Saratoga Living 2023 "The Races!" Issue

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“There’s nothing like Saratoga,” says NYRA analyst Acacia Clement. “You go anywhere in the country and people know Saratoga as the racing town.”

by

photography

DORI FITZPATRICK

BY NATALLI AMATO

starting gate

dressed to impress Claire Burnett styled for the track by Encounter Boutique. See page 89 for fashion details.

FIRST TURN

OFF TRACK

76 saratoga living’ s SARATOGA 25

78 saratoga living’ s COCKTAILS & CLAIRVOYANCE plus 12 more Saratoga events

HOME STRETCH

89 FASHION: Encounter Boutique

90 FOOD & DRINK:

90 brunch better: COMPLEXIONS

90 new heights: BOCAGE

92 top secret: THE COAT ROOM

94 new groove: PANZA’S

95 on the menu: KINDRED

96 DESIGN: Jessica Rhodes

98 HAUTE PROPERTY:

100 Nat Hill Road

saratoga living AFTER HOURS

108 I’m on a Boat

(24)

PINKEY; (76) ZACH SKOWRONEK; (92) RACHEL LANZI

photography by DORI FITZPATRICK

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8 Butler Place Saratoga Springs, NY 12866 518.294.4390

Volume 25, No. 4

The Races! 2023

Copyright © 2023

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Abby Tegnelia CEO

CREATIVE DIRECTOR Kathleen Gates

DIRECTOR OF CONTENT Natalie Moore

SENIOR DESIGNER Linda Gates

SPORTS EDITOR Brien Bouyea

SENIOR PHOTOGRAPHERS Francesco D’Amico

Dori Fitzpatrick

Susan Gates

EDITOR AT LARGE

EDITORIAL INTERN Natalie St. Denis

WRITERS

Vanessa Geneva Ahern, Natalli Amato, Lisa Arcella, Karen Bjornland

Claire Burnett, Chris Carola, Tony Case, Dan De Federicis, Jeff Dingler, Elissa Garay

Christine Graf, Benjamin Lerner, Daniel Nester, Tom Pedulla

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ON THE COVER Acacia Clement, photographed by Dori Fitzpatrick exclusively for saratoga living. Hair by Complexions Spa for Beauty & Wellness. Shot on location at the Clement stables at Saratoga Race Course near the Oklahoma Training Track.

An Exciting Season

Saratoga has every reason to be pumped for this year’s track season, and we hope that you recognize that unbridled anticipation between the pages of this track issue of saratoga living. Magazines have a longer lead time than many realize—we start on this issue in earnest in early spring. By the time Opening Day rolls around, we’ve been immersed in all things Saratoga Race Course for many months and can barely stand the excitement.

The Triple Crown races this year set Saratoga up for an especially thrilling season.

Skip ahead to pages 26 and 42 to read

Sports Editor Brien Bouyea’s thoughts on jockey Javier Castellano’s chances at the Spa (at 45 years old, he won his first Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes—so what does that mean for Travers?), plus an additional jockey, horse and trainer to watch this season. We also get to welcome a new track announcer (the great Frank Mirahmadi) on page 24; reveal former jockey Nick Martinez’s beautiful 2023 painting on page 23; and even tell you the back story of the most tireless couple in Saratoga, the friendliest faces you see everywhere (yes, we’re huge fans), Leigh and Kim McConchie, on page 28.

And then there’s Acacia Clement, our beautiful and glamorous cover star you recognize from her reporting on FOX Sports. A lifelong lover of Thoroughbreds who started a 501(c)(3) for their aftercare when she was still just a teenager, Acacia’s passion for horses comes across in everything she does. Turn to page 34 to read about her hard work and dedication, and how Saratoga is now her summertime home base since marrying Miguel Clement, a third generation trainer with stables near the Oklahoma Track. And with the season comes the social events! We’ll be celebrating Acacia (and Saratoga racing!) at Panza’s on Tuesday, July 25, and we hope you’ll join us.

See you at the track!

ABBY TEGNELIA CEO @abbytegnelia

with Clement and Moore DORI FITZPATRCK; with Ross and Doherty ) ZACH SKOWRONEK

on the fence (from top) CEO Abby Tegnelia (left) with cover star Acacia Clement and Director of Content Natalie Moore; with Jacky Ross and Tara Doherty at saratoga living’s Saratoga 25 event; at Saratoga Performing Arts Center’s SPACtacular with SPAC Vice President of Artistic Planning Chris Shiley; and at the fundraiser’s after-party with Opera Saratoga Executive and Artistic Director Mary Birnbaum.

@mionettoproseccousa

CHIC PEEK

And They’re Off!

JOCKEY-TURNED-ARTIST NICK MARTINEZ UNVEILS HIS 2023 SARATOGA RACE COURSE PAINTING: ‘THE WILSON CHUTE.’ n BY NATALIE MOORE

While it may look like Nick Martinez’s yearly paintings of Saratoga Race Course are “just” a collection of eye-catching scenes from the track, there’s more to them than that. “As I go through the years here, I’m documenting Saratoga Race Course evolving,” says the artist. “Last year I showed a little bit of the 1863 Club and there were a lot of people who didn’t even realize that the 1863 Club was a place.”

In similar fashion, for this year’s piece Martinez chose to depict The Wilson Chute, a configuration that allows onemile dirt racing that was dismantled

in 1972 but reintroduced for the 2022 meet. Once he had his concept, the former jockey took pictures of the Chute both in summer and winter (when there weren’t leaves on trees blocking the view of the grandstand), and then started filling in horses and jockeys. “They’re small portraits of specific jockeys,” Martinez says. “So starting with the seven, that’s Luis Saez, then Jose Ortiz and Joel Rosario and then Irad Ortiz.” And the jockey that’s furthest away?

“About a month ago Mr. [John] Hendrickson purchased five large pieces for the medical center he built on the backstretch,” Martinez says.

chute for the stars You can purchase prints of “The Wilson Chute” online at nickmartinezart.com or at the artist’s tent at Saratoga Race Course this summer.

“He’s looking at all the images and says, ‘They’re all very nice, but, Nick, we don’t have our colors in any of these.’” Martinez just so happened to have one horse and jockey left to paint in his 2023 piece, so, naturally, he chose Julien Leparoux wearing the colors of Marylou Whitney Stables aboard Bird Song—a fitting tribute to the Queen of Saratoga herself.

Answering the Call

WHEN SARATOGA TRACK ANNOUNCER JOHN IMBRIALE ANNOUNCED HE WAS RETIRING, CALIFORNIA NATIVE FRANK MIRAHMADI STEPPED UP TO THE PLATE.

BY JEFF DINGLER n photography by SCARLETT PINKEY

Before he was 10, renowned track announcer Frank Mirahmadi was already hooked on the Sport of Kings.

“That’s all I wanted to do on the weekends,” says Mirahmadi. “I always hoped that my mom or dad would take me to the track.”

In the last five years, Mirahmadi has had the kind of career boom that most professional track announcers dream of. In 2018, he became the official

announcer at Santa Anita Park in California, and this summer he joined NYRA full-time to call races at Saratoga Race Course, taking over for retiring announcer John Imbriale.

“I’ve been a Saratoga fan for as long as I’ve been a racing fan,” says Mirahmadi, who previously called at the track as a backup. “I remember walking into Saratoga for the first time in 1997, and the feeling was so clear that it was a special place well before I could even see the racetrack. You could just feel the history and tradition.”

the sport.”

Raised in Beverly Hills, Mirahmadi had access to a west coast mecca of horseracing, growing up a short drive from Hollywood Park and Santa Anita and just two hours from Del Mar. It was,

POWER PLAYER

caller id Track announcer Frank Mirahmadi, seen here at Santa Anita Park in California this past spring, is thrilled to be able to call races this season at Saratoga, a meet he calls the “pinnacle of

however, more than just his love of the sport that led to the California native’s incredible success in the booth. Mirahmadi is also a master of celebrity impressions. “The first impersonation I remember was of Tom Jones singing ‘Delilah’ because my mom kept listening to that song,” says Mirahmadi, who would perform his impressions around the family dinner table.

That knack for imitating others led a young Mirahmadi to impersonate the distinct voices of southern California race callers. One day in 1992, on a total “instinct move,” he called for the president of Hollywood Park and said he could imitate the track’s announcer who was on vacation. So Mirahmadi sent a cassette calling a fictitious sprint race. “When I called to follow up, the lady who answered in the executive office kinda giggled and I could tell that they liked the tape,” Mirahmadi says. “The track president said, ‘Frank, I gotta hand it to you. I like your impersonations.’”

That very year, on Christmas Eve, Mirahmadi made his announcing debut, calling two closing races at Hollywood Park. He returned in 1994 to call four races, and after that got written up in the Los Angeles Times. That was the start of a long career or “quest,” in Mirahmadi’s words, calling tens of thousands of races at 20-plus courses across the country and still busting out the occasional celebrity impersonation during a meet.

For Mirahmadi, however, Saratoga remains the “pinnacle of the sport.” “To be at Santa Anita and Saratoga combined is a beautiful thing, but Saratoga is definitely where the racing world is focused during the summertime,” Mirahmadi says. “I’ve loved the sport my entire life. To be able to now work in it and have the privilege to describe the action of these great Thoroughbreds, it’s a dream come true.”

“I’ve been a Saratoga fan for as long as I’ve been a racing fan.”

TRACK STAR

Castellano’s Comeback

SEEING HIS 0-FOR-15 KENTUCKY DERBY RECORD BROADCAST ON NBC HELPED PUSH JOCKEY JAVIER CASTELLANO , 45, TO HIS FIRST-EVER WIN, AND THEN HE WON THE BELMONT STAKES, TOO—AND ARRIVED IN SARATOGA IN TIP-TOP FORM. STORY AND PHOTOGRAPHY BY BRIEN BOUYEA

Just in case anyone had forgotten, Javier Castellano served some notice this spring that he remains a force to be reckoned with on the racetrack.

A 2017 Hall of Fame inductee and four-time Eclipse Award winner,

Castellano has battled injuries in recent years and a decline in business, but those tough times appear to be a thing of the past, as the Venezuela native is once again riding at an elite level. Never was that more evident than during this year’s Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes. Aboard 15-to-1 longshot Mage, Castellano won the

Run for the Roses for the first time in his illustrious career. Five weeks later, he piloted Arcangelo to his first victory in the Belmont at 8-to-1 odds.

The Derby and Belmont were among only a few missing checkmarks in a brilliant career. Since making his debut in 1997, Castellano has won more than 5,600 races with purse earnings of more than $383 million—but prior to this spring, Castellano was a combined 0 for 29 in the Derby and Belmont.

“I never give up,” Castellano said after the Derby. “I always try hard to do the right thing. It took me a little while to get here, but I’ve finally got it. I’m very blessed.”

Prior to the May 6 race, Castellano was watching television coverage of the Derby card in the jockeys’ room and saw his 0-for-15 record highlighted on the NBC broadcast.

“At that moment it gave me so much inspiration and I thought, ‘This is the year,’” he said. “I’m going to break it here and win the race. I have a lot of confidence in myself. I only needed a little opportunity to get it done.”

Through Belmont weekend, Castellano ranked fifth among all North American riders in purse earnings this year with more than $8.4 million. Among the 10 top-earning jockeys, Castellano is the oldest at age 45, but he’s riding with the same vigor as his younger competitors. A two-time leading rider at Saratoga, Castellano arrived this year having finished seventh in the standings at the Spa last year with 25 wins.

Mage and Arcangelo, meanwhile, will be top contenders for this year’s Travers Stakes, a race Castellano has thrived in, having won it a record six times. Can he make it seven? If his performance in the first half of this year is any indication, he very well might.

midsummer knight While jockey Javier Castellano won his first Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes earlier this year, he's heading into the Saratoga season with a record six Travers Stakes wins under his belt.

Saratoga Superstars

FROM SPAC AND THE TRACK TO THE SPA CITY’S GALA CIRCUIT— NO ONE LIVES THE SARATOGA LIFE QUITE LIKE THE MCCONCHIES.

BY NATALIE MOORE n portrait by DORI FITZPATRICK

It’d be difficult to be an involved member of the Saratoga community and not know Leigh and Kim McConchie. That’s because, whatever the couple does, they do it to the max.

Take horse racing. Kim goes to the track every single day of the season, mid-July through Labor Day. She even has the GPS coordinates of Saratoga Race Course tattooed on her arm. Leigh joins her every Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday, days on which Kim plans their outfits to match. Leigh can’t go every day, because he’s busy being the owner of Stone’s Pharmacy in Lake Luzerne, as well as the incoming president of the Pharmacist Society of the State of New York.

Then there’s SPAC. Kim won’t miss a Live Nation show, though she’s most excited this year for Foreigner, Lynyrd Skynyrd and Guns N’ Roses. Leigh is usually with her, except on Fridays, when the dirt car racing team he owns races at Albany-Saratoga Speedway in Malta, or any other days the team is traveling throughout New York State or the east coast for a race.

