelle Mebert

Licensed Real Estate Salesperson, ABR, SRS

Roohan Realty

c 518.248.9446

mmebert@roohanrealty.com

FUN FACT I am a proud supporter of ballet and modern dance...Shout out to Saratoga City Ballet and Nacre Dance Group!

Kate R. Naughton

Associate Real Estate Broker

Roohan Realty

c 518.441.8527

katernaughton@gmail.com

FUN FACT I have a selfie with Dave Matthews.

Jason Thomas

Licensed Real Estate Salesperson

Roohan Realty

c 518.221.8920

jetson111@gmail.com

FUN FACT I lived in Taiwan teaching English for a little while and it’s my favorite place in the world.

Carol Raike

Associate Real Estate Broker

Roohan Realty

c 518.791.2728

carolraikerealtor@gmail.com

FUN FACT While I'm a HUGE fan of the Ohio State Buckeyes, I am willing to represent fans of that team up north.

off track

SARATOGA’S HOTTEST TICKETS

UPH’s Shaken & Stirred

MAY 15 • SARATOGA NATIONAL photography by ZACK SKOWRONEK

The Saratoga community rung in the 2025 summer season with much fanfare at Universal Preservation Hall’s 10th annual Shaken & Stirred celebrity bartender party. Eight teams from local businesses battled it out behind the bar and beyond to raise the most money for children’s and family programming at the Collaborative School of the Arts. As part of Team saratoga living’s fundraising effort, we sold these photo slots as well as the Rotor-Matic Plumbing & Drain Solutions ad on the opposite page, and all proceeds went to the worthy cause.

Steve Struss, Zack Skowronek, Maddy Halverson, and Kate VanHerp

Marcella Hammer leads Team Palette’s entrance

Cathy and Bob McKenna Team Metabolic’s grand entrance

Team Bonacio, aka Team Top Gun

Kathleen Magner and Chris Barss

Roy and Theresa Penn and Kelli and Andy Prestigiacomo

Drew Smith

Jenny Whiteneck, Sacha Ward, C. Dena Contompasis, and Nancy Bradshaw

DeCrescente

theme was the Masters Mike Spicer and Mia Traficante

Tom Marchesani and Patrick O’Conner

Jessie Brooks and Gabi Acierno

Eva Weeks and Giuliana Atzeni Spencer Sherry

Pam and Dan Washburn DJ Trumastr

Gene Penson, Kelly Penson, Shelbie Northup, Shana DiCocco, Patrizia Piras Dwyer, Chad Mallow, party guest, Faris Bazzari, Brigit Emmolo, and Orlando Emmolo

The Mohawk Auto Group team

Chrissy Snyder and Meghan Deguire

The Bonadio Group team

Gianna Bonacio, Agathe Doyon, Flavie Doyon, and Laura Eberlein

Jenna Clark

Brayden Esposito and Nicole Sell

Alex Roth and Lizzie Schlegel

Shane Myers, Trish Myers, Kim Hinman, Caroline Hinman, and Jourdan Hinman

Charles M. Lipscomb, Jr. and Jason Lorenz

Jessie Brooks, Chuck Brooks, and Lisbeth Brooks

Jessica Hirliman, Annie Brill, Lydia Barbieri, Kate Sattelberg, Kato Kawaguchi, and Dan Graham

David Rizzo and Luke Mosseau

Team saratoga living, aka the paparazzi

Liam Ambrosio and Dan Graham A scene from the packed bar

Teresa Frazer, Terese Russell, Tracy Momrow, Tina Galante, Natalie Moore, and Jason Lorenz

Molly Gallagher, Ben Morey, Pete Konrad, Maddy Halverson, Erica Ziskin, and Natalie Moore

Lisa Elovich, Tina Galante, and Mary Kuntz

The paparazzi photographing Elton John, aka Spencer Sherry

Aspen Witt, Julie Grassi, Carrie Zappone, Lauren Ruane, and Carina Rodriguez

JoAnne Kiernan, Joe Snyder, Chrissy Snyder, Meg Deguire, and Sherry Foglia

Jakki Marchesiello, Nicole Katz, Brittany Fitts, and Sam Trimboli

Gary Bosko, Brandi McGuire, Heather Murray, Denise Severino, William Seeberger, Jason Lorenz, Taylor Murray, and Charles M. Lipscomb, Jr.

Alfred W. Hollis, D.D.S.

A unique, patient-focused approach to dental care in the Spa City.

When you enter Dr. Alfred W. Hollis’ Saratoga Springs dental office, his caring staff greets you as the first part of a warm welcome. “What differentiates our office is that we are focused on building relationships with our patients.” says Dr. Hollis, a third-generation dentist. “Patients want to be heard. We take the time to listen to your needs and work together to develop a plan that works for you. Our experienced staff are committed to long-term dental health and predictability.”

To further build on the professional relationship, you will see the same dentist and staff at each appointment. When you walk through Dr. Hollis’ door, you will know you are in a special place.

