SARATOGA SPRINGS — Skidmore College unveiled its Fall 2024 sports schedules last week.
Opening days for each program are as follows:
Field hockey – August 30 (at home)
Women’s volleyball – August 30
Men’s soccer – August 30
Women’s soccer – August 30
Women’s tennis – September 13 (at home)
Men’s golf – September 14
Men’s tennis – September 21
Rowing – October 19
Some local highlights include the Head of the Fish Regatta rowing race on October 26; the men’s golf Skidmore Invitational on October 12 and 13; men’s tennis Skidmore Invitational October 12-14; and the women’s tennis Battle of the Northway September 13-15.
Runners participate in the 2023 Firecracker4 road race. Photo by Super Source Media.
SARATOGA SPRINGS — Eighteen years ago, the Firecracker4 was a modest race on July 4th with about 150 runners that raised money for high school running programs in Saratoga Springs. Now, it’s an ever-evolving event with thousands of participants and grand plans for the future.
“We can put 10,000 people on that course, and we’re going to before this is all over,” said Charles Woodruff, one of the race organizers and a co-owner of the Fleet Feet running stores in Albany and Malta. “It’s a very compelling race to be involved in.”
This year, Woodruff and fellow race organizer Peter Goutos, president of CASmith LLC, are aiming for around 3,000 participants, which would be 900 more than last year.
The race advertises itself with its appealing four-mile course that winds through downtown Saratoga Springs and the east side of the city, past historic homes and dozens of musical acts that range from singers to saxophone players to percussionists. But growing the race necessitates new initiatives every year, as well as continued community engagement.
This year, Woodruff is inviting local schools to put alumni teams together. An area in the parking lot has been set aside for alumni team tents, which could house both younger and older graduates. Saratoga Springs, Colonie, Bethlehem, and East Greenwich school districts are already lined up to participate, though Woodruff is still recruiting more.
More runners of course means more funds raised for the community, and the Firecracker4 has supported a number of running and health-related projects, including the Saratoga Regional YMCA, local running clubs, the Railroad Run trail in Saratoga Springs, and the Pitney Meadows Community Farm trail system, which Goutos and Woodruff designed and built. All told, $400,000 has been raised for the community over the race’s 18-year history.
Part of Goutos and Woodruff’s mission is not just to expand the number of local trails, but to connect them. Goutos helped put together the Saratoga Greenbelt Trail, a planned 24-mile path that will connect residential neighborhoods to the downtown area, allowing pedestrians and bicyclists to easily get around the city.
“This has gotten much more involved than I ever dreamed it would,” Woodruff said.
As the race continues to grow and expand its influence on the region, there’s one simple message that the organizers like to emphasize: running is for everyone.
“I don’t even call running ‘running’ anymore. I call it just simply moving with purpose,” Woodruff said. “That’s what we’re trying to do, attract all of those people that we can of every demographic that you can possibly think of that just want to come out for an hour on July 4th in the morning and move with purpose.”
The four-mile Firecracker4 road race begins at 9 a.m. on Thursday, July 4th outside the Saratoga Springs City Center at 522 Broadway. This year’s sponsors include Death Wish Coffee, Fleet Feet, and Greenwich Ford. For more information or to register, visit firecracker4.com.
The Ballston Spa Central School District’s Wood Road Archery Club had 30 participants this spring. Students were instructed with National Archery in Schools Program (NASP) guidelines. They competed in the annual Wood Road Archery Tournament, and are now eligible to participate in any NASP tournaments within New York State. Photo via the Ballston Spa School District website.
SARATOGA SPRINGS — Three Saratoga Springs High School girls lacrosse players were named to 2024 Suburban Council All-Star teams, and two more players received honorable mention.
Belmont Gold Cup winner The Grey Wizard, ridden by John Velazquez, enters the Winner’s Circle. Photo by Jonathon Norcross.
SARATOGA SPRINGS — The long-awaited Belmont Stakes Racing Festival arrived at the Saratoga Race Course last week, drawing tens of thousands of fans who wagered millions of dollars. Here’s a snapshot of what Belmont brought to the Spa City.
50,000 – The number of fans who attended the sold-out Belmont Stakes Day on Saturday, June 8
$197,426,085 – The total handle for all four days of the festival
120,028 – The total attendance (counted by ticket sales) of the four-day festival
5 1/2 furlongs in 59:80 – A new course record set by Cogburn in the Jaipur Stakes
1 – Number of World Series championships won by Dornoch’s co-owner Jayson Werth, a former professional baseball player
15,000 – Estimated number of people who attended the Belmont on Broadway free concert event on Wednesday, June 5
$125,748,941 – The total handle for Belmont Stakes Day, a New York Racing Association (NYRA) record for a non-Triple Crown year
300% – Increase in the usual amount of alcohol provided to the Saratoga Race Course by beverage distributors
Fox Sports horse racing analyst Acacia Clement hosts the Belmont Draw Show at the Universal Preservation Hall in Saratoga Springs on Monday, June 3. Image via the New York Racing Association livestream of the event.
SARATOGA SPRINGS — The Belmont Stakes Draw Show was held at the Universal Preservation Hall in Saratoga Springs on Monday evening. The event, hosted by Fox Sports horse racing analyst Acacia Clement, was live streamed by the New York Racing Association (NYRA).
“This event serves as a kick off to a truly historic week in Saratoga Springs,” Clement said.
Post positions for the Belmont Stakes, in order of their announcement, were as follows:
2 – Resilience 1 – Seize the Grey 6 – Dornoch 9 – Sierra Leone 4 – The Wine Steward 5 – Antiquarian 7 – Protective 8 – Honor Marie 10 – Mindframe 3 – Mystik Dan
Photo via Saratoga Athletics social media accounts.
