Health & Fitness
Belmont Park: On June 7th this will be New York’s most prime piece of real estate! (Video)
As California Chrome seeks to win the first Triple Crown since Affirmed in 1978, this article provides information about the Belmont Park along with video of the two greatest horses of our generation!
This article originally appeared at the Hallmark Abstract Service, New York website here.
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The 2014 Belmont Stakes!
On June 7 the eyes of the racing world, along with much of the rest of the world, will be focused on Belmont Park as the 3-year old California Chrome attempts to achieve what has not been achieved since Affirmed in 1978! Winning the Triple Crown of thoroughbred racing!
Twelve horses since the 1978 stretch-long duel between Affirmed and Alydar have had the opportunity to achieve Triple Crown greatness by first winning the Kentucky Derby and Preakness and yet, no horse has been able to accomplish what many believe to be one of the most difficult achievements in sports.
Over the span of five weeks these 3-year olds are asked to run three races at three different track and at three different distances, the last of which will be the mile and a half Belmont Stakes!
But before we see on Saturday, June 7, 2014 whether California Chrome has what it takes, here is a look back at history!
For nostalgia buffs, or for those who simply want to see greatness in action, these videos are of the Belmont Stakes wins by Secretariat and Affirmed. The two races are most striking in the contrasting ways in which the two horses won.
If the videos do not load they can be watched at the original article here: Belmont Park: On June 7th this will be New York's most prime piece of real estate! (Video)
Belmont Park
The physical racetrack itself, Belmont Park, has been a landmark on Long Island since May 4, 1905 when 40,000 fans arrived on its opening day and, as they say, the rest is history!
These are some statistics courtesy of the NYRA:
BASIC PHYSICAL DATA OF BELMONT PARK RACETRACK
GROUNDS
Area of Site 445 acres
Parking Areas 91 acres (18,500 cars)
Main Course 1 1/2 miles
Widener Turf Course 1 5/16 miles
Inner Turf Course 1 3/16 miles, 103 feet
Training Track 1 mile
Pony Track 1/4 mile
Railroad Terminal - 4 Platforms; City Bus
Terminal with Escalators; Chartered and Tour Bus Parking
Area; 6 CCTV Race Patrol Camera Towers - 40 feet high
GRANDSTAND
Length 1,266 feet
Depth Clubhouse and Grandstand 265 feet
Height 105 feet
Floor Area 1,300,000 square feet
Concrete Work 40,000 cubic yards
Structural Steel Framing 13,047 tons
STABLE AREA
61 Barns (1 Receiving Barn, 1 Pony Barn)
Stabling Capacity 2,200 Stalls
Dormitory Capacity
(408 rooms) 865 personnel
FACILITIES PROVIDED
Total Capacity 100,000+
Trackside Dining 2,300
Other Dining 700
Total Seating Capacity (including picnic tables
and benches) 32,941
Closed-Circuit TV Monitors 1,000+
Kitchens 4
Dining Areas 5
Concession Stands 25
Concession Bars 12
Toilets 96
Elevators 9
Escalators 18
Pari-Mutuel Windows 1,000+
Hospital 5 beds
First Aid Room 1
Ambulances 4
Defibrillators 12
TRACK ATTENDANCE AND HANDLE RECORDS
One-Day Attendance 120,139, June 5, 2004
One-Day Handle $14,658,559 on Breeders’ Cup Day, Oct. 29, 2005
On June 7 the eyes of the racing world, along with much of the rest of the world, will be focused on Belmont Park as the 3-year old California Chrome attempts to achieve what has not been achieved since Affirmed in 1978! Winning the Triple Crown of thoroughbred racing!
Twelve horses since the 1978 stretch-long duel between Affirmed and Alydar have had the opportunity to achieve Triple Crown greatness by first winning the Kentucky Derby and Preakness and yet, no horse has been able to accomplish what many believe to be one of the most difficult achievements in sports.
Over the span of five weeks these 3-year olds are asked to run three races at three different track and at three different distances, the last of which will be the mile and a half Belmont Stakes!
But before we see on Saturday, June 7, 2014 whether California Chrome has what it takes, here is a look back at history!
For nostalgia buffs, or for those who simply want to see greatness in action, these videos are of the Belmont Stakes wins by Secretariat and Affirmed. The two races are most striking in the contrasting ways in which the two horses won.
If the videos do not load they can be watched at the original article here: Belmont Park: On June 7th this will be New York's most prime piece of real estate! (Video)
Belmont Park
The physical racetrack itself, Belmont Park, has been a landmark on Long Island since May 4, 1905 when 40,000 fans arrived on its opening day and, as they say, the rest is history!
These are some statistics courtesy of the NYRA:
BASIC PHYSICAL DATA OF BELMONT PARK RACETRACK
GROUNDS
Area of Site 445 acres
Parking Areas 91 acres (18,500 cars)
Main Course 1 1/2 miles
Widener Turf Course 1 5/16 miles
Inner Turf Course 1 3/16 miles, 103 feet
Training Track 1 mile
Pony Track 1/4 mile
Railroad Terminal - 4 Platforms; City Bus
Terminal with Escalators; Chartered and Tour Bus Parking
Area; 6 CCTV Race Patrol Camera Towers - 40 feet high
GRANDSTAND
Length 1,266 feet
Depth Clubhouse and Grandstand 265 feet
Height 105 feet
Floor Area 1,300,000 square feet
Concrete Work 40,000 cubic yards
Structural Steel Framing 13,047 tons
STABLE AREA
61 Barns (1 Receiving Barn, 1 Pony Barn)
Stabling Capacity 2,200 Stalls
Dormitory Capacity
(408 rooms) 865 personnel
FACILITIES PROVIDED
Total Capacity 100,000+
Trackside Dining 2,300
Other Dining 700
Total Seating Capacity (including picnic tables
and benches) 32,941
Closed-Circuit TV Monitors 1,000+
Kitchens 4
Dining Areas 5
Concession Stands 25
Concession Bars 12
Toilets 96
Elevators 9
Escalators 18
Pari-Mutuel Windows 1,000+
Hospital 5 beds
First Aid Room 1
Ambulances 4
Defibrillators 12
TRACK ATTENDANCE AND HANDLE RECORDS
One-Day Attendance 120,139, June 5, 2004
One-Day Handle $14,658,559 on Breeders’ Cup Day, Oct. 29, 2005