Dr. Hollis is passionate about dentistry. He has trained with highly esteemed clinicians in restorative and preventive dentistry at The Eubank Institute and The Pankey Institute, and completed a one-year continuum for full mouth reconstruction at New York University. Born in Glens Falls, Dr. Hollis graduated from University at Buffalo School of Dental Medicine in 1999, completed his general practice residency at St. Clare’s Hospital and worked in Saratoga and Clifton Park before opening his practice in downtown Saratoga Springs. When he is not caring for patients, Dr. Hollis enjoys spending time with his wife and three children in the Adirondacks and on Lake George. ■

157 LAKE AVENUE, SARATOGA SPRINGS

518.584.1400

alfredhollisdds.com

saratoga living’s Cocktails & Clairvoyance

MAY 14 • GIDEON PUTNAM photography by

Intuitive practitioners Melissa Neely (beeandbriar.com) and Chrissy Manolakis (chrissymtarot.com) teamed up with Saratoga Living to present our 5th annual group medium reading—this time with tarot readings as well. Guests arrived and received a complimentary drink and hors d’oeuvres by the Gideon Putnam before finding their seat at a table adorned by a floral arrangement by Frank Gallo. Then the random-drawing reading began, with Neely connecting attendees with loved ones on the other side and Manolakis offering insight into attendees’ own futures. Tears were shed, laughs were had, and healing most certainly happened.

HOTTEST TICKETS

photography by CATHY DUFFY

ZACK SKOWRONEK

Dake Foundation’s Child’s Play

Embrace the Belmont II

CATHY DUFFY

Overhead Door Company of Glens Falls™

Racing for the Children Dinner and Auction

Racing for the Children Dinner and Auction

Racing for the Children Dinner and Auction

Honoring

Racing for the Children Dinner and Auction

Racing for the Children Dinner and Auction

Racing for the Children Dinner and Auction

Racing for the Children Dinner and Auction

Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners

Honoring Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners

Honoring Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners

Honoring

Racing for the Children Dinner and Auction

Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners

Honoring

Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners

Honoring

SARATOGA’S HOTTEST TICKETS

Thursday, August 21, 2025

Racing for the Children Dinner and Auction

Thursday, August 21, 2025

Thursday, August 21, 2025

Thursday, August 21, 2025

Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners

Honoring

Thursday, August 21, 2025

Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners

Universal Preservation Hall Saratoga Springs, NY

Racing for the Children Dinner and Auction

Universal Preservation Hall Saratoga Springs, NY

Universal Preservation Hall Saratoga Springs, NY

Honoring

Universal Preservation Hall Saratoga Springs, NY

to benefit the Belmont Child Care Association, Inc. Honoring

Thursday, August 21, 2025

Honoring Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners

Thursday, August 21, 2025

Racing for the Children Dinner and Auction

Universal Preservation Hall Saratoga Springs, NY

On Deck

Racing for the Children Dinner and Auction

Presentation of BCCA Humanitarian Award

Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners

Presentation of BCCA Humanitarian Award

Presentation of BCCA Humanitarian Award

Universal Preservation Hall Saratoga Springs, NY

Racing for the Children Dinner and Auction

Thursday, August 21, 2025

Honoring

Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners

Universal Preservation Hall Saratoga Springs, NY

Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners

Honoring

Presentation of BCCA Humanitarian Award

Herb in memoriam and Ellen Moelis

Herb in memoriam and Ellen Moelis

Universal Preservation Hall Saratoga Springs, NY

Presentation of BCCA Humanitarian Award

Herb in memoriam and Ellen Moelis

Honoring Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners

Racing for the Children Dinner and Auction

Thursday, August 21, 2025

Racing for the Children Dinner and Auction

Racing for the Children Dinner and Auction

Herb in memoriam and Ellen Moelis

Thursday, August 21, 2025

Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners

Racing for the Children Dinner and Auction

Presentation of BCCA Humanitarian Award

Herb in memoriam and Ellen Moelis

Racing for the Children Dinner and Auction

Presentation of BCCA Humanitarian Award

Universal Preservation Hall Saratoga Springs, NY

Presentation of BCCA Humanitarian Award

Honoring Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners

FIVE SARATOGA SUMMER EVENTS THE saratoga living TEAM CAN’T WAIT TO ATTEND.

