Benidorm, Spain – Ari Berliner (27) from the Jason Morris Judo Center in Glenville, NY continued his hot streak by making it all the way to the 66kg final to win a silver medal at the Benidorm European Open, May 16, 2026. Berliner has medaled in his last four major events including a bronze at the US Nationals, a bronze at the Pan Am Championships and a bronze at the Warsaw Open, compiling a 14-4 record over that period. This result boosted Berliner’s world ranking up 3 spots to #41.
For the final running of the Belmont Stakes in Saratoga Springs, the Saratoga Springs Preservation Foundation is offering two behind-the-scenes walking tours of the Saratoga Racecourse. The walking tour will take participants through both the public and lesser-known sides of the Saratoga Racecourse on Friday, June 5 at 9:30 a.m. or Sunday, June 7 at 9:30 a.m. Highlights include iconic locations such as the Grandstand and Clubhouse, including the Oklahoma Training Track, as well as the original 1847 Racecourse and Horse Haven.
Tours begin at the Whitney Viewing Stand at the Oklahoma Training Track. Tickets are $35 for SSPF members and $45 for non-members. Reservations are required and space is limited. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit www.saratogapreservation.org or call (518) 587-5030.
LifeSong, Inc. invites the Capital Region community to the 14th Annual LifeSong Dash 5K and Family Day, happening Saturday, June 6, 2026, at Halfmoon Town Park. More than just a race, this USATF-sanctioned event has become a hallmark of local philanthropy, family fun, and community spirit.
Over 400 runners and walkers are expected to converge for this United States Track and Field (USATF) sanctioned 5K, raising funds to support LifeSong’s impactful services for individuals with developmental and intellectual disabilities. Proceeds from the event will directly fund LifeSong’s new greenhouse project, a 14’ x 19’ geothermal structure being built behind LifeSong’s Clifton Park offices. The greenhouse will teach program members basic agriculture and provide fresh produce for participants and food pantries across the region.
“This isn’t just a race—it’s a celebration,” says Dr. Darren Barkman, LifeSong’s Clinical Services Manager and Dash Director. “We love gathering the community and our agency together to honor all LifeSong does to serve our amazing participants!”
Family Fun Meets Purpose-Driven Celebration
In addition to the race, attendees can enjoy food trucks, a kid’s area with face painting, rock climbing wall and dunk tank, vendors and other exhibits, plus a post-race concert with the classic rock band ONYX. LifeSong Dash Gold Premier Sponsors for 2026 are Peckham Industries, M&T Bank, Stewart’s Shops, Simmons Capital, Hannaford, Cornerstone Capital Wealth Management, GTM Payroll and HR, and New Country Toyota of Clifton Park.
SARATOGA SPRINGS — As the world prepares for the 2026 FIFA Men’s World Cup to return to North American soil for the first time in over thirty years, the Saratoga Springs chapter of the American Outlaws is inviting the local community to join the excitement. Starting this June, the chapter will host a series of inclusive, family-friendly watch parties at Bailey’s Saratoga, creating a dedicated hub for both lifelong fans and newcomers to the sport.
With interest in soccer reaching record highs across the Capital Region, the American Outlaws Saratoga Springs aims to provide a vibrant and welcoming atmosphere for fans to cheer on the U.S. Men’s National Team (USMNT).
“Our goal is to bring the passion of the stadium right here to Saratoga Springs,” said Chris LaPointe, president of the local American Outlaws chapter. “The World Cup is a unique event that brings people together from all walks of life. We want to ensure our community has a central place to celebrate, connect, and support the team together.”
The American Outlaws is a nationwide nonprofit social organization dedicated to supporting the United States National Soccer Teams. With over 210 chapters across the country, the organization provides a community for fans to gather, travel, and foster a permanent, dedicated fan base for soccer in the U.S.
To follow the organization and see updates on events, visit their Facebook page at www.facebook.com/AOSaratoga.
A chestnut colt sired by Omaha Beach snacks on some food at Old Tavern Farm during a 2025 New York Racing Association (NYRA) breakfast and breeding farm tour. Photo by Jonathon Norcross.
SARATOGA SPRINGS — The New York Racing Association (NYRA) recently announced the return of its popular summer morning excursion, reimagined for 2026 as the Saratoga Breakfast and Thoroughbred Farm Tours (formerly known as the Breakfast and Breeding Farm Tours) with a refreshed lineup that spotlights aftercare and welcomes the program’s first stallion operation.
This year’s series introduces two new participating farms, including a leading aftercare organization and a stallion farm, and welcomes back two longtime favorites.
