Courtesy Capital Fund of Saratoga County
The Capital Fund of Saratoga County Inc. is presenting the 40th Saratoga Springs Horse Show on the grounds of Yaddo. It is the final year of the event at that venue.
“It looks like it will be another good year for the show” said Tom Fueston, president of the Capital Fund of Saratoga County. “With the addition of a third week of competition two years ago, the exhibitors are sharing their joy at being able to spend more time in beautiful, historic Saratoga Springs, often touted as their most favorite stop on their equestrian circuit.”
The venue is located at 305 Union Ave., Saratoga Springs.
Next year the show will move to a new venue, allowing options for future expansion of services to exhibitors. To that end, the management of the Saratoga Springs Horse Show is presently vetting several locations in and around Saratoga Springs for 2018 and beyond.
Competition started on May 3 and takes place Wednesday through Sunday of each week, through May 21. Warm-up and first competitions begins between 7:30-8 a.m. Most competitions are over by 5 p.m.
Daily admission on Friday, Saturday and Sunday is $4 per person, 12 and older. Admission is free on Wednesday and Thursday. The admission booth will be manned by three different charities who will get to keep the admission receipts for their programs—the Saratoga Race Track Chaplaincy; Tears Foundation, Saratoga Chapter; and Angel Names Association of Saratoga.
Each day a “charity of the day” will be selected and all tips and donations given at the food tent, souvenir area and bistro will be given to that charity.
This year the featured events include the $30,000 Saratoga Cup Grand Prix on May 7, the $30,000 David B. Wood Cup Grand Prix on May 14 and the $15,000 Steve and Yvonne Sullivan Cup on May 21. Each of those events will begin approximately 3 p.m.
Fueston said each spring, some 500 -700 horses gather in Saratoga to begin their northeast outdoor season. Some come for just one week of competition, while others come for two or all three weeks.
Each horse brings with it their riders, trainers and grooms, as well as family members and friends. Depending on the number of horses coming in a given week, the number could typically range from 1,000 to 2,000 people per week, he said. At one time it was one of the largest equestrian events held in New York state.
Today there are a number of large equestrian shows spread out over the year and all around the state, he noted. In the early years when St. Clements’ Church and School was operating the show, many of the most talented horses and riders came to compete in Saratoga, including many Olympic riders and horses and winners of other notable equestrian events.
This year, major sponsors include: Hannaford Supermarkets, New York Thoroughbred Breeder Development Fund, J.R. Hudson Transport, DePaula Chevrolet, Thorobred Feed, Rood and Riddle Equestrian Hospital, Longfellow’s Hotel and Restaurant, SBS Farms, Brook Run Farm, Horse Flight, Sysco-Albany, Espey Manufacturing, Equine Clinic at Oakencroft, Burke Equine, Adirondack Trust Co., Capital Tractor, Ben and Jerry’s Saratoga, Yaddo and the New York Racing Association.
Capital Fund of Saratoga County has provided over $256,000 in assistance to 66 local charities (over $61,000 to local charities in 2016), officials said. Their charities include over 25 food banks, Saratoga Center for Family, Shelters of Saratoga, EOC soup kitchen, Rebuilding Together Saratoga, local hospice groups, Wellspring, Franklin Community Center, B.E.S.T, Community Outreach programs, and Veteran support programs, and several others.
“Our motto ‘helping others help others’ is what we are all about,” said Fueston. “We hope that as more individuals, businesses and organizations realize what we are doing for our community, they will step up and support the Capital Fund and through our combined efforts we can expand these contributions.”
For more information contact Fueston at tom@saratogaspringshorseshow.com or call 490-1214. Its website is www.saratogaspringshorseshow.com.