Thursday, August 21, 2025

Herb in memoriam and Ellen Moelis

Honoring Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners

belmontchildcare.org

Honoring Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners

belmontchildcare.org

belmontchildcare.org

Thursday, August 21, 2025

Universal Preservation Hall Saratoga Springs, NY

Presentation of BCCA Humanitarian Award

Thursday, August 21, 2025

belmontchildcare.org

Herb in memoriam and Ellen Moelis

Universal Preservation Hall Saratoga Springs, NY

Presentation of BCCA Humanitarian Award

Universal Preservation Hall Saratoga Springs, NY

belmontchildcare.org

Herb in memoriam and Ellen Moelis

Presentation of BCCA Humanitarian Award

Herb in memoriam and Ellen Moelis

Presentation of BCCA Humanitarian Award

Honoring

Racing for the Children Dinner and Auction

Thursday, August 21, 2025

Universal Preservation Hall Saratoga Springs, NY

Herb in memoriam and Ellen Moelis

Herb in memoriam and Ellen Moelis

Universal Preservation Hall

Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners

Honoring Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners

belmontchildcare.org

Thursday, August 21, 2025

Honoring

Thursday, August 21, 2025

Saratoga Springs, NY

Presentation of BCCA Humanitarian Award

Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners

Thursday, August 21, 2025

belmontchildcare.org

Herb in memoriam and Ellen Moelis

Thursday, August 21, 2025

Universal Preservation Hall Saratoga Springs, NY

Presentation of BCCA Humanitarian Award

belmontchildcare.org

Herb in memoriam and Ellen Moelis

Universal Preservation Hall

Thursday, August 21, 2025

Presentation of BCCA Humanitarian Award

Saratoga Springs, NY

belmontchildcare.org

Herb in memoriam and Ellen Moelis

Universal Preservation Hall Saratoga Springs, NY

Universal Preservation Hall

Universal Preservation Hall

Presentation of BCCA Humanitarian Award

Saratoga Springs, NY

belmontchildcare.org

Herb in memoriam and Ellen Moelis

Presentation of BCCA Humanitarian Award

Saratoga Springs, NY

Herb in memoriam and Ellen Moelis

belmontchildcare.org

belmontchildcare.org

Presentation of Humanitarian Award

Presentation of BCCA Humanitarian Award

belmontchildcare.org

Herb in memoriam and Ellen Moelis

belmontchildcare.org

Herb in memoriam and Ellen Moelis

Herb in memoriam and Ellen Moelis

belmontchildcare.org

belmontchildcare.org

belmontchildcare.org

belmontchildcare.org

Sustainable

Style. Vibe.

Boutique

belmontchildcare.org

leonard print Painter Jessica Leonard and jockey Junior Alvarado at last year’s Unbridled Affair; (opposite) Cynthia Erivo comes to SPAC on August 22.

Director of Sales Annette Quarrier’s pick: CAPTAIN’s

An Unbridled Affair Gala

July 17 • 6pm • Saratoga National

“I’ve heard so much about this event over the years, but have never been able to make it myself. I’m so looking forward to a beautiful night to support CAPTAIN’s amazing cause.”

Contributing Writer Nicole Russo’s pick: National Museum of Racing’s Hall of Fame Induction

August 1 • 10:30am Fasig-Tipton Sales Pavilion

“Hall of Fame day is a very special day when active and past legends in the sport of horse racing gather in one place for a ceremony that’s free and open to the public; you see fans of many ages, both dressed up and dressed down, taking full advantage of the opportunity to mingle with them.”

Editor Natalie Moore’s pick: Fasig-Tipton’s Saratoga Sale

August 4 & 5 • 6:30pm

Fasig-Tipton Sales Pavilion

“The Saratoga Sale is one of my alltime favorite Spa City events. Sure, you can watch the actual bidding going on inside, but the real fun happens on the patio outside, and, of course, at the after-party at Siro’s!”

Fashion Editor Tiina Loite’s pick: Philadelphia Orchestra’s An Evening with Cynthia Erivo

August 22 • 7:30pm • SPAC

“Thinking about hearing Cynthia Erivo sing on the SPAC stage is thrilling! I didn’t think I’d ever get to hear her sing live. Her voice, lustrous and powerful. Her fashion sense, also lustrous and powerful.

Did you see her host the Tony Awards? She completely owned that very starry (pun intended) night.”

Sports Editor Brien Bouyea’s pick: 156th Running of the Travers Stakes

August 23 • Time TBD

Saratoga Race Course

“The top 3-year-old in the country, Sovereignty, is expected to race in this year’s Midsummer Derby after winning both the Kentucky Derby and Belmont this spring. The Travers is my favorite race on the calendar every year—and this edition promises to be special.”

Introducing Horse & Home Estates Saratoga

e personalized real estate boutique dedicated to discerning buyers and sellers, bespoke properties and blue-ribbon customer care.

Founder Cinthia Ane' McGreevy in association with Agent Partner Michele Funiciello are reimagining the experience of legacy homeownership in Saratoga Springs and beyond.

H&H welcome you home to Saratoga!

ANE' AND CO. FLORIDA REAL ESTATE/ HORSE & HOME ESTATES

Cinthia Ane' McGreevy cinthia@aneandco.com 954.295.4207

HORSE & HOME ESTATES SARATOGA

Michele Funiciello

Licensed Real Estate Salesperson

michele@horseandhomeestates.com 518.265.0086

MUSIC. HISTORY. NATURE.

