ITHACA — School records were broken and medals were brought home after the Saratoga Springs varsity boys swim team competed in the New York State Federation Championships in Ithaca earlier this month.
Blue Streak Anderson Baird placed 4th in the 200 IM A Final with a school record-breaking time of 1:50:72. He also placed 7th in the 500 freestyle with another school record-breaking time of 4:38:70.
The 200 Medley Relay team of Baird, John Gregory, Anthony Sanchez, and Preston Arnold finished 7th in the A Final with a time of 1:35:75, good enough to smash yet another school record. Then in the 400 Free Relay, the same team finished 5th in the finals with (you guessed it) a school record-breaking time of 3:12:72.
As a team, Saratoga placed 9th overall with a score of 105.
SARATOGA SPRINGS — There are many factors that can determine the outcome of a baseball game, from a well-balanced lineup to a lights-out bullpen. But there’s one strategy that’s almost always guaranteed to work: score a crap ton of runs.
Skidmore College did just that while on an extended road trip to Fort Myers, Florida that helped kick off their 2025 season. On Mar. 14, the Thoroughbreds played two games: one against Dean College in the morning and the other against Otterbein University in the afternoon. Skidmore won both, by scores of 17 to 3 and 15 to 5 respectively, resulting in the total accumulation of 32 runs in one day.
Against Dean, the Thoroughbreds put up 5 runs in the first inning and 8 runs in the sixth. Offensively, Skidmore was led by two-run doubles by Zachary Leiderman and Ewen Donald. On the mound, starter Ethan Barnett allowed only 2 runs in 6 innings, striking out 3 batters in the process.
In the game against Otterbein, Skidmore was tied at the top of the eighth inning, when Eddie Galvao smacked a two-run, go-ahead dinger that sparked a whopping 13-run rally. In that same inning, Trey Bourque cranked out a bases-clearing triple to help give the Thoroughbreds an insurmountable lead.
The victories served as needed rebounds after the Thoroughbreds were handed a pair of back-to-back losses earlier in the week against Illinois Wesleyan and Haverford.
Overall, Skidmore exited their nine-game appearance at the Gene Cusic Classic in the Sunshine State with 6 wins and 3 loses. Another loss at McDaniel to open the season gave them a 6-4 overall record prior to their home opener against Vassar on Mar. 21. That game is scheduled to be played at the David Alexander Castle Diamond at Ingram Park while the school’s new turf field on Daniels Road finishes construction.
Emma is a multi-sport athlete at Saratoga Springs High School who has competed in soccer, Nordic skiing, triathlon, and cycling.
In Nordic skiing, Murray is a five-time Team MVP and three-time captain. She helped make history with Saratoga’s first-ever Section 2 title, then played a role in securing the 2025 New York State Relay and Team Championship—the first in school history. In the championship race, she delivered the fastest relay split of the day by 12 seconds and was the only skier to go sub 8:00 (7:59.59). A four-time New York State Championships qualifier (2022-2025), she earned First Team All-Section honors three times and has medaled multiple times at the Empire State Games. She also qualified for the 2025 Junior National Championships.
As a triathlete, Murray finished the 2022 season ranked 22nd in the USA, 2nd in the Northeast, and 1st in New York State in the 0-15 Female Age Group. Now competing in a higher age group, she continues to rank among the top 50 U17 triathletes in the nation.
In cycling, she claimed the 2024 New York State U18 Time Trial Championship and previously placed third in the 2021 New York State Mountain Biking Championships.
As a four-year varsity player for the Saratoga girls soccer team, she served as co-captain her senior year, helping lead the squad to its first Sectional Championship in 35 years and its first-ever State Semifinal appearance. She was also awarded her team MVP as a sophomore and was named First-Team Suburban Council in 2024.
Murray was recognized with the Sportsmanship Award at both the New York State Soccer Championships and the New York State Nordic Championships, a testament to her leadership and character. Her peers also honored her by voting her the Most Athletic Female in her senior class.
Emma was recruited by colleges for soccer, triathlon, and Nordic skiing but will continue her athletic and academic journey at Haverford College, where she will play soccer and major in Neuroscience with the goal of becoming a surgeon.
