ANNUAL HAT CONTEST
Dozens participate in 28th annual Hat Contest Sunday afternoon
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. >> Opening Weekend at Saratoga Race Course concluded on Sunday with the Hat Contest, a chance for fans to show off their fanciest headwear fashions.
The annual contest, held between races on Sunday, attracted dozens of hat-wearing participants who competed in three categories: Kreative Kids, Fashionably Saratoga and Uniquely Saratoga.
The New York Racing Association, Inc. holds this contest each year to honor the tradition of hats in thoroughbred racing.
This year, Miss New York 2019 Lauren Molella served as a special guest judge for the event.
“I think it’s fantastic,” Molella said of the many different contest entries roaming the race course grounds before the competition began.
Molella, who spent many summers in Saratoga Springs as a child while dancing with the New York City Ballet, was glad to return to the track in a professional capacity.
During her visit, Molella was particularly happy to see young children embracing the Saratoga Race Course experience by participating in the Hat Contest. “I love the fact that there’s such a big kids division,” she said, “I think it’s cool to see that creativity encouraged in young kids.”
Eight-year-old Bowe Schlansker, of Saratoga Springs, a first-time Hat Contest participant, was excited about being a part of the action.
Prior to Sunday’s event, Schlansker created a Broadway-themed hat. “It’s made of a feathered scarf and a piece of paper that says ‘and I used some of my brother’s cars to make city cars,”’ Schlansker said, “and I also made some signs for Broadway musicals.”
Her favorite Broadway show featured on the hat is “Hamilton” by Lin-Manuel Miranda. “Hamilton’s my all-time favorite musical,” she said.
Following the Kreative Kids contest was the most popular division, Fashionably Saratoga, which drew about 30 contestants this year. One of them was Kathy Grahek, of Rotterdam, who wore red, white and blue for the occasion. Her
hat highlighted the U.S., New York State, Saratoga Springs, and Saratoga Race Course. “I’ve been working on it for many months,” Grahek shared. “Then I didn’t have to rush.”
Grahek, who had been a spectator at previous contests, decided to enter this year and enjoyed the experience.
Participating in the Uniquely Saratoga contest this year was returning champion Julie Potter of Duanesburg. This year, her seventh time competing, Potter sported an elegant floral headpiece. “I really wanted to do something a lot more colorful, a lot more whimsical this year,” she said. “I feel like I always go a little crazy, and I wanted to be a little more beautiful and crazy.”
Potter incorporated two different hats in her most recent design. “The shape was really important,” she said. “I wanted it to be a little bit more avant-garde.”
Madelynn Saris, Potter’s four-year-old niece, also had some expert design help from her aunt on her Saratoga hat, which took third-place in the Kreative Kids category while continuing a fun family tradition into a new generation.
For more information about Saratoga Race Course and its upcoming events visit www.NYRA.com.