SARATOGA SPRINGS –At the July 11 opening day of the Saratoga Racetrack thoroughbred racing season, members of the Jewish War Veterans of the U.S.A. conducted a welcome for track attendees

In the photo, Saratoga Springs Post 36 Commander Sam Gottesman, Al Kasin, and JWV Capital District Commander Rich Goldenberg pause to show off the post display.

The 2024 daylong effort raised over $200 in donations, Gottesman reported.

The event marks the second season that JWV has had a community display at the Saratoga track, according to  Gottesman. The effort displays the JWV presence in the community, allows for veterans to meet and greet the visitors to the track and for 2024, offer U.S. flag lapel pins for those meeting JWV members.

Visitors to the JWV booth included veterans, descendants of veterans and many Jewish visitors to Saratoga from across the United States.

The 156th Saratoga Race Course meet welcomed more than 28,500 attendees for the opening day, which included the $175,000 Schuylerville headliner stake race, won by a 44-1 betting longshot, the Queens M G.