Bolton Landing, New York

home stretch

fashion & style :: HOUSE & HOME :: FOOD & DRINK

Back on Track

THE RETURN OF BELATOGA WAS JUST THE EXCUSE THESE RACING FANS NEEDED TO GET ALL DRESSED UP.

EVENT: THE BELMONT STAKES

trying to find fabulously dressed people at Belmont wasn’t difficult; the problem was that there were just too many fabulously dressed people! Tens of thousands of attendees were roaming around—those who made a point of dressing up as well as those who wanted to spend the hot, humid, and at times rainy day in more comfortable attire. Here you will find a cross-section of racing fans who enjoyed talking about what it took to put their look together.

BY TIINA LOITE

PLACE: SARATOGA RACE COURSE

DATE: JUNE 7

Jack Gialanella

SARATOGA SPRINGS COLLEGE STUDENT

Did you buy that jacket specifically for Belmont? I bought it for Belmont, but I have the same one in blue. I wore it last year.

Mary McDermott & Abby Froehlich

SARATOGA SPRINGS CONTENT CREATORS

Did you bring some actual shoes to change into? mary: I have a change of shoes, but they’re just sneakers. We walk all day long. abby: I have ballerina flats.

photography by SHAWN L a CHAPELLE

home stretch

Lisa Kenyon

HAMILTON CUSTOMER CARE SPECIALIST

Were you worried about the weather? That hat’s not good in pouring rain. No. I think it’s sacrilegious to be at Belmont without a hat.

Jayson Werth

SARASOTA, FL

HORSE OWNER, RETIRED MLB PLAYER

You’re in a three-piece black suit on a hot day in June?

It’s my best suit. I figured on Belmont Day, you wear your best suit.

Curt Eskew & David Tarella

SARATOGA SPRINGS • FINANCIAL ADVISORS

Where did that suit come from?

curt: His wife is a tailor. They’ve been to Belmont before, and she tailored our attire. Would you wear this elsewhere?

david: Not a chance.

Lisa & Michael Holloway

UPPER MARLBORO, MD

CHIEF OF EDUCATION POLICY FOR THE DOD EDUCATION ACTIVITY; RETIRED

Lots of coordination going on here…Can you talk about your process?

michael: Every time we come to the track, it’s a planning event for what we wear. This is another Lisa Holloway production.

lisa: I start with either shoes or a hat and build the outfit around that. This time, it all started with his shoes.

Do you enjoy going to the races?

michael: I grew up on Belmont Park. I can’t wait to see the new track.

Corey Bynoe

BARBADOS • IT SPECIALIST

Tell me about your beautiful suit. It’s an Italian linen suit, in sandstone. I’m loving your mules…

They are Sabah shoes, from New York City. I have three pairs of them.

Were you concerned about the rain today? I didn’t even know about the rain.

Mark Davidson

ATLANTA, GA • AUTO AUCTION EXECUTIVE

Do you wear that to work?

I would wear this to work…I wear a lot of crazy stuff to work. But I always wear a pocket square, and this rose on my lapel is in honor of my grandma Rose who was a seamstress in the garment district in New York. She did sequin work on dresses.

Catharine Shields

SARATOGA SPRINGS • MOM

What made you go in an all-white direction?

I love white. I feel like white is classic at any age. Would you wear this someplace else?

I would wear this out to dinner with my husband. Or with a jean jacket.

Peter

Hatch

WINSTON-SALEM, NC • RETIRED

You’re in shorts—you’re casual—but you clearly put some styling into your casual look. We were all deciding what to wear. They were all teasing me about my white cut-off shorts. So I said I needed to wear them to express myself.

And what about the rest of your selfexpressionism outfit?

I had to really think about the quarter-zip. In the end, I went with the Vineyard Vines. This shirt was a definite. It’s dressy yet expressive.

Matt Greco

SARATOGA SPRINGS CYBERSECURITY SPECIALIST

You look like you dressed with the weather in mind.

It’s hot out. I went with a J. Crew shirt, linen shorts, and a big hat. I call it “elegant comfortable.”

Richard Sansen & Nancy Buckingham

ESTERO, FL • RETIRED

You definitely look like one of you should not be seen without the other.

nancy: I love matchy-matchy. No matter where we go, we’re like this so everyone knows we belong to each other. It’s a lot of planning and, of course, acquiescence on his part.

home stretch

FASHION & STYLE :: house & home :: FOOD & DRINK

Into the Blue

WHEN SARATOGA SPRING WATER GOT ITS OWN PANTONE COLOR DESIGNATION, INTERIOR DESIGNER ASHLEY JAMESON GOT INSPIRED.

