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Mission Accomplished: Local Pinball Player Opens Interactive Museum

Written by Jonathon Norcross on . Posted in Business, Featured.


Arcade Archaeology logo and pinball machines photo provided by
Lonnie Linen.

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Eight months ago, Saratoga TODAY chronicled the efforts of one local pinball enthusiast to open an interactive museum where guests could play the silver ball on dozens of collectible machines. On Friday, Lonnie Linen’s plans will come to fruition.

June 20 is the soft opening of Arcade Archaeology, an interactive pinball museum at the Aviation Mall in Queensbury. The opening coincides with Saratoga Silverball’s 5th annual pinball show.

Linen picked the location due to its proximity to both Saratoga Springs and Lake George, hoping to reel in the summer crowds. He was also impressed with the mall’s foot traffic; and a generous offer from the mall’s manager helped seal the deal.

Now, Linen is working tirelessly with a small band of collaborators to get the museum up and running. But it’s no easy feat. The 3,600-square-foot space is set to include around 50 different pinball games (with at least 40 of them being playable), including new additions to Linen’s collection: “Indiana Jones,” “Addams Family,” and “Space Jam” machines. Linen said the first two would become “crown jewel” centerpieces of the museum.

“Having an Indiana Jones and an Addams Family really takes us to the next level,” Linen said.

A pre-owned Indiana Jones machine costs somewhere in the range of $17,000. The game includes 12 different modes that are based on scenes from the original film trilogy. Parts of John Williams’ score accompany the action, as does original voicework performed by actor John Rhys-Davies, who played the character Sallah in the Steven Spielberg-directed movies.

The Addams Family is considered the most commercially successful pinball machine of all time, selling more than 20,000 units across the globe. The gameplay includes “exploring” the ghoulish family’s mansion while trying to open a bookcase that exposes a vault entrance.

Linen’s sizable collection also includes the 1980s medieval fantasy-themed “Sorcerer,” the rare “Deadly Weapon,” the classic “Fish Tales,” “Spectra IV” (a square-shaped cocktail game that spins around), “Caveman” (a pinball machine with a video game inside it), and the ultra-rare “Safety Zone.”

“We’ll feature stuff from basically the entire history of pinball,” Linen said. “All the way from 1934 to 2024. 90 years of pinball.”

When museum visitors arrive to play some of these games, Linen plans to offer them $5 worth of tokens included with their $10 admission fee. These tokens will allow guests to play games priced around .25¢ or .50¢ a pop.

“For the $5, you could probably spend about an hour or two there,” Linen said. “I think that would be the perfect balance.”

The aim of the new museum, beyond allowing visitors to admire and play pinball machines, is to capture the “joyful essence” and bring back the “retro nostalgia” that Linen said is lacking at many arcades and entertainment centers around the country.

“I just want people to be able to play classic games and enjoy them with their kids and their families,” he said.

Arcade Archaeology has its soft opening on Friday, June 20, with an official grand opening likely occurring sometime in July. For now, the museum will be open on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.

Homelessness Takes Center Stage at City Council Meeting

Written by Aidan Cahill on . Posted in Featured, News.

It was both a somber and celebratory night at the latest Saratoga Springs City Council meeting. 

The meeting took place on Jun 17. During the meeting, topics such as homelessness, a parade to honor Saratoga’s Baseball team and a new police horse took priority. City Council also held a moment of silence for two lawmakers recently killed in Minnesota. 

Homelessness

Homelessness was on everyone’s mind during the public comment portion of the meeting. All but two of the residents who spoke expressed concerns about what the city is doing to help the homeless population. 

Most of those who spoke advocated for low barrier homeless shelters and expressed concerns over an ordinance in the works that they worried would criminalize homelessness in the City of Saratoga Springs. 

The ordinance in question — entitled “Camping prohibited on certain public property” — would replace an ordinance passed in 2016 sought to prevent people from obstructing public sidewalks by sitting or laying in them. While Commissioner of Public Safety Tim Coll told reporters that the ordinance hadn’t been finalized yet, he did give some hint as to what it would look like during the meeting. 