While Leigh prefers racing cars on a dirt track, Kim’s auto passion is collecting classic cars (she has 17 right now, including a 1965 Ford Mustang Fastback, which she calls her “going-toget-ice-cream car”). “Most people, they like Camaros, or they like Chevelles,” Leigh says. “She just likes cars. We were watching a car auction one night and she says, ‘Ooh, what is that?’ I said ‘That’s a Jeep Willys.’ And she goes, ‘I’d

like one of those.’ I said, ‘You won’t find one of those.’ An hour later she goes, ‘Here’s one on eBay in Texas.’”

“We got it,” Kim says, smugly. “I won.”

“Yeah,” Leigh says. “She calls having the highest bid ‘winning.’”

That brings us to the McConchies’ next all-in hobby: Giving back to the Saratoga community. “Kim and Leigh purchased a silent auction package

in which they were picked up at Saratoga airport and brought by helicopter to The White Party,” says Saratoga Bridges Development and Foundation Director Pam Polacsek. “Since then, we have become close friends.” The couple now serve as the chairs of the annual Saratoga Bridges soireé, and are involved in countless other charitable events put on by AIM Services, Saratoga Hospital, the Wesley Foundation and the American Cancer Society, among others.

“They’re as real as you get,” Polacsek says. “They understand what’s important in life: family, friends and creating opportunities in which they can be difference-makers.”

Speaking of friends, even if you don’t know the McConchies, they’ll act like you do. “I’ll talk to anybody about anything, anywhere,” says Kim, who’s known for calling people “doll,” “honey” or “sweetie.” “I love communicating and swapping stories. I know the servers at SPAC. I know the guy that picks up the garbage at the track. I know everybody because I talk to everybody.”

So, what’s the secret to both being everything, everywhere, all at once and being universally liked? “We’re just normal people,” Leigh says. “Saratoga has been good to us. Why not be good back?”

young love

Leigh and Kim McConchie have been together for 43 years—they met at the campground Leigh’s grandparents owned and started dating when Kim was 8 and Leigh was 9; (opposite page) the McConchies around town, including at the track, the Saratoga Motorcar Auction, Saratoga Bridges’ White Party fundraiser and Saratoga Sponsor-AScholar's Derby Day party.

#TBT

A Winning Couple

YEARS BEFORE SHE BECAME KNOWN AS THE ‘QUEEN OF SARATOGA,’ NEW-TOTHE-SCENE MARYLOU WHITNEY WAS AT HER HUSBAND SONNY’S SIDE DURING HIS WINNINGEST HORSE RACING YEAR.

During the sticky summer of 1960, the smell of success must have permeated the air around Cornelius Vanderbilt “Sonny” Whitney, who was in the heart of what would end up his most successful horse racing year. Shown here making the rounds in the box area of the Saratoga Race Course Clubhouse with his wife, Marylou, (chatting with Mrs. Edward S. Moore, owner of Circle M Farm near Sonny’s own Kentucky stables), he was the proud owner of Tompion, the champion Thoroughbred that had already won the Santa Anita Stakes, the Blue Grass Stakes and the Forerunner Stakes, before cleaning up the Bernard Baruch Stakes early in The Spa’s season. Son of the mighty Tom Fool, Tompion would go on to clench the Travers and finish off the season with a Malibu Stakes win at Santa Anita. These trips to the winner’s circle helped Sonny’s C. V. Whitney Thoroughbred Racing Stable, which was started by his grandfather and

BY ABBY TEGNELIA

carried on by his father before he took it over in 1930, win a whopping $1,039,091, the most of any stable that year. In fact, until then, only Calumet Farm, a dominant stable for the previous 20 years, had ever broken the million-dollar mark. And that wasn’t all. He also finished the year as its leading breeder, pulling in $1,193,181—10 percent more than that of the second-place breeder. “The union of these two accomplishments in one stable,” wrote Sports Illustrated, “is as if Charles Lindbergh had built the Spirit of St. Louis with his own hands before he flew it to Paris.” Before those year-end tallies, Sonny and Marylou enjoyed an epic August in Saratoga that included Marylou’s first-ever Whitney Gala, the infamous charity soirée that would dominate the local society pages for decades. Then new to the scene, having married Sonny just two years prior, our beloved Marylou—our “Queen of Saratoga”—was just beginning her love affair with horse racing…and Saratoga Springs.

saratoga living It’s Post Time

The Flower Barn Gift Shop

She’s Yar Lash Bar

At SHE’S YAR LASH BAR, eyelashes take center stage. The experienced team of lash artists prides themselves on being experts in the industry and on providing the highest quality lash extensions, lifts and tints, each completely customized to perfectly suit each individual customer. They believe your lashes should be as unique as you, add to your natural beauty rather than overpower it, and be applied in a way that preserves your natural lash health. 133 BALLSTON AVENUE, SARATOGA SPRINGS shesyarlashbar.com

What happens when you combine independent artisans and fair trade products with a nature theme, and then give it a Bohemian twist? The answer: THE FLOWER BARN GIFT SHOP, located 28 miles west of Saratoga Springs. There you will discover unusual art accents, windchimes, chainsaw carvings and décor for your yard and garden, plus rare houseplants, essential oils, jewelry, greeting cards, lighting and more. Whether you’re searching for the perfect gift or an out-of-the-ordinary something for yourself or your home, The Flower Barn is a great place to start.

132 DIVISION STREET, NORTHVILLE ● 518.863.4374

Tailgate and Party

Looking for a way to showcase your love of Saratoga Race Course in your own home? TAILGATE

AND PARTY has all sorts of racing memorabilia, from signs and souvenirs to Hawaiian shirts and horse heads. You can’t go wrong with one of these wooden jockey silk replicas made by a local artisan. A new selection of silks can be found in the store each week, or you can place a custom order for one with colors, sports insignias, house numbers or names of your choosing.

33 PHILA STREET, SARATOGA SPRINGS ● 518.886.9015 tailgateandparty.com

Saratoga Candy Co.

25 YEARS!

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 all summer from 10am-8pm Monday-Saturday and 11am-5pm on Sundays. Stop in and say hi!

353 BROADWAY, SARATOGA SPRINGS ● 518.580.0499 saratogasweets.com

Impressions of Saratoga

The Dark Horse Mercantile

It’s not track season in Saratoga if you’re not celebrating the longshots that have defied the odds in Spa City history, and what better way to do just that than on a trip to

THE DARK HORSE

MERCANTILE?

The “Everything Saratoga” store couldn’t be more aptly nicknamed. IMPRESSIONS is celebrating 45 years of toasting the Spa City with Saratoga- and equestrian-themed gifts, locally made products and souvenirs. The unique Broadway hotspot is open daily, or you can visit the shop’s website any time (Impressions ships all over the country). Shop the dogfriendly store’s one-of-a-kind collectibles, gifts, sportswear, home décor and memorabilia, all celebrating Saratoga Springs.

368 BROADWAY ● 518.587.0666 impressionssaratoga.com

Mary Martin Day Spa

With more than 40 years of experience, MARY MARTIN recognizes that each and every body is different and has unique needs. That’s why her day spa is dedicated to customizing resultsdriven treatments so customers can walk out feeling comfortable and glowing. In addition to cutting-edge treatments, Mary Martin also carries products for at-home spa days and machines for other spas, and is always educating her clients on the latest technology and trends. Mary loves what she does, and, as her customers know, that passion shines through in the services she provides.

85 WASHINGTON STREET, SARATOGA SPRINGS

518.583.4222 ● marymartinandco.com

Throughout the summer, you may even get to meet the shop’s 33-inchtall mascot, Upset the Miniature Horse! Open daily, the downtown store offers many exclusive items and collections celebrating Saratoga’s reputation as the Graveyard of Champions, so never underestimate the joy of popping in for a quick browse. Tune in for the Dark Horse Pick of the Day with Seth Merrow on the OTB channel each race day!

445 BROADWAY ● 518.587.0689

darkhorsesaratoga.com

Il Bel Forno (The Beautiful Oven)

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The centuries-old tradition of brick, stone and fire has come to the Spa City!

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For the Love of Horses

ACACIA CLEMENT HAS EARNED A REPUTATION AS ONE OF THE MOST KNOWLEDGEABLE AND PASSIONATE TELEVISION PERSONALITIES IN ALL OF THOROUGHBRED RACING. THE SECRET TO HER SUCCESS? HORSES NOURISH HER SOUL.

BY BRIEN BOUYEA

photography by DORI FITZPATRICK exclusively for saratoga living

best in show “I’ve always had the mindset that if I love something I want to give my best to it,” says Acacia Clement of ballet, pageants, her work as a horse racing analyst and her Thoroughbred retirement nonprofit, Racing For Home.

orses have been a fundamental part of Acacia Clement’s life since before she can remember. But one childhood memory she does recall—being placed atop a retired racehorse named Siren when she was 8—is what she considers her “love at first sight” moment.

“She was a fast horse and no one really wanted to ride her because of it, but I loved being up there right away,” Clement says. “It was so exciting, such a euphoric experience. I felt like I was flying. My mom was a remarkable horsewoman, and she believed in me. That gave me the confidence I needed to be comfortable around horses and to want to learn everything I could about them. They’re simply magnificent. I’ve always felt that way.”

Growing up in Connecticut, Clement was encouraged through her riding lessons by her mother, Sherrie Courtney, whose passion for horses she inherited. As she honed her skills, Clement started competing in hunter/jumper and dressage events. She began to diversify her interests as she grew up, showing an affinity for classical dance and pageants. Named Miss Connecticut’s Outstanding Teen in 2009, Clement studied with the prestigious Joffrey Ballet and American Ballet Theatre.

Even with other activities demanding much of her time and focus, horses were always a major part of the equation for Clement. At just 17, she got involved with racehorse retirement. With interest in adopting a Thoroughbred, Clement visited Suffolk Downs, a since-shuttered racetrack on the outskirts of Boston.

“I adopted a mare named Palace Diva, who really started me down a path,” Clement says. “I went back [to Suffolk Downs] a couple of months later and came home with two more horses. It was at that point we made a family decision to do this seriously and decided to start Racing For Home.”

Clement’s passion had become purpose. Established in 2011, Racing For Home, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit with a mission of providing aftercare for racehorses once they are retired from the track. The organization focuses on retraining Thoroughbreds for second careers and connecting them with prospective future homes. Based at the DeCarli Equestrian Center in Ellington, CT, Racing For Home is one of only 74 organizations in the country accredited by the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance (TAA). Clement is Racing for Home’s founder and CEO; her mother runs the day-to-day operations, overseeing the care and progress of each retiree; and her father, Brian, is an attorney who tends to legal matters and also spends time doing barn chores and grooming the horses.

taking her lead Acacia Clement, about 2 years old, aboard a horse for the very first time, with Mom controlling the lead line; (opposite) Clement with Teddy, a graduate of Racing For Home that now resides at the Clement stables at Saratoga Race Course.

“A lot of thought and planning went into getting Racing For Home off the ground,” Clement says. “I did all of the paperwork to get us established as a 501(c)(3) and that was a big deal. I was right out of high school and it was a challenge, but I was determined. I’m proud I took that leap. I owe so much to my parents for their support and involvement. It’s absolutely a family affair and that’s one of the most rewarding aspects of it.”

Racing For Home’s mission? “To provide a safe haven for horses and to help them successfully transition into a second career when possible,” Clement says. “They are all deserving of that opportunity. If a second career isn’t a viable option, our efforts are geared toward finding a forever home that is safe and appropriate. What we do is very different and specific for each horse.”

Clement graduated from Fordham University with a degree in communications, which she has put to good use by developing into one of racing’s most recognizable and respected broadcasters. After stints working for the New York Racing Association (NYRA)’s community relations department, the Horse Racing Radio Network and the Stronach Group, Clement is now a host, analyst and reporter for NYRA. She hosts the popular America’s Day at the Races and is a fixture (as paddock reporter) on Saratoga Live, two programs broadcast on FOX Sports.

“I absolutely love working for NYRA,” Clement says. “Everyone on camera and everyone on the production team loves racing and are such talented professionals. Our goal is to deliver the best television product in the sport, and I think we’re doing that.”

On the air, Clement is clear, concise and confident. She is exhaustive in her preparation, has a commanding knowledge of the subject matter, and exudes a vibe that she is doing exactly what she is meant to do. Her reporting and analysis resonate with both veteran horseplayers and newcomers to the game.

“A lot of people would be surprised to know that I’m shy by nature,” Clement says. “I describe myself as an extroverted introvert. I really credit ballet and pageants for my being able to put myself out there in front of people. It’s taken work to get comfortable having a lot of eyes on me, but I’ve developed a pretty thick skin.”

Clement says one of her favorite aspects of the job is noticing details about horses and sharing that knowledge with racing fans.

“I love being in the paddock, up close to the horses, and seeing how the trainers and jockeys interact with them—how they’re working as a team and building trust before the race,” she says. “I want to try to pick up on nuances and elements you can’t get just by looking at a track program. I’d say I’m pretty good at seeing how horses change and getting a sense of how they are from a mindset perspective before a race. They all have unique personalities and mannerisms, and I try to convey that to the fans.”

hostess with the mostess Last March, Clement married her husband, Miguel, who works as an assistant trainer to his father, Christophe Clement; (opposite) Clement hosts America’s Day at the Races and is a paddock reporter for Saratoga Live, both of which air on FOX Sports.