BY CIERRA ORLYK

PHOTOGRAPHY

BY AARON

KINBERG

before saratoga spring water became the subject of social media influencer Ashton Hall’s viral social media videos (look it up), the brand had already been getting its name out there in out-of-the-ordinary ways, one of which was working with color standards company Pantone to create a new color designation: Saratoga® Signature Blue. That cobalt blue ended up becoming more than a color for realtor and interior designer Ashley Jameson: It became the inspiration for a new Saratoga rental property.

Fittingly dubbed the “House of Blues,” the 5-bedroom, 4.5-bathroom

property, which sleeps up to 12 guests, was an investment property for one of Jameson’s clients. It was in good structural condition when she closed the sale, but it didn’t say Saratoga as much she or her client liked. So, for the next several months, Jameson put on her designer hat to turn the house into what is perhaps the most accurate embodiment of Saratoga on the rental market.

The process started with finding a calming blue—not Saratoga® Signature Blue exactly, but a hue inspired by it—to line the walls of the living room, kitchen, and upstairs hallway. And

Jameson didn’t stop at a quick paint job—she also selected wallpapers adorned with ducks, flowers, and even a custom design inspired by Yaddo Gardens for the primary suite.

The history and charm of Saratoga are embedded in the small details. In the kitchen, there’s a Saratoga Water picture collage, duck cutting board, and mini horse statue; in the living room, there’s a duck throw blanket; in the primary bedroom, there’s a set of horse lamps; and each of the other three bedrooms is decorated in accordance with a core Saratoga theme: music, golf, and ballet.

There’s also a finished studio basement outfitted in a richer blue, complete with Saratoga artwork and a horse coffee table. The self-contained space adds value and versatility to the home, as it can be rented separately or along with the main levels.

Despite the individual quirks of each room, there are also some commonalities, like plentiful seating throughout. “I think something that’s often missed with Airbnbs is providing adequate seating,” Jameson says. “It’s the worst when you go somewhere with a big group and there aren’t enough places to sit. So I always

try to incorporate ample seating into my designs.”

For those who want to sit outside, there’s plenty of space to do that, too. There are 16 chairs around a built-in firepit and a dining table in the backyard, and two porches—one on the side, one in the front—with seating areas.

Arguably one of the most unique features of the rental, though, is the fact that the entire place is shoppable. Meaning: Each guest is provided with a QR code and link to find exact details about any given product—and where to buy it themselves.

So while visitors are coming into

feeling blue (clockwise, from left)

The dining area on the main level, lined with the powder blue that's carried throughout the home thanks to A+ Brush Strokes; the finished studio basement, which has a retractable curtain to separate the sleeping area; the wallpapered half bath off the kitchen; the airy primary bedroom with custom Yaddo wallpaper; the front exterior and its cozy porch; the large dining table in the basement; the living room on the main level.

town to explore all that Saratoga has to offer (the house is within walking distance of the track and Broadway), the home is a destination in and of itself. “I really want guests to be able to have a full experience of Saratoga,” Jameson says. “So even if they can’t fit everything in while they’re here, they’ll have it brought to them right there.”

Staycation, anyone?

home stretch

FASHION & STYLE :: HOUSE & HOME :: food & drink

ON TOUR

Take a Walk

THE BRAND-NEW J WALK FOOD TOURS AIMS TO HIGHLIGHT OFFTHE-BEATEN-TRACK RESTAURANTS AND STORES IN SARATOGA.

BY KATHLEEN WILLCOX

in saratoga, practically everyone jaywalks, but no one has gone on a “J Walk.” Until now.

“I grew up in Schuylerville and, to me, Saratoga Springs was the big city,” says Chloe Boyles, founder of the just-launched J Walk Food Tours. “As soon as I got my driver’s license, I’d travel there every chance I’d get. I became, for lack of a better word, a complete foodie. I lived for Restaurant Week every year, because even as a teenager I was able to afford all of these eateries I’d normally never be able to go to.”

Boyles’ passion for all things food became a love of hospitality, and she worked jobs at Wheatfields, The Ice House, and the Saratoga Hilton during the early days of her teaching career. While she no longer works in hospitality, the Saratoga Springs High School English teacher found herself drawn once again to the food business while on a biking tour through Italy with her father.

“We went on this incredible food tour by bike, and we ate all of these iconic foods that we never would have found on our own,” she recalls.

doughnut miss out Doughnuts from Taquero are part of J Walk’s Sweet Treat Food Tour; “I wanted to share the stories of the people behind the food, with insight into how and why their lives shaped the choices they make and the ingredients they use,” says Boyles.

“I returned to Saratoga determined to create something similar featuring businesses that are somewhat off the beaten track and well worth knowing for visitors and locals.”

In the spring of 2025, she softlaunched J Walk with the goal of turning anyone who took her tour into an ultra-insider with the scoop on the best places, and what makes them tick behind the scenes. “I also want to make sure everyone leaves with an incredible goody bag of treats, and motivation to go back out and visit these businesses with coupons and discounts,” she says.

