David Cassidy on the Web
Travers Celebration
August 29, 2006
By Jeannette Jordan
The Saratogian
www.saratogian.com
When the fantastic Travers Celebration rolled around last Thursday night at the 'At the Rail Pavilion' at Saratoga Race Course, it was difficult to believe that the gala parties were almost over for another year. But what a wonderful way to end the excitement of racing meet bashes, which bring in millions of dollars to charitable organizations each season.
The sell-out Travers soiree with 350 guests was a real winner, raising more than $100,000 for the Backstretch Employees Services Team (B.E.S.T.) and the Double 'H' Hole in the Woods Ranch in Lake Luzerne for critically ill children. The final tally is still being processed.
Each year, the Travers ball honors the previous year's winner of the Travers. Next year it will be Darley Stables, whose horse Bernardini won Saturday's Travers. Thursday's gala celebration was the stage for owner Eugene Melnyk, chairman of the Ontario based Biovail Corp., a specialty pharmaceutical company, whose horse Flower Alley won the 2005 Travers Stakes.
The trainer of Flower Alley, Todd Pletcher, who was immortalized with his own bobble-head doll this season, also was recognized, along with Flower Alley's jockey John Velasquez.
Marcie Fraser, who was at a NYRA media barbecue the day after enjoying the Travers party, commented that it was the best party of the season.
Much of the gala's success can be credited to the co-chairmen, Betsy Senior, co-owner of Senior & Shopmaker Gallery in Manhattan and wife of NYRA President and CEO Charles Hayward, and Ed Lewi, president of Ed Lewi Associates, a public relations firm based in Clifton Park.
Let me paint a picture from the evening's beginning, because George Hathaway, the track's facilities manager, and his crew, pulled off a miracle. Remember there was racing until 6 p.m. or so. That left only about two hours to pull out all stops.
Guests entered through a starting gate used to line up the thoroughbreds to race. Cocktail tables were draped in a 'Park Avenue plaid' featuring vibrant blue, yellow, red and green. At each end of the area that surrounds the circle of jockey statuary at the track entrance were bars where any drink of choice was served.
The outer periphery had long tables covered in yellow and royal blue (the colors of Flower Alley's silks) and packed with every kind of hors d'oeuvre imaginable.
Michael Panza and the Grand Central Station belted out favorites including 'New York, New York' during the cocktail reception. He also wore two hats this night. He and his partner Geriann Eddy of Fine Affairs were responsible for the gorgeous décor.
After the cocktail hour at the entrance, guests maneuvered into the track, stopping along the way to examine dozens of silent auction items before making their way into the pavilion.
That afternoon, the pavilion was packed for the Ronald McDonald House Charities fashion show luncheon more on that later) and a full card of racing. The quick transition for the Travers party was phenomenal.
Guests entered the tent, which was draped in lemon yellow organza with fresh smilax greens. Stunning giant floral arrangements of gladioluses and sunflowers were suspended up the tent poles. A fiber optic stage curtain was set up behind The Times Square Orchestra, which kept the dance floor filled throughout the night.
The radiant table linens were covered in lemon yellow with a white sheer Chantilly overlay featuring rosettes. Spectacular floral arrangements, created by Surroundings Floral Studios, included royal blue delphiniums submerged in a tall clear vase and giant floral sprays in shades of yellow on top.
Centerplate, the track's official caterer, performed magic as well, with an appetizer of tropical lobster and shrimp salad served in a Bibb lettuce cup drizzled with pineapple vinaigrette, an entrée of orange fennel-crusted filet mignon with glazed fingerling potatoes, broccoli puree in an artichoke cup, and baby carrots in a ruby red port wine sauce, and dessert choice of triple tropical fruit mousse cake or praline toffee cheesecake.
Race caller Tom Durkin added his natural wit to the evening's festivities. 'We who work in Saratoga and the people of Saratoga love to see us come. Then we who work in racing love to go and the people of Saratoga Springs love to see us go,' he laughed. Charles Hayward welcomed the Flower Alley team and introduced owner Melynk.
'It is a great honor,' Melnysk said.
'I have been coming for 18 years from Toronto,' Melynk said. 'I used to come with friends, when we would eat pizza and drink beer and I always marveled when I saw the Travers. I dreamed that some day that I may have a horse in Saratoga, let alone the Travers. I hope I can come back and dream of winning another Travers.'
When the ceremony portion had come to an end, the fun had just begun. Guests continued to dance, stopping only to watch the spectacular fireworks, which were silent so as not to spook the horses.
