EXCLUSIVE: đ Tom Durkinâs unofficial start to racing season
PLUS: Film Forumâs triumphant return, Ballston Spa's Pampered Pooch, a major Dispatch scoop.
Life is moving so fastâŠif only spring would rush in at half the pace.
â Abby
đ TALES FROM DOWNTOWN THE ARTS DISTRICT
Tom Durkinâs unofficial start to racing season
It was too chilly and rainy to open the backyard, but Saturdayâs grumpy weather didnât stop the die-hard racing fans at the private Principessa Elena Society from watching the eveningâs lineup of prep races. Holding court at the corner of the bar? TRFâs Fran LaBelle and legendary caller Tom Durkin.
âPeople here in Saratoga think that âOh, maybe weâll have the Belmont here all the time,ââ Durkin told me between sips of an Italian red and good-natured ribbing from friends about his recent star turn in UPHâs recent Finneganâs Farewell (he played the priest). âTheyâre stark raving mad. That is just not going to happen â as much as you want to rent your house, okay? Unless the new Belmont Park burns down. It worked well, and it was uniqueâŠbut the race needs to be a mile and a half, not a mile and a quarter. But it was fun.â
The party â think pizza, hot wings and cake â was the last such gathering until the Kentucky Derby, and served as an unofficial preview of the 2026 season. An exciting one, as it turned out.
After all, what beats witnessing Durkin casually say mid-Gazelle, âI wouldnât hate it if the 2 wonâ and then watching the 2 rally as if summoned by the racing icon himself? âCome on baby, come on baby,â Durkin called before muttering under his breath, ârat bastardâ when it looked like it wasnât happeningâŠAnd then: a win. âDrinks on the house!â he joked, packing up his things. âGoing home to watch the Wood on the big screen.â
Aboard the winning horse? Saratogaâs own Dylan Davis â a little more than a successful month into his post-injury comeback.
Keep reading!
đŠ Dispatch scoop (Iâll take two)
Last August 2 (we were less than six weeks on the scene!) the Dispatch broke an incredible story that showcased the generosity of the people who make Saratoga tick: a fast-paced auction at a historic Hospital Gala that yielded not just one but two $50,000 bids â thatâs $100k raised in less than 60 seconds. The item? A once-in-a-lifetime chance to name a Stewartâs ice cream flavor.
It was our highest-read story for a long, long time.
Before the holidays, Carmine DeCrescente named his: Carmineâs Holiday Spumonte.
And now? Get your spoons ready â the second limited time flavor to have its moment in the spotlight has been released: Dakeâs Passion, âa vanilla ice cream with blueberry and raspberry swirls, sprinkled with an oatmeal cinnamon crumble to add a little texture and crunch.â The generous souls behind the ice cream? Mike and Linda Toohey.
Keep reading!
đ¶ PAMPERED POOCH
Spring is here, Dispatchers
And your pets are ready to step into warmer weather â whenever it decides to show up â in style. The Pampered Pooch and Pals has skipped the corporate vibe for a more relaxed, Ballston Spa feel. (Theyâre the kind of neighbors who actually want to hear about your pupâs weird habits or their latest trail mishap!)
Whether youâre troubleshooting a picky eater or hunting for a harness that can actually handle a hike, they take the time to really listen and help you find a fix that works â plus, their shelves are packed with high-end food, small-batch treats, and gear that actually lasts.
The real heart of the shop is their hands-on care. Doggie Daycare is a low-stress hangout where social pups can just be dogs, and the Grooming suite is all about turning scruffy adventurers into the best-looking pups on the block. From a quick, no-fuss Express Pet Bath to finding that one toy they wonât immediately destroy, Pampered Pooch has made it their mission to keep things easy, honest and entirely focused on your pet.
[Together with our friends at Pampered Pooch!]
đŹ Film Forumâs triumphant return
Saratoga Arts is bringing back the Saratoga Film Forum, which will celebrate its triumphant return Thursday night with the showing of Sorry, Baby. (Itâs excellent.) The 12-week series focuses on indies, docs and foreign films â after Sorry, Baby will be It Was Just An Accident and Blue Moon. Expect fresh popcorn, a run-in with the likes of Amy Godine or Field Horne, and perhaps a lively post-movie chat or two.
âA lot of people see a film and would love to talk about it right away while itâs fresh in their heads, and that conversation can happen here,â says Tiina Loite, whoâs leading the programming committee. âWe would love for people to hang out and discuss, and if they argue, so be it.â Movies play Thursday nights at 7 p.m. in the Dee Sarno Theater at Saratoga Arts.
Tickets are $10 per screening, with a $100 pass available for the full 12-week series. To purchase your ticket, visit saratoga-arts.org or buy at the door.
𫶠Eco-warriors happy hour
Sustainable Saratoga invites anyone passionate about âenvironmental stewardship, conservation, and sustainabilityâ to join them for a Green Drinks happy hour at Whitman Brewing tomorrow from 5 to 7 p.m.
âWhether you work in the field, volunteer, or simply care about protecting our planet,â they write, âthis is a great opportunity to connect with like-minded people in the community.â
For more info, visit sustainblesaratoga.org.
âïž Good timing
Weâre all in need of a little Vitamin D, and TogaNola is here for us. Today they announced a sunshine-y new flavor of granola bars, available now online and at the Sunday Farmers Market April 19.
âAntioxidant rich blueberry and bright cheery lemon are ready to help usher in the warm weather,â they announced. âWith todayâs snow, I think we can all agree we need it!â Amen.
To order, visit toganolasnackcompany.com.
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â Abby
đ ICYMIâŠ
A bikini-clad đ horse hits downtown