“I have found that hard work and success go hand-in-hand,” Murray said in her recruiting profile. “There are people more talented on the pitch and more intelligent than me in the classroom, but nobody will outwork me in the classroom or the soccer field.”
SARATOGA SPRINGS — The New York Racing Association (NYRA) recently announced the stakes schedule for the 2025 summer meet at Saratoga Race Course, which will open Thursday, Jul. 10 and continue through Monday, Sept. 1. The 40-day summer meet will offer 18 Grade 1 races as part of 64 stakes worth more than $20 million in total purses.
Following the four-day opening week, racing will be conducted five days a week, Wednesdays through Sundays, apart from closing week, when the 2025 meet will conclude on Labor Day.
Some highlights of the schedule include:
For the complete Saratoga stakes schedule, visit https://www.nyra.com/saratoga/racing/stakes-schedule/.
SARATOGA SPRINGS — The New York Racing Association (NYRA) recently announced ticket and hospitality on-sale dates for the 2025 season at the Saratoga Race Course, which includes a special July 4th Festival as a prelude to the traditional 40-day summer meet.
The July 4th Racing Festival, typically held at Belmont Park, will take place from Thursday, July 3 through Sunday, July 6 at Saratoga while construction continues on a new Belmont Park. The 40-day summer meet will open Thursday, July 10 and continue through Monday, September 1.
Full-space group hospitality reservations are available beginning at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, March 5 for the 1863 Club, Paddock Suite, Surfside Party Deck at The Post, Spa Verandas, Big Red Spring and Festival Tent.
Saratoga Season Passes are currently on-sale and include complimentary admission for the July 4th Racing Festival. Season Passes are available for $95, the same price as last year, and include general admission for the July 4th Festival, in addition to the 40-day summer meet.
All tickets and hospitality for the July 4th Racing Festival and 40-day Saratoga summer meet will be available according to the following timeline:
March 5: Full-space private hospitality including luxury suites and the Rail at the 1863 Club; Spa Verandas, Surfside Party Deck, Big Red Spring and Festival Tent
March 19: Full-season reserved seating plans for the Clubhouse, Grandstand and Michelob Ultra Stretch
March 26: Partial-space group reservations for the Rail at the 1863 Club, Mionetto Easy Goer and individual tables within the Festival Tent
April 9: Weekly and flex reserved seating plans for the Clubhouse, Grandstand, Michelob Ultra Stretch, Miller Time Fourstardave Sports Bar and Pick Six Vodka Picnic Paddock; single-day reservations for the Founders Room and Clubhouse Box Seats
April 23: Dining reservations for the Turf Terrace, Porch and Club Terrace
April 30: Single-day reserved seats for the Clubhouse, Grandstand and Michelob Ultra Stretch
May 7: Single-day reservations for the Miller Time Fourstardave Sports Bar, Pick Six Vodka Picnic Paddock and Surfside Tailgate at the Turn
May 14: Single-day general admission tickets
July 4th Racing Festival Stakes Schedule
NYRA also recently announced the stakes schedule for the July 4th Racing Festival.
The festival begins on Thursday, July 3 with two stakes on tap in the Listed $150,000 Wild Applause for sophomore fillies traveling one mile on the turf, and the Grade 3, $175,000 Victory Ride for sophomore fillies sprinting 6 1/2 furlongs.
Friday, July 4 will feature a stacked card of five stakes races, headlined by the Grade 1, $750,000 Belmont Derby Invitational for sophomores going 1 1/8 miles on the turf. The program is supported by the Grade 2, $400,000 Suburban at 10 furlongs for older horses; the Grade 3, $200,000 Manila for sophomores going one mile on the turf; the Listed $150,000 Harvey Pack for older horses sprinting 5 1/2 furlongs on the turf; and the Listed $150,000 Schuylerville for juvenile fillies sprinting six furlongs.
Grade 1 action continues into Saturday, July 5 as sophomore filly turf routers take center stage in the Grade 1, $500,000 Belmont Oaks Invitational traveling 1 1/8 miles. Two other Grade 3 events are featured on the program in the $175,000 Kelso for older horses going one mile on the turf and the $175,000 Sanford for juveniles sprinting six furlongs.
