The Head Of The Fish Regatta is a rowing race held on the last weekend of October each year on Fish Creek, within Saratoga County, New York State. The race is named the "Head" of the Fish because it is a head race.
The event is hosted by the Saratoga Rowing Association.[3] The race is organized by volunteers.[4]
Tom Frost, a member of the Saratoga Springs Rowing Club, founded the regatta in 1986.[5]
The original vision for the regatta was one "that wouldn't take itself too seriously."[5] Protests were forbidden and "timing errors were considered part of the regatta's charm."[5] Winners are awarded lacquered fish heads.[5]. In 2001, the "Fish", out grew the resources of the Saratoga Springs Rowing Club and that year the regatta was co-hosted by SSRC and SRA. In 2002, the regatta moved to a two day event. By 2003, SRA began exclusively hosting. The largest regatta to date was 2016, with 2057 entires and 185 clubs participating.