Belmont tries to keep the ball rolling
ELMONT, N.Y. – Coming off a record-setting Saratoga meet, New York Racing Association officials hope to build on the momentum – despite some stiff competition – when Belmont Park opens its 38-day fall meet on Friday.
Great weather and large fields were two of the main reasons Saratoga set a record with $648 million in all-sources handle this summer. But at Belmont, the horse population shrinks, with the majority of the Kentucky outfits headed back for meets at Churchill Downs and Kentucky Downs in September before Keeneland opens in October. This year, Belmont could be competing for horses with Parx, which, through Oct. 20, is offering purses of equal or greater value than Belmont.
NYRA officials have requested that locally based horsemen get permission before shipping their horses out of town. On Monday, NYRA president and chief executive Chris Kay said that based on the success of the Saratoga meet, he was going to examine the possibility