A family member in racing remembered. Economic data is solid, officials say.
Is Laufey, the Icelandic sensation, the next Tay-Tay?
Welcome to the “Lunch Break” email from the editors of Saratoga Dispatch.
Three stories in today’s lunch break:
Top: Race honors one of the track’s family
Mid: Local tourism economy: So far so good.
Bottom: Tay Tay meet Laufey (pronounced Layvay), the SPAC sensation.
Memorial race honors beloved member of Saratoga track family
Friday’s Race 9 was dedicated to Bob Verbanic, whose early story embodies the behind-the-scenes magic of Saratoga track life.
By: Abby Tegnelia
Track insider Sue Jeffreys’ simple Instagram post featured a photo of Friday’s Race 9 Post Parade entry and was captioned, “Blessings to the Verbanic Family.” The name of the race: The Bob Verbanic Memorial.
The race — won by Three B’s with Joel Rosario aboard — honored the youngest sibling of the Verbanic family, who passed away earlier this year at the age of 57. His Saratoga loved ones remember his time working at the track and gathered near the Winner’s Circle to watch his race on Friday, a few hours after spreading his ashes at the Infield finish line that morning.
“I sprinkled some of his ashes on and near the base of champion Go For Wand’s burial stone,” says his eldest sister, Gerette “Gigi” Verbanic, a hot walker for trainer Melanie Giddings. “My brother loved it with everything in him. I am indebted to NYRA. What a tremendous gift to the family.”
Bob was born and raised in Saratoga, and even started his career here with his choice of summer job at the track. “He was a Pinkerton at a very young age, around 18,” Gigi says of the detective agency that was founded in 1850 and worked with the track until 1989. “He absolutely loved it. As a Pinkerton, he did security and stall/barn checks, and escorted the jockeys on the grounds.”
When Bob was about 22 he moved to Louisville and enjoyed a long career in security after those early, beloved years doing his barn checks — and never let his eyes veer too far from Saratoga Race Course
“Bobby loved Thoroughbreds as much as I do,” Gigi tells the Dispatch. “Our phone calls after, ‘Hi, how are you, how are the dogs?’ were all about the horses, their pedigree and their careers. We loved those conversations as we shared a deep, deep love and respect for the Thoroughbred horse. I wish my brother knew how much he taught me long before hot walking. How I will miss our talks.”
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Gigi embodies the pure love of horses that the Verbanic family exhibit, sprinkling her stories and memories with “horses first.” Giddings recently named a horse — Gigi Cake’s — after her. The filly’s sire was none other than Tiz the Law and was named after the hot walker’s reputation for bringing cakes to the barn to celebrate workers’ birthdays. “I’ve never heard of any trainer doing this,” Gigi says. “I will always be indebted and grateful for this monumental dream come true. I’m so proud to work for a woman of integrity always putting her horses first.”
Bob passed away March 4 and is survived by his five siblings: Gigi, Joe, Jackie Verbanic-Smith, Kristen Kristel and Mike.
Keep reading more about the track!
This moving race brought tears to a stunned crowd
Economic indicators in Spa City look good
Discover and Chamber leadership likes their numbers
By: Stephen Thurston
June of 2025 was a big month for Saratoga County's lodging properties with revenue per available room at $145.75 in 2025 versus $137.25, up 6% in the County while RevPAR in the City of Saratoga Springs coming in at $178.67 in 2025, up 6.8% versus $167.25, in 2024, according to numbers supplied at the end of last month from Discover Saratoga, the tourism nonprofit.
“Overall our lodging partners are showing very strong occupancy,” said Darryl Liggieri, president of Discover Saratoga, the tourism organization. He said the Belmont race in June leading directly into the special start of the annual race meet on July 4 was a key, and thus far the numbers are holding into the fall.
“We were up in every category in June in the city and the county,” he said. “July has been a strong month as well.”
Add to that the “series of great concerts” at SPAC — Dave Matthews Band, Phish, the New York City Ballet — which started mid-July, and the area has the makings for a great summer.
“These demand generators have been tremendous,” Liggieri said.
He said that fall, which can fill with conferences and conventions years in advance is also strong into November this year.
“The forward pace for fall is very encouraging,” he said with weddings, sporting events, leisure travelers, and leaf peepers all helping keep the rooms full. “The pace right now is very encouraging.”
Saratoga County's labor force now stands at 126,700 versus 126,200 one year ago. This figure includes the number of individuals employed plus the number unemployed but looking for work.
The labor force in January 2025 started lower than January 2024, but showed strong, consistent growth through March with a slight decline in April and a bigger drop in May, a statement from the Saratoga County Chamber says.
A strong finish in June helped in both years, a report from the Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce says.
“So the good news of that is that the other thing that does show is, throughout that whole period, our labor force has grown so more people are working today in 2025 than were in this area in 2024,” said Todd Shimkus, the president of the chamber.
Keep reading on the local economy, travel and tourism:
County’s tourism numbers are stable
Hot Lake George activity gets top marks for accessibility
Counter, intuitive: Five Points deli reopens with familiar faces
Sold-out Laufey was a hit, fans compared to Swifties
Laufey — the Gen Z phenom that sold out Saturday's SPAC show with the Philly Orchestra — was a hit.
"Laufey was amazing," raved one fan who had not heard of the Icelandic star before being told she had to buy a ticket. "With the backdrop of the Philadelphia Orchestra, she was incredible."
Laufey's identical twin sister, Junia Lin, was in the crowd and filled the newbies in on a few things.
Why did everyone in the audience have a bow in their hair?
"She said that Laufey wears them, who knew?" says the new fan.
Why is everyone wearing crowns?
"Apparently, she just hosted a birthday party complete with crowns," says the Dispatch's new concert reporter.
"I felt like I was at a Taylor Swift concert," she said of the concert overall. "There were lots of tweens screaming and singing to every word to her songs."
Let's hear it for the next generation of jazz and classical music fans!
Keep reading about Laufey, SPAC!
Who is Laufey, the Gen Z sensation
CANCELLED: 'Wicked' star Cynthia Erivo’s highly-anticipated SPAC concert
Philly Orchestra brings in the young guns for a stellar Week 1