All Over Albany

Colonel John wins Travers, Democratic candidates for McNulty's nod heads, local sewer systems need help, California produce shipments to start soon, Round Lake protects its organ

Colonel John won the Travers this past weekend, beating out Mambo in Seattle by a nose. The canoe in the infield pond has already been painted the colors of Colonel John's silks, green and white. Almost 41,000 people showed up for the Travers this year, and bet almost $8.3 million (the total with off-track betting $37 million). [TU] [Saratogian] [CBS6]

The Saratoga PD had double the normal number of cops on the street Saturday night to handle the post-Travers crowd, in fine form after 12 hours of drinking. One guy pushed a police horse several times before being arrested for disorderly conduct and resisting arrest. [Daily Gazette]

The Democratic candidates for the 21st Congressional District (McNulty's seat) agreed on many topics last night at a debate: opposition to off-shore drilling, investment in renewable energy, sign stealing is bad. They disagreed on: a carbon tax, whether Tonko supported energy deregulation, whether Tracey Brooks was a lobbyist. [TU] [Daily Gazette]

The US Olympic synchronized swimming team, co-captained by Troy's Kim Probst, finished fifth in Beijing. [Troy Record]

The state Department of Environmental Conservation says New York has plenty of fresh water -- whether we can keep our sewer systems from polluting it is another matter. The state reports that local sewer systems need $50 billion of upgrades over the next 20 years. [Daily Gazette]

An extra track has been built at the Rotterdam Corporate Park to accommodate produce shipments from California that are expected to start arriving next month. The shipments should lower prices for produce in supermarkets here, though eat local proponents question the wisdom of shipping in fruits and vegetables from the other side of the country. [TU]

Skidmore says it boycotted the "reputational" survey portion of this year's US News & World Report college rankings. That survey asks college leaders what they think about other schools. (how local colleges ranked) [Daily Gazette]

The Round Lake Auditorium is getting a new roof. The town was worried leaks might endanger the building's historic pipe organ. [Daily Gazette]