SARATOGA SPRINGS —The National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame will throw a birthday party for 1973 Triple Crown winner and Hall of Fame member Secretariat on Saturday, March 30. The celebration will include a screening of the Disney movie “Secretariat,” and mark the final day of the Museum’s exhibition “A Tremendous Machine: Celebrating the 50th Anniversary of Secretariat’s Triple Crown.”

The event will run from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and is included with the cost of regular Museum admission. Kids’ activities include a scavenger hunt, build-your-own trophy station, and birthday card design. Light refreshments and treats will be served.

SARATOGA SPRINGS — On-sale ticket dates for the 2024 summer meet at the Saratoga Racecourse were announced by the New York Racing Association (NYRA) last week. NYRA also revealed the opening date for the Oklahoma Training Track.

On-Sale Dates for Track Tickets

Full-space group hospitality reservations are available beginning at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, March 13 for the following venues: 1863 Club, Paddock Suite, Surfside Party Deck at The Post, Stella Artois Spa Verandas, Mionetto Easy Goer, Big Red Spring, and Festival Tent.

Partial-space and individual table reservations will be available beginning March 27.

Additional tickets and hospitality offerings will go on sale the following dates:

March 20: Season admission passes; full-season reserved seating plans for the Clubhouse, Grandstand, and Cutwater Stretch

March 27: Partial-space and individual tables for the Rail at the 1863 Club, Mionetto Easy Goer, and Festival Tent

April 10: Partial meet plans for the Clubhouse, Grandstand, Cutwater Stretch, Miller Time Fourstardave Sports Bar, and Pick Six Vodka Picnic Paddock

April 25: Single-Day reservations for Clubhouse Box Seats and Clubhouse Dining (Turf Terrace, Porch, and Club Terrace)

May 2: Single-Day Reserved seats for the Clubhouse, Grandstand, and Cutwater Stretch

May 9: Single-Day reservations for the Miller Time Fourstardave Sports Bar, Pick Six Vodka Picnic Paddock, and Surfside Tailgate at the Turn

May 15: General Admission

Reservations may be made by phone at 844-NYRA-TIX, email at boxoffice@nyrainc.com, or online at NYRA.com/Saratoga. The summer meet at the Saratoga Racecourse will open on Thursday, July 11 and continue through Monday, Sept. 2.

Oklahoma Track Opening Next Month

The Oklahoma Training Track at the Saratoga Racecourse will open for the 2024 season on Thursday, April 18. The Oklahoma barn area will open to licensed trainers and staff beginning Monday, April 15. As preparations continue for the 2024 Belmont Stakes Racing Festival, the main track will open on Monday, May 6, about one month earlier than usual. 

Due to ongoing construction at Belmont Park on Long Island, NYRA will waive stall rental fees at Saratoga for the spring training season beginning May 6, provided all trainer accounts are current through the end of 2023.

For more information, please visit www.nyra.com.

SARATOGA SPRINGS — The Saratoga Regional YMCA hopes to raise $450,000 in its 2024 Annual Campaign, which launched last week. 

“The Annual Campaign is the heartbeat of the YMCA,” said Scott Clark, Saratoga Regional YMCA CEO, in a statement. “Through this effort, volunteers and staff ensure we carry out the foundation of our mission, and that everyone has the opportunity to take a step toward a stronger and brighter future, regardless of income.”

So far, the SRYMCA has raised over $200,000, including $75,000 in donations from the Board of Directors and Staff. 

Those interested in donating can visit srymca.org/donate.

SARATOGA SPRINGS — The Saratoga Springs High School softball team is in for a challenging season. The squad will be competing against the largest schools in the area, thanks to its new AAA classification. “It’s going to be very competitive across that AAA class,” said Coach Geoffrey Loiacono. “Our league,” Loiacono said, “is a grind, day in and day out. There are no guaranteed games across the board.”

Like any high school team, the Blue Streaks have their sights set on capturing a title. In 2022, they were Section 2 champions. But getting back to the top will not be easy. “You’ve got to play your best every day or you’re definitely going to get beat,” Loiacono said.

Luckily, some players from that championship team are back and ready to deliver. “Our senior class is very strong,” Loiacono said. Sarah Decker, Natalie Conroy, and Olivia Tetreault make up a group of seniors that have been playing at the varsity level for several years. “They’ve known that caliber of play,” Loiacono said.

The Blue Streaks finished 14-8 last season. They won 11 of their first 12 games, displaying serious firepower in a whopping 20-2 victory against the Schenectady Patriots in early April. But the team lost its steam in the second half of the year, losing competitive contests to Shenendehowa, Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake, and Liverpool.

“It’ll be an all-out team effort to get back to the championship game,” Loiacono said. Fans can get a glimpse of this year’s team during its first scrimmage game on March 18 against Schuylerville. The first regular season game will be on March 28, when the Blue Streaks face off against Columbia in a non-league game. 

For a full schedule, visit togasoftball.weebly.com/calendar.html.

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Baseball season is nearly upon us, and that means that it’s time once again for youngsters to register for the Saratoga Springs Little League. Children as young as 4-years-old who live in the Saratoga district are eligible to sign up. 

The league is also looking for manager/coach volunteers, as well as anyone who would like to help on the field and in practices. No experience is necessary. Background checks are required for all coaches.

For more information or to register, go online to www.saratogaspringslittleleague.org/2024-registration

GENEVA — Skidmore College’s hockey team fell short in the New England Hockey Conference (NEHC) championship game last weekend, losing 5-0 to defending champs Hobart College. The Thoroughbreds, who have played in two of the last three NEHC title games, finished 19-7-2 on the season. Goalie Tate Brandon had a career-high 51 saves in the contest.

SARATOGA SPRINGS —Saratoga Springs’ Emily Bush won the girls’ 3000-meter run at the New York State Public High School Athletic Association’s (NYSPHSAA) indoor track and field championships in Staten Island last weekend. Bush had been heavily favored to win.

“It was such a surreal moment,” Bush said in an interview posted by the NYSPHSAA. “This year, I’ve been going to every race just wanting to have fun and just really get on the track and leave it all out there, regardless of whatever time I run, regardless of whatever place I get.”

Bush is bound for Providence College, where she will continue to compete in cross-country and track.

STATEN ISLAND — Ballston Spa’s Gabby Bozeth placed 5th in the girls’ 300-meter dash at the New York State Public High School Athletic Association’s (NYSPHSAA) indoor track and field championships in Staten Island last weekend. Bozeth set a new school record of 39.91. Fellow Scottie Harriet Healey finished eighth in the same race with a time of 40.31.

STATEN ISLAND — Saratoga Springs runners Jacob Bernd, Luke Dacey, Owen Blaisdell, and Thomas Isenovski won the 4×800 meter relay finals at the New York State Public High School Athletic Association’s (NYSPHSAA) indoor track and field championships in Staten Island last weekend. They set a new school record of 7:53.72.

“They all made the decision as a group to forego individual events in order to pursue the state champ in the relay,” Coach Shane Zanetti said. “They knew that they had a good chance to win the race and they all felt it was important to be completely committed to each other. They ran smart, stayed calm, and focused on running selflessly. When you can do that, and you are as talented and hard working as they are, you have a chance at a state championship.”