The New York Racing Association prepared college students for the upcoming academic year by awarding $8,000 in scholarships on the third annual College Day at Saratoga Race Course.

The series of $1,000 scholarships was awarded to eligible college students following each race held July 29.

“It is our sincere pleasure to reward these hardworking students with not only a day at the races, but the means necessary to ensure a bright academic future,” said NYRA executive vice president and COO Hal Handel in a statement. “We hope our efforts help get students off on the right foot during the new school year.”

The following students were selected from a random drawing of entries to receive scholarships: Shaina Bass of Russell Sage College; Angela Bernarde of Sage Graduate Schools; Andrew Carr of Skidmore College; Brad Duncan of Cape Fear Community College; Joseph Gelina, Jr. of Hudson Valley Community College; Carly Hoorwitz of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute; Melissa Imondi of the State University of New York at Albany; Leo Nizzi of Hamilton College; and Tim Vanasdale of Clarkson University.

The Race for Education, a non-profit organization that provides educational programs and college scholarships to students in the equine and agriculture industry, underwrote one of the $1,000 scholarships awarded on College Day.