Among the well-dressed crowd were Wendy and Dennis Flint (the Taylor Made Group), Marsha and Dennis Dammerman (retired vice chairman of General Electric), Jane and Neil Golub (Price Chopper fame), Marlene and Mike Okby (of Morgan Stanley), Carol and David Aronson (Yankee Paper), Mary Ferguson and Beth Anderson (Hattie's owner), Candace and Charles Wait (president of Adirondack Trust, one of evening's sponsors), Lidia and Myron Bazar, Joanne Avella and Peter Bernstein, Michele and Ron Riggi (Turbine Services) and friends Margie and Michael Rotchford, Mary and Rod Sutton, Betty and Frank Dorsey, Ann Fobian and Bill Moore, Susie and Dr. Linwood O'Cain, Sue and Wally Allerdice, Linda and Mike Toohey, Lorraine Power Tharp and her husband Russell, Margaret and Ian Smith (retired chairman of Marsh McLennan), and Barbara and Jim Lombardo.
Names among the horse people there included Carol and Tracy Farmer, whose horses Commentator, Sun King and Irish Ace will be running in the big races this weekend; Debby and John Oxley; trainers Donna and John Ward; trainers Linda Rice and Dominic Galluscio; Lee and Kathie Pokoik, who just bought 'a small home' on North Broadway, and their trainer Gary Sciacca and his wife Josephine; former jockey-now sports announcer Jerry Bailey and his wife Suzee; and JoAnn and Paul Oreffice and 'Paul's Angels' Susan Henderson, Joelle Rogers Stone and Fran Finley.'
Among the politicos were Congressman John Sweeney, Sen. Joseph Bruno and Assemblyman Paul Tonko, who danced the night away with WRGB Channel 6 newswoman Liz Bishop.
BCCA rope in $350,000 for Anna House
Trainer D. Wayne Lucas had a winning day (well, night) Wednesday when he took on the role of auctioneer in the live auction that helped The Belmont Child Care Association raise $350,000.
The BCCA's mission is dedicated to maintaining a child care center, Anna House, for the benefit of working families at New York thoroughbred tracks, and providing scholarship assistance to families unable to afford the cost of child care.
As 'Miss Kitty,' alias horse owner-breeder Virginia Kraft Payson, glamorous in a red satin bouffant-style gown trimmed with black ruffles and a black feathered head band, wandered the Gideon Putnam Conference Center corridor greeting many of 330 western-garbed guests. Payson was the evening's honoree.
The theme of the soiree was 'A Western Round Up,' which included hors d'oeuvres and an excellent Mexican Caesar salad, New York strip steak, Mexicale corn and mashed potatoes catered by the Gideon and chosen by Bobby Flay of Food Network fame (he was sighted at Saturday's Travers).
But long before the dinner, guests bumped their way through a massive array of wonderful silent auction items. Fay Donk, president of the BCCA, Donna Chenkin, executive director, and her husband Stuart, Anne McMahon and Maureen Zast were the committee personnel who helped obtain the auction items and worked seven days a week for the past three weeks to make the event a success. And that it was.
Party guru Michael Panza and his partner Geriann Eddy, owners of Fine Affairs, pulled out all stops to transform the Gideon.
The center of the room featured a giant barn set against a southwestern sunset. Split rail fencing, giant wagon wheels and vintage barrels added depth to the western mode. Giant cacti surrounded the perimeter.
Corners featured barrel bars where guests moseyed up for a shot of whiskey, a Margarita or drink of their choice.
Once the dinner call came, guests wandered to their tables covered with bandana print overlays. Coordinating covered chairs had a take-it-home cowboy hat. A variety of table centerpieces included round cactus plants, red lanterns and authentic cowboy boots on mini bales of hay. Even the lighting cast a look of a southwestern sky.
Co-chairmen Theresa and John Behrendt, who have a home here, worked diligently. John Behrendt introduced Payson. 'This lady's life is one chapter after another,' he said. He then presented her with a token of appreciation, a painting by Peb of 'the prettiest filly in the Payson colors (white with royal blue square silks).'
A brief but informative film was shown about the BCCA's Anna House. It was most touching. Two young children from Anna House sang songs and captured the hearts of guests.
'Now many of these children are teaching English to their parents,' Payson said. 'I thank everybody. My only parting words are: Spend money.'
The live auction action was ready to go. Lukas was one of the well-known spotters. Others were retired jockey Jerry Bailey, who was there with his wife Suzee, and the relatively quiet trainer Todd Pletcher, who wasn't so quiet when he spotted a potential buyer as Lucas barked out the bids.
Other spotters doing a great job were jockey Mike Smith, retired jockey Angel Cordero Jr., jockey Chantal Sutherland, jockey Edgar Prado, Dennis Brida, vice president of Empire Racing, and Nick Caras, NYRA backstretch activities coordinator.
The live auction items were big buck items that went for big bucks. Pletcher, there with his wife, Tracy, paid $20,000 for a weather-enclosed two-passenger golf cart listed with a value of $6,000.
'They just bought a golf cart for The Green Monkey (a $16 million yearling),' Lukas laughed.
