The Belmont Stakes: Something Old, Something New
By GREG MELIKOV
Flamboyant financier Leonard W. Jerome and well-heeled friends, including banker August Belmont Sr., built a racetrack in the Bronx that opened on Sept. 25, 1866.
The crowd at Jerome Park, named for its founder, included Gen. Ulysses S. Grant and members of New York’s fashionable society. It was the first track to attract women in large numbers. Even the horses were chic — ribbons of owners’ colors were braided into their manes and tails.
On opening day, Jerome’s horse Kentucky visited the winner’s circle and the owner hoisted 12-year-old daughter Jennie on his shoulders.
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Summer Bird Arrives at Belmont Park For The Belmont Stakes 2009
Kalarikkal and Vilasini Jayaraman’s Summer Bird, third-place finisher 1 1/4 lengths behind Papa Clem in the Arkansas Derby, arrived at Belmont Park for the 141st running of the $1-million Belmont Stakes 2009 on June 6.
Summer Bird will likely face the following Belmont Stakes contenders: Kentucky Derby winner Mine That Bird, Preakness Stakes winner filly Rachel Alexandra, Chocolate Candy, Dunkirk, Flying Private, Love Gov, Miner’s Escape, Mr. Hot Stuff and Charitable Man.
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Charitable Man Probable For The Belmont Stakes Field
Race horse trainer Kiaran McLaughlin said that Charitable Man came out of his victory in Saturday’s Peter Pan Stakes in fine form and that he and owner William K. Warren Jr. would decide on the colt’s next start shortly.
“He came out of the race great,” said Kiaran McLaughlin of Charitable Man, who covered the nine furlongs in 1:47.13. “The main decision is, ‘Where do we go next? What do we do?’ I will be corresponding with Mr. Warren today and tomorrow, and we are looking at the Belmont Stakes (Grade 1, $1 million, 3-year-olds, 1 1/2 miles, June 6) or the Dwyer (Grade 2, $200,000, 3-year-olds, 1 1/16 miles, July 4) with heading to the Shadwell Travers (Grade 1, $1 million, 1 1/4 miles, Aug. 29, Saratoga) as the main objective.”
“There’s the Dwyer- Jim Dandy (Grade 2, $500,000, 1 1/8th miles, Aug. 1, Saratoga)-Travers or the Belmont-Travers — we’re just looking for the right sequence of races.”
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NYRA Launches 2009 Belmont Stakes Web Site
The New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA) launched www.BelmontStakes.com, a website dedicated to the Belmont Stakes 2009, third jewel of horse racing’s Triple Crown, scheduled to be run this year for the 141st time on Saturday, June 6 at Belmont Park.
The brand new website offers visitors a myriad of great Belmont Stakes content, including videos, podcasts, photo galleries, news, race day information, a section dedicated to the Belmont Stakes history, and special content from the Daily Racing Form.
In addition, the Belmont Stakes website features blogs from horse racing experts and also allows fans to sign up for the Belmont Stakes Prize Package, offering the chance to win tickets, hotel, and airfare to the Belmont Stakes 141 this year.
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New Pro-Ride Surface Is Right On at Santa Anita
By GREG MELIKOV
Santa Anita‘s main track has encountered a bumpy road since a synthetic surface replaced dirt last summer. It has become an up-and-down soap opera for a year.
High Hopes: Cushion Track that cost $11 million was installed at Santa Anita before the Oak Tree meeting began 13 months ago in September. The change met the California Horse Racing Board mandate requiring most major tracks to install synthetic surfaces by the end of ’07 to reduce fatalities among horses. So far it has.
How Sweet It Is: Oak Tree lassoed the 25th Breeders’ Cup World Championships on Aug. 22, 2007 — the first time some races will be staged on a surface other than dirt. Since the richest event in United States racing debuted at Hollywood Park, it’s only fitting a Southern California track will serve as host for the seventh time — Oak Tree’s fourth.