Boyles is currently offering one tour, the Sweet Treat Food Tour, on Fridays and Saturdays through the summer. (Come fall, that’ll switch to Saturdays and Sundays.) Tickets, which are $75 for adults and $40 for children, include lunch and sweet treats from Walt Cafe, Taquero, Indulgence Bakery, Sweet Mimi’s, The Bread Basket Bakery, Saratoga Tea and Honey Co., and Saratoga Candy Co. She plans to add more tours in the near future, but is still working out the (likely savory) details. Schedule a tour at jwalkfoodtours.com

home stretch

FASHION & STYLE :: HOUSE & HOME :: food & drink

UP Smash Hit

HERBIE’S BURGERS , THE CAPITAL REGION’S FAVORITE SPOT FOR GRAB-AND-GO SMASH BURGERS, OPENS IN DOWNTOWN SARATOGA.

BY NATALIE MOORE

the capital region’s hottest fastfood joint recently added the Spa City to its list of locations, and has already transformed downtown’s late-night dining scene.

Founded by Nick Warchol, a Hudson native who graduated from the College of Saint Rose, Herbie’s Burgers got its start on Lark Street in 2021. Since then, Warchol has wasted no time turning his brand into a staple in the Capital Region, with locations in Guilderland, Troy, Schenectady, the Empire State Plaza Concourse, and now Saratoga. The new spot, which opened Belmont week, is operating out of The Ice House.

“It’s not something we’ve done before, but we’re hoping the relationship is symbiotic,” Warchol says about working in another business’ kitchen. “Saratoga

has such a good food culture with so many great restaurants. We wanted to be a part of that. On top of that, it feels like there are limited late-night counter service/quick serve spots in Saratoga, so we’re here to fill that need for people.”

Indeed: Herbie’s Burgers’ Ice House location is open until 1am on weekdays and 2am on weekends.

For those who have yet to experience Herbie’s, Warchol describes it as a smash burger restaurant that uses 100 percent organic grass-fed beef for its burgers—the highest grade beef of any fast food–style restaurant in the market. It also offers vegan options, including vegan patties made with proprietary recipes, vegan fully loaded fries, and vegan milkshakes. (Glutenfree buns are available as well.) Fans

of the brand can follow its endearing mascot, “Herbie the Burger,” who recently visited Saratoga Race Course and the Horseshoe, on Instagram at @thereallilherbie

While the Saratoga Herbie’s only recently got up and running, new locations in Brooklyn (yes, li’l Herbie’s going to NYC) and Clifton Park are already on the horizon. “We’re about to open at Clifton Park Center, which should be our largest location featuring a full arcade, ample parking, and our largest seating area yet,” Warchol says. “We’re also going to start offering franchising opportunities sometime this year as our paperwork gets processed, so it should be a fun year for us.” at your service Herbie’s serves single,

double, and triple smashburgers, plus fries, chicken sandwiches and tenders, and milkshakes from a service window on The Ice House’s patio.

ORDER

home stretch

FASHION & STYLE :: HOUSE & HOME :: food & drink

if you weren’t paying attention, you might have missed it: Back in March, a “Grand Opening” banner appeared on a small storefront in the Market 32 Plaza on Ballston Ave. The new business? U•ME, a farm-to-table Asian fusion restaurant operated by the owners of Great Tang’s, which is located a few doors down.

“When we opened in March, we were focused on making creative, handmade ramen,” says owner Peter Chen. “The response has been really positive, and I think a lot of that has to do with our broth.”

All of U•ME’s ramen is made with fresh, seasonal ingredients and bonebased broth that Chen’s team spends

rice pick In addition to ramen, poke bowls, and stir noodles, U•ME serves donburi, a traditional Japanesestyle rice bowl with hot meat, cold vegetables, and a half-cooked egg.

24 hours simmering to perfection. On the menu, you’ll find classics like Tonkotsu (with pork bone broth, chashu pork, fishcakes, bamboo, tender noodles with just a bit of chew, and a half-cooked egg), but also unexpected takes, such as Hell Ramen, a riot of noodles springing from spicy chicken broth with fried chicken, bean sprouts, sweet corn, bamboo, and half-cooked egg.

But ramen is only the beginning. Chen and his wife, Yamgin, have embraced other Asian cuisines in a bid to offer something for everyone, without sacrificing quality.

“My friends love our ramen, but sometimes they are in the mood for fresh fish,” Chen explains. “I wanted them to be able to come here whenever they wanted, and have a range of options. We have two children, so we also wanted to make sure there were things children would love too.”

So, Taiwanese boba tea, Japanese donburi, and Hawaiian-inspired poke bowls joined the menu. U•ME’s dishes may hail from all over the map, but they all have one thing in common. “The important thing to us,” Chen says, “is fresh food, good food, with balanced flavors.”