SARATOGA SPRINGS — The Saratoga Springs varsity girls lacrosse team captured its second-straight Section 2, Class A sectional title last week against Colonie Central, 11 to 10.
The Blue Streaks had a come-from-behind victory, scoring four goals after being down 10 to 7.
“The girls definitely felt they had what it took to win sectionals again and used defending their title as their motivation,” Coach Jennifer Furze told Saratoga TODAY.
After capturing the sectional championships, Saratoga advanced to the regional finals, where they faced the Suffern Mounties last Saturday afternoon in Queensbury. Heading into the contest, Furze said her team was “confident, hungry” and eager to beat Suffern after losing to them last year.
“Strategic game play will be important against this team,” Furze said. “They love to drown the clock. They played keep-away for much of the second half on us last year. I would love to give them a taste of their own medicine.”
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In the anticipated matchup, Suffern scored four goals early, forcing the Blue Streaks to play catchup. Much like their victory in sectionals, Saratoga rallied late. But this time, it wasn’t enough. Suffern took the regional title, 10 to 8.
During the game, Saratoga senior Carly Wise netted her 300th career goal.
Coach Jennifer Furze said her team attributed its success this season to several different factors. “We focus on positives every day, ending each practice by listing three positive take-aways. We communicate well and keep composure during stressful game situations. We support one another and spend time taking care of our mental conditioning as well as our physical.”
It was a memorable and emotional season for the Blue Streaks lacrosse team. Last month, they paid tribute to Olivia Allen, a recent Saratoga grad who succumbed to leukemia in March. Coach Furze’s daughter was close friends with Allen.
“A team that fought to the very end,” read a message posted to the team’s social media account. “We are so proud of our [lacrosse] fam and honored to be called a Blue Streak. We had many victories this season and continue to stay united.”
Ballston Spa wrestling champion Mia Collins poses with State Senator Jim Tedisco and Assemblywoman Mary Beth Walsh. Photo provided by Adam Kramer.
ALBANY — State Senator Jim Tedisco and Assemblywoman Mary Beth Walsh celebrated Mia Collins, a girls wrestling state champion from Ballston Spa High School, earlier this week at the State Capitol in Albany. Collins was presented with a copy of a legislative resolution that honored her championship season.
Collins, a junior, captured the 2024 New York State Public High School Athletic Association Girls Wrestling Championship title in the 132-pound Division over top-seeded Alexa Doxey of Newfane High School at the Syracuse Research Corporation Arena and Events Center in January.
Prior to the final match, Mia recorded a 38-second pin in her first match; a reversal with 17 seconds remaining to win a 6-4 decision in her quarterfinal bout, and then put together a second-period pin in the semifinals.
Mia’s victory capped off an undefeated regular season record of 10-0. She was the first New York State Girls Wrestling Champion from Ballston Spa High School.
In light of her recent accomplishments, Mia Collins has garnered a National ranking of eighth in her weight class.
Players from Saratoga Springs and Colonie run the bases during the 10th annual Challenger Baseball Game, held at the West Side Recreation Park in Saratoga. Photo by Super Source Media.
SARATOGA SPRINGS — More than 150 spectators attended the 10th annual Saratoga Springs Little League Challenger Baseball game at the West Side Recreation Park last Saturday night.
The game had a cheering section of special education teachers, physical therapists, speech therapists, and occupational therapy assistants.
Derrick Legal, President of the Saratoga Little League, said the Challenger Division was the brainchild of Paul Salway, a prior board member. Since the program’s launch a decade ago, more than 40 players and families from across Saratoga County have enrolled every year. The program provides an opportunity for players with differing abilities to play baseball.
Robert Kelly, District Coordinator for Special Education at the Saratoga Springs City School District, said his goal is to send a team to Williamsport, Pennsylvania, where the Little League World Series is held. “Our players and families are great and will work hard to accomplish this goal together,” Kelly said.
Fox Sports racing analyst Maggie Wolfendale reports live from a paddock. Photo via Pottheiser Photo/New York Racing Association.
SARATOGA SPRINGS — Fox Sports will be providing full coverage of this year’s Belmont Stakes Racing Festival at the Saratoga Race Course. The broadcast will be split across several channels, including Fox, FS1, and FS2. The action can also be streamed live on the Fox Sports app and FoxSports.com.
Frank Mirahmadi, who announces the annual summer meet at Saratoga, will call the Belmont Stakes. He’ll also announce all other races airing on Fox from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Saturday, June 8.
Thursday, June 6
Full coverage of the first day of the Belmont Stakes Racing Festival will air on FS2 from 12:30 p.m. until 6 p.m.
Friday, June 7
Coverage for day two will be split across two networks: FS2 and FS1. Tune in to FS2 for coverage from 12 p.m. until 6 p.m., then switch over to FS1 for additional coverage from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Saturday, June 8
Belmont Stakes Day will be aired across three networks: FS1 (10:30 a.m. – 4 p.m.), Fox (4 p.m. – 7 p.m.), and FS2 (7 p.m. – 8:10 p.m.)
Beginning at 4 p.m., Fox’s pre-race show will be anchored by Curt Menefee, multiple Grade 1-winning trainer Tom Amoss, and retired jockey Richard Migliore. Also providing coverage will be Fox Sports wagering expert Chris “The Bear” Fallica, handicapper Jonathon Kinchen, Emmy Award-winning reporter Tom Rinaldi, and racing analyst Maggie Wolfendale.
Sunday, June 9
The final day of the festival will be broadcast on FS2 from 12:30 p.m. until 3 p.m., then FS1 from 3 p.m. until 4 p.m. Coverage will conclude on FS2 from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.
