$1 Million Belmont Stakes Highlights Belmont Park Meet
Story by: Jenny Kellner
Source: NYRA.com
When the historic iron gates swing open for Belmont Park’s 2010 spring/summer meet on Friday, April 30, the finish line for the Triple Crown will be awaiting its next champion.
It will have been 32 years since Affirmed swept the Kentucky Derby, Preakness and Belmont Stakes, the lengthiest drought in the history of racing’s most coveted and elusive prize, although not for lack of contenders. Seven times in the past 13 years, the Derby and Preakness winner has entered the starting gate for the 1 ½ mile Belmont Stakes, the oldest and longest race in the series, only to come up short. Big Brown, Smarty Jones, Funny Cide, War Emblem, Charismatic, Real Quiet and Silver Charm all stood on the verge of racing immortality, only to be denied, one after another.
Tens of thousands of racing fans will again pack Belmont Park’s majestic grandstand on Saturday, June 5, for the 142nd running of the Grade 1, $1 million Belmont Stakes. This great day of racing also offers five additional graded stakes races comprising a $1 Million Guaranteed All Graded Stakes Pick 4 and a $1 Million Guaranteed All Graded Stakes Pick 6. Also, fans will be able to sign up online at www.belmontstakes.com for a free chance to win airfare, hotel courtesy of the Garden City Hotel, and premier tickets to the Belmont Stakes.
Last year, 52,186 fans cheered as Summer Bird kicked off his Eclipse Award-winning season in the Belmont Stakes with a rousing victory over Dunkirk and Kentucky Derby winner Mine That Bird. Summer Bird’s win was one of many championship performances highlighting the meet including Horse of the Year Rachel Alexandra’s record-setting win in the Grade 1 Mother Goose and dual Eclipse winner Gio Ponti’s victories in the Grade 1 Man o’War and the Grade 1 Manhattan.
Belmont Park’s 59-day meet begins April 30 with the 81st running of the Grade 3, $100,000 Westchester, one of 25 graded stakes offered, and the Grade 1 season commences with the 118th running of the $500,000 Metropolitan Handicap on Memorial Day, Monday, May 31.
Other Grade 1 races during the meet, which runs through Sunday, July 18, include the Woodford Reserve Manhattan Handicap on the turf, the Just a Game for fillies and mares on the turf, the Acorn for 3-year-old fillies, and the Belmont Stakes, all on June 5; the Odgen Phipps Handicap for fillies and mares (June 12); the Mother Goose for 3-year-old fillies (June 26); the Prioress for 3-year-old filly sprinters (July 4); and the Man o’War on the turf (July 10).
On Saturdays, NYRA will offer a $300,000 Guaranteed Late Pick 4 on the final four races of the day. The Late Pick 4 is a $1 minimum wager in which the bettor must correctly pick the winners of the last four races on the card, usually beginning with race 7. By guaranteeing the wager for $300,000, NYRA will supplement the difference if the total wagering pool for the Saturday Late Pick 4 is less than $300,000.
Fans who want to earn rebates on their wagers can sign up for NYRA Rewards, the wagering program that offers cash back just for wagering on the races, whether it’s on NYRA races or simulcast events like the Derby and Oaks! Members can earn points through on-track self-service wagering terminals, phone wagering with Telebet, with NYRA Rewards Internet Wagering and on mobile devices such as Blackberrys or iPhones. Enrollment is free and available only to customers 18 years and older. To sign up or for more information, visit nyra.com, call 1-800-THE-NYRA, or stop by a customer service booth on-track.
In addition to all the great racing, family activities abound throughout the meet, including the popular “Breakfast at Belmont” program weekend mornings from 7 – 9:30 a.m. (excluding Belmont Stakes weekend), Family Fun Days on Sundays, presented by Coca Cola, and the “World of Horses” on Sunday, May 30.
“Party at the Park” returns on Friday, June 18, with a special first race post time of 3 p.m. and a party that includes food and drink specials along with a great live concert from the Big Shot Tribute Band (the ultimate Billy Joel experience) beginning in the Festival Tent at the conclusion of live racing.
Except for “Party at the Park,” first race post time is 1 p.m. Live racing is conducted Wednesday through Sunday, with Belmont Park also open on Memorial Day, Monday, May 31, and Monday, July 5.
With the exception of Belmont Stakes Day, Saturday, June 5, general parking is free.