Coll said the ordinance on the books right now isn’t enforced due to court rulings as well as being too vague for officers to properly enforce. The new ordinance would model one that was implemented by Grants Pass Oregon and upheld by the U.S. Supreme Court in 2024. 

“In substance, the new ordinance is going to say you can’t camp in a public parking garage, a public parking lot, a public gazebo or a public sidewalk,” Coll said. 

Coll said the new ordinance would specifically outline what camping materials entailed and expressed his views that it is “not humane” to allow people to live on the street. He also said the ordinance came after hearing from the business community who worried about the safety of their employees, particularly at night. 

Commissioner of Finance Minita Sanghvi also spoke on the topic, clarifying that while the city paid for homeless shelters, it was not something that fell within their charter responsibilities. Instead, according to Commissioner Sanghvi, it was typically the responsibility of the county. 

Mayor John Safford also spoke, expressing his concern for the over 100 children facing homelessness in Saratoga Springs. 

A hearing on the proposed ordinance is set for July 1.

Police Department Gets a New Horse

A lease on a new police horse was approved at the meeting. The horse, named Sly, will be a familiar face to officers as it’s the same one they had to rescue from a frozen pond back in February. The 23-year-old horse has been leased free of charge to the department with the department just having to cover vet bills. 

According to Coll, the horse will help supplement the department at a time when one of their other horses, named Appollo, is set to retire due to old age. 

Parade for Baseball Teams Planned

Two of Saratoga’s baseball teams will receive a parade this coming week. The Saratoga Springs High School baseball team and the Saratoga Central Catholic School Baseball teams are both state champions this year — winning the titles on the same day. While certain details still need to be ironed out, according to city council the plan is for the parade to be on Broadway from Congress Park to Saratoga Springs City Hall on June 25. 

While there had been some discussion of the parade taking place on the sidewalk, the council was in agreement that a parade through the street would be more appropriate. 

Other Items of Note. 

Other items on the agenda for the meeting included a presentation on needed changes to the main Department of Public Works garage, the withdrawal of multiple ordinances regarding updated city employee pay due to the need to discuss them further and several jokes made by city council members about the lamas which followed them during the recent Flag Day Parade. 

Ballston Spa Student-Athletes, Wrestling Champ Celebrated 

Written by Jonathon Norcross on . Posted in Featured, Sports.


Ballston Spa High School student-athletes were honored during the school’s annual college athlete recognition ceremony on June 3. Photo by Jonathon Norcross.

BALLSTON SPA — Dozens of Ballston Spa High School student-athletes were honored during an annual college athlete recognition ceremony on June 3, including state wrestling champion Mia Collins. 

34 students were recognized in total, including athletes headed to Division I, II, and III schools. Six of them were three-sport athletes and 13 were two-sport athletes. Collectively, the group had a cumulative grade point average of 92%.

During the ceremony, State Senator Jim Tedisco and Assemblywoman Mary Beth Walsh honored Collins, the New York State 132-pound division wrestling champ. Collins is currently ranked eighth nationally in her weight class.

“Mia Collins is a trailblazer and a tremendous student scholar athlete whose state championship victory capped off an undefeated regular season record of 10-0, along with being the first New York State Girls Wrestling Champion from Ballston Spa High School,” Tedisco said. “With Mia being only a junior, I have a feeling her already incredible athletic career is just getting started.”

“I’m incredibly proud to see Mia reach yet another milestone in her athletic career,” added Walsh. “Maintaining a 98 grade point average as a senior and excelling at a sport as she has is an amazing accomplishment. I can’t wait to see what other glass ceilings Mia will shatter as she furthers her education at Columbia over the next four years. Who knows, maybe we’ll see her on ESPN or at the Olympics before her college career is done.”

