Taking a few minutes on this dark day to pass on some recent news, from Saratoga and beyond.

Hello Race Fans!, the fan education site for which I am a contributing editor, announced this morning that it’s acquired Raceday360, the racing news aggregator created by Jessica Chapel of Railbird.  HRF’s press release provides more information, but what it doesn’t say is that I’m thrilled to be part of a website that makes it so easy for racing fans to find timely, interesting, well written content. Congratulations to everyone involved.

Photography exhibit: Tonight, the Saratoga Economic Opportunity Council presents “Vision: A Look at Life Behind the Scenes,” which offers visitors the chance to see horse racing from a different perspective in the collection Estamos Aqui.

The collection documents the lives of Latino immigrants living and working in Saratoga Springs and will be on display at the track during a reception held from 5:30 to 8 p.m. The evening will feature light fare, drinks and entertainment.

Tickets are available for $45 with proceeds to benefit the Saratoga Economic Opportunity Council’s Latino Community Advocacy Program. To purchase tickets or for more information, please call 518-587-3158.

Reserve a Travers picnic table: In other track news, this year racing fans will have the opportunity to register at no cost for the right to purchase a reserved picnic table in the backyard at the track on Travers Day.  Having spent many years waking up at 3:30 to go with my brother to get on line to join the rush for a table, I can only say that I wish that the track had done this years ago!

Fifty registrants will be randomly selected from all eligible entries for the option to purchase a table, which will be located in a special reserved section near the paddock and Big Red Spring (is it coincidence that this is EXACTLY where my brother and his friends have been sitting since the early 80’s?). The reserved tables will be available for $100, and all proceeds benefit the Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation.  Go here to register and for more information.

Travers Restaurant Week: In the good news/bad news department, nearly 40 area restaurants are participating in “Travers 1864 Restaurant Week” from Sunday, August 22 through Thursday, August 26. The eateries will offer a three-course meal for the prix-fixe cost of $18.64, the year of the inaugural running of the Travers.

That’s the good news.  The bad news? Not a single Saratoga restaurant is on the list. Not one. I love my hometown and I often think that its characterization as “greedy” during the racing season is a bit overblown—but really?  NOT ONE?

Reminds me of the days when I was a kid here, and during August, restaurants would put little stickers with inflated prices over the regular menu prices.  Sheesh.

Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony: This year’s ceremony takes place this Friday at 10:30 am in the Fasig-Tipton sales pavilion.  Gary Stevens will be keynote speaker.  The ceremony is free and open to the public.

From the Racing Museum comes the news that the ceremony will be broadcast on HRTV and locally on Your News Now (channel 9).  The event will be streamed live on the Internet at http://www.hrtv.com and http://www.racingmuseum.org.

Public seating is limited and available on a first-come, first-served basis. To accommodate those wishing to see the event, the Museum will broadcast the ceremony live in its Hall of Fame Gallery.  Admission is free.

Paddock Bar: And finally, if you’re coming to Saratoga and not planning a significant stop at the new paddock bar, you’re out of your mind.  A group of friends and I recently deemed it “the best spot on the planet,” as we sipped good beer and cocktails, watched horses in the paddock steps away from us, and walked a few feet to place wagers at betting machines placed on the bar. On the bar!  Unsurprisingly, I’ve heard that handle at these windows is particularly high.  Go. Stay. It’s amazing.