SARATOGA SPRINGS — On Wednesday, June 3, Saratoga Springs hosted Fitz and the Tantrums as the headliner to the final Belmont on Broadway Concert. A multi- platinum selling indie-pop group boasting over 10 million monthly listeners on Spotify. The band performed their hits like “Out of My League” and “Hand Clap” while also mixing in songs from their new album “Man on The Moon.”
Vertical Horizon, an alternative
rock band, got the festivities rocking at 7 p.m. playing hits like “Everything You Want” and “You’re a God.”
The Belmont on Broadway festival started three years ago coinciding with the Belmont StakesmovingtoSaratogaRace Couse while Belmont Park was under construction. The event was first headlined by the Blues Travelers in 2024, and then Gin Blossoms in 2025.
This year’s event was the biggest attendance to date according to those on Facebook. The audience stretched as far as the eye can see down Broadway.
What started as an event to drum up excitement for the Belmont Stakes ended as an event locals don’t want to let go. Commenters on Facebook are asking for the concerts to continue after the Belmont Stakes goes back downstate. “I would love to see something like this continue beyond Saratoga hosting the Belmont,” said one Facebook account.
WILTON — The Saratoga Wilton Soccer Club’s (SWSC) U15 boys team recently qualified for nationals in Colorado. Forty years ago, when the club was founded, it served a local rec team. Now director of coaching Brad Campion says, “we have outgrown where we are at.”
There are pathways for everyone in the community from kids looking to get active to kids looking to continue their career in college. More importantly, Campion says is “how are we raising good human beings?”
Campion was hired as the director of coaching after the 2020 pandemic where the club saw a boost in players. At the time a lot of clubs of all sports around the community stopped competing. However, the players, coaches and parents of SWSC collectively decided to continue to play by wearing masks based on safety information at the time. SWSC gave kids an outlet during the isolating times of the pandemic.
Recently SWSC has enlisted in new national youth soccer leagues for their boys and girl teams. The boys will compete in the Eliete Academy League; the girls will compete in the National One League, affiliated with U.S. soccer. Both leagues allow for players interested in college soccer a pathway.
In accordance with SWSC’ wholistic approach, rec teams and multiple club teams at each age group give kids of all levels an opportunity to get involved with youth soccer. “We are trying to be a place for everyone, and we can be a place for everyone,” said president of SWSC, Richie Snyder.
“We want families to know they have a good soccer product in a five to ten minuet drive,” said Campion. “We don’t want to handcuff players and parents to the car.”
Tryouts for the rec teams and travel teams are coming up from June 15 through June 23. Visit saratogawiltonsoccerclub.com for specific age group dates and times.
Schuylerville — On Saturday, June 6, Schuylerville Lacrosse beat Potsdam in the New York State Public High School Athletic Association Class D boys lacrosse championship regional round. The Schuylerville Horses beat the Sandstoners in overtime 11-10.
Schuylerville heads to SUNY Cortland to face Marcellus on Thursday, June 11 in the semi-finals. The team could face the winner of Bronxville and Cold Spring Harbor in the final at Hobart and William Smith College on Sunday, June 14.
SARATOGA SPRINGS —Saratoga High School golfer, Francisco Cupp finished fourth in the New York State Public High School Athletic Association (NYSPHSAA) boys golf championship. Cupp qualified for the New York State Federation Tournament on Sunday, June 14 at Bethpage Black Golf Course.
Only in nineth grade, his coach Jake Zanetti has high praise for the young athlete: “Francisco is an awesome golfer, and an even better person; wise beyond his years, super polite and respectful, and an all-round solid individual. He’s an extremely hard worker and has an extremely high ceiling for success on and off the course”
“He’s been with the Saratoga Golf Program for 3 seasons already and undoubtedly will continue to make a name for himself in the League, the Section, the State, and beyond,” added Coach Zanetti.
SARATOGA SPRINGS — Saratoga Springs Softball beat Cicero-North Syracuse in a shut-out win on Friday, June 5. The Bluestreaks outlasted the Northstars to make it to the semifinals of the New York State High School Athletic Association Class AAA Championships.
Runs in the first and sixth inning secured the win in the seventh inning. The win improves the team’s record to 10-12 on the season.
The Bluestreaks continue their playoff run on Friday, June 12 against Lancaster at Greenlight Networks Grand Slam Park, in Binghamton.
SARATOGA SPRINGS — Saratoga Central Catholic baseball beat Chapel Christian Academy in the regional round of the Class C championships on Saturday, June 6. It was a blowout victory for the Saints with a dominant 7-0 scoreline.
Carson Moser, Pierce Byrne, and Luke Dejnozka combined on the mound for a no-hit shutout. Moser had a dominant performance in the batter’s box, going 4-4 with two doubles and one run scored.
The Saints are set to travel to Binghamton for the semi-final on Friday, June 12, and the final is set for the next day. The team is looking to win back-to-back State Championships.
Golden Tempo running in the 2026 Belmont Stakes at Saratoga Race Course. Photo courtesy of NYRA.
For the third and final year of the Belmont Stakes at Saratoga Race Course, Golden Tempo took first place on Saturday, June 6. Trainer Cherie DeVaux, born in Saratoga Springs, becomes the first and only woman to train a winner of multiple Triple Crown races.
Golden Tempo turned heads at the Kentucky Derby, earning first place at 23-1 odds. Owner Daisy Phipps Pulito said after the race, “Obviously, there were doubters after the Derby, like Cherie said, we were very confident with the kind of horse we had going into the Derby and going into the Belmont. I’m glad everyone else got to see that today, too.”
Owner Phillips Pulito and Trainer DeVaux decided not to run Golden Tempo in the Preakness, the second race of the prestigious Tripple Crown. “I do think we made the right decision. I don’t think we’d have the same horse if we did run back in two weeks,” said DeVaux.