The electric atmosphere at Saratoga and the quality of the racing at the historic track are among the most exciting things Clement has experienced in the sport.

“There’s nothing like Saratoga,” she says. “It brings out the best horses, jockeys and trainers. The competition is incredible. It’s world class and everyone wants to be part of it. You go anywhere in the country, and people know Saratoga

as the racing town. There is such amazing energy throughout the entire meet. I love every day of it.”

Being involved in racing led Clement to meet her husband, Miguel, an assistant trainer to his father, Christophe Clement, one of the most accomplished horsemen in the sport. The trainers are mostly based in Saratoga during the summer, rooting Clement in the Spa City, too. (The couple married last March in Jupiter, FL, where the family spends their winters.)

“We’ve had an amazing journey together and I couldn’t be happier,” Clement says. “Miguel and I complement each other so well and support each other in every aspect of our lives and careers. Being a trainer is all day, every day…early mornings, dealing with unexpected challenges. It’s not something that everyone can do. I’m so proud of Miguel and his family. They’re amazing and I’m so thankful to call them family.”

One star-studded outcome of their hard work came after Christophe Clement trained a horse named Pizza Bianca for Bobby Flay. Pizza Bianca became the first Breeders’ Cup winner for Clement, and Flay thanked him in the way only a celebrity chef can.

“Bobby Flay cooked us dinner,” Clement says. “How cool is that? It was one of those amazing and surreal experiences that I’ve been fortunate to have been a part of.”

One of Clement’s great talents is effectively balancing her flourishing broadcast career with her family—especially her husband’s grueling schedule—and Racing For Home. Oh, and don’t forget about the all-encompassing pageants she was winning on the side early on in her broadcasting career. Three years after founding Racing For Home, Clement was named Miss Connecticut 2014 and finished in the top 16 in Miss America. In 2019, she was chosen Miss Connecticut USA.

“I’ve always had the mindset that if I love something I want to give my best to it,” Clement says. “Ballet and pageants both taught me that you have to be all in with your work ethic, but also that if you love what you’re doing it’s a passion and not a job. I’ve been fortunate to have some great opportunities professionally that have tied into or complemented the things I care about.”

Clement credits NYRA for embracing racehorse aftercare and promoting it in a variety of ways.

“Being able to talk about Thoroughbred aftercare and highlight all that has been done, as well as provide awareness of what still needs to be done, is something I’m so proud NYRA emphasizes and supports,” Clement says. “We reach a lot of people on television, at the track, on social media…It’s a tremendous platform and opportunity to make a difference for horses.”

NYRA supports the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance with a $10 contribution per racehorse start and contributes to the New York Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association’s Take the Lead program by helping finance retraining efforts and veterinary expenses. Clement says she will never tire of advocating for the horses: “It absolutely is my calling.”

what’s in a name Clement is often asked whom she’s named after, but “Acacia” was simply a name her mom, Sherrie Courtney, thought was pretty; (opposite, from top) Racing For Home graduate Burning Bluegrass with Sherrie; Horse Fish Trappe Road, seen here with Clement’s dad, Brian, has been at Racing For Home for 15 months.

The Stars of Today

saratoga living ’ s SPORTS EDITOR

PICKS THREE SARATOGA STANDOUTS TO WATCH AT THE 2023 MEETING.

BY BRIEN BOUYEA

Cody’s Wish

Cody’s Wish is arguably the best racehorse in America right now. A 5-year-old bred and owned by Godolphin and trained by Hall of Famer Bill Mott, Cody’s Wish is riding a sixrace win streak and has lost only once in his past 10 starts. The current string of victories features four consecutive Grade 1s: the Forego last August at Saratoga, the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile at Keeneland, the Churchill Downs Stakes, and the Metropolitan Handicap at Belmont Park. The Forego was one of the highlights of the 2022 Saratoga meet. At odds of 8-1, Cody’s Wish defeated the heavy favorite Jackie’s Warrior, the only horse to win a Grade 1 at Saratoga in three consecutive years, by 1¼ lengths.

Sired by Hall of Famer Curlin out of the Grade 1–winning Tapit mare Dance Card, Cody’s Wish was bred to be a star. After beginning his career in 2021 by finishing third in three consecutive races, Cody’s Wish has won all but one race since, compiling an overall record of 9-1-3 from 13 starts with earnings of $2,328,530. He has been training sharply at Saratoga since May, and his most recent performance—a brilliant 3¼-length victory June 9 in the Met Mile—sets him up as the horse to watch at Saratoga this summer. Mott said Cody’s Wish is under consideration to stretch out in the Whitney Stakes and could also take aim at another victory in the Forego.

wish upon a star Cody’s Wish made headlines following his win in the 2022 Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile for his connection with Cody Dorman, a 16-year-old born with a rare genetic disorder, who met the horse on Make A Wish Day at Keeneland four years prior.

ALEX ZHANG

Wesley Ward

A former champion jockey, Wesley Ward has emerged in recent years as one of the top trainers in the sport. After winning 749 races in the saddle and the 1984 Eclipse Award for Outstanding Apprentice, Ward transitioned to conditioning racehorses in 1991. He has steadily climbed the ranks while winning more than 2,200 races as a trainer. Ward has enjoyed success both in the United States and England, where he has won a dozen races at the prestigious Royal Ascot meeting, more than any other American-based trainer. Ward has also won nine training titles at Keeneland and has six Breeders’ Cup wins to his credit. At Saratoga, he finished in the top 10 in both wins and earnings in 2022.

Ward’s best horse to date has been two-time Breeders’ Cup Sprint winner Golden Pal, who won stakes races three consecutive years at Saratoga. Last year, Ward won his first Saratoga Grade 1 with Chi Town Lady in the Test. He also won the Grade 2 Honorable Miss with Kimani and the Grade 3 Troy with Golden Pal. Ward is having another exceptional year in 2023. Through May, he is winning a career-best 30 percent of his races, the highest rate among the top 25 trainers in the country.

Jose Gomez

With riders including the Ortiz brothers, Hall of Famers John Velazquez and Javier Castellano, and standouts such as Joel Rosario, Luis Saez, Flavien Prat, Manny Franco, Tyler Gaffalione, Junior Alvarado and Dylan Davis, among others, the jockey colony on the New York Racing Association circuit is generally considered to be the best in the country. None of that intimidated young apprentice rider Jose Gomez last summer at Saratoga. Gomez, a 22-year-old native of Michigan who grew up in Pennsylvania, finished 2022 as the leading apprentice rider at the NYRA tracks and was ninth in the overall jockey standings. He won 98 races in New York last year, including 11 at Saratoga, with total purse earnings of $5.8 million. Gomez won three stakes in New York, including the Statue of Liberty aboard Golden Rocket in August at Saratoga, the first blacktype stakes victory of his career. Gomez is quick to give significant credit for his success to agent and mentor Angel Cordero, Jr., the Hall of Fame jockey who won 14 riding titles at Saratoga, as well as trainer Kelly Breen, who has also been a big supporter. In early 2023, Gomez was rewarded for his success by being honored with the Eclipse Award for Outstanding Apprentice Jockey. Having proven himself capable of competing successfully on the big stage at Saratoga, the future appears bright for Gomez.

leading the way Jose Gomez was the leading apprentice rider at NYRA tracks in 2022; (opposite) as of May, trainer Wesley Ward had won 30 percent of his races in 2023.

saratogaliving.com

Howdy, Partner

A DEEP DIVE INTO HOW RACING PARTNERSHIPS HAVE MADE RACEHORSE OWNERSHIP MORE ACCESSIBLE TO ALL—EVEN YOU.

By Tom Pedulla

hese days, the Sport of Kings is no longer limited to royalty. Thanks to the recent rise of partnerships, also known as syndicates, we commoners can play, too—and even succeed at the highest level.

Just ask Saratoga resident Jack Knowlton, whose story is one of the most widely known syndicate successes. He never contemplated having a horse good enough to compete in the Kentucky Derby when he and five high school buddies casually discussed the prospect of coming together to buy a racehorse during a Memorial Day cookout in Sackets Harbor in 1995.

“I figured it wasn’t anything other than too much beer talking,” Knowlton recalls. When his friends followed up a week later, Sackatoga Stable was formed with a $30,000 stake and extremely modest expectations. Sackatoga would dabble in a lucrative program aimed at boosting racing and breeding in the state by limiting themselves to New York–breds.

That approach eventually led Barclay Tagg, their trainer, to execute a private purchase of Funny Cide as a 2-yearold in March 2002. Funny Cide was a quirky New York–bred gelding that initially appeared to have limited upside. But he developed into an imposing 3-year-old, one good enough to take Knowlton and friends in a famously humble yellow school bus all the way to the Kentucky Derby.

Funny Cide capped their remarkable journey by bringing home the roses—and $800,000—for his now-10 owners. Even now.

“Are you kidding me?” he says. “It was just crazy.”

There was an appearance on the Today show. There was Funny Cide beer, Funny Cide hot sauce, Funny Cide ice cream. By the time Funny Cide nabbed a win in the Preakness, he had become more than Saratoga’s horse: He was America’s horse.

The syndicate continued to grow, with Sackatoga Stable, co-owned by Ed Mitzen, opening in 2006. Fourteen years later lightning struck twice for our local syndicate-that-could. When our country was in the throes of a pandemic-created lockdown and jonesing for uplifting stories and heroes to root for, Sackatoga and Tagg completed the business that eluded Funny Cide—New York–bred Tiz the Law completed their personal Triple Crown by winning the Belmont Stakes. He later won the Travers Stakes and then placed second in the Kentucky Derby on the first Saturday in September as part of a schedule altered by Covid.

Sackatoga’s ability to soar to national prominence not once but twice demonstrates that the odds can be overcome. In modern horse racing, the commoner can feel like a king every now and then.

“If the rich guys bred the best to the best and always won, there wouldn’t be any room for the little guys,” Knowlton said. “A good horse can come from anywhere.”

Partnerships like Sackatoga allow ordinary folk to be part of the pursuit of horse racing greatness. That’s what Saratogabased entities such as Adelphi Racing Club, Blue Lion Thoroughbreds, Bond Racing Stable, Dream Maker Racing and “Sunny Jim” Fitzsimmons Racing are chasing. There are national outfits, such as Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, Starlight Racing and West Point Thoroughbreds, that are in on the partnership game, too. And then there are Commonwealth and MyRacehorse, which offer even smaller “micro shares” in horses for less than $100 per share.

MyRacehorse joined forces with West Point and others to take its shareholders on a wonderful journey when Authentic fended off Tiz the Law in the Derby. And this spring, when Commonwealth’s long shot

mage of honor

This year’s Kentucky Derby was won by Javier Castellano and Mage, a horse owned by nearly 400 partners through Commonwealth; (opposite) part-owners of Bond Racing Stable’s Giacosa gather in the Winner’s Circle after winning the Yaddo Stakes at Saratoga in 2021.

Mage won the Run for the Roses, almost 400 partners shared in that magical moment.

Even those who start out with what appear to be minimal financial interests can feel very much a part of it all and feel the excitement of literally having a horse in the race. As trainer H. James Bond of Mechanicville says: “That’s their horse. That’s their sports team.”

Saratoga’s Tom Durkin, one of the greatest track announcers of all time, was one of more than 4,000 micro-owners of Authentic, who captured the Derby over Tiz the Law in 2020. While Durkin owned only a 2 percent stake, rest assured—he enjoyed 100 percent of the fun. “I’ve called the Kentucky Derby, which is a thrill in itself,” Durkin says. “But being in that winner’s circle and watching that horse come under the wire first, it’s totally different. One of the reasons is that, when I’m calling a race, I cannot go berserk. And when

brothers in law For good luck, Jack Knowlton bussed family and friends to watch his horse Tiz the Law race in the Kentucky Derby in 2020, a nod to his 2003 trip to Churchill Downs for which the partners piled into a yellow school bus to save money. They had an extra $800,000 for the return trip after their horse, Funny Cide, won

SIGN ME UP 11 Syndicates to Consider Joining This Racing Season

1. ADELPHI RACING CLUB adelphiracing.com

203.900.4189

why this may be a good bet: Adelphi runners have won at an impressive 22 percent rate and finished in the money 54 percent of the time. They’ve earned almost $1 million with 81 starts since 2020.

2. BLUE LION THOROUGHBREDS bluelionthoroughbreds.com

516.724.0075

why this may be a good bet: The minimum investment of 3 percent or $5,000, depending on the horse, is affordable for many. Blue Lion, managed by Saratoga native Dave Lyon, is enjoying success with up-and-coming trainer Ray Handal.

3. BOND RACING STABLE jamesbondracing.com

772.285.4328

why this may be a good bet: The Bonds retain a majority

interest in every horse and don’t charge a management fee. This is very much a family business operating out of a gorgeous farm in Mechanicville.

4. COMMONWEALTH joincommonwealth.com

why this may be a good bet: Commonwealth had the foresight to take a 25 percent stake in Mage, this year’s Kentucky Derby winner. It offers micro shares for as little as $50, which include the first 18 months of training expenses.

