The final three weeks of racing at Saratoga Race Course showed substantial improvments from the prior three weeks, but still numbers were significantly down from 2007.

Attendance for the 2008 meet is down 9.8 percent from 2007. However, this was a dramatic increase from the first three weeks, which showed an 18.9 percent decline in attendance.

On-track handle for 2008 is also down 7.2 percent from 2007 numbers. This number also decreased from 13.5 percent after the first three weeks. The all-sources handle was down 10.2 percent from 2007. Officials contributed poor weather to the drop in handle.

“Our business improved when the weather improved, and the 140th Spa meeting once again combined the highest quality Thoroughbred racing and the strongest wagering opportunities in North America,” NYRA President and CEO Charles Hayward said in a press release.  “Among the remarkable performances we’ve seen this year were Commentator wiring a strong field to capture the Whitney for the second time, Ginger Punch miraculously getting her nose on the wire to take the Personal Ensign, the stirring stretch duels of Proud Spell and Music Note in the Alabama, and Colonel John and Mambo in Seattle in the Travers, and this past Saturday, Curlin, a true champion showing his class in the Woodward.  Many thanks to our fans, owners, trainers, jockeys and employees for another great 36 days of racing at Saratoga.”

A total of 359 races were run at the 2008 meet, a number that was up from the 347 run in 2007. However, brutal weather caused officials to cancel an abundance of turf races. A total of 141 races were run on the turf in 2008 a number that was down from the 164 run in 2007. There were 35 races in total taken off the turf in 2008 and only six in 2007.

City Council: Mayor proposes six year capital budget program

Mayor Scott Johnson laid out a six year capital budget program at Tuesday’s City Council meeting, which included more than $5 million dollars the city intends to spend on 22 capital projects in 2009.

The big expense items listed for 2009 include $750,000 for a water treatment plant emergency power generator, $550,000 for improvements to the Geyser Crest well system, $400,000 to acquire land and develop it for a new Eastside emergency facility and $1,330,000 for the development of a water front property on Saratoga Lake.

Left off the 2009 capital project list was the public safety building. Comissioner of Public Safety Ron Kim, who has worked tiresly to get the project passed, said he would not vote for the capital budget because it included the development of waterfront property instead of a new police station.

“What this City Council is saying is that a beach is more important than public safety,” Kim said. “All I can say is those better be some really nice picnic tables and sand.”

Mayor Scott Johnson defended his decision to leave the facility off the 2009 capital budget citing a failure to provide the capital budget committee with a concrete price tag on the building. Kim said the cost had been set at $9.7 million.

Originally, there were 32 proposed capital projects totaling more than $22 million in 2009, but the committee overseeing the project recommended reducing the number to 22, which significantly reduced the number to $5.1 million. If they had gone along with the original 32 projects it would have left the city with approximately $10 million to spend on capital projects from 2010 through 2035.

Public hearings in regard to the capital budget program were scheduled for Thursday, Sept. 4 at 3 p.m. and Monday Sept. 8 at 6 p.m. City Council members intend to vote on the program by Sept. 15.

In other business:

- Commissioner of Accounts John Franck announced the “taxi fuel surcharge” that was implemented by the City Council in July is no longer in effect.

When gas prices were steadly remaining above $4 per gallon council members voted that taxi companies could implement a surcharge while gas prices remained above $4 mark. Now that prices are below the set amount the taxi surcharge has been repealed.

Franck said a notice to taxi companies concerning the surcharges repeal would be sent out sometime during the week.

- During the Public Works Agenda, Commissioner Skip Scirocco informed the public that as of Tuesday construction crews had brought equipment to the site of the old Getty Gas Station for excavation and remodeling of the site. Scirocco said the project will take 6-8 weeks to complete.

Assembly candidate calls for debates

Democrat Ian McGaughey called on Republican candidates Tony Jordan and Chris Laing to hold a total of three debates before the Nov. 4 general election Thursday.                                          

McGaughey, a Wilton Town board member, called for the debates to be held in the three counties that make up the 112th Assembly District. The three counties include all of Washington County and parts of Saratoga and Rensselaer Counties

McGaughey wants the debates to be monitored by a non-partisan group to ensure there fairness.

The 112th Assembly seat became vacant after current Assemblyman Roy McDonald, R-Saratoga, announced he would run for Joe Bruno's vacant Senate seat.

McGaughey made headlines in July when he announced that if elected he would donate his entire $79,500 salary to various local charities.

Before the debates can occur, Jordan and Laing will go head-to-head in a primary on Sept. 9.