Below is a list of the student-athletes honored at the ceremony, as well as the higher education institutions they’ll be attending:

Declan Bain — SUNY New Paltz, soccer

Jessica Bowens — Hartwick College, basketball

Gabrielle Bozeth — Marist College, track & field

Kaleigh Capasso — Vermont State University at Castleton,         volleyball

Mia Collins — Columbia University, wrestling

Nicholas Commisso — Hudson Valley Community College,                           
        baseball

Matthew Cook — SUNY Brockport, lacrosse

Brayson Cornick — Southern Connecticut State University,
        football

Emily Dierna — Loyola University of Maryland, crew

Kyle Fives — Mount St. Mary College, baseball

Kate Fletcher — Westfield State University, lacrosse

Ayla Hathaway — Lasell University, soccer

James Haughton — University of Rhode Island, baseball

Devin Hemraj — University of Buffalo, track & field

Nathan Hill — Stevens Institute of Technology, baseball

Kala’i Leahey-Makanani — University of Buffalo, track & field

Mariana Lefco — Massachusetts Maritime Academy, soccer

Nicholas Leonard — Pace University, football

Matthew Meerdink — Worcester Polytech Institute,
        track/cross country

Mariah Nowicki — SUNY Plattsburgh, soccer

William O’Connor — Hartwick College, football

Anthony O’Leary — SUNY Brockport, swimming

Isabella O’Leary — SUNY Oneonta, lacrosse

Madelyn Perrone — Mercy University, softball

Caleigh Richards — Hartwick College, basketball

Aidan Ryan — Utica College, football

Nicholas Sorbera — Barton College, baseball

Mallory Sprissler — Alfred State College, basketball

McKenna Szmarz — Fredonia State University, soccer

Ally Teitsch — Norwich University, cross country

Livia Wiltsie — Marist College, softball

Petrina Zborovszky — University of Buffalo, track & field

Anna Zito — Endicott College, soccer

Shania Twain Donates 100,000 Meals to Locals in Need

Written by Saratoga TODAY on . Posted in Entertainment, Featured.


Photo of Shania Twain provided.

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Shania Twain, one of the best-selling musicians of all time, and her Shania Twain Foundation are donating $25,000 to the Regional Food Bank of Northeastern New York, providing meals for 100,000 people. The gift is part of Twain’s commitment to donate to local food banks at every stop of her tour, which includes a July 20 performance at the Saratoga Performing Arts Center (SPAC).

“At the Shania Twain Foundation, we believe everyone deserves access to nutritious food,” Twain said in a news release. “These donations to the Regional Food Bank of Northeastern NY will provide direct support throughout the region. We can make a meaningful impact across the country by helping to ensure that food banks are well stocked and, in turn, uplift people in every city we visit this summer.”

The Shania Twain Foundation is dedicated to improving the lives of children and families facing poverty and food insecurity. The foundation supports programs across North America that provide access to food, education, mental well-being, and other resources for underserved communities.

Old World Gourmet Market Opens in Wilton

Written by Jonathon Norcross on . Posted in Business, Featured.


The Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce hosted a ribbon cutting to celebrate the grand opening of Old World Gourmet Market in Wilton on June 11. Photo by Jonathon Norcross.

WILTON — Just hours after its doors first opened, the Old World Gourmet Market in Wilton was packed with customers hoping to get first dibs on the specialty grocery store’s extensive selections of pastas, tomato sauces, olive oils, steaks, sandwiches, and store-made ravioli.

The space on Route 50, formerly occupied by Pier 1, has a distinct Italian-American feel but also offers culinary products familiar to Ireland, Greece, and Spain, among other European and Middle Eastern destinations (not to mention some products closer to home, such as New York and Vermont).

“There’s not a lick of Italian in me, but I’ve been waiting for this to open,” Andrea Mulholland of the Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce told Old World’s owners Maria and John Biagini at the grand opening on Wednesday morning. “This has great potential here in the Town of Wilton and I’m very excited for you.”