5. DREAM MAKER RACING dreammakerracing.com

518.587.5550

why this may be a good bet: Managing partner Tom Gallo brings a wealth of experience, having been in racing for years, to Dream Maker Racing. The stable focuses strictly on the rich program for New York–breds, offering yearlings and 2-year-olds.

6. ECLIPSE THOROUGHBRED PARTNERS eclipsetbpartners.com

855.807.4710

why this may be a good bet: Eclipse encourages potential investors to “believe big.” At last count, it had produced 22 Grade 1

that horse crossed the finish line, berserk is the way you pretty much could have described me.”

As for that seemingly inconsequential 2 percent stake, Durkin says, “I got a pretty nice paycheck, I’ve got to tell you. Two percent of a Derby winner…That’s a couple of European vacations, baby!”

But the horse doesn’t have to be a star and the purse doesn’t have to be hefty for the experience to be priceless. Knowlton recalls a partner who began to cry upon entering the winner’s circle at Saratoga Race Course. Indeed, investors gain an insider’s view of racing with access to the barn area, the paddock, good seats, special events for partners and perhaps even a celebration in the winner’s circle.

Says Bond of his repeat customers: “They all didn’t make money, but they had a great time. We’re in the entertainment business.”

wins with 18 individual horses. Its successes include 2017 Belmont Stakes winner Tapwrit.

7. MYRACEHORSE myracehorse.com/us

888.697.2234

why this may be a good bet: MyRacehorse was at the forefront of the micro share concept, showing what can be done by taking partners on a great ride with 2020 Kentucky Derby winner Authentic. The entry point can be as little as $39.

8. SACKATOGA STABLE sackatoga.com

518.583.4900

why this may be a good bet: For a small, Saratoga-based operation that buys New York–breds at modest amounts to complete its own Triple Crown with Derby and Preakness winner Funny Cide (2003) and Belmont Stakes victor Tiz the Law (2020) is remarkable. Trainer Barclay Tagg and assistant Robin Smullen do everything the right way.

9. STARLIGHT RACING starlightracing.com

502.645.2232

why this may be a good bet: At last check, Starlight had been part of 30 graded-stakes winners.

Its greatest claim to fame is its involvement with 2018 Triple Crown winner Justify. Starlight also has a StarLadies division, an exclusive partnership for women.

10. “SUNNY JIM” FITZSIMMONS RACING sunnyjimracing.com

518.545.4546

why this may be a good bet: This partnership is managed by Jack Fitzsimmons, grandson of legendary trainer “Sunny Jim” Fitzsimmons, who trained three Derby winners, four Preakness winners and six Belmont winners. Jack’s father served as the trainer’s business manager. There are no management fees.

11. WEST POINT THOROUGHBREDS

westpointtb.com

518.583.6638

why this may be a good bet: Overseen by West Point graduate Terry Finley, this operation has been in existence since 1991. It has access to some of the nation’s leading trainers, and management isn’t afraid to swing for the fences. Its $1 million purchase of Flightline, for example, was amply rewarded: The horse emerged as a superstar and was retired as last season’s Horse of the Year.

Blue skies are here again. Summer is coming and The Gideon Putnam Resort & Spa is now open. Enjoy a timeless Saratoga Spa State Park hotel, right next door to the acclaimed Roosevelt Baths & Spa.

From Saratoga Performing Arts Center to Saratoga Race Course, The Gideon Putnam is close to everything and close to perfect.

Blue skies are here again. Summer is coming and The Gideon Putnam Resort & Spa is now open. Enjoy a timeless Saratoga Spa State Park hotel, right next door to the acclaimed Roosevelt Baths & Spa.

From Saratoga Performing Arts Center to Saratoga Race Course, The Gideon Putnam is close to everything and close to perfect.

onion’s ring Onion scores an improbable victory over Triple Crown winner Secretariat (at right) in the 1973 Whitney Stakes at Saratoga.

the races!

A Hero Has Fallen

FIFTY ONE YEARS AGO, SECRETARIAT EMERGED FROM THE SARATOGA SEASON A STAR—BEFORE RETURNING AS A TRIPLE CROWN CHAMP THE NEXT YEAR TO MAKE NEWS OF A VERY DIFFERENT KIND.

BY BRIEN BOUYEA

his year, the racing world is celebrating the 50th anniversary of Secretariat’s Triple Crown victory. But here in Saratoga, we remember the superstar horse in a different light. Secretariat arrived at Saratoga in 1973 as a conquering hero, but even he wasn’t immune from falling victim to Saratoga’s reputation as the Graveyard of Favorites. Less than two months after winning the Triple Crown to cement his status as a cultural icon, Secretariat was widely considered a shoo-in to win the 1973 Whitney Stakes. After dominating each of the Triple Crown races with record-setting performances—all of which are still standing 50 years later—Secretariat appeared to be in

top form for his return to Saratoga, where as a 2-year-old in the summer of 1972 he began to emerge as a star. He was undefeated in three Saratoga races as a juvenile, including the Sanford and Hopeful.

But along came Onion. Trained by Hall of Famer Allen Jerkens and ridden by Hall of Famer Jacinto Vasquez, Onion was the second choice at odds of 5 to 1 in the Whitney field of five. Secretariat, meanwhile, was overwhelmingly favored at odds of 1 to 10 to add a Whitney win to his ledger. Although a mostly unknown commodity, Onion was entering the Whitney off of a performance in which he set a 6½-furlong track record at Saratoga, albeit not in a stakes race or against top competition.

Before a crowd of 30,119 on August 4, 1973, Vasquez and Onion immediately went to the lead in the Whitney and never looked back. Secretariat raced in third before moving up to second on the inside rail exiting the final turn. Onion, however, held off the challenge of the Triple Crown winner to win by a length. After the race, Secretariat’s jockey, Ron Turcotte, and trainer Lucien Laurin had different explanations for the unexpected result, with Laurin publicly questioning Turcotte’s ride and Turcotte claiming Secretariat banged his head while in the gate. Penny Tweedy, Secretariat’s owner, later said the horse was running a low-grade fever before the race, but she didn’t scratch him because she thought he was well enough to win.

“We didn’t go out there just to beat Secretariat,” Vasquez said after the race. “We wanted to beat them all. My horse was fit and ready, and he held his ground all the way. In the stretch it was close and we were head and head, but my horse had a little extra and he gave it to me.”

Onion and Secretariat met again on September 15, 1973, in the inaugural running of the $250,000 Marlboro Cup at Belmont Park. Secretariat had no issues with Onion or anyone else in the race, romping to victory while setting a new world record of 1:45²⁄₅ for 1⅛ miles. Onion finished fourth. Secretariat was retired at the end of the year with a record of 16 wins from 21 starts.

While Secretariat went on to the Hall of Fame and is considered by many to be the greatest racehorse of all time, Onion faded into obscurity. Although he raced through 1977, he never won another stakes race and completed his career with a record of 15 wins from 54 starts. But still— he’ll always have Saratoga.

the races!

The Greatest Upset of Them All

IT DIDN’T MAKE HEADLINES LIKE ONION’S UPSET OF SECRETARIAT, SO DO YOU KNOW WHICH HORSE DELIVERED THE BIGGEST WIN PAYOUT IN SARATOGA HISTORY?

Jim Dandy pulled off a miracle in the mud, defeating Triple Crown winner Gallant Fox in the 1930 Travers at odds of 100 to 1. Onion knocked off Triple Crown winner Secretariat 50 years ago in the Whitney; he never won another stakes race in his career. And the aptly named Upset handed Man o’ War the only loss of his career in the 1919 Sanford. These are the horses who’ve given Saratoga the moniker “Graveyard of Favorites.”

But the biggest upset of them all happened just six years ago. The name Perplexed probably won’t ring through the ages, because the D. Wayne Lukas–trained gelding didn’t beat any Hall of Fame legends. But on July 24, 2017, the horse delivered the largest payout in Saratoga history: a whopping $232.50 on a $2 bet. How illogical—and perplexing—was the half-length victory under apprentice jockey Luis Reyes? Well, Perplexed, who was winless in his nine starts prior, won at the astronomical odds of 115.25 to 1. He never won in 13 starts after.

“That’s why we run ’em,” says Hall of Famer Lukas. “We don’t mail ’em in.” Perplexing indeed.

–BRIEN BOUYEA

reyes of light Apprentice jockey Luis Reyes pilots underdog Perplexed to victory in the first race of the day at Saratoga on July 24, 2017.

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WHO KNEW BLUE CANOE

MUSINGS ON THE MYSTERIOUS VESSEL THAT OCCUPIES SARATOGA RACE COURSE’S INFIELD LAKE.

By Brien Bouyea

seeing double After the 2012 Travers Stakes ended in a dead heat, Saratoga’s infield lake was home to two canoes painted in the colors of the winning horses’ owners.

It’s the question asked by most Saratoga Race Course firsttimers who peer past the horses thundering down the stretch: Why is there a canoe in the infield lake? The answer? Well, even us longtime Saratogians aren’t quite sure. Indeed, no one really knows how long the vessel has been a Saratoga icon. In 1959, the New York Herald Tribune’s Bill Laudner wrote that the canoe had been in the lake since the 19th century, but there is no other known documentation to support the claim. Saratoga track superintendent Anne Clare told Laudner she’d been at the track since 1927, and the canoe was already in its customary place when she got there and took over its upkeep.

While no one alive remembers the canoe’s origin story, that hasn’t stopped sportswriters from making guesses—both serious and not so—through the years.

In 1939, Jack “Peerless” McGrath mused that the “famous blue canoe… according to legend, provides transportation for bettors who guess wrong back to the metropolitan track at the end of the season, by way of the Hudson River.” Jimmy Cannon of the New York Post said: “There was a pale blue canoe, mysteriously moored and motionless in the middle of the tideless lake in the infield. It is there they say if a horse-player decides to drown himself and changes his mind.”

Indeed, the only detail these creative speculations could agree upon was the

canoe explain? “The people who originally decided that Saratoga’s lake should bear a blue canoe all died years ago,” wrote Washington Post sports reporter Red Smith in 1963. “So naturally, since there’s no one around to explain its purpose, the current operators just go on putting the blue canoe back there for every meeting. Radical changes are not popular here.”

color of the canoe. So why is the canoe no longer blue? That one, we can answer. By 1962, the light blue canoe had already been a part of the track’s history for at least several decades. But in that year the vessel became associated forevermore with the Travers Stakes: After Beau Prince won the 1961 Midsummer Derby, the canoe was removed from the lake and painted in the “devil’s red and blue” colors of the winning Calumet Farm before being reintroduced to Saratoga patrons on opening day the following year.

w ART y CARING

SARATOGA-BASED THOROUGHBRED RETIREMENT FOUNDATION WAS FOUNDED BECAUSE ONE WOMAN DECIDED TO GIVE A DAMN ABOUT RETIRED RACE HORSES.

FORTY YEARS LATER, IN A CHANGED OUTSIDE WORLD, WE CHECK IN.

By Natalli Amato

retirement party Students from Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation’s Second Chances program at Wallkill Correctional Facility with NYRA analyst Maggie Wolfendale Morley and TRF’s Kim Weir.

eaningful change comes to fruition only after a person chooses to care. For the Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation (TRF)—the oldest and largest organization of its kind—four decades of systematic change in the way that Thoroughbred aftercare is approached can all be traced back to one woman’s deliberate choice to care about the fates of other beings.

More than 40 years ago, a young advertising executive from New Jersey had an experience that we are all familiar with: She picked up a magazine and read an exposé that roused her empathy and indignation. The scoop? Trainer Daphne Collins was vocalizing the neglect and abuse that Thoroughbreds often face when they are no longer able to race.

Most people have felt enraged in a similar way at one point or another in their lives after discovering great injustices. Monique Koehler, however, was not “most people.” Though

it would have been easy to resign to a sense of helplessness and defeat in the face of such a large issue, she did not. Instead, she chose to care deeply—and take actions to match. She resolved to give the horses a better fate.

Since Koehler founded the Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation in 1983, the Saratogabased national nonprofit organization has never wavered from its mission: “To save Thoroughbred horses no longer able to compete on the racetrack from possible neglect, abuse, and slaughter.”

If the word “slaughter” in a nonprofit’s mission statement makes some uncomfortable, then TRF’s plan is working. When the pioneering organization was founded, horse racing was in its heyday. While today there is a whole industry of organizations dedicated to maintaining the wellbeing of Thoroughbreds in retirement, this has not always been the case. For Koehler, getting the public to care about the fates of the horses also meant not being afraid to talk about uncomfortable realities. Her boldness shapes the organization to this day.

founding mother TRF founder Monique Koehler visiting Wallkill in the early days of TRF; (above) a graduate of Maryland Correctional’s Second Chances program with the horse Merrywinds.

“We have to say that,” says Kim Weir, TRF’s director of major gifts & planned giving, of the organization’s blunt mission statement. “That’s why we’re here.”

When Weir says “we,” she is talking about the foundation, but she could just as well be talking about its staff—a small but mighty collective of folks whose lifelong passions for horses and horse racing have instilled in them a reverence and responsibility to their equine friends. Fittingly, there’s a saying that peppers conversations with the TRF staff like a musical refrain: “Come for the horses, stay for the people.”