The weekend closes out on Sunday, July 6 to conclude the 2025 Belmont at the Big A spring/summer meet.
Daily admission for the July 4th Racing Festival will be available for $7 when purchased in advance or $10 day-of.
For the complete stakes schedule for the July 4th Racing Festival, visit www.nyra.com/saratoga/racing/stakes-schedule/.
SARATOGA SPRINGS — The Dake Foundation for Children’s annual Bike for Kids fundraiser is happening Saturday, Mar. 15 at the Saratoga Springs YMCA at 290 West Avenue. Registration is at 10am and the race begins at 11am.
The event includes a one-hour stationary bike relay, with approximately 30 teams of 4 who have been raising funds for the past few months to benefit the Dake Foundation’s grant programs that support children with disabilities all over the Capital Region. Prizes will be awarded for most miles raced, most amount fundraised, best costumes, and more.
Parking is available onsite, although the Y is expected to be very busy that day. Anyone over 18 must present a photo ID at the front desk. Please note this will be a high sensory event with lights and music.
Founded by Gary Dake, president of Stewart’s Shops, the Foundation has provided independence, inclusion, and fun for local children with disabilities for over 16 years.
For more information or to register, visit https://givebutter.com/bikeforkids2025.
Football Player of the Year
Schuylerville varsity quarterback Ollie Bolduc was recently named the Class C Player of the Year by the New York State High School Football Coaches Association. Bolduc was part of the Black Horses’ first-ever Class C state champions, throwing two touchdowns and rushing for 100 yards in the title game at Syracuse University’s JMA Wireless Dome in December. Bolduc, a senior, was also named co-player of the year by the New York Sports Writers Association, alongside teammate Landen Cumm.
Basketball Scholar-Athlete Awards
Schuylerville varsity basketball player Hannah King was recently honored with both the Foothills Council Scholar-Athlete Award and the Section 2 Scholar-Athlete Award. King, who has also played volleyball and lacrosse for the Horses, was named to the High Honor Roll (grade averages of 95 to 100) last month. She participated in the 2024 New York Youth Institute hosted by Cornell University and is president of the Schuylerville High School Future Farmers of America.
FORT MYERS, FLORIDA — Saratoga Springs native Dolly Cairns was named the Atlantic Sun Conference’s Scholar Athlete of the Year for the Florida Gulf Coast University Eagles, the league announced last week.
Cairns, a fifth-year senior, has registered a 3.936 GPA while completing her master’s degree in health science. On the court, she’s been one of the best three-point shooters in the nation, making a team-best 57 triples this season and shooting 45% from beyond the arc.
Cairns started in 28 of the 30 games this season for the Eagles. Her season-high 21 points came against California Baptist. Cains also added 14 points to defeat Big East opponent Georgetown, and scored 11 to defeat Power 4 foe Cincinnati en route to being named to the Atlantic Slam All-Tournament Team. Cairns also helped the Eagles win its 8th straight Atlantic Sun Conference regular season conference title.
Cairns is the all-time girls basketball scoring leader at Saratoga Springs High School, netting more than 2,000 points to set the record. In 2019, she committed to the University of Rhode Island, where she played for two seasons before transferring to Florida Gulf Coast.
BALLSTON SPA — The Ballston Spa School District’s Adult Fitness Program is offering two low-impact adult fitness opportunities starting again this month.
The Adult Fitness Yoga classes will be held on Wednesday evenings starting on March 19 for 6 classes. The Adult Fitness Dance Fit class featuring Hip-Hop will be held on Tuesdays and Thursdays starting on March 18 for 12 classes. There is a maximum registration of 20 per program. No experience is needed to participate.
Pre-registration is required for all programs and fees are due at the beginning of each course. If interested in learning more about the Adult Fitness programs or to register, please visit the district’s website, www.bscsd.org.
Registration forms can be dropped off in person and/or mailed to BSCSD c/o Office of Community Relations and Program Support, 70 Malta Avenue Ballston Spa, NY 12020. For questions, please contact the school’s district office at 518-884-7195.