The 2026 series will get underway on Opening Day of the Saratoga summer meet, Friday, July 3, and continue weekly through the final Sunday of the season, Sept. 6. Tours are offered every Thursday through Sunday during the summer meet except for Saturday, July 4, and Saturday, Aug. 29 (Travers Day).
This year’s new-look weekly lineup features Old Friends at Cabin Creek on Thursdays, marking the program’s first dedicated aftercare partner; Old Tavern Farm on Fridays; Sugar Plum Farm on Saturdays; and Ironhorse Stallions on Sundays, introducing the tour’s first stallion operation.
The Saratoga Breakfast and Thoroughbred Farm Tour experience includes a buffet-style breakfast at Saratoga Race Course available from 7 a.m. to 9 a.m. against the backdrop of morning training on the main track. Fans then board a CDTA trolley at 9:15 a.m. for a scenic round-trip ride to that day’s featured farm, where they will experience a 60 to 90-minute guided tour, before returning to Saratoga for an afternoon of live racing. Each tour accommodates up to 52 guests. A portion of proceeds from each ticket sold will be earmarked to support the New York Thoroughbred Breeders (NYTB) scholarship fund.
Tickets are on sale now and may be purchased at NYRA.com.
One of the major additions for 2026, Old Friends at Cabin Creek, is an aftercare facility that provides a lifetime sanctuary for retired racehorses. Nestled in the countryside of Greenfield Center, fans can experience a picturesque ride each Thursday and an intimate look at equine retirement. Guests will have the opportunity to meet several of the farm’s beloved and accomplished residents, such as 2018 New York-bred Horse of the Year Diversify, whose resume includes graded stakes wins in the 2018 Whitney and Suburban and 2017 Jockey Club Gold Cup. Fans will also get to see 2007 New York Horse of the Year Naughty New Yorker; 2011 Preakness Stakes participant King Congie; and 2006 Gotham Stakes winner Like Now, all while learning about the importance of aftercare.
Sundays feature Ironhorse Stallions, marking the tour program’s first dedicated stallion farm and providing fans with access to one of New York’s most compelling sires, Bucchero. A dual graded stakes-winning sprinter, Bucchero made 31 career starts and has since developed into a leading sire, whose offspring include Book’em Danno, winner of the 2025 Eclipse Award for Champion Male Sprinter. Now standing in New York after five seasons in Florida, Bucchero enters this next phase of his stallion career as a cornerstone of Ironhorse Stallions.
Located in nearby Schuylerville across from the scenic Hudson River, Ironhorse Stallions represents a full-circle moment for Bucchero, who was originally purchased and raced by the Ironhorse partnership. The stallion has quickly risen to prominence, finishing as the leading sire by earnings in New York in 2025. Known for his versatility, consistency, and ability to produce open-company runners, Bucchero was just recently named 2025 Sire of the Year on May 11 by the NYTB.
Visitors will have the opportunity to meet Bucchero while learning about modern stallion management, breeding strategy, and the expanding influence of New York’s breeding program.
Additional details about the 2026 Saratoga Breakfast and Thoroughbred Farm Tours, including a full schedule and ticket information, are available at NYRA.com.
Song Hill Thoroughbreds Opens Farm Gates for Public Walking Tour Experience
Song Hill Thoroughbreds will soon welcome guests to its working thoroughbred farm for an exclusive, behind-the-scenes walking tour.
The tour, to be held on the day before the 2026 Belmont Stakes at Saratoga Race Course, is scheduled for 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. on Friday, June 5 at the farm’s Saratoga County location at 290 County Road 75 in the town of Stillwater.
The guided experience offers visitors a rare opportunity to explore the world of thoroughbred racing from the ground up — beginning with breeding and foaling through the development and training process that prepares horses for the racetrack.
Guests will tour the farm grounds, visit barns, and meet broodmares and foals while learning about the daily operations of a professional thoroughbred breeding and racing facility. The event is designed for both longtime racing enthusiasts and newcomers interested in learning more about the sport and the care involved in raising elite equine athletes.
“This tour gives people a chance to experience the heart of Thoroughbred racing up close,” said Grace Bond of H. James Bond Racing Stables. “We’re excited to share the work, dedication, and passion that go into developing racehorses from the very beginning.”
The outdoor walking tour lasts approximately 90 minutes. Comfortable footwear is recommended. Doors open at 9:45 a.m., and free parking will be available onsite. Attendees should note that participation involves visiting an active horse farm and requires acknowledgment of the farm’s liability waiver.
For tickets and additional information, visit www.eventbrite.com/e/song-hill-thoroughbreds-walking-tour-tickets-1989111368649.