While TRF’s genesis was in the mind of one firebrand woman, the organization has always been inextricably part of a wide web of generous and helpful people. “It’s a whole cast of people who said, ‘yes,’” says Weir as she reflects on the organization’s serendipitous history, something she and her colleagues are doing often these days, as the organization celebrates its 40th anniversary.

Weir knows that being able to tell someone “yes” is a gift— that the word yes possesses a certain magic that unleashes far greater creative possibilities than one person could ever make happen on their own. While there have been thousands of “yes” moments that have helped TRF grow over the past four decades, one of the most seminal came from the New York State Corrections Department.

While Koehler had been exceptionally successful in raising the required funds to start making a difference in the lives of horses, she didn’t have anywhere to house them once they were rescued. Fatefully, the New York State Corrections Department had just acquired an old dairy farm in Wallkill to serve as a land buffer. There were no other plans to utilize the land. Thus, the two unlikely partners joined together, and TRF’s flagship Second Chances program was brought to fruition as a result.

Second Chances—which currently exists in eight states—is an innovative program where inmates participate in vocational training and life skills–building as they provide care to retired racehorses.

“This model of being in the prisons has really been successful,” says Executive Director Kelly Armer. “They’ve found that folks working with the horses don’t return [to prison], because they’ve found purpose.”

Indeed, the men who participate in Second Chances often make the same profound discovery as Koehler, Weir and Armer all have during their time with TRF: What starts as a sense of service and responsibility to the horses eventually turns into a lesson in humanity and connection.

Armer recalls a moment that has stayed with her since a recent trip to Wallkill: “A big man came up to me and goes, ‘I have to tell you, I was afraid of these horses. I’m a big guy, and I was afraid of them.’ The biggest thing for him was that he overcame his fear.”

On the other side of his fear was a sense of pride and purpose that he had been missing for so long. Armer and Weir bestow all credit to the horses.

“While the [ex-inmates] may be scared, the horse is looking at them with zero judgment,” says Weir. “That’s when it sort of cracks the door open because the horse doesn’t know where they came from and doesn’t care what they did five years ago or five minutes ago.”

Horses place their trust in their caretakers no matter their personal history. When given the chance, people will rise to become the version of themselves that the horses see.

“We’re finding,” Armer says, “that we can’t keep up with the correctional facilities that want to open a site.”

It’s a problem that she and the rest of the TRF staff are happy to have. Currently, the organization is establishing a site in Washington; Maryland is next on the horizon.

When asked what the next 40 years look like for TRF, Armer’s answer is growth, growth, growth. They’ll keep doing as they’ve done, which is tapping into the magic of a yes and the grit of those who choose to care.

créme of the crop (from top) Benny Vazquez and Davis Hudson of Wallkill Correctional Facility with retired racehorse Créme de la Fete raising awareness of TRF’s work at Saratoga Race Course in 1989; a student from TRF’s partnership with the Department of Juvenile Justice in Florida volunteering at the World Equestrian Center.

Piper Boutique is Bigger, Brighter and Better

This spring, the longtime Saratoga women’s store made a big move.

One of Saratoga Springs’ most beloved women’s clothing boutiques just got even better. This spring, Piper Boutique made the move from its longtime location to a new space at 338 Broadway, next to Saratoga Tea & Honey. The new space is nearly twice the size of the former store, featuring floor-to-ceiling window displays and modern interior design. The new location showcases Piper Boutique’s contemporary and affordable fashions, including owner Alessandra Bange-Hall’s own clothing brand, Daphne Lo.  Bange-Hall says business has been thriving since the move. “I had to triple my staff because of the increase in traffic,” she says. “It’s been a lot of work, but incredibly rewarding. “If you told 23-year-old me, as a brand-new business owner, that this would one day be my store, I wouldn’t have believed you.”

The larger space will also allow Bange-Hall to host more events for charities she’s involved in, including Memorial Sloan Kettering and Jake’s Help from Heaven. “I love being able to use my position as a business owner to support both local and national charities,” she says. “I have a few new event ideas that I think are going to be great.”

In the coming months, Bange-Hall has plans to continue to expand Piper’s offerings for her clients, many of whom have been coming to her for more than a decade. “It’s been amazing to see how both long-time customers and new clients have embraced the space and everything Piper has to offer,” she says. “It’s been surreal and wonderful. When I started Piper almost 13 years ago, I never could have imagined it would lead here. I am so thankful for this community and the many women who started as customers and have become friends.” ■

Photo Credit: Alex Zhang

Panza’s Stuns With Five Years of ‘Sinatra & Friends’

The popular show featuring tunes from the Great American Songbook becomes a permanent fixture at Panza’s this summer.

Michael Panza, who runs Saratoga's signature summer restaurant Panza's with his brother, Tony, can certainly say he did it his way. This year marks the fifth anniversary of Sinatra & Friends, a tribute show to Ol’ Blue Eyes, Tony Bennett, Dean Martin, Ella Fitzgerald and others from the Great American Songbook. The show isn’t just Michael’s brainchild—he’s also the lead singer.

“I grew up listening to Sinatra, so he’s a personal favorite,” Michael says about tackling the repertoire of the great crooner who sang such timeless hits as “Strangers in the Night” and “That’s Life.” “I can connect with his music, so doing a show in his honor seemed natural.”

Sinatra & Friends begins every Sunday at 6pm in Panza’s Starlight Lounge. Each show contains two sets of music, and this year Michael has invited a slew of local talent to join him on stage, including pianist/composer Brian Halliday, bassist Jason Emmond, Skidmore lecturer and percussionist Bob Halek and semi-regulars Steve Kirsty and Schenectady jazz legend Colleen Pratt. “Sinatra would invite guests to collaborate with him,” says Michael. “So in that fashion,

we’re inviting local legends to put their unique spin on classics with different vocalists and musicians each week.”

Panza’s Restaurant’s history of entertainment goes back more than half a century. Michael’s great-grandmother established the restaurant on Saratoga Lake in 1938, and in the ’50s, the eatery completed its first expansion: Panza’s Starlight Room, which featured entertainment on the lake six nights a week during the summertime.

“If you wanted music, Panza’s was one of the few places for it in Saratoga,” says Michael. “When I was a little kid, I used to sneak out at night and listen to the bands play. That’s how it all got started for me.”

That love for this era of music hits has certainly paid off. Sinatra & Friends has proven so popular among Panza’s clientele that Michael is making the show a regular installment. “These are songs that every generation knows,” he says about the show’s success. “It’s really the kind of music that brings everyone together.”

There’s even chatter of taking Sinatra & Friends on the road down to Nashville. “That’s still in the works,” Michael is quick to add. “But that would be a dream come true.” ■

Michael Panza (center) is the lead singer of Sinatra & Friends, which brings in local talent to perform at the restaurant’s Starlight Lounge every Sunday.

It’s a Match

Job-hunting? Looking for that perfect candidate?

The award-winning Reneé Walrath on everything you didn’t know about working with a professional recruiter.

When it comes to finding the right person for the job (and finding the right job for the person), the Capital Region trusts Reneé Walrath. With more than 20 years of experience in staffing services and executive search, her Walrath Recruiting firm helps local employees and businesses find their perfect matches.

“We provide executive search, recruiting and staffing for organizations in the Capital Region and beyond,” Walrath says. “Seventy percent of our clients are in the Capital Region, and 30 percent are elsewhere—including Buffalo, Rochester, Syracuse, and New York City.” Word of her expertise has even crossed state lines. She serves clients as far away as Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Texas, California and Tennessee.

Walrath encourages anyone looking for a job or a company looking for a job candidate to give her a call, as her team covers a more diverse range of industries than many people realize. “I have recruiters who specialize in medical, legal, engineering, construction, manufacturing, accounting/finance and sales,” she says. “We’ve placed nurses, PAs, social workers, attorneys, paralegals, legal secretaries, civil engineers, mechanical engineers, CFOs, controllers, accountants, financial analysts, sales engineers— you name it! We work with so many types of businesses, from small mom and pop organizations to Fortune 500 companies.”

For potential employees, Walrath has one important reminder: “The best thing about working with a recruiter is that it is free to the candidate,” she says, emphasizing that the company looking to fill roles pays the fee, and all candidates’ information is kept strictly confidential. “It’s a job to find a job, so why not let us help you?”

Walrath brings to her job an unbreakable commitment to the Capital Region and a genuine joy for helping others, which she has carried with her since her earliest days on the job. “I grew up in Glenville, graduated from Niskayuna High School, and have degrees from Maria College and Siena College,” she says. “I’ve lived here all my life and love it! I opened my business in 2010 in a one-room office—smiling and dialing.”

Her passion and resulting success have earned her an awardwinning career. Walrath Recruiting has been named one of Albany Business Review’s Top 5 Executive Search Firms, taking the #1 spot in 2020 and 2021. And in 2022, Walrath herself was named to the Albany Business Review’s Power 50 honoring the Capital Region’s most influential leaders.

These accolades motivate her even more to continue her work changing people’s lives by finding them their perfect job opportunity, even offering convenient virtual interviews as well as face-to-face meetings in either her Albany office or her Saratoga location. “Since we thoroughly understand our clients’ needs and culture,

we align our candidates with them appropriately,” she says. “We keep in constant contact with our clients on the progress. We can’t guarantee that we can place all the candidates that we interview, but we pride ourselves on working diligently for everyone.” ■ Visit walrathrecruiting.com for more information. The firm’s two offices, which are open by appointment only, are located at 3 Winners Circle, Albany, 518.275.4816; and 511 Broadway, Saratoga Springs, 518.886.8860.

Reneé Walrath’s award-winning Walrath Recruiting has offices in both Albany and Saratoga, and prides itself on matching candidates in a wide range of industries with their perfect jobs.

There’s More to Lake George

One hundred years ago, Lake George was a bona fide arts destination, with well-to-do New Yorkers making the trek north to the Adirondacks for a culture-filled getaway on the shores of one of America’s most pristine bodies of water. Since then, Lake George has seen a shift toward recreational tourism, but one organization is working to bring cultural tourists back to the Queen of American Lakes.

“I hear all the time, ’Oh, I wish I could go back in time and see Georgia O’Keeffe paint on Lake George or Marcella Sembrich sing with her Juilliard students by the lake,’” says Lake George Music Festival Executive Director Alexander Lombard. “People lament about these bygone days—the Gilded Age of Lake George. I want people to embrace the fact that Lake George Music Festival is starting a cultural renaissance.”

Lombard’s point: In the early 1900s, composers and musicians from Julliard and Curtis were coming up to Lake George, working together and performing on the lake. This year, 70 artists of the same caliber—and from the same schools—will descend upon Lake

George to work and perform eight open-to-the-public concerts this August. “We don’t know it yet, but some of them could eventually achieve that high status,” Lombard says of the artists coming this summer. “People may look back 100 years from now and say, ’Wow, look at what Lake George Music Fest was doing.’”

This year’s festival will be bookended by two full orchestra concerts performed by the aforementioned artists, who stay with host families August 6-17. All eight concerts will be held at the stateof-the-art Carriage House at Fort William Henry, which recently underwent a $3 million renovation. Aside from unparalleled views of the lake, the Carriage House offers another hot commodity, at least in Lake George Village: parking. No driving around looking for a spot or parallel parking required.

“To put that caliber of a venue on such a beautiful lake with this level of artistry?” Lombard says. “That’s something people have to be there for.” ■

For a full festival schedule and to purchase tickets, visit lakegeorgemusicfestival.com.

Lake George Music Festival is facilitating a cultural renaissance on the Queen of American Lakes this August and you’re not going to want to miss it.

(top) This year’s Lake George Music Festival will be held in the newly renovated Carriage House at Fort William Henry, which offers ample parking right in downtown Lake George; (left) scenes from previous Festivals.

Saratoga Inspires New York City Architect to Blend Buildings with Nature

Capital Region native Thomas Politi expands his firm by opening a Saratoga Springs office.

Thomas Politi will never forget the first time he entered Yaddo Gardens.

“There was a mystery to it and it kind of reminds you of being a kid,” says the New York City architect, who grew up in the Capital Region. “There was a sense of discovery that intrigued me and now that’s exactly what I strive to create in my architecture.”

Since then, Politi has opened his own architectural firm, Politi & Siano Architects, in the heart of Manhattan’s Chelsea neighborhood. He is currently working on a complete pre-war co-op renovation in the West Village and a luxury penthouse apartment project on Central Park South. He also takes on adaptive reuse projects such as giving new life to Gloversville’s First United Methodist Church, which is on the National Register of Historic Places. In all his work, Politi’s goal is to reimagine the built environment by creating design concepts that blur the boundaries between landscape, engineering and architecture.

“Saratoga is filled with amazing history and nostalgia— and we can’t forget where we came from,” Politi says. “But how do we design modern spaces for modern lives? Where can you disconnect and be one with nature and yourself? That’s what my designs seek to do.”

Politi’s single-family home designs, including Stonehouse, are a “reaction to nature” as he describes it. He also points to an urban design project he’s working on in his hometown of Amsterdam— the new Visitors Center that looks out onto the Mohawk River. “Growing up in Amsterdam, there are many different points of view to the river,” he says. “It is the heart of our city.”