The Biaginis were New York City-based horse racing fans who frequented the Spa City before deciding to relocate here. Eager to bring the tastes of downstate to upstate, they are making their dough with New York City water, an ingredient many say is crucial in creating New York-tasting bagels and breads.

Old World Gourmet Market is now open for business at 3078 Route 50 in Wilton.

Malta Honors Its Vets

Written by Aidan Cahill on . Posted in Featured, News.


58 bricks were unveiled in the ceremony. Proceeds from the sale go to support the efforts of the Malta Veterans Appreciation Program. 

The Town of Malta and the Malta Veterans Appreciation Program honored its veterans and unveiled new additions to its veterans memorial in a recent ceremony outside the town building. 

The ceremony took place at the David T.  Wallingford Veteran Park on Route Nine, outside the Town of Malta town hall. The ceremony featured State Senator James Tedisco (NY-40) and New York Assemblywoman Carrie Woerner who both spoke at the event. 

The program unveiled 58 bricks at the memorial. Each brick was purchased by community members to honor a specific veteran or to support the work of program and show appreciation for veterans in the Malta area. Proceeds from the sale of the bricks help the program continue their work with veterans. 

During the ceremony, Sen. Tedisco awarded the organization the Senate’s Empire Award for their work with veterans. In addition, Assemblywoman Woerner presented a resolution honoring David Wallingford to his widow. Wallingford was a Vietnam War veteran and active member of the Malta community who died in March. 

In his remarks, Tedisco praised the veterans and the work of the Wallingford family for their work in the community. Similar remarks were made by Assemblywoman Woerner who highlighted the work of veterans in the community including the Wallingford family. 


State Senator James Tedisco (left) presents the Empire Award to Rennee Farley (center) and Town Supervisor Cynthia Young (right).
Photos by Aidan Cahill

“When the history of New York is written and people go into the law books to look at who were the leaders of our era, they will find David T Wallingford as one as one of the people who shaped our state and community,” Assemblywoman Woerner said. 

Rennee Farley, Chairperson of the Malta Veterans Appreciation Program said the program started in 2016 as a way to give back to veterans in the community.  They took over the monument in 2017 and have been expanding it ever since. 

Beyond the monument, Farley said the program works to meet veterans needs no matter what they need. 

“In just this year, we’ve already done four roofs, completely replaced two floors, we’ve done a handicap ramp, fixed two vehicles and a lot of groceries,” Farley said. “We don’t just try to fix them temporarily; we try to fix them permanently.” 

Farley said the program works with other organizations to find those permanent solutions while they work on the immediate problems. They also help veterans find homes through their Homes for Hometown Heroes program. 

Farley highlighted the work they do and encouraged others to donate not just money but time as well through volunteering 

“There something for everyone,” Farley said. “If someone says, ‘ I love my country, I love our soldiers, I wish I knew what to do,’ call me because I know what needs to be done.” 

A dog takes shelter from the heat in the shade. Senator Tedisco joked during the ceremony that if the town of Malta doesn’t want it to rain, it doesn’t rain.
Assemblywoman Woerner hugs Helene Wallingford after presenting her a resolution honoring her late husband.

Fire Breaks Out at Ballston Spa Gas Station

Written by Aidan Cahill on . Posted in Featured, News.

A gas station in Ballston Spa has been damaged after a large fire engulfed several pumps and at least two vehicles.

Crews from multiple jurisdictions were dispatched to the scene of USA Gas at the intersection of routes 50 and 67. Ballston Spa Fire Captain Mike Coffey said the call was dispatched at around 10:24 a.m.

The fire caused portions of State Route 50, State Route 67 and Ballston Ave to close for a short time, according to the Saratoga County Sheriff’s Office. Several people had minor injuries, however no serious injuries were reported.