Lunch and dinner are served six days a week in a space dominated by clean lines, blonde wood “pods,” round lantern lights, white tables, pops of colorful lucky cat statues, and a thriving jungle of green plants. Guests crowd the small restaurant Friday–Sunday, and keep staff busy with both walk-ins and takeout during the week. Eat in, or take out. Order a hot soup, cold fish, or some of each. Because at U•ME, there’s something for all of us.

Cantina

408 BROADWAY, SARATOGA SP R INGS cantinasaratoga.com • 518.587.5577

Broadway dining hotspot Cantina has been serving up fresh Mexican dishes and signature margaritas in the heart of downtown Saratoga for the last 18 years. Guests flock to the restaurant for its festive vibe, creative and delicious fare, and craft cocktails— happy hour, anyone?! Grab a seat on the patio or in the stylishly airy interior to enjoy warm-weather favorites including salads, seafood, tacos, and fajitas, or head up to the Cantina Rooftop, which has a summertime vibe you simply have to experience for yourself. For private events, check out the beautiful second floor event space at the408saratoga.com. See website for seasonal hours and social media for Rooftop hours.

Coat Room

385 BROADWAY, SARATOGA SPRINGS thecoatroom.com • 518.306.4155

HLake Ridge

35 BURLINGTON AVENUE, ROUND LAKE lake-ridge.com • 518.899.6000

Tucked away in the Village of Round Lake, just off exit 11 of the Northway, Lake Ridge is only 10 minutes from Saratoga Springs and 15 minutes from Albany. The romantic establishment—which boasts seafood, steak, pasta, and small plates and was voted first in the Fine Dining category in Saratoga Today’s Best of Saratoga survey—is a great, laid-back alternative to dining in busy Saratoga. Whether you’re sitting down for a three-course meal or grabbing a drink at the mahogany bar, you’ll always have a great time at Lake Ridge, which this year is celebrating 24 years in business. Open 4-8:45pm Tuesday-Saturday.

idden off the beaten track in what looks like a coat closet, Coat Room is a speakeasy-style restaurant that's open to the public but also offers a preferred guest program for those in search of exclusive perks and priority access. While you can dine and drink at the snazzy restaurant located on the first floor of 385 Broadway all year long, you can also take advantage of Coat Room's rooftop, which boasts its own specialty food and drink menus and is open Thursday–Saturday through the summer.

Franklin Square Market

55 RAILROAD PLACE, SARATOGA SPRINGS franklinsqmarket.com • 518.430.2049

Sure, you can pick up groceries (including more than four dozen local products) at Franklin Square Market, but did you know that downtown Saratoga’s favorite grocery store has a full-service onsite bar and restaurant with allnew summer food and drink menus, too? Stop by for $6 Happy Hour Tuesday–Saturday, and browse the store while you sip (yes, you can shop with a drink in your hand!), or make full use of the warm weather—outdoor seating is available! Open 7 days a week.

Kindred

84 HENRY STREET, SARATOGA SPRINGS kindredsaratoga.com • 518.886.1198

From the creators of Henry Street Taproom, Kindred is a wine bar that focuses not only on good wine, but specialty cocktails, craft beer, and top-notch food, too. The menu focuses on small plates cooked in wood-fired ovens, as well as select entrées including pan-roasted cod and NY prime strip steak. Comfortable and chic, Kindred is the perfect place to make memories with friends and family this summer. Open Tuesday-Saturday 4pm-midnight.

Putnam’s Restaurant

24 GIDEON PUTNAM ROAD, SARATOGA SPRINGS gideonputnam.com • 866.890.1171

The Gideon Putnam’s signature dining experience, Putnam’s Restaurant, offers historic charm, first-class service and seasonally changing menus. But the restaurant isn’t just open to guests of the historic hotel, which this year is celebrating its 90th (!) anniversary—the public is welcome to stop by for breakfast and dinner as well. Executive Chef Mark Graham uses locally sourced and seasonal ingredients whenever possible in dishes such as his signature Saratoga turkey club, lobster pilaf, and grilled Delmonico steak, all of which are served by highly trained staff who provide personalized service to each and every customer. During the summer months, stop by the Gideon to enjoy a cocktail or meal on the Putnam’s patio. See website for hours.

Panza’s Restaurant

129 SOUTH BROADWAY, SARATOGA SPRINGS panzasrestaurant.com • 518.584.6882

Treasured family recipes have made Panza’s a Saratoga staple since 1938. Guests can expect authentic Italian cuisine with a modern American twist served in an elegant, timeless setting. The evolving menu keeps regulars coming back for fresh takes on beloved classics, while weekly live music sets the mood in the intimate piano bar and Starlight Lounge. The Panza’s team is proud to have been voted Best Saratoga County Restaurant in this year’s CAPITAL REGION LIVING Bestie Awards. Open at 5pm Wednesday–Sunday.

Henry Street Taproom

86 HENRY STREET, SARATOGA SPRINGS

• 518.886.8938

Good food, lots of beer, and an atmosphere that’s the perfect mix of relaxed, cozy, and chic?