Horse owner Peter Canzone Sr., from New York and Saratoga Springs, was determined to get his wife Eloise the birthday present of her dreams: a five night stay in the Hilton Hotel with two close-up seats for the Dubai cup. The trip had a value of $7,000. Peter paid $18,000. Now that's true love.
In fact, all the items went above their valued price. Helen and Harold Lerner were high bidders at $10,500 for a Kentucky Derby package for two, valued at $4,500. 'I've never been there and always wanted to go,' he said with a smile.
This is how it went all evening. But probably the most interesting was the Texas raffle. Guests bought raffle tickets and numbers were called. If it was your number you could continue on -- if you were high bidder -- for another ticket. This continued until only two tickets remained to be drawn for two wonderful prizes. The grand prize of a John Deere 4X4 Gator, 4-cycle gas engine valued at $6,600 was won by Helen Heinzen, Lukas' friend. Second prize went to Todd Pletcher -- three nights at the Paris or Bally Hotel in Las Vegas, valued at $1,600.
This was a night with plenty of notables in the crowd, including Tom Albertrani, trainer of Bernardini, who finished first in Saturday's Travers, and Tom's wife, Fonda; Eugene Melnyk, owner of last year's Travers winner Flower Alley, who was the original $1 million donor to get Anna House off the ground, and his wife Laura (Anna House is named after their first daughter); trainer Bill Mott and his wife, Tina Marie; horse owners Paul and JoAnn Oreffice and their friend Joelle Rogers Stone, who donated $10,000 to BCCA; trainer Bobby Frankel; trainer David Donk; semi-retired NYRA track photographer Bob Coglianese and his wife, Roz, and their son, Adam, NYRA's chief photographer; trainers Donna and John Ward; Michael Dubb, chairman of BCCA; horse owners Richard and Diane Bomze, who now call Saratoga Springs their home; horse owners Eileen and Joe Cornacchia; actor-singer David Cassidy, who was vying for the two-passenger golf cart, but lost to Pletcher; Ron Anderson, agent for jockey Garrett Gomez, and his wife, Kelley Sweeney Anderson; Lisa Ford, who runs a vocational training school for the backstretch workers; and Sherrie Abbruzzese, who donated $15,000 to BCCA. She is the wife of Empire Racing board member Jared Abbruzzese.
Some other local faces in the crowd included Lisa and Joe Torani; Shirley and Roy Lerman; Margie and Ron Stribley, who got their neighbor, Dallas Cowboys' Bill Parcells, to donate an autographed football that went for $4,000; Joanne Avella and Peter Bernstein; and Phyllis and Allan Crocker, who were guests of their neighbors Maureen and Victor Zast.
RMHC have winning day
Spectacular fashions, a gourmet buffet luncheon, bidding on silent auction items and betting on the races were the winning combination Thursday at the Ronald McDonald House Charities of the Capital Region fashion show at the 'At the Rail Pavilion' at Saratoga Race Course.
John D'Aleo, president of the RMHC board, who attended with his wife, Lorraine, and her friend, Linda Waxler of Sands Point, L.I., said at least $100,000 would be raised.
Since the luncheon's inception eight years ago, this was the first time that the entire tent was sold out to RMHC guests -- nearly 500 strong.
RMHC promotes health, development and well-being of children and their families. This is accomplished through the Ronald McDonald House, a home away from home for families of seriously ill children, and by creating and supporting programs that directly improve the lives of children and their families.
Many of the guests in attendance either had a close family member or knew someone who had been helped through RMH.
Theresa LaGreca and her future sister-in-law Leta Betor, both of Saratoga Springs, were two such guests. 'Ronald McDonald House was so helpful to the family,' said Betor about the family of her niece, Madison DeGregorio, who passed away Feb. 6.
One woman in a group of stylish ladies knew firsthand of RMH. Irene Mulholland's granddaughter, Kim Edgar of Boise, Idaho, gave birth to a 1-pound, 4-ounce baby. 'The family was helped so much and still is,' Mulholland said. Joining Mulholland at the luncheon were Mary Murray, Martha Van Patten, Betty Donnelly, Barbara Tasso and Maryrose Thompson, who came with her sister, Elizabeth Muhlig of East Greenwich.
Jeff Yule of Saratoga Springs, executive director of RMHC, welcomed everyone and gave special recognition to Kathy Striker, a volunteer for more than 20 years. Ronald McDonald was there, too, welcoming the crowd and working his way through the tables to greet guests.
Before the races kicked off, a fantastic fashion show, co-chaired by Liz O'Brien and Nan Weiner and their hard-working committee, moved down a fashion runway. The latest in women's fashions were presented by Saratoga Trunk, children's fashions by Cottage Chic Boutique, and men's fashions by Saratoga National Golf Club.