OPENING WEEKEND
FRIDAY-SUNDAY, APRIL 30-MAY 2
Five exciting live stakes races plus watch and wager on all the action from Churchill Downs on Kentucky Oaks Day, Friday, April 30, and Kentucky Derby Day, Saturday, May 1. Belmont Park’s opening-day feature on Friday’s 9-race live card is the 81st running of the Grade 3, one-mile Westchester, while Saturday’s 10-race live card features the Grade 3 Fort Marcy and the Grade 3 Beaugay for fillies and mares, both at 1 1/16th miles on the turf. On Sunday, the New York Stallion Series takes place with the Park Avenue Division for 3-year-old fillies and the Times Square division for 3-year-old males.
WORLD OF HORSES
SUNDAY, MAY 30
The World of Horses, in association with the Northeast Equine Expo, returns to Belmont Park on Memorial Day weekend to kick off the Belmont Stakes Festival, celebrating the 142nd running of the Grade 1, $1 million Belmont Stakes on Saturday, June 5. The afternoon begins at noon with a Parade of Breeds on the main track. Led by the Nassau County Mounted Police, the parade features a variety of local horses and riders representing Long Island’s many equestrian interests. Special exhibitions from reining to dressage and show jumping will take place on the track between races.
BELMONT STAKES COMMUNITY FESTIVALS
SATURDAY, MAY 29 – FRIDAY, JUNE 4
NYRA is proud to be a part of the Belmont Park community and all the Belmont Stakes community events including the Belmont Stakes/Elmont Parade on Saturday, May 29; the Elmont Community Day at Belmont Park on Sunday, May 30; the Floral Park Street Festival on Friday, June 4 and the Garden City Street Festival on Friday, June 4.
BELMONT STAKES DAY
SATURDAY, JUNE 5
In addition to the crown jewel of New York racing, the biggest day in New York racing also features the Grade 1 Woodford Reserve Manhattan Handicap, the Grade 1 Acorn, the Grade 1 Just a Game, the Grade 2 Woody Stephens and the Grade 2 True North, all comprising a $1 million Guaranteed All Stakes Pick 4 and a $1 million Guaranteed All Stakes Pick 6. Fans will be able to sign up to win a Belmont Stakes Prize Package at www.belmontstakes.com, the ultimate source for Belmont Stakes news, information, resources, and history.
PARTY AT THE PARK
FRIDAY, JUNE 18
The biggest party on Long Island returns with a 3 p.m. post time and a party that includes food and drinks specials and a live concert in the Festival Tent at the conclusion of live racing. Party at the Park’s feature band is the Billy Joel tribute band “Big Shot.”
INDEPENDENCE DAY BARBEQUE
SUNDAY, JULY 4
Belmont Park’s backyard is a perfect setting for an Independence Day steak barbeque as well as great stakes racing, featuring the Grade 1 Prioress for 3-year-old fillies. Past winners of this “firecracker” of a race include champions Indian Blessing, Xtra Heat, and Safely Kept.
FAMILY FUN DAYS ON SUNDAYS
PRESENTED BY COCA-COLA
Every Sunday, Belmont Park’s beautiful backyard comes alive with activities and games for the whole family, featuring pony rides, a petting zoo, face painters, and giant inflatables. Special activities and themes are scheduled for each week, among them Pirate Day (May 23), Outer Space Blast-Off (June 27) and Dime Savings Bank Presents: Join the Circus! (July 11).
BELMONT PARK HANDICAPPING CONTEST
SATURDAY, JUNE 26 AND SUNDAY, JUNE 27
The annual Belmont Park Handicapping contest offers the first three finishers entry to the NTRA/Daily Racing Form National Handicapping Championship scheduled for next January in Las Vegas. There are also great cash prizes for the top 20 finishers and the highest overall bankroll after days one and two. For more information, contact Kathy Locke at klocke@nyrainc.com.
BREAKFAST AT BELMONT WEEKENDS
The Breakfast at Belmont program, which begins May 1, provides fans with a behind-the-scenes look at the world of racing by gaining access to otherwise restricted areas of Belmont Park, including a tram tour of Belmont’s remarkable stable area. A kids’ favorite, the starting gate demonstration gives children an up-close-and-personal look at the starting gate. The Paddock Show is a must-see for racing fans and novices alike as a horse’s daily routine and equipment are explained.
The Breakfast at Belmont program is held from 7 – 9:30 a.m. every weekend except Saturday June 5, and Sunday June 6. There will be no tram tour on Saturday, July 17, and Sunday, July 18.
Breakfast is optional and available for a nominal cost.