The architect’s clients hire him because of his innovative approach to design. “Planning a gut renovation during a year-long lockdown, then starting renovations just as the world was beginning to recover was not what I had planned for my project,” says one of Politi’s NYC clients on the Upper East Side. “Tom was emotionally involved in my project—still is, really—and always listened, usually coming up with a better solution I had not even thought about.”

Politi’s clients tend to be driven, successful professionals and he understands their need to create a sanctuary where they can escape and relax—plus entertain.

“We all get so busy with our lives and create artificial barriers between us and the world.” he says. “I encourage people to engage with their surroundings more, especially at home. The spatial composition that my design studio creates helps my clients achieve that moment in time to refocus.”

As for Yaddo Gardens? It remains his compass.

“It’s a place of serenity, beauty and elegance,” Politi says. “And that sums up my design philosophy. My architectural compositions are based on time and place, plus the project’s reaction within the environment, allowing for spatial expression of human life and experiencing one’s own values. I find in many other designs this is a missed opportunity.” ■

For more information go to www.politiarchitecture.com

Architect Thomas Politi’s designs are a “reaction to nature” as seen in this rendering for the new Visitors Center in Amsterdam and (below, from left) his open concept living space for a Virginia home, a Central Park Penthouse addition, and his Stonehouse single-family dwelling.

SARATOGA PERFORMING ARTS CENTER 2023 SUMMER SEASON

July 18

NYCB On and Off Stage

NYCB Principal Dancers Tiler Peck and Adrian DanchigWaring host a unique “behind the curtain” experience featuring excerpts from the week’s ballets. A compelling evening for newcomers and aficionados alike!

July 20 & 22

Peck & Copland

In his first evening-length ballet, Justin Peck returns to the music of Aaron Copland.

July 19 & 20

SPAC Premieres

Highlighted by music from Solange Knowles, James Blake, and Arvo Pärt. Gianna Reisen’s Play Time, Kyle Abraham’s Love Letter (on shuffle), and Christopher Wheeldon’s Liturgy make their SPAC premieres.

July 21 & 22

Swan Lake, Fancy Free & Firebird

Choreographed by George Balanchine and Jerome Robbins, these iconic one-act ballets tell three unique stories of love, loss, and triumph, with lavish costumes and sets.

SARATOGA PERFORMING ARTS CENTER 2023 SUMMER SEASON

August 2 Festive Fireworks feat. the 1812 Overture

August 3

Schubert’s “Great” Symphony

August 4

Pink Martini feat. China Forbes

August 5

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire™ in Concert

August 9

Beethoven’s Seventh

August 10 An Evening with Audra McDonald

August 11

Rachmaninoff at 150

August 12

Rite of Spring & Blessed Earth feat. John Luther Adams’ Vespers of the Blessed Earth

August 16

The Four Seasons with Gil Shaham

August 17

Yo-Yo Ma plays Dvořák

August 18

Earth: An HD Odyssey

August 19 Jurassic Park in Concert BUY

Pink Martini feat. China Forbes

Celebrating Secretariat In Dazzling Color

From August 4 to September 4, Spa Fine Art will host a ‘Secretariat

Golden Anniversary’ show celebrating the Triple Crown’s most famous winner.

The great Thoroughbred Secretariat is returning to Saratoga! Or at least his likeness is.

Spa Fine Art in downtown Saratoga will celebrate the 50th anniversary of the racing legend’s Triple Crown win with a “Secretariat Golden Anniversary” show running from August 4 through September 4. The exhibit features the vibrant colors and flowing, impressionistic brushwork of accomplished painter Lisa Palombo, who’s made the racing legend one of her signature subjects.

“The Secretariat Golden Anniversary show has been in the works for quite some time,” says Alyson Stryker, director of Spa Fine Art. “After years of representing and exhibiting the works of Lisa Palombo, we knew there was a great opportunity to plan something big.”

Fifty years ago, Secretariat sealed his place in horseracing history after his 1973 Triple Crown victory at the Belmont Stakes, which he won by a record-setting 31 lengths. Spa Fine Art’s celebratory exhibit will kick off on August 4 at 7pm with a grand opening reception. Racing enthusiasts will get to meet and mingle with Palombo while browsing a collection of her latest works featuring powerful depictions of the racing champion, who was also known as “Big Red” for his reddish-brown color. “We love having the artist present to talk about her passion and painting

process,” Stryker says. “Our clients and collectors love meeting the artist and having that personal connection while choosing a piece for their home.”

Historical pieces and memorabilia from the Secretariat/Meadow Stables Archives will also be displayed and available for sale. Afterward, expect a fun, racing-themed reception with appearances and signings by Lisa Palombo, members of the Secretariat Group and other surprise guests.

“The artwork, memorabilia, clothing accessories and special guests will make this a huge, celebratory racing event,” says Stryker. “We’ll also be auctioning off one of Lisa’s original paintings, with proceeds benefiting the Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund.”

As a precursor to this year’s show, Spa Fine Art held a “Big Red, White, and Blue” exhibit last August that celebrated the 50th Anniversary of Secretariat’s Hopeful Stakes win at Saratoga Race Course. “Between the exciting collection of paintings that Lisa created and the special memorabilia provided by the Secretariat Group, the entire show nearly sold out,” says Stryker. “With the huge success of the 2022 show, we immediately began planning for the 2023 Golden Anniversary reception.”

And Stryker says this won’t be the gallery’s last racing-themed summer event. Looks like Big Red isn’t going anywhere. ■

Lisa Palombo has made racing legend Secretariat one of her signature subjects; guests at the August 4 ‘Secretariat Golden Anniversary’ exhibit opening at Spa Fine Art will get to meet the artist and hear about her creative process.

off track

SARATOGA’S HOTTEST TICKETS

saratoga living’s Saratoga 25

JUNE 8 • PUTNAM PLACE

photography by ZACH SKOWRONEK

It’s not every year a magazine has a 25th anniversary. So, naturally, we threw a party. saratoga living teamed up with Putnam Place to host The Saratoga 25, an event honoring the 25 Saratogians featured in our summer issue. After grabbing a glass of Saratoga Rosé donated by DeCrescente and food from West Ave Pizza’s mobile pizza oven, West Ave Chicken’s impressive spread and Sweet Mimi’s Café & Bakery’s gorgeous dessert platters, guests turned their attention to the stage, where saratoga living CEO Abby Tegnelia and Director of Content Natalie Moore introduced the honorees, most of whom said a few words, and gave them a small gift. DJ Dillon Robert took it from there, and honoree Heidi Owen West’s fan club shut down the dance floor.

Director of Content Natalie Moore (left) and friends.

CEO Abby Tegnelia (center) with Jacky Ross and Tara Doherty

Sweet Mimi’s

DeCrescente-donated sparkling wine

Honorees Garland Nelson and Taylor Rao

Honoree Heidi Owen West (back row, second from right)

Honoree Mark Mulholland (center)

West Ave Pizza

Honoree Jim Bond and wife Tina

Honoree Heidi Owen West (center)

Honoree Jill Johnson VanKuren (left)

Honoree Kim Weir (left)

Honorees Zac Denham and Clark Gale

Honoree Marc C. Connor (second from left)

Cover stars Sonny and Julie Bonacio

At Hudson Headwaters, our Primary Care providers are dedicated to meeting your specific health care needs, and keeping you in good health. We’re here for you—at every stage and every age.

off track

SARATOGA’S HOTTEST TICKETS

saratoga living’s Cocktails & Clairvoyance

MAY 10 • THE GIDEON PUTNAM

photography by NATE SEITELMAN

Back by popular demand, this year’s Cocktails & Clairvoyance group medium reading featured a new psychic medium—and the same emotional connections made between attendees and loved ones who have crossed over. (Plus, the same floral centerpieces by Frank Gallo & Son!) Guests arrived to a cocktail hour featuring hors d’oeuvres by The Gideon Putnam, and spilled out onto the hotel’s back patio to enjoy the lovely spring weather. At 7pm, Christine Seebold-Walrath of Saratoga’s Mind Body Spirit Shoppe took the mic and let spirits approach her, sharing thoughts from the other side with audience members who have lost someone close to them. Stories were told, tears were shed, and more than a few attendees were helped along their grieving journey.

Best selection of grills and accessories on display in our Malta store.

American Cancer Society of the Capital Region’s Gala of Hope

MAY 20 • HALL OF SPRINGS

Saratoga Hospital’s Flower & Fruit Mission

Spring Luncheon

MAY 16 • HALL OF SPRINGS

photography by JESSICA TROISI

photography by MATT WHALEN

Prime’s Derby Day Party

MAY 6 • PRIME AT SARATOGA NATIONAL

The Racing Museum’s Derby Day Party

MAY 6 • NATIONAL MUSEUM OF RACING AND HALL OF FAME

photography by CATHY DUFFY

JUNE

Summer SPACtacular

off track

Birkin & Bubbles: Celebrating Lola’s 10-Year Anniversary

Overhead Door Company of Glens Falls

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Locally owned & operated since 1978, we are your go-to source for residential & commercial garage door installation & repair services in Saratoga, Warren, Washington & Hamilton counties. Call today for a free estimate.

photography by MORGAN CAMPBELL

home stretch:

Styling Summer

WHEN YOU CAN’T SEE THE SUN, BE THE SUN.

photography by DORI FITZPATRICK

i don’t know who decided that watching horses run around a track was an activity best done while wearing a fancy dress and fascinator, but I’d like to go back in time and personally thank that fashion visionary. Saratoga racing season is the perfect excuse to get all glammed up, and when it comes to dressing to impress in the Spa City, Encounter Boutique is raising the bar.

For my first look, I went big, bold and bright with a yellow, tiered maxi dress in sheer organza. Not only will it keep you nice and cool in the heat of the sun, but it will light up the Clubhouse on days when the sun chooses not to shine. Paired with a chic olive handbag and elegant orange fascinator, this ’fit certainly isn’t for those who want to blend in.

On the slightly more subtle side is Samantha Sung’s Claire Dress. (I couldn’t say no, for obvious reasons.) The graphic racing print is a no-brainer, and the yellow details— accented, of course, by a matching, widebrimmed hat—make this look summery, sophisticated and very, very Saratoga.

—CLAIRE BURNETT @clairewburnett

ENCOUNTER BOUTIQUE:

STAUD HYACINTH DRESS IN MULTI SUNRAY | $395

STAUD CORY BAG IN OLIVE | $295

CHRISTINE A. MOORE MARLENA FASCINATOR IN ORANGE | $490 (see the accessories on page 16.)

SAMANTHA SUNG CLAIRE DRESS IN HORSE RACING PRINT | $925

CHRISTINE A. MOORE MARIANNE HAT IN YELLOW | $1,290

STAUD OLLIE BAG IN CREAM | $250

home stretch:

Easy like Sunday Morning

COMPLEXIONS’ NEW WELLNESS BRUNCH PROVES YOU DON’T HAVE TO CHOOSE BETWEEN A SPA TREATMENT AND A WELL-BALANCED MEAL BY

ABBY TEGNELIA

In the midst of a whirlwind Saratoga summer, it can be tough to carve out an hour or two to hit the spa for some TLC (or a very necessary pedicure). Heck, it’s often impossible just to find time to eat! But Complexions’ new Sunday brunch add-on combines pampering and a wellbalanced meal for the ultimate self-care time-saver.

“Summer in Saratoga is always an exciting time,” says Complexions Spa for Beauty & Wellness owner Denise Dubois. “But it’s also so busy. So on Sundays, we are now offering a brunch box for you to enjoy along with your favorite spa beverage.”

The $18 Sunday Wellness Brunch is served from 10am to 2pm and includes a quiche (Lorraine or veggie), fresh seasonal fruit and a split of Prosecco. Says Dubois: “We wanted to offer something simple and healthy.”

Nutrition is on the forefront of Complexions’ myriad offerings, and the spa has introduced RN-administered IV nutritional infusions in time for summer. “The many options,” Dubois says, “include allergy and headache relief, fat loss, rehydration after a long night out, performance recovery, immunity boosting and energy.”

level up “Caviar at this level is one of the truest epicurean delights,” says Bocage co-owner Zac Denham.

Fraîche-ness in Every Bite

BOCAGE’S TO-GO CAVIAR KITS DEBUT JUST IN TIME TO LEVEL UP YOUR DAY AT THE TRACK.

BY ABBY TEGNELIA

elevating your day at the track—or any summertime gathering—is now possible via one tidy to-go package. The centerpiece of these five-star picnic kits? A tin of Bocage Champagne Bar’s brand-new custom caviar.

“We like to make a grand entrance,” says Bocage coowner Zac Denham. “So we created a luxurious packageto-go as a sensational addition to any summer soirée or as a dazzling centerpiece at the track.”

In addition to 30 grams of the Bocage Private Label Caviar, the $145 kits contain locally sourced crème fraiche, chives and piles of trackfriendly Northfork Kettle Cooked Potato Chips for slathering with caviar and accompaniments to make decadent, crunchy bites. The caviar is meticulously sourced White Sturgeon, humanely

harvested from the picturesque shores of Pandino, Italy. “Each glistening pearl,” Denham says, “is a testament to the craftsmanship and passion that go into creating this culinary masterpiece.”