SARATOGA SPRINGS — Five student-athlete boats from the Saratoga Rowing Association recently qualified for the USRowing Youth National Championships in Sarasota, Florida. The event will take place June 11-14.
Boys Squad Rowers & Coxswains: Kazuki Borchardt, Abbie Bertani, Josh Murnan, Daniel Arnason, Ashton O’Sullivan, Parker Mansfield, Ryan McHugh, Sam Corp, Ian Dodds, Jacob Dorflinger, Andre Salazar, Keegan Reynolds, Paul Kuhles, Dylan Hollis, Colin Amicone-Ren, Callan Johncox, Graham Klein, and David Eddy.
Girls Squad Rowers & Coxswains: Erika Miller, Stella Dansie, Katie Oke, Caroline Jackson, Sophie Sampanthar, Olivia Lill, Kari Reilly, Izzy Loviza, Meghan Kempf, Lily Caramadre, Malia Sanchez, Rylie Sheldon, Steph Dierna, Emma Brimhall, Sabrina Maglienti, Ariden Kelly, Emma Rittershausen, Cat Fedoroff, Alex Tobrocke, and Grace Zumpano.
Saratoga Central Catholic basketball player Sophia Ryan celebrates with her family after scoring her 1,000th career point in a game against Lake George on Dec. 4, 2025. Photo provided by Athena DiLorenzo-Ryan.
SARATOGA SPRINGS — It’s been a season of smashed records, championship victories, and career-defining achievements for Sophia Ryan and the Saratoga Catholic Lady Saints basketball squad.
This week, Ryan earned All-State Class D First Team honors, capping off a season that included the Saints’ first-ever Section 2 Class D championship and Ryan surpassing her program’s all-time career scoring record.
On March 7, Spa Catholic narrowly defeated the two-time defending champions Northville, 43 to 41, in a game that was decided in its final moments. The victory clinched the Lady Saints’ first sectional title. Ryan led the way with 30 points, netting almost 70% of her team’s point total. It was a dominant performance but an unsurprising one from a standout who once told Saratoga TODAY that she most admires players who can maintain their composure in big moments.
Earlier in the season, Ryan broke Patti King’s career scoring record, set in 1980, of 1,031 points. Ryan also holds the school records for most points in a single game, and the most three-pointers made in a single game.
SARATOGA SPRINGS — The New York Law Enforcement Assistance Program (NYLEAP) will host its 4th Annual Golf Tournament on Sunday, May 31 at the Saratoga Lake Golf Club.
The event will raise critical funds to support NYLEAP’s no-cost mental health, peer support, training, and wellness services for first responders, military veterans, and their families.
NYLEAP is a nonprofit created by first responders for first responders. The organization provides support to law enforcement officers, firefighters, emergency medical services personnel, corrections officers, dispatchers, military veterans, and family members. Its mission is to improve mental health and wellness while reducing the impacts of trauma, PTSD, cumulative career stress, anxiety, depression, substance abuse, family strain, and suicide within the first responder and veteran communities.
“First responders and veterans spend their lives showing up for others during some of the worst moments imaginable,” said Matthew Carpenter, PhD, vice president of NYLEAP. “This tournament gives the community an opportunity to show up for them. Every sponsorship, donation, and golfer helps NYLEAP continue providing free, confidential, peer-based and clinically informed support to those who need it.”
Funds raised through the tournament will directly support NYLEAP programs, including Post Critical Incident Seminars, Critical Incident Stress Management, peer support training, wellness education, and access to behavioral health resources. NYLEAP’s services are offered at no cost to participants, removing financial barriers for those seeking help after traumatic events, cumulative occupational stress, or personal crisis.
Community members, businesses, agencies, and supporters are invited to participate as golfers, sponsors, donors, or volunteers. All charitable donations are tax deductible as allowed by law.
For more information about sponsorships, registration, or donations, contact Matthew Carpenter at (585) 676-4444 or carpenter@nyleap.org, or visit www.nyleap.org.
SARATOGA SPRINGS — The third iteration of Embrace the Belmont, an event designed to educate and hype locals on the Belmont Stakes, will return to the Universal Preservation Hall for one final ride on Tuesday, June 2.
Tickets are currently on sale.
The event will feature a panel of expert handicappers: Sara Elbadwi and Matthew DeSantis from the New York Racing Association (NYRA) and Seth Merrow from Capital OTB.
Prior to last year’s Belmont Stakes, which was won by Sovereignty, DeSantis predicted Journalism would win, while Merrow correctly picked Sovereignty. Elbadwi declared Baeza, who came in third, to be the “best bet.”