That’s what you can expect at Henry Street Taproom, which has been serving local craft beers and ciders, inventive cocktails, and locally sourced, made-from-scratch food since 2012. More than 12 years later, Henry Street is still a go-to spot for locals who never tire of cozying up to the fire or settling in on the patio when the warm weather rolls around. Open Tuesday-Friday 4-10pm; Saturday 2-10pm; Sunday 2-9pm.

The Wishing Well

745 SARATOGA ROAD, GANSEVOORT wishingwellrestaurant.com • 518.584.7640

Acornerstone of Saratoga's dining scene, The Wishing Well has welcomed guests since 1936 with its reputation for excellence. The menu showcases USDA Prime beef, live Maine lobsters, and the freshest seasonal seafood, paired with an award-winning wine list and cocktails that taste like summer in a glass. Looking for the perfect meal after a day at the races? Horsemen and fans alike have been flocking to The Wishing Well for a high quality meal just outside the hustle and bustle of downtown Saratoga for generations. Open Tuesday-Sunday at 4pm.

Coat Room

thecoatroom.com

 518.306.4155

385 Broadway, Saratoga Springs

Franklin Square Market

franklinsqmarket.com

 518.430.2049

55 Railroad Place, Saratoga Springs

Henry Street Taproom

henrystreettaproom.com

 518.886.8938

86 Henry Street, Saratoga Springs

Kindred

kindredsaratoga.com

 518.886.1198

84 Henry Street, Saratoga Springs

Lake Ridge Restaurant lake-ridge.com

 518.899.6000

35 Burlington Avenue, Round Lake

Park & Elm parkandelm.com

 518.480.3220

19 Park Street, Glens Falls

Prime Restaurant primeatsaratoganational.com

 518.583.4653

458 Union Avenue, Saratoga Springs

Putnam’s Restaurant gideonputnam.com

 866.890.1171

24 Gideon Putnam Road, Saratoga Springs

The Wishing Well wishingwellrestaurant.com

 518.584.7640

745 Saratoga Road, Gansevoort

Elsasser's Biem 111 elsassers111.com

 518.531.4777

166 Brownell Road, Greenwich

Panza’s Restaurant panzasrestaurant.com

 518.584.6882

129 South Broadway, Saratoga Springs

Cantina cantinasaratoga.com

 518.587.5577

408 Broadway, Saratoga Springs

SARATOGIAN OF THE MONTH

Saratoga Racing’s

‘It Girl’

BORN INTO A HORSE RACING FAMILY, LAURA SIMIELE HAS LOVED THE SPORT FROM A YOUNG AGE. NOW, SHE’S TAKING THE REINS AS SARATOGA’S UNOFFICIAL HORSE RACING AMBASSADOR.

BY NATALIE MOORE photography by SHAWN L a CHAPELLE

the finish line

If there’s one thing I learned during Belmont week in Saratoga, it’s that all roads lead back to Laura Simiele. If there’s a horse racing–related event going on in town, she’s there, or, more likely, she’s running it. The first week of June, you may have caught her sitting at a table with the connections of 2024 Belmont winner Dornoch at the National Museum of Racing’s

Belmont Gala, working the crowd at the Belmont Stakes draw party at Universal Preservation Hall, or organizing the second annual Embrace the Belmont handicapping seminar to benefit Therapeutic Horses of Saratoga.

A lifelong Saratogian, Laura inherited her love of horse racing from her grandfather, who never thought he would own a racehorse. “I was fortunate enough to watch my mom buy him his

ooh la la When she’s not advocating for the future of equine athletes, you’ll find Laura, who is @lalaatthespa on Instagram, caring for her off-the-track Thoroughbred, Roses.

first horse,” she says. “I planned my first foal at 11, and delivered him at 13. Today, my mom and I still breed and race, both managing our syndicate and participating in others across the country.”

In addition to working at Etalon Equine Genetics and operating Stars Aligned Stable, Laura hosts The Morning Show, a live, interactive experience during Breakfast at Saratoga that gives attendees the opportunity to take a peek behind the Saratoga horse racing curtain. Her ultimate goal: to elevate the sport and advance the industry.

I first met Laura in 2017, when she worked as the general manager of a photography company, and have watched her grow professionally through different roles until she went all in on the industry she was born to be in. On paper, I’d classify us as acquaintances. But every time I run into her, she treats me like a friend.

You worked in a few different fields before landing in the racing industry. What have you learned?

Communication and transparency are essential, never be afraid to ask questions, and think outside the box.

What’s Saratoga Race Course’s best-kept secret?

The rooftop! For anyone seeking a breathtaking view, consider the Third Race Call offering from the Backstretch Employee Service Team of NY. Their package is a great experience.

Do you have any life philosophies? Sprezzatura! It's an Italian life philosophy of effortless style that encourages you to be unapologetically yourself. As writer Willa Cather once said: “It takes a great deal of experience to become natural.”

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