The New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA) and FOX Sports have agreed to a long-term television programming deal that will make FOX Sports the year-round national television home for NYRA racing from Saratoga Race Course and Belmont Park.

NYRA and FOX Sports began their collaboration around the launch of the critically-acclaimed “Saratoga Live” during the 2016 summer meet at Saratoga, which offered 80 hours of live coverage to a national audience on FS2.

In 2019, FOX Sports is scheduled to televise 500 hours of NYRA racing including coverage of nearly every race day at Belmont and Saratoga. The broadcast schedule will then expand to over 600 hours annually in 2020. Officials said the agreement builds upon the prior deal between NYRA and FOX Sports that resulted in more than 100 hours of NYRA coverage on FS2 in 2018.

“NYRA has been a terrific partner and we are looking forward to presenting more horse racing on a national stage than ever before,” said Michael Mulvihill, executive vice president of league operations, research and strategy for FOX Sports. “With this commitment, FOX Sports has taken the lead in developing content in the fast-growing area of sports gaming by expanding our relationship with the most prestigious name in horse racing, the New York Racing Association.”

After a chance encounter between Shmaltz Brewing Co. owner Jeremy Cowan and The Comedy Works club owner Tommy Nicchi,  Shmaltz’s Tasting Room has found a new home that will keep them in Saratoga County.

In May, Cowan’s Shmaltz Brewing Co. sold its 30,000-barrel Clifton Park facility in order to focus on brand building. While contract brewing arrangements were made ensuring the beers would continue to be produced and distributed without interruption, the future of the brewery’s tasting room was left in question, according to the company.

In July, plans were made for the Newberry Music Hall, a downtown Saratoga Springs dance venue owned by, and adjacent to, Nicchi’s Comedy Works Comedy Club, to be converted into a full-service event space focused on a wider demographic beginning in early 2019.

In September of 2018 Cowan, who brews a Lenny Bruce-inspired beer (Bittersweet Lenny’s Rye Double IPA aka R.I.P.A), popped in to the Comedy Works thinking the beer would make a good fit as an offering to comedy fans. Cowan and Nicchi had never met. By the end of that day though, the framework was created for the Shmaltz Tasting Room in Saratoga Springs, the company said.

“His beer is amazing and Jeremy has such creative ideas,” Nicchi said of Cowan. “Right in front of me was a successful brewery owner, still hitting the street going bar to bar. He’s a hustler in the best sense of that word.”

“I had no idea a space like this even existed in Saratoga Springs,” Cowan said. “I’d heard of The Comedy Works and knew their reputation and once I got to talking to Tommy I knew he would have my brands best interest at heart.”

By Greg Hitchcock

Scarborough, Maine-based supermarket chain Hannaford has been cleared to build a new store in the town of Ballston.

The town of Ballston recently approved Hannaford’s plans to build the supermarket in town, concluding a 15-year search by the property owners Frank and Rose Marie Rossi. for an anchor tenant on the 76-acre parcel.

The company said construction will begin in early 2019 at the site, located off routes 50 and 67. The 38,000-square-foot store is expected to be completed in the fall.

Hannaford spokesman Eric Blom said Ballston is a strategically based location and he feels confident that the store will do well.

“It’s a vote of confidence in the community,” he said.

Blom said the supermarket will contribute to a vibrant community, complementing other stores in the area. It will be convenient and accessible for its customers. He said Hannaford supermarkets contribute to the community in several ways including creating jobs and growing the local economy.

Thomas Roohan, principal broker and president of Saratoga Springs-based Roohan Realty, has been named 2018 Realtor of the Year by the Greater Capital Region Association of Realtors (GCAR). 

The award is given out to one Realtor each year who has demonstrated a commitment to excellence in their work, their community, and has put forth outstanding efforts on behalf of the association. 

The award was presented in November at a GCAR board meeting.

Born and raised in Saratoga Springs, Roohan studied civil engineering at Norwich University before becoming a second-generation fixture in his family’s real estate business. 

With more than 35 years of experience in the real estate industry, Roohan’s career has included award-winning historic renovation and urban development projects, and past honors as Realtor of the Year (1989) and president of the Saratoga County Association of Realtors (1989-90). 

He has strong community service record over the years. His achievements have included:

By Jill NAgy

Jamie Mastroianni and her crew rushed to get their shop, i Run Local, moved to new quarters at 425 Broadway, Saratoga Springs,  in time to catch the downtown events including Black Friday, Local Business Saturday and the Victorian Streetwalk crowds. 

They moved over the Nov. 17-18 weekend and were open for business by the following Wednesday at the new location.

“We made this move because we think a larger space and greater visibility will help us better serve the community,” Mastroianni said.

Friday after Thanksgiving, she said, was “very positive,” and Saturday, “more exciting than last year.”  The more visible location brought in more pedestrian traffic. “We are now on the walkers’ path”

The Saratoga Builders Association recently presented proceeds totaling $63,000 from the 2018 Saratoga Showcase of Homes to Rebuilding Together Saratoga County and Habitat for Humanity of Northern Saratoga, Warren and Washington Counties. 

The Saratoga Builders Association has now contributed nearly $1.2 million to the local charities from this home-tour event. 

The 2018 edition of the Saratoga Showcase of Homes, just concluding its 23rd year, featured 12 award-winning builders presenting 13 homes. This year’s tour had approximately 3,800 visitors touring the new homes on display over three weekends. 

Association officials said it is dedicated to the long-running show being an integral part of the fabric in our fall season.