Denham and partner Clark Gale were inspired to create these Napa-worthy picnic kits last year after experiencing NYRA’s new tailgate area. “We envisioned opening up a luxurious picnic spread there,” Denham says. “Caviar is the epitome of opulence so we went for it.”

The limited-time kits hit the market June 30 and are available only at Bocage (bocagechampagnebar.com). Pre-ordering is recommended, but walk-in orders are accepted based on availability. “Go ahead—dive into luxury,” says Denham. “Your caviar awaits.”

me first Extend your “me” time Sundays this summer by enjoying brunch in Complexions' relaxation lounge or on the outdoor patio overlooking Congress Park.

home stretch:

speakeasy does it

Beverage Director Justin LaViolette behind the bar at The Coat Room, a speakeasy that at press time was scheduled to open June 29; (inset) the Morningstar Martini, one of The Coat Room’s brunch cocktails.

Coat Check

TOP SECRET

SARATOGA’S FIRST SPEAKEASY OPENS ON BROADWAY—IF YOU KNOW WHERE TO LOOK. n BY NATALIE MOORE

photography by RACHEL LANZI/ THE CONTENT AGENCY

you’ve probably heard whispers throughout town about The Coat Room, a new speakeasy-style bar and restaurant that at press time was rumored to be opening on Broadway this summer. But where is it? When will it open? And how do you get in?

Without ruining the mystique of the place, we can tell you it’s on the first floor

of 385 Broadway and was scheduled at press time to open June 29. As for how you get in? Our lips are sealed.

We can tell you what to expect if (or when?) you do get in. “Our inspiration came from the fact that 385 Broadway is literally the center of where the original United States Hotel was,” says Managing Partner Mike Phinney,

whose idea it was to turn what was supposed to be a self-storage locker for residents of the apartment building into a semi-secret Saratoga hangout. “We thought it would be interesting to really pay respect to that, so a lot of the décor is of that era—black and white photographs, walnut, brass, gold, black, industrial accents, saddle leather.”

As for the menu? Chef Dominic Colose, most recently of Amuse, says it’s all about familiar ingredients prepared in unfamiliar ways. “People are not generally inclined to try new things, but if we can build trust by showing that not every menu in Saratoga has to be the same, we can evolve into some eclectic selections,” he says. Those selections include a Syrian curry Colose says has the “deep flavors of common Indian curries but has an identity linked to Middle Eastern cooking,” flatbreads, and a “special” orange tart for dessert.

Beverage Director Justin LaViolette has a similar philosophy for behind the bar. “As far as our beverage program goes, I wanted it to be unique and noteworthy, but at the same time approachable and familiar,” he says. “The menu ranges from an Earl Gray–infused Bees Knees—a riff on a classic—to something that’s basically a caprese in a cup.” Yup, you read that right: a caprese martini topped with a burrata cheese foam.

But back to the main question— getting there. “The code really is word of mouth,” LaViolette says. “Saratoga’s a place where everybody talks. You’ll know how to end up here if you know the right people.”

1. 653 Strakos Road, Wilton

$399,000 | 3 Beds | 2 Baths

JoAnn Potrzuski Cassidy

Lic. Assoc. RE Broker c: 518.470.3281

2. 241 Kaydeross Avenue E, Saratoga Springs

$899,000 | 6 Beds | 5.5 Baths

Katherine LaTerra

Lic. Assoc. RE Broker

c: 518.441.2237

3. 139 Burke Road, Saratoga Springs

$1,150,000 | 4 Beds | 3.5 Beds

Julie A. Bonacio Broker/Owner

c: 518.701.5080

o: 518.350.7653 | JulieCoRealty.com 18 Division St, Suite 314 Saratoga Springs, NY 12866

1.

2.

3. Scan

home stretch:

weeknight wonder

At press time, Panza’s was hosting live music at its piano bar on Wednesdays and Thursdays from 6-9pm.

Musical Chairs

PANZA’S RESTAURANT UNVEILS AN INTERACTIVE MUSICAL EXPERIENCE THAT ALLOWS GUESTS TO BELLY UP TO A LIVE PIANO PERFORMANCE.

BY JEFF DINGLER

it’s not a true piano bar unless people can lounge on it. Those are the rules

according to Michael Panza, owner of Panza’s Restaurant

This past May, the Saratoga staple for classic New York-Italian cuisine and entertainment debuted a brand-new, custom piano bar that’s already struck quite a chord with customers.

“The response has been overwhelmingly positive—a full bar every night so far,” says Panza, whose great-grandmother started Panza’s on Saratoga Lake in 1938. “A lot of people

photography by KONRAD

ODHIAMBO

think that a piano bar is just a room with a piano in it, but we made a piece of furniture that’s in the shape of a piano, and people sit around it and engage with the player. It’s very interactive.”

This combination bar and playable piano is the latest addition to a restaurant with a rich entertainment tradition stretching back nearly seven decades. Panza’s Starlight Lounge, named in honor of the original Saratoga

Lake eatery’s Starlight Room, features dinner and a jam-packed schedule of live entertainment throughout the summer.

“Our guests know that this restaurant is run by someone who loves to entertain and be submersed in live music,” says Panza, who also performs in the Starlight Lounge’s signature Sinatra & Friends show. “As far as we know, we’re the only place in the area with a true piano bar where patrons sit right at the piano and can give requests or have a laugh with the musician.”

Small Plate Perfection

VINO IS ONLY ONE PIECE OF THE PUZZLE AT KINDRED , SARATOGA’S NEW WINE BAR. n BY

NATALIE MOORE

photography by SHAWN LACHAPELLE

if you’re looking for wine—sparkling, rosé, orange, white, red or dessert—Kindred has it. But alongside a robust wine list focused on organic vinos from around the world you’ll find an equally impressive food menu, highlighted by a baker’s dozen shareables.

So, what to order? While we’d recommend one of everything, standout small plates include the octo (served with n’douja butter, confit tomatoes and chimichurri), pork schnitzel (green mayo, pork jus) and bone marrow (house bread, herbs, house mustard). For larger appetites, there’s a trio of flatbreads, cooked in the wood-fired ovens left in place after Flatbread Social closed its doors; and four entrée options including roasted quail and pan roasted swordfish. Top off your meal with affogato or crème brulee served with pickled blueberries and, yep, another glass of wine.

street food Henry Street’s Kindred officially opened June 22.

home stretch:

The Plate Show

HOW ONE HOMEOWNER USES THE PIECES FROM HER ELABORATE CHINA COLLECTION TO KEEP HER HOME’S LOOK SEASONAL AND FRESH. n BY NATALIE MOORE

in jessica rhodes’ historic Montgomery County home, fine china isn’t just for special occasions.

“One thing I love about decorating with plates is that there is such a large tradition for it that the inspiration rabbit hole is endless,” she says. “While the core feeling of hanging plates on a wall is very traditional, you can play with it by choosing artistic designs like shaped plates, ultramodern patterns, asymmetrical hanging styles, covering a whole wall, et cetera.”

Rhodes’ love for decorative plates is evident on her @parkanddivision

Instagram account, on which she features DIY projects from Danascara Place, the historic home she and her husband purchased for less than $100,000 in 2018. (This October, it’ll be featured in a book entitled Cheap Old Houses from the creators of the

HGTV show of the same name.) Her account is a showcase of her personal style—grand millennial and eclectic, though she doesn’t like to use those type of umbrella terms—and features an interesting combination of vintage pieces, skirted tables, timeless wallpaper, modern art and weathered wood. Her favorite canvas, though, is her plate wall, where she showcases an ever-rotating selection from her thoughtfully curated china collection.

“I think the most impactful way to showcase a collection is to group it together on top of a console, in a bookcase, on a center hall table or in a gallery,” she says. “Showcasing a collection is one of the quickest ways to truly make your house feel unique, personal and memorable.”

That’s not to say Rhodes doesn’t use pieces from her china collection for their intended purpose—colorful tablescapes are common at Danascara Place. “Using real china plates on a table in a dining room or kitchen gives a sense of authenticity, permanence and luxury,” she says. “If you’re a guest, it tells you that someone took the time to set that table because they think sitting down and eating with you is something special.”

hot plates “I change the plates out based on the season,” Jessica Rhodes says of her plate wall, noting her summery cabbage-and-pink collection. “The surfaces add a shine and movement to a room that brings so much life.”

home stretch:

The Glass Castle

AN ABUNDANCE OF WINDOWS GIVES THIS FRENCH-STYLE CHATEAU

UNOBSTRUCTED VIEWS OF THE APTLY NAMED GREENFIELD CENTER.

BY JEFF DINGLER n photography by SOPHIA CONSTANTINE

raise your hand if you want a peaceful hilltop haven just 15 minutes from the hustle and bustle of downtown Saratoga. One couple has created just that: a French-style chateau at the center of 21 acres brimming with woods, walking trails, orchards, gardens and old stone walls à la Robert Frost. And after two years of idyllic living, life is taking them elsewhere—meaning (at press time), their hideaway is for sale.

“We just love this house,” says Fran Apy, who renovated the five-bedroom, six-bath dream home at 100 Nat Hill

Road with her husband, Ray, after the couple bought the property in spring 2020. “It was originally built in 1990. We bought it for the fun of the renovation process and because we could see through the outdated style and layout to something that would be truly beautiful.”

With the guidance of revered architect Jeff DeGraw, the Apys upgraded every inch of this idyllic hideaway, prioritizing glass, glass and more glass—including massive floor-to-ceiling windows for taking in the fabulous vista of surrounding

woods and hillsides. “Those are the best things: the land and the views,” Ray says of the property that at press time was listed by Roohan Realty for $3,499,000. “There are 20 acres with the house situated in the middle, so privacy abounds in all directions.”

around the house (clockwise, from top left) The master bedroom offers both sunrise and sunset views; the kitchen countertops are mitered white marbled quartzite and black honed granite; the family room features a black-honed granite, wood-burning, two-sided fireplace; the front entry’s 5-by-8-foot walnut pivot door; floating vanities by The Furniture Guild in the master bathroom; (opposite) the private backyard boasts a bluestone and paver terrace and pool patio.

The renovation was total—a new construction on a pre-existing foundation—with warm, natural hardwood floors, contemporary yet colorful decor, a full wine cellar and dry bar, ceramic tile baths, and an enormous soak-in tub on the third floor. Did we mention an in-ground pool for those hot summer days?

“The contemporary layout and decorative theme are so aesthetically pleasing,” Fran says. “The property is perfectly suited for those who want privacy, and it’s move-in ready.”

Old stone walls created after the land was originally cleared for agriculture crisscross the property. After farming was abandoned, the forest regrew into

the lush one it is today; a developer eventually came along in 1990 and carved out the very top of the hill for residential construction that would boast those stunning views.

As for why the Apys would sell a private little slice of Upstate paradise, they say it’s time to downsize. “With two kids off to college and a third getting close, we’re finally getting serious about it,” says Ray, who plans to own multiple smaller homes in his and Fran’s favorite locations. “While Nat Hill is such a beautiful place today, we’re preparing for the next chapter in our lives.”

The next chapter of this hot property? Well, that remains to be seen—but with views like that, it will be worthy of a storybook.

osteria danny

Run by chef Danny Petrosino and his wife, Patti, osteria danny specializes in Italian-American cuisine with an emphasis on simplicity and creative development. As such, the menu is updated frequently to encompass new culinary concepts and locally sourced ingredients whenever they are available. Although the menu is continuously evolving via Danny’s creative will, the original recipes remain a pivotal influence on the dishes that osteria danny produces.

Open at 5pm seven days a week.

26 HENRY STREET, SARATOGA SPRINGS

osteriadanny.com

518.423.7022

Lake Ridge Restaurant

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. Make it happen this summer at the restaurant that won “Best Fine Dining in the Saratoga Region,” where seafood, steak, pasta, small plates and a rotating list of food and drink specials are always on the menu. Whether you’re sitting down for a full meal or bellying up to the mahogany bar for a specialty cocktail, you’ll always have a great time at Lake Ridge.

Open 4-8:45pm Tuesday–Saturday.

35 BURLINGTON AVENUE, ROUND LAKE

lake-ridge.com

518.899.6000

West Ave Pizza

Kindred

From the creators of Henry Street Taproom, Kindred is a new wine bar focused on organic wine, good food and fun. The owners’ goal is a simple one: Make wine fun again. On the food side, Kindred’s menu focuses on small plates cooked in wood-fired ovens, as well as select entrées. Comfortable and chic, Kindred is the perfect place to make memories with friends and family this track season.

Open 5pm–midnight Thursday–Monday

84 HENRY STREET, SARATOGA SPRINGS

@kindred_saratoga • 518.886.1198

If you’ve been sleeping on West Ave Pizza, it’s time to wake up and smell the pepperoni. Owner Mario Cardenas has quickly made a name for himself on Saratoga’s West Side for his beloved pizza, calzones, subs, pasta dishes and entrées, as well as weekday specials on Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. Next door, Cardenas also lords over West Ave Chicken, home of some of Saratoga’s best rotisserie and fried chicken sandwiches. Want all that and more at your own event? West Ave’s hottest restaurants cater, too. Open 11am–9pm Sunday–Thursday; 11am–10pm Friday and Saturday.