Natalie Sillery, owner of Saratoga Trunk, narrated the show, giving us a taste of today's glamour as well as turn-of-the-century looks.
Ladies, examine your closet. My guess is it could use some revamping. Today's styles are exquisite in color and texture. Hats are flamboyant yet practical, and jewelry is chunky and layered. Even gowns have a more sophisticated look -- many strapless with open backs, while others are more conservative with long coats to match.
For the golfer, most men's fashions remain about the same, but some colors are bolder: Shorts are in variegated plaids and pants have a wider leg. Perhaps that helps the golfer's swing.
All I can say about the children is they were adorable and very well trained, right down to the action of a posed hand on the hip.
Sillery had numerous models, many of whom are called her Trunkettes. There also were guest models -- too many to name -- but I did recognize Kristina Krawchuk from Channel 9 News, Margie Rotchford, former newswoman-now-freelance-photographer Judy Sanders, and the team from STAR 101.3: program director Rik Mitchell and his wife, Mary Fitzgerald, and Fran Dingman, sales manager.
After a drawing for raffle winners, guests buried their noses in the race program for the afternoon of racing or looked over the fashions that they could purchase with 10 percent of the sales going to RMHC.
RMHC has a new program, which gets off the ground on Sept. 27. It is a car-mobile, a two-office dental van that will travel to different locations in Albany to give free service to those in need. St. Peter's Hospital is the health-care provider.
And, 2007 will be a special year for RBHC. It will be its 25th anniversary and there will be plenty of celebrating going on including a big bash on June 23 at the Hall of Springs.
Universal Preservation Hall has open house
The doors of the Universal Preservation Hall were thrown open Aug. 22 to the public. A full day of performances and art exhibits greeted the many guests. The hall had been largely unseen since the former church was deemed unsafe in 1999.
Crowds were able to watch a wide range of performances in the main space on the second floor. Audiences were treated to performances in the afternoon by Epiphany Theatre, Deborah Rocco of Lake George Opera, Jill Levy of the Saratoga Chamber Players, Home Made Theatre and The Ramblin' Jug Stompers.
Early evening, a wine-tasting provided by Putnam Wine drew large crowds, as did the closing act by internationally renowned guitarist Joel Brown of Saratoga Springs. The event also was a family affair. Brown's son Andrew performed on downtown Broadway to help draw audiences into the hall at the beginning of the day and also performed as part of the Beethoven Trio in the afternoon.
In the multi-purpose room on the first floor, artists and galleries from the Saratoga Springs Arts' District on Beekman Street and Broadway displayed their wares throughout the afternoon.
Artists and galleries included Mimosa Gallery, HBT Photography, Thomas Alexander, Flores Gallery, WestSide, the Artists Coop, Frenchy Loeb and Tommy Hyndman.
The open house was intended to highlight Universal Preservation Hall's future role as a hub for performance and fine arts. It highlighted many of Saratoga Springs' local talented artists and showed the city's significance as an arts destination.
The event was organized by the Steeplechasers, a volunteer group dedicated to supporting the arts, culture, and not-for-profits in Saratoga Springs currently committed to opening Universal Preservation Hall.
The event exceeded expectations. 'We had designed the event to get the community to see the work we had done on the hall thus far, as well as to hint at the future possibilities of the hall once it opens,' said managing director Matt Kopans. 'We thought we were being optimistic by hoping to have 300 visitors throughout the day. We ended up having more than 500.'
Attendees included Jeff and Deane Pfeil, Linda Toohey, Laura and Bob Chodos, Harvey and Cassie Fox, Beth Smith, Kathy DiSanto, Ted Newlin, Jennifer Armstrong, Marie and Phillip Glotzbach (he's Skidmore College president), Michael Phinney, Lucile Lucas, WRGB Channel 6 anchorwoman Liz Bishop, Councilwoman Joanne Dittes-Yepsen, Elliot and Cathy Masie, Emma Dodge Hanson, incoming Arts Council director Joel Reed, William Allerdice, Margo Beck, UPH Board President Tom Lewis and his wife, Jill, and others.
'It was amazing to see so many people in the hall who had returned 20, 30, and even 60 years or more since they were last there,' said Kopans.
'We had a gentleman whose father preached in the hall in the 1940s, a woman who was married in the hall over 50 years ago, and countless visitors who remembered coming to Sunday school classes and relatives' weddings, baptisms and other events. It's great to know this building has such a rich living history in addition to its importance to the longer history of Saratoga,' he said.
Universal Preservation Hall is currently undergoing a full restoration and will open to the public as a performance, art and events venue in June 2007.
For more information, or to schedule a tour of the site, contact Matt Kopans at 584-2627; or via email at matt@universalpreservationhall.org. You can also visit www.UniversalPreservationHall.org, for more information about the hall.
Jeannette Jordan covers the social scene for The Saratogian.
