99-year-old Saratoga article unearths Belmont rivalry, more
PLUS: Where to watch the newly-interesting Breeders’ Cup, and the chloroform killer gets max sentence
Time Warp: Saratoga Springs through the eyes of a journalist in 1926
‘The New Yorker’ mag is going digital, in the process unearthing a fascinating 99-year-old article about ‘ancient’ Saratoga — Belmont comparisons and all.
By: Abby Tegnelia
If he thought our town was ancient then…
When Eric Hatch arrived in Saratoga Springs in the summer of 1926 to write an article for The New Yorker magazine, he couldn’t have imagined 2025’s thriving downtown restaurant scene, that the New York City Ballet would travel to our “inaccessible” corner of Upstate, or — gasp — that the Belmont would be staring down a third run at The Spa.
“Once again the ancient town of Saratoga Springs is jammed with people who have not come there to take the waters (although they are forced on one constantly)” were his opening words, before revealing he felt like a “traitor to Belmont” by attending Opening Day at the Saratoga Race Course.
Thanks to The New Yorker’s digitization initiative, this and other articles from the revered magazine have been unearthed and posted online as a now-accessible treasure trove of vibrant historical anecdotes. The century-old style of writing — and what the writer revealed about our town — made for a fascinating read. For in a history-devoted town like Saratoga, the things that remained the same over all these years were just as spellbinding as the things that didn’t.
An avid horse racing fan, Hatch — who died in 1973 at the age of 71— spent his summers watching “the ponies” at Belmont and The Spa, whose history he was fascinated by. Calling it “the most beautiful track in America,” he gave a nod to its pre-Civil War roots (at the time, less than seven decades prior) as the “dinky second-rate” Horse Haven track.
“Considering the inaccessibility of the Spa I have always been amazed at the excellent crowd that the races there draw,” wrote the novelist and original member of The New Yorker staff. “Not so large as Belmont, of course, but more than enough to fill the big stands and clubhouse, which is not really a clubhouse since it is open to all and sundry who care to rally round with $8.80 as opposed to $7.70 at Belmont.”
How times have changed.
“The track is right in the town itself, which gives an odd effect, and nice people live all around it, thus doing away with much that is usually so nasty about racing establishments,” he added. Between the location and track details such as the green-and-white awning and fresh flowers, it could almost be a present-day observation. Almost.
Hatch raved about Saratoga’s “unique ways of conducting the traffic,” having post-track tea at Inniscarra (the home — or “cottage” — of Irish actor Chauncey Olcott), and how “pleasant” the locals were.
To read the full article from August 7, 1926 — including a lengthy telling of some of the races — visit newyorker.com.
Milton man gets max sentence for killing Elvis tribute artist
Milton chiropractor Ronald Rayher, 71, was given the max sentence for killing TJ Krider, a popular Elvis impersonator and tour guide for the Star Trek set tour in Ticonderoga, multiple outlets report. “You will never know what you took from me,” Krider’s wife, Heidi M. Greene, said to her husband’s killer during an emotional victim statement, according to News Channel 13. Krider — whose obit calls him “a very kind, generous, and loving soul, who always saw the best in people” — was killed with chloroform on April 5, 2024 during sexual roleplay with Rayher, who left Krider’s body in his basement for days before calling the police. He will spend 5 to 15 years behind bars for manslaughter, served concurrently with 1 1/3 to 4 years for evidence tampering (for discarding Krider’s belongings). “I hope you rot in that prison cell for whatever’s left of your life,” Greene continued, according to the TV news outlet.
In Pictures
North Country Paws for Obedience — the guys bringing competitive doggie sports leagues to the area — has officially opened in Greenfield.
Keep reading!
Saratoga PLAN also has something to celebrate: the opening of Curtis Reserve, 127 acres of permanently protected forestland featuring trails for the public to enjoy in the town of Corinth.
More information about the preserve is available at saratogaplan.org.
Breeders’ Cup just got interesting: where to watch
With the great Sovereignty out of the Breeders’ Cup due to a fever, this weekend’s Classic just got a lot more interesting. Why watch it alone? The National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame is hosting a free watch party Saturday from 3:30 to 8 p.m., with food and drink for purchase from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. (Pre-register to receive a free party favor.) So who’s got a shot at winning now? The new top odds fave is Fierceness, who debuted in Saratoga and won the Jim Dandy and Travers here in 2023. He lost this year’s Whitney, however, to his Breeders’ Cup rival, Sierra Leone. Watch it all go down this Halloween weekend.
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From seeing Rachel Alexander, the great Zenyetta, and others I enjoyed a glass of beer dedicated to the Racing Hall of Fame, and my way of looking forward to the Breeder's Cup