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Big Brown Had Loose Shoe While Racing In The Belmont Stakes
Photos from The Blood-Horse Magazine showing Big Brown’s loose right hind hoof gave horse owner Michael Iavarone evidence of why Big Brown raced poorly in the Belmont Stakes last June 7 at Belmont Park.
Big Brown was the favorite to win the 1 1/2 mile Belmont Stakes but ended up finishing dead last with jockey Kent Desormeaux easing the 3-year-old race horse Big Brown down the stretch. Big Brown was given a clean bill of health during a post-race veterinary examination.
“When the shoe spread, a nail could have been pinching him,” co-president of IEAH Stables Michael Iavarone said. “Or he could have been stepping on a hot nail, which would have been worse. I’m guessing the nail went back in but not in the same spot. Or it could have been a loose shoe, which would be like trying to run with a wobbly cleat.”
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Richard Dutrow, Jr. Blames Jockey Kent Desormeaux For Big Brown’s Loss in The Belmont Stakes
Big Brown’s trainer, Richard Dutrow, Jr., believes that jockey Kent Desormeaux‘s ride in the 2008 Belmont Stakes last Saturday, June 7, at Belmont Park cost Big Brown the Triple Crown.
Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner Big Brown was eased in the final quarter-mile of the Belmont Stakes by jockey Kent Desormeaux and failed to finish the race.
If Big Brown is healthy, the plan is for him to run next in the Travers Stakes on August 23 at Saratoga. where horse racing fans might see a rematch between 2008 Belmont Stakes winner Da’ Tara and Big Brown.
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Big Brown Trainer Richard Dutrow, Jr. “Feels Like A Loser”
Big Brown trainer Richard Dutrow Jr. says he feels “like a loser” after Big Brown’s last-place finish in the Belmont Stakes, and he was still searching for answers Monday about what went wrong.
Big Brown became the first horse seeking the Triple Crown to finish last in 140 years of running the 1 1/2 -mile Belmont Stakes.
“I feel like a loser right now and I don’t know why,” horse trainer Richard Dutrow, Jr. told the Daily Racing Form on Monday. “Usually when I get beat I can handle it the right way, and I’ve handled this the right way, but I just feel like something’s not right.”
Dutrow said that unless Big Brown shows signs of a physical problem, the colt will be pointed to the Travers Stakes on August 23 at Saratoga and then the Breeders’ Cup Classic in October at Santa Anita Park.
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Co-owner Michael Iavarone Says Big Brown Is Fine
One day after being eased up in the stretch and failing miserably in his bid to win the Triple Crown, Big Brown appears to be fine physically, according to co-owner Michael Iavarone.
Big Brown was attempting to become the first Triple Crown winner since Affirmed in 1978 before those hopes were dashed with a last-place finish in the grueling 1 1/2-mile Belmont Stakes Saturday, June 7, at Belmont Park.
After the race, questions immediately arose if the previously unbeaten horse was injured. The bay colt raced despite a slight quarter crack to his left front hoof…
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2008 Belmont Stakes Results & Payouts: Da’ Tara Wins; Big Brown Last
Robert V. LaPenta’s longshot Da’ Tara, ridden by jockey Alan Garcia, wins the $1-million Belmont Stakes Saturday, June 7, at Belmont Park denying Big Brown the Triple Crown.
Trained by Nick Zito, Da’ Tara went wire to wire to beat 8 other Belmont Stakes contenders over 1 1/2 miles, the longest and toughest of the three classics. The 2008 Belmont Stakes finish time was 2:29.65. Da’ Tara paid $79, $28 and $14.80.
Denis of Cork with jockey Robby Albarado up returned $5.40 and $4.10. Anak Nakal, under jockey Julien Leparoux, and Ready’s Echo, under jockey John Velazquez, dead-heated for third and showed $7.60 and $6.20 respectively.
See the Belmont Stakes Results & Payouts.
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