MEDIA ADVISORY/DAYBOOK ITEM
Daily Double of events at Saratoga Race Course with Serling Syndicate and special tribute to The Singing Waiter
WHAT: Thursday’s lineup at Saratoga Race Course will feature two special events: a chance for fans to partner with professional handicapper Andy Serling in a $2,000 Pick 6 play; and a touching tribute to Saratoga fixture John Salerno, Saratoga’s own “singing waiter.”
WHEN: Thursday, August 19
1:35 p.m. Plaque presentation and named race in honor of John Salerno in the Winner’s Circle (following second race)
3:05 p.m. Serling to place Pick 6 wager with four winning contestants at the Jim Dandy Bar
WHERE: Saratoga Race Course
267 Union Avenue
Saratoga Springs, New York
DETAILS: The New York Racing Association will pay tribute to Saratoga Race Course fixture John Salerno, who passed away at the age of 87 in November 2009. Known as “The Singing Waiter”, Salerno spent more than two decades bringing joy to Saratoga patrons by performing surprise impromptu songs and accompanying Saratoga Race Course’s favorite jazz band Reggie’s Red Hot Feetwarmers.
The third race will be named in Salerno’s honor during which Salerno’s family members will be presented with a commemorative plaque in honor of his dedication to Saratoga Race Course. The plaque will be permanently affixed to a wall along the Clubhouse Porch where Salerno would routinely perform for the breakfast crowds.
Later in the afternoon four lucky horseplayers will get a chance to win a share of the day’s winnings by partnering with professional handicapper Andy Serling in a $2,000 Pick 6 play. Limited to the first 10,000 entries, the four syndicate players will be selected by drawing to earn a share of Serling’s Pick 6 play on Thursday afternoon.
Serling, the popular TV analyst for The New York Racing Association (NYRA), tweets his daily selections to more than 2,200 followers on his Twitter feed, Twitter.com/andyserling.
MEDIA: Media are invited to join Salerno’s family for a special tribute to “The Singing Waiter” at the Winner’s Circle; and to watch Serling place his wagers for the Serling Syndicate outside the Jim Dandy Bar.
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FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, CONTACT:
Mark Bardack or Caitlin Merrill
Ed Lewi Associates • 6 Chelsea Place • Clifton Park, NY 12065
ELA Main Office: (518) 383-6183 • FAX (518) 383-6755 (Mon. – Fri., 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.)
Saratoga Race Course Office: (518) 584-6200, x 4233, or 4739 (Wed. – Mon., 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.)
Weekend Numbers: M. Bardack Cell (518) 867-7943, or C. Merrill Cell (518) 867-2440
E-mail: mbardack@edlewi.com or cmerrill@edlewi.com