Atop Golden Tempo was seasoned jockey Jose Ortiz, who holds a personal Triple Crown. Ortiz won the Kentucky Derby/Kentucky Oaks double and his second career Belmont Stakes this year. Speaking on Ortiz’s knowhow, DeVaux said, “Jose found himself at the back of the pack, but he was going to be wide if he didn’t tuck in, which I was pleased with that. Jose just rode him super confidently. He knew he had a lot of horse under him, and at the top of the stretch, he had him in a position to make that run, and Golden Tempo did the rest.”
For the final showing of the Belmont Stakes at Saratoga, it seems fitting a connection to the prestigious racecourse. As for what’s next for Golden Tempo, “Obviously, the Travers is going to be our next big goal,” said DeVaux. “he’s going to have to take a step forward. And he proved that. So, he’s a horse that we are very excited about.”
James Stewart With Butters. Photo provided by Brendan Kennedy
SARATOGA SPRINGS — Local director John Wager and Executive producer Jay Hanley are gearing up to premier their new film, “Angels Among Us: The Healing Power of Racehorses” at film festivals. The film dives into how racehorses can be an unlikely companion after their racing days, helping people from all walks of life deal with personal battles.
“Angels Among Us” comes from leftover footage of Wager and Hanley’s previous film, “Off-Track: Fate of a Racehorse,” after they realized there was a different story to tell. “Off-Track is about the need to take care of the horses after they are done racing, Angels Among Us is about how the horses take care of us,” said Hanley.
Hanley is a Thoroughbred owner who got involved with “Off-Track” because he wanted to learn more about what happens to racehorses after their career ends. His affiliation for racehorses began in his youth when his grandfather took him to Saratoga Race Course every summer. “Horses are beautiful, magical beings, I want current horse owners to see it and respect it.”
Wager has a history of exploring different avenues of healing. He previously directed a movie called “Comedy Warriors,” a documentary featuring five severely wounded war veterans who go onto careers in stand-up comedy. The veterans are coached by celebrities like Zach Galifianakis and Bob Saget and culminate with the veterans performing at comedy clubs in Las Vegas.
When Wager was asked why he is drawn to ways of healing, he said: “Life is hard, life is amazing and wonderful, you have dips. As we go through life, we find things that help us. That fascinates me, it’s not tangible.”
“Angels Among Us” follows three people aided by horses; Joan Perelta, an incarcerated individual in the Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation second chance program, Emma Cookman, a young woman dealing with stress and anxiety, and James Stewart, an Iraq war veteran dealing with PTSD.
The horses help these individuals deal with whatever challenges they may be going through.
In the case of Stewart, he came home from combat in Iraq to a divorce and a life he did not recognize prior to going overseas. Meeting Butters, a horse with the Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation, gave Stewart a second chance at life.
“Had I not come to Saratoga in 2013 I would not be free. But because of being paired with Butter I am free,” Stewart said in the film.
“I wish I could show my friends this film, you don’t have to be angry, you don’t have to drink,” said Stewart. “I can only hope someday that someone can pick up the ball and start a program like this, there are thousands of us that need a horse.”
SARATOGA SPRINGS —Local Saratoga Springs artist, Jeanne O’Connor, is set to premiere her new jazz album “The Sweetest Sounds” at Caffe Lena on Friday, July 3. During the sneak peek, CDs will be available ahead of an early 2027 release on streaming services.
Joining O’Connor on stage is guitarist Dave Stryker, drummer Bob Halek, bassist Todd Coolman, pianist John Di Martino and vocalist Amy London.
O’Connor started conceptualizing this album during her second fight with cancer in 2023. After enduring her battle, she was able to get into the studio in May of 2025 to start recording.
“Medianoche (for Don)” the second song off her sophomore album is a tribute to her late husband, Don Grolnick. Grolnick is a legend of the jazz world, who recorded with greats like James Taylor and Linda Rondstadt.
This album represents O’Connor’s continuing search for new sounds that bring old works into a new life. “I’m looking back, but I’m also looking forward to what’s still waiting to be discovered. To find something new in the harmony, the lyric, or the rhythm of these wonderful songs,” says O’Connor.
Audience members will be able to hear songs from the ’40s, like “My Ship” and “Baltimore Oriole,” alongside ’60s hits like Laura Nyro’s “Save the Country” and Jimmy Webb’s “Wichita Lineman” in a new style presented by O’Connor.
In anticipation of her performance at Caffe Lena, O’Connor remarks, “It is one of the jewels of Saratoga. A place where they really appreciate musicians and artists; a place where people listen.” For tickets and more information, visit: caffelena.org/event/jeanne-oconnor-the-sweetest-sounds-exclusive-pre-release-concert/.
BALLSTON SPA —Meredith Motors has been slowly expanding over the last 10+ years at their location in Ballston Spa. Most recently they introduced a service department to their used car lot.
The Gould brothers graduated from SUNY Courtland with degrees in physical education. After graduation they realized their degrees didn’t suit their ambitions. Jeff Gould got his first job as a used car manager at Mohawk Honda and after leaving that position, started his own business.
They bought the lot where Meredith Motors sits off Route 67 back in 2012. At that time a rental property sat adjacent to the car lot. When the rental property burned down in 2017, they decided to expand the lot to consume the area where the house had sat. Slow and steady growth is the name of the game for the Gould brothers.
Last year Meredith Motors added a service department for their customers. “We are not here to gouge people. If it’s not broken, we won’t fix it,” said Gould.
As the doors open to new service customers, Gould remains clear on what won’t change. “We’re growing, but we’re not changing who we are,” he says. “Whether someone is buying a car or coming in for brake work, the goal is the same: honest service, fair pricing, and a relationship they can rely on.”
