Racing at Belmont Park begins

Stakes Day is June 9

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Belmont Park’s 54-day spring/summer thoroughbred racing meet opened last Friday, highlighted by the $100,000 Affirmed Success for New York-bred sprinters, won by Eye Luv Lulu.

The first race of 2018 on Big Sandy was captured by Missle Bomb, with jockey Kendrick Carmouche aboard. Carmouche, who said he loves riding the NYRA circuit, sat chilly most of the six-and-a-half furlong dirt sprint behind pacesetter Nut Nut and guided Missle Bomb to a one-length victory. He paid $6.30 to win.

“He broke well from the outside and sat off the lead,” Carmouche said. “I’ve ridden him before. He’s a nice horse. When I asked him for more, he responded.” 

With the 150th running of the Belmont Stakes as its centerpiece, the Belmont Stakes Racing Festival will take place Thursday, June 7 through Saturday, June 9. Featuring the very best in racing alongside world-class entertainment and hospitality options, the Festival will offer three days of world-class racing including 18 stakes with $9.4 million in purses. 

The 1 ½-mile Belmont Stakes - the coveted final jewel of racing’s Triple Crown – was won last year by Taprit. This year’s “Test of the Champion” will be supported by eight additional graded stakes on Saturday, including five prestigious Grade 1’s: the $1.2 million Runhappy Metropolitan Handicap at a mile; the $1 million Woodford Reserve Manhattan at 1 ¼ miles on the turf; the $750,000 Ogden Phipps for fillies and mares going 1 1/16 miles; the $700,000 Longines Just A Game for turf fillies and mares; and the $700,000 Acorn for 3-year-old fillies at a mile.

Contributing to the stellar Belmont Stakes Day undercard will be the Grade 2, $400,000 Woody Stephens presented by Mohegan Sun for 3-year-olds at seven furlongs, the Grade 2, $400,000 Brooklyn Invitational for 4-year-olds and up going 1 ½ miles, the Grade 2, $400,000 Jaipur Invitational for turf sprinters 4-years-old and up at six furlongs and the $150,000, 1 1/16-mile Easy Goer for sophomores.

One lucky fan will have the chance to earn $150,000 with the Belmont Stakes Sweepstakes. Each ticket purchase, up to a maximum of 12, for the 150th Belmont Stakes and Belmont Stakes Racing Festival will accompany one entry to the sweepstakes. For official rules, visit BelmontStakes.com/150sweepstakes.

Belmont Park becomes New York’s Triple Crown headquarters, hosting a simulcast of the Kentucky Derby on Saturday, May 5, complemented by a full day of live racing along with a host of family fun activities. Kentucky Derby day at Belmont will include the return of the Bourbon Festival, which will be held at the North Shore Terrace from 3-7 p.m. More than 30 bourbons, beers and hard ciders will be available for tastings, with admission to the park starting at 11 a.m. and access to the exclusive tastings beginning at 3 p.m. Derby Day also features a golf umbrella giveaway, subject to availability.

Always a fan favorite, “Breakfast at Belmont” will return on the weekend of May 12-13, where racing fans can enjoy breakfast in the Belmont Café while watching horses train on the main track. Beginning at 8 a.m. on select days throughout the spring/summer meet, “Breakfast at Belmont” will also be hosted Memorial Day weekend, Saturday, May 26 through Memorial Day, May 28; Father’s Day Weekend, Saturday, June 16 and Sunday, June 18; June 30 and July 1; as well as Stars & Stripes Festival Weekend, July 7-8.

Twilight racing returns with “Party at the Park,” taking place on six Fridays this summer: June 1, June 15, June 22, June 29, July 6 and July 13, with a special first-race post time of 3:05 p.m. Live post-race entertainment in the backyard will take place June 15, 22, 29 and July 6.

With the exception of the twilight racing cards, Derby and Preakness days, and the Belmont Stakes Racing Festival, the first race post time generally will be 1:30 p.m. Admission is $5 and parking is fee, excluding June 9.