Donna Brothers will once again emcee the event. Brothers recently announced that she would step down, after 26 years, from her post as NBC’s Kentucky Derby reporter on horseback. Prior to becoming a broadcaster, Brothers was a jockey who retired in 1998 as the second-winningest female jockey in the nation by money earned.
“I just wanted the people who are in town and the ones most affected by the Saratoga circus coming to town every year, to have an event for them,” Brothers told Saratoga TODAY prior to the first Embrace the Belmont in 2024.
“Saratoga is such an iconic venue,” Brothers said. “When you walk in and look at that structure, you feel the 100 years plus of history ingrained in the wood.”
Embrace the Belmont III will have light bites, cocktails, a “lively social atmosphere,” and a dash of “Saratoga style,” according to event organizers. Fashion partners this year include Frivolous, Mark Thomas Apparel, Miss Scarlett, and Gilded, all of whom will be showcasing Belmont-inspired fashion.
The event will support two nonprofits: Therapeutic Horses of Saratoga and the Saratoga Hospital Foundation. 100% of proceeds will be split between the organizations.
To purchase tickets, visit thsaratoga.org/embrace-the-belmont/.
Photo of New York Dynamo Head Coach and General Manager Ron Kuhl provided.
CLIFTON PARK — The New York Dynamo, a tier 1 hockey program based at the Capital Arena in Clifton Park, is gearing up for a second season that will run from September 2026 to March 2027. To that end, they recently announced the extension of their Head Coach/General Manager, their efforts to revamp their home ice rink, and the commitment of three of their players to collegiate hockey programs.
HEAD COACH/GENERAL MANAGER EXTENDED
Ron Kuhl recently accepted a two-year extension with the Dynamo. He will be at the helm for the upcoming season and the 2027-28 campaign.
Kuhl originally began as Dynamo’s Assistant Coach at the start of the 2025-26 season. However, a midseason shakeup to the coaching staff provided Kuhl with the opportunity to take the reins as head coach. New York finished with a 14-16 record under Kuhl’s tutelage, an improvement from a 6-16 start.
In 1993, Kuhl started coaching hockey in the New York’s Capital Region. He has spent the last 30-plus years coaching, instructing, and developing players at every age level from youth to pro. In 1997, he founded Excel Hockey Inc. and became an owner of the Hockey Hut Training Center in Clifton Park. Kuhl also delivered the 2001 National Championship to Hudson Valley Community College.
“I appreciate the faith that the ownership has placed in me to build this brand-new program,” Kuhl said. “We have a wonderful group of players returning from last year’s team, and we have a tremendous amount of new talent coming in. Our expectation is to win the league, and we are excited to get started and have a full offseason of planning and preparation. This program is going to be exciting for the community, and we are looking forward to long term success.”
ICE RINK REVAMPED
The Dynamo rebuilt Rink 2 at Capital Arena towards the tail end of their inaugural National Collegiate Development Conference (NCDC) season as part of a 42-day construction effort.
Overall, the construction fully renovated 17,000 square feet in Rink 2.
These types of investments have been an ongoing strategy from a busy two years under new ownership.
“The commitment by ownership to ensure we are a leading program in the NCDC was proven again by the arena upgrades,” said Kuhl. “Brand new second-level viewing areas, weight room, NCDC locker room, dasher boards, and benches with six-foot glass around the entire rink is incredible.”
The project broke ground on March 4, and the rink was completed on April 15.
THREE PLAYERS COMMIT
Three players from the Dynamo’s inaugural 2025-26 NCDC team have committed to collegiate hockey programs. Will McDonald heads to Beloit College, Eric Truesdell advances to Misericordia, and Louis Sweenor stays in-state at SUNY Plattsburgh.
McDonald, a native of Wisconsin, returns to his home state after a successful campaign. The 20-year-old forward paced the team with 52 games played and three powerplay goals. The right-hander was second in points (32) and goals (16).
Truesdell played 49 contests on the ice, compiling nine points (3+6). The Warnerville, New York, product collected an assist in two of New York’s three overtime victories.
Sweenor was second on the team in assists (26) and points (32) last season. The 19-year-old supplied the go-ahead goal in New York’s 2-0 win over the Springfield Pics on March 14 at Capital Arena, ending a scoreless tie with 4:56 into the third period.
“I really enjoyed my season playing for the Dynamo NCDC team — it was a privilege to be a part of starting something new,” Sweenor said. “It also gave me access to amazing people and coaches who helped push me to get better and take that last step to play college hockey. I am very eager to start my college career and couldn’t have picked a better place…to play [than] in front of my hometown.”
