SARATOGA
Friday, July 29, 2011
18
TODAY
OPENING WEEKEND Gabrielle Giffords’ Husband Makes Winning Presentation on Opening Day
20th Annual Hat Contest “Crowns” Winners SARATOGA SPRINGS – The fashionable festivities surrounding opening weekend at Saratoga Race Course were filled to the “brim” with excitement as the Spa “capped” off its first weekend of the 143rd summer meet with the 20th annual Hat Contest on Sunday, July 24.
Photo by MarkBolles.com SARATOGA SPRINGS – The seventh race on opening day at Saratoga Race Course was held in honor of Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, the southern Arizona representative who is recovering from brain injuries after she was shot in the head at a constituent event on January 8. “The Gabrielle Giffords” was a maiden race for 2-year-old New Yorkbred fillies. The 37-1 longshot “Pure Gossip” won the race under jockey Alex Solis. (Pictured above) Post-race, Giffords’ husband, Captain (USN) Mark Kelly, and his identical twin brother, Captain (USN) Scott Kelly, made the winning presentation. Mark Kelly is a NASA astronaut who commanded the final flight of the space shuttle Endeavour, which landed on June 1 after a 16-day mission to the International Space Station. Captain (USN) Scott Kelly is also a NASA astronaut, and recently served as the commander of International Space Station Expedition 26, which landed on March 16. Giffords’ Chief of Staff, Pia Carusone, is a Saratoga native and the daughter of John Carusone, an attorney at Carusone & Carusone, located on Broadway.
Enjoying Opening Day
Photo Provided
L to R: Kristie Roohan, Julie Bonacio, Mary Gavin
Photos: page 30
More than 175 partici“Fashionably Saratoga” pants turned out to compete in the contest’s three distinct categories: “Uniquely Saratoga,” “Fashionably Saratoga,” and for younger patrons, “Kreative Kids.” Anne Marie Mitchell of Stillwater and Debbie Lurie of New City, NY, were crowned the winners of the day’s most celebrated category, “Uniquely Saratoga,” which awards whimsical and creative hats. ids” The dual team shared the grand “Kreative K prize of a $500 betting voucher, a $100 gift card to the Gideon Putnam Resort and Spa, a $50 gift card to Saratoga Trunk and a silver trophy. The day’s most popular category, “Fashionably Saratoga,” brought 62 stylish contestants to the competition, each donning their most beautiful hats. Kim Brooking of Saratoga Springs was named the day’s most fashionable contestant and was awarded a $100 betting voucher, a $100 gift card to the Gideon Putnam Resort and Spa, a $50 gift card to Saratoga Trunk and a silver trophy. Camryn Dunn of Latham was named the most stylish youngster in the category “Kreative Kids,” which is reserved for those 18 and under. Dunn received a $25 gift card to the Gideon Putnam Resort and Spa, a gift card to the Tiny Tots Tea Room and a special chocolate basket from Saratoga Sweets. Anabelle Brueggemann of Saratoga Springs and her brother Peter Brueggemann finished second and third and each won Saratoga Race Course merchandise, a $20 gift card to the Gideon Putnam Resort and Spa and a gift card to the Tiny Tots Tea Room. The annual Hat Contest is the highlight of the three-day “Hats Off to Saratoga” festival which celebrates the arrival of the Saratoga racing season.
Photos Provided
“Uniquely
Saratoga
”