At least 10 agencies responded to the blaze including Union Fire Company, Eagle Matt Lee Fire Department and Saratoga Springs Department. The Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigations Unit and the Saratoga County Cause and Origin Team are currently investigating the blaze

While the cause of the fire is under investigation, gas station owner Erin Ozbay said the pumps had received their tri-annual inspection in the last few weeks.

  • Crews were dispatched at 10:24 a.m. (Aidan Cahill/Saratoga TODAY)
  • (Aidan Cahill/Saratoga TODAY)
  • Gas station owner Erin Ozbay speaks to the media after the fire ((Aidan Cahill/Saratoga TODAY)
  • (Aidan Cahill/Saratoga TODAY)
  • Over 10 agencies responded to the blaze (Aidan Cahill/Saratoga TODAY)
  • (Aidan Cahill/Saratoga TODAY)
  • The Cause of the fire is still under investigation (Aidan Cahill/Saratoga TODAY)
  • (Aidan Cahill/Saratoga TODAY)
  • (Aidan Cahill/Saratoga TODAY)

Saratoga Tennis Players Make History, Head to State Championships

Written by Jonathon Norcross on . Posted in Featured, Sports.


Saratoga Springs varsity tennis players Ian Hill, Kevin Rosas, Liam Chartrand, and Ryan Clancy at their high school’s tennis courts during a practice session on Monday afternoon. Photo by Jonathon Norcross.

SARATOGA SPRINGS — For the first time in Saratoga Springs High School history, two of its varsity tennis doubles teams will compete in the state championships at the iconic USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Queens, home of the US Open. 

On Monday afternoon, doubles partners Ian Hill and Kevin Rosas (who finished 2nd in the Section 2 tournament last week) and Liam Chartrand and Ryan Clancy (who placed third) were participating in one of many practice sessions leading up to their trip to New York City, working on their volleys.  

“It’s incredible,” Chartrand said about playing at Billie Jean King. “Playing on those courts is like night and day. You get to play on courts that professional players play on and you get to play in front of kids from every single high school combined. It’s a bigger stage.”

“You’re surrounded by seats so it’ll echo,” Hill said. “It’s really loud when you hit the ball.”

“Yeah, that’s another big part,” added Chartrand. “When you hit a serve, it echoes for about a second after. It’s kind of crazy.”

The booming Blue Streak serves can be heard during this weekend’s tournament, when first-round doubles action kicks off on Friday morning. There are only four doubles teams representing Section 2, and two of them hail from the Spa City. 

The tournament is poised to be a memorable final hurrah for Hill, Rosas, Chartrand, and Clancy, all of whom are seniors who have been playing at the varsity level for at least five years.

“I think we know that the competition is going to be harder than we’ve ever played against. I know that there are kids in there that are committed to some top colleges; there are some top players in that tournament. But we don’t have any pressure on ourselves, because our whole goal was to get to states,” Chartrand said.

Nonetheless, the Blue Streaks still firmly believe they could upset one of those top teams if they play to the best of their abilities. In this historic season, anything is possible.

The Big Belmont Preview:Post Draw, Predictions, Policies, Performers

Written by Jonathon Norcross on . Posted in Featured, Sports.

ARATOGA SPRINGS — Decorated storefronts. A free concert downtown. Green banners on lamp posts, everywhere you look. Even a limited-edition Stewart’s ice cream flavor. It’s all in celebration of what has finally arrived: the Belmont Stakes Racing Festival, which has returned to the Saratoga Race Course for only the second time in history.

The third leg of the Triple Crown will feature a rematch between Sovereignty and Journalism, the first and second place finishers (respectively) in this year’s Kentucky Derby. While Sovereignty skipped the Preakness Stakes, Journalism instead ran and won it. With one leg of the Triple Crown apiece, the two horses now aim to settle the score at the Spa.

Post Draw & Predictions

The live post draw show, hosted at a bedazzled and champagne-stocked Universal Preservation Hall (UPH) on Monday, resulted in the following field:

1. Hill Road (10-1)

2. Sovereignty (2-1)

3. Rodriguez (6-1)

4. Uncaged (30-1)

5. Crudo (15-1)

6. Baeza (4-1)

7. Journalism (8/5)

8. Heart of Honor (30-1)

Following the draw, Fox Sports host Acacia Courtney Clement spoke with some of the top trainers heading into the Belmont, including Bill Mott, whose Kentucky Derby winner Sovereignty drew the second post position.   

“We’ve been very lucky with everything that’s gone on since he’s been [in Saratoga],” Mott told Clement. “He’s been moving well over the track, eating the bottom out of the feeding tub, and he’s carrying his weight well. So we hope he’s doing as good on Saturday and he’s doing this morning.”

Mott attracted controversy recently over his widely reported comment that he and his horse’s connections decided not to run Sovereignty in the Preakness because “we didn’t feel like it.” Although this has perhaps made Journalism more of a fan favorite due to the Michael McCarthy-trained horse running in all three legs of the Triple Crown, it can’t be forgotten that when nose-to-nose in the Kentucky Derby, Sovereignty was able to put Journalism away. And Journalism, who subsequently won the Preakness in exhilarating fashion, has had a full schedule while Sovereignty has been resting comfortably at the Spa. Nonetheless, Journalism will enter the Belmont as the morning-line favorite.

“He’s been the same kind of horse since July of last summer,” McCarthy told Clement. “He does everything you’d ask a good horse to do; eats well, trains well, acts well. I thought through the last 6, 7 weeks here his energy has been the same throughout. Obviously, Saratoga we know is very good for horses. He seems a little bit re-energized up here.”

Although much of the focus of this year’s Belmont is on the heavyweight showdown between Journalism and Sovereignty, other contenders are hoping for an upset akin to Dornoch’s victory in 2024. Baeza, trained by John Shirreffs, finished third in the Kentucky Derby last month, and, much like Sovereignty, has been resting his bones since then. Prior to the Kentucky, Baeza finished 2nd in the Santa Anita Derby, right behind Journalism. Even if Baeza isn’t the next Dornoch, a top-three finish certainly seems plausible.

“Baeza is the best bet,” said Sara Elbadwi, one of the New York Racing Association’s handicappers, at the Embrace the Belmont event at UPH on Tuesday night. “The ride that Flavien Prat gave Baeza in the Derby, he had post 21, all the way to the outside of 20 horses. He had no choice but to have a wide journey in that race. I think that he can sit a little bit closer, as he has in his past races.”

Offering their picks alongside Elbadwi at Embrace the Belmont were fellow handicappers Matthew DeSantis (who picked Journalism for the Belmont), and Seth Merrow (who went with Sovereignty).

Guest Policies

The New York Racing Association (NYRA) announced last week its guest policies for the Belmont Stakes Racing Festival, which include: 

no outside alcohol on June 5, 6, and 7; 

no cash accepted for food and beverages, admission, parking, or programs (with the lone exception of the official Saratoga store); 

no pop-up tents, folding tables, and wagons from June 5-7 (one folding chair per guest is allowed, as are small bags and purses);

no re-entry throughout the festival;

no professional photography and/or videography equipment;

fans can view morning training at the Oklahoma training track from 7 a.m. to 10 a.m. on Wednesday, Thursday, and Sunday by entering through Gate 21 on East Avenue (pedestrians only, vehicles are not permitted). 

Schedules

Wednesday, June 4: parking gates open at 10 a.m.; admission gates open to the public at 11 a.m.; first post time is 12:40 p.m.

Thursday, June 5: parking gates open at 10 a.m.; admission gates open to the public at 11 a.m.; first post time is 12:40 p.m.

Friday, June 6: parking gates open at 9 a.m.; admission gates open to the public at 10 a.m.; first post time is 11:40 a.m.

Saturday, June 7: parking gates open at 8 a.m.; admission gates open to the public at 9 a.m.; first post time is 10:45 a.m.; post time for the Belmont Stakes is 7:04 p.m.