99 WEST AVENUE, SARATOGA SPRINGS westavenuepizzeria.com • 518.886.3788

Panza’s Restaurant

While Panza’s Restaurant could certainly get by on tradition— the classic Italian restaurant is one of Saratoga’s oldest and most beloved—that hasn’t stopped ownership from continuing to push the limits of what’s possible when it comes to hospitality.

This summer, Panza’s unveiled Dine and Dash, which offers a prix fixe menu before SPAC concerts at a special price. Stop by the restaurant’s convenient South Broadway location (it’s right on your way to SPAC’s Route 9 entrance!) for dinner, without needing to worry about making the concert in time. Panza’s has you—and your evening itinerary—covered.

But you don’t even need to leave the restaurant to catch world-class musical entertainment. Sinatra & Friends is a popular live show featuring classics from The

Great American Songbook that this summer became a regular installment at the restaurant. Catch Michael Panza and a rotating cast of performers every Sunday evening from 6-9pm.

And that’s not all. In May, Panza’s unveiled a new-toSaratoga concept that stays true to the term “piano bar.” While you may think a piano bar is just a bar with a piano in it, this experience allows guests to sit around a custom-built bar that actually surrounds the piano, providing guests an opportunity to watch and interact with the pianist up close. Come ready with song requests! For a complete entertainment schedule (there’s even more going on this summer in Panza’s Starlight Lounge) and to peruse the menu, visit panzasrestaurant.com. Open 5–9:30pm Friday and Saturday; 5–9pm Sunday–Thursday. 129 SOUTH BROADWAY, SARATOGA SPRINGS panzasrestaurant.com • 518.584.6882

Putnam’s Restaurant

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—the public is also welcome to stop by for breakfast and dinner. Locally sourced and seasonal ingredients are used whenever possible in dishes such as shrimp and lobster risotto, grilled portobello burger and bacon-wrapped pork tenderloin, 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 Putnam’s patio.

See website for hours of operation.

24 GIDEON PUTNAM R OAD , SARATOGA SPRINGS

gideonputnam.com • 866.890.1171

Cantina

Broadway dining hotspot Cantina has been serving up fresh Mexican dishes and signature margaritas in the heart of downtown Saratoga for the last 16 years. Guests flock to the restaurant for its festive vibe, creative fare, craft cocktails (happy hour, anyone?!), and open-air dining— in addition to its patio and rooftop bar, Cantina’s ground level boasts floor-to-ceiling doors that are kept wide open whenever the weather is warm. In Saratoga, nothing screams summer like Cantina. Open noon-9pm Sunday–Thursday; noon-10pm Friday and Saturday. See website for seasonal hours.

408 BROADWAY, SARATOGA SPRINGS cantinasaratoga.com • 518.587.5577

Inn at Erlowest

The Inn at Erlowest isn’t just a gorgeous Queen Anne–style hotel…

It’s also home to a fine dining restaurant that has entertained everyone from George Foster Peabody and Spencer and Katrina Trask to Charles “Charlie” Wood throughout its long history. Today, the Inn offers patrons inspired cuisine in its intimate dining rooms and outside on the Fireplace Patio and Courtyard Terrace, as well as at the charming Library Bar; each dining option features locally sourced ingredients and unparalleled views of Lake George.

Open 5-8:30pm Thursday–Monday.

3178 LAKE SHORE DRIVE, LAKE GEORGE innaterlowest.com • 518.668.5928

13 North

Named after its convenient location just off the highway, 13 North is a family-owned restaurant that serves quality food in a casual environment. The diverse menu is highlighted by house-made desserts and bread, plus specials to please everyone. Wash it all down with a drink from the bar, which boasts a fine selection of wines and bourbons. Make the short drive from downtown Saratoga on a Thursday for their prime rib special or Friday for Fresh Fish Friday. Open 4-10pm Wednesday–Saturday.

2955 ROUTE 9, MALTA 13northrestaurant.com 518.400.1746

Artisanal Brew Works

Located just five minutes from downtown

Saratoga Springs, Artisanal Brew Works sports a cozy atmosphere, expansive outdoor space and a wide array of offerings, both culinary and experiential. There are 20 rotating craft beers on draft, along with plenty of options for non-beer drinkers, plus award-winning cuisine, live music, outdoor activities and a trailhead connection to local mountain biking and hiking trails. Check Artisanal’s website for summer hours: warmweather sipping awaits. Open 3-9pm Tuesday–Friday; noon-9pm Saturday; noon-5pm Sunday.

617 MAPLE AVENUE, SARATOGA SPRINGS abw.beer • 518.306.4344

The Bourbon Room

Galveston Ranch Water

Why drink water when you can drink ranch water? Stop by the Bourbon Room, home of Caroline Street’s largest whiskey selection (the bar boasts 575 whiskeys!), to try its Galveston Ranch Water cocktail, a concoction made with fresh-squeezed blood orange juice, lime juice, orange bitters and Don Julio Blanco, topped with soda water and finished off with a Tajín rim. Yee-haw!

Open 4pm-close daily.

8 CAROLINE STREET, SARATOGA SPRINGS sipsaratoga.com • 518.791.6199

Savor Steuben

While some regions of New York State are known for mountainous landscapes cloaked in spruce and pine, or for a nostalgic summer-camp vibe, the feature that might best define the Finger Lakes is the many remarkable ways the region can delight your tastebuds.

Home to New York’s “Winery of the Year” for 2022, Steuben County is where the state’s premier wine region got its start nearly 200 years ago. It’s also where you’ll find creative chefs and culinary artisans transforming the region’s food scene one exceptional meal at a time.

One chef who’s changing the game is Dan Eaten, who has cooked in the James Beard House and for 12 years hosted a cooking show that aired throughout the United States. Dan’s talent and passion for using locally-sourced

ingredients earned The Park Inn top rank in OpenTable’s Diners’ Choice Awards for Western New York’s Best Overall Restaurants. Other chefs, like Michael Lanahan at The Cellar and Christopher Bates at Quincy on Market, have been elevating the quality of food found in Corning’s Gaffer District, which has recently been recognized as a foodie destination.

The explosion of fabulous food isn’t just a phenomenon limited to Steuben’s upscale fine dining—it’ll be well worth your time to explore the area’s mom-and-pop eateries, burger joints, ice cream shops and bakeries. Even a local, secondgeneration butcher is tapping into his culinary training to create a modern take on the classic butcher shop while offering customers an assortment of delicious sandwiches, burgers and other meals.

Learn how you can Savor Steuben today.

Dunning Street Station

Located less than 10 minutes from downtown Saratoga Springs just off Exit 13S, Dunning Street Station is known for its laidback environment and frontof-mind customer service.

Chef Bruce Jacobsen, formerly of sister restaurant Lake Ridge, has curated an impressive menu that features many Italian-inspired classics with a twist, which are available for dine-in or takeout. Add in plenty of parking and ample space at the bar, and Dunning Street Station, which this year was voted best restaurant for family dining, is a winning option for a night out. Open 3–9pm Tuesday–Saturday.

2853 STATE ROUTE 9, MALTA dunningstreetstation.com • 518.587.2000

PDT Market

The Misfit

With a name like The Misfit, it makes sense that this underground bar’s craft cocktails stand out from the rest.

Signature drinks such as Purple Rain (Empress Gin, lemon and mint reduction) and Naughty Nurse (mezcal, honey, ginger and lime) take center stage, while select seasonal concoctions are available for a limited time only. Add in inventive mocktails, a healthy selection of beer and wine, an indie rock soundtrack and neon wall art, and the Misfit is a one-of-a-kind spot for happy hour, date night or a nightcap. Open 5pm to close Tuesday–Saturday.

1 CAROLINE STREET, SARATOGA SPRINGS themisfitsaratoga.com

Saratoga’s new PDT Market is unlike anything the Spa City has ever seen. The market is perfect for those who like to take their time while they grocery shop, charting their own course and discovering new things along the way; while the grab-and-go section offers freshly prepared meals (think hot bar, salad bar, pre-made sandwiches, deli and family meals) that are great for those on the move. But that’s only a small piece of the PDT puzzle. The market boasts a bar serving coffee, wine, beer, cocktails and small bites; a floral department with pre-made bouquets and house plants; a café with indoor and outdoor seating; and a robust catering arm that services a wide range of events from galas and weddings to office lunches. Whether you’re looking for that one unique item (PDT has been bringing in more grocery items the community has asked for), a one-of-a-kind dish to bring to a party (DIY charcuterie, anyone?!),or the perfect gift (home décor, gift packages and more), PDT is your one-stop spot. Open 10am–8pm Monday–Wednesday; 10am–9pm Thursday–Friday; 10am–8pm Saturday; 10am–6pm Sunday.

55 RAILROAD PLACE, SARATOGA SPRINGS pdtmarket.com • 518.636.9404

ITALIAN

osteria danny

osteriadanny.com

 518.423.7022

26 Henry Street, Saratoga Springs

Panza’s

panzasrestaurant.com

 518.584.6882

129 South Broadway, Saratoga Springs

13 North

13northrestaurant.com

 518.400.1746

2955 State Route 9, Malta

30 Lake

30lake.com

 518.539.3474

30 Lake Avenue, Saratoga Springs

The Brook Tavern

thebrooktavern.com

 518.871.1473

139 Union Avenue, Saratoga Springs

Dunning Street Station

dunningstreetstation.com

 518.587.2000

2853 State Route 9, Malta

Henry Street Taproom

 henrystreettaproom.com

518.886.8938

86 Henry Street, Saratoga Springs

Inn at Erlowest

innaterlowest.com

 518.668.592

3178 Lake Shore Drive, Lake George

Lake Ridge

lake-ridge.com

 518.899.6000

35 Burlington Avenue, Round Lake

Park & Elm parkandelm.com

 518.480.3220

19 Park Street, Glens Falls

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, Wilton

Sweet Mimi’s Cafe

sweetmimiscafe.com

 518.871.1780

47 Phila Street, Saratoga Springs

MEXICAN

Cantina

cantinasaratoga.com

 518.587.5577

408 Broadway, Saratoga Springs

Gideon Putnam

(cooler in lobby)

gideonputnam.com

 866.890.1171

24 Gideon Putnam Road, Saratoga Springs

PDT Market pdtmarket.com

 518.636.9404

55 Railroad Place, Saratoga Springs

West Ave Pizzeria

westavenuepizzeria.com

 518.886.3788

99 West Avenue, Saratoga Springs

BREWERIES

Artisanal Brew Works

abw.beer

 518.306.4344

617 Maple Avenue, Saratoga Springs

Bourbon Room

sipsaratoga.com

 518.791.6199

8 Caroline Street, Saratoga Springs

Kindred

@kindred_saratoga

 518.886.1198

84 Henry Street, Saratoga Springs

The Misfit

themisfitsaratoga.com

1 Caroline Street, Saratoga Springs

BREAKFAST & LUNCH

COCKTAIL BARS

I’m on a Boat

this one goes out to those of you looking to tap into the power of SARATOGA LIVING AFTER HOURS to promote your own business.

Since we launched SLAH in November 2021, the Substack-based newsletter has been supported entirely by paid subscriptions—those of you who pay $5 a month or $50 a year to support local journalism, and get an extra post per week and exclusive behind-the-scenes content

for it. (Those of you who have free subscriptions: What are you waiting for? Upgrade for full access to the SLAH archive and all future SLAH posts—without pesky paywalls.) But this spring, we published the first of what we hope will be many sponsored posts that will help ensure that we’re able to continue bringing Saratoga the local journalism it deserves, both by way of SLAH

and the print magazine (which remains free to everyone).

Now don’t go thinking these sponsored posts are going to be boring ads that clog up your email inbox. They’re going to be reported stories, just like the ones you’ve come to love receiving every Tuesday, Wednesday and Saturday morning, on topics that align with SLAH’s M.O. Such as, for example, our first sponsored post, in which I took to the open waters of Lake George aboard a 2023 Cobalt R4, a tricked-out, alloccasions boat for sale at Boats By George. (Name a better thing to do after hours. I’ll wait.) The story is written in our signature SLAH tone rather than corporate marketing jargon, so it reads like an editorial piece rather than an advertisement (it’s also discreetly marked per journalistic ethics codes). Chances are, the readers won’t even realize they’re reading sponsored content, which means more eyes on your brand. And no, these posts won’t be replacing regularly scheduled SLAH posts—they’ll be shared on days we don’t already have stories going out (and then shared on social media, too).

Sound like something your business needs, like, right now? Reach out to me with your idea, and we’ll figure out how to After Hours–ize it. Take it from Tyler Moseman, Boats By George’s marketing manager and our sponsored SLAH post test subject: “A few younger people reached out to me about the post, which is refreshing.” So was dipping my feet in the water off the back of that Cobalt, Tyler.

bow-wow Natalie Moore testing out the bow seating on the 2023 Cobalt R4, now available at Lake George’s Boats By George. Scan the QR code below to read the full story.

SLAH TAKES TO THE SEAS TO KICK OFF A NEW ERA OF SPONSORED CONTENT.