Sunday, June 8: parking gates open at 10 a.m.; admission gates open to the public at 11 a.m.; first post time is 12:40 p.m.

Entertainment Lineup

Wednesday, June 4: The Mendelssohn Club of Albany will perform trackside, including a rendition of “New York, New York” in celebration of New York Showcase Day.

Friday, June 6: Local opera tenor Angelo Mazzone, who has performed at Carnegie Hall, will sing the National Anthem. Opera Saratoga will also perform a pair of sets trackside during the afternoon, featuring Jarrett Porter (“She Loves Me”); Kate Morton (“Trip to Library”); Shavon Lloyd (“Ilona”) and Chrissy Price (“Ice Cream”). Plus, The Garland Nelson Band will perform on the Purdy’s Summer Music Stage from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Saturday, June 7: Grammy Award-winning, multi-platinum artist Mark Tremonti (a founding member of the rock band Creed) will headline this year’s entertainment lineup. Members of Tremonti’s band will perform multiple trackside orchestral sets in the afternoon, culminating in a vocal rendition by Tremonti of “New York, New York.” Also performing: Staff Sergeant Phillip Morris and the U.S. Military Academy at West Point Band, who will sing “God Bless America” at 10:20 a.m., and the National Anthem at 3:40 p.m. Plus, the Purdy’s Summer Music Stage will host live music from Nymbis (11 a.m. to 2 p.m.) and Ill Funk (2:30 p.m. to 6 p.m).

Sunday, June 8: The Racing City Chorus, a local chapter of the BarberShop Harmony Society, will perform the National Anthem and a pair of live medleys trackside during the afternoon.

Special Events and Giveaways

Wednesday, June 4: The first 10,000 fans with paid admission will receive a limited-edition “I Love NY-Breds” baseball cap in celebration of New York Showcase Day.

Thursday, June 5: A 1936 Ford Phaeton, a vehicle model which was once owned by President Franklin D. Roosevelt, will be on display outside of the Clubhouse Gates, courtesy of the Saratoga Automobile Museum. 

Friday, June 6: Fans can enjoy complimentary souvenir photo magnets featuring the backdrop of a Belmont Stakes floral wall at the Jockey Silks Porch from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Complimentary samples of Dunkin’ beverages will also be available outside Gates B and C beginning at 3 p.m.

Saturday, June 7: Fans can enjoy complimentary samplings of Bulleit Bourbon at the Bulleit Backyard Gazebo Bar from noon to 5 p.m., while supplies last. Fans can also enter a Belmont Stakes photo fashion contest for a chance to win various prizes from Lifestyles of Saratoga, a women’s fashion boutique located in downtown Saratoga Springs, and Moet Hennessy. The contest will run from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. at the Jockey Silks Porch. Plus, complimentary souvenir photo magnets featuring the backdrop of a Belmont Stakes floral wall will be available at the Jockey Silks Porch from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.  

Sunday, June 8: The first 5,000 fans through the turnstiles with paid admission will receive a free Belmont Stakes Racing Festival enamel pin featuring the official Belmont Stakes logo.

More Bathrooms?

At least one eagle-eyed social media user photographed what appeared to be more than a dozen portable toilets being trucked into the Saratoga Race Course last Friday. Lines for the bathrooms at last year’s festival were an oft-noted topic of complaint that perhaps will be addressed for the 2025 edition.

Do it again next year?

Although not yet confirmed by NYRA, speculation is growing that the Belmont will return to Saratoga for a third time in 2026 as construction of the new Belmont Park on Long Island is expected to continue well into next year.

Giving Back

Trainers Michael McCarthy, George Weaver, Jonathan Thomas, Whit Beckman, and Amelia Green—a group of former Todd Pletcher assistants—have pledged to donate a percentage of their earnings from the Belmont Stakes Racing Festival to support the mission of the Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation, a nonprofit that is the oldest and largest Thoroughbred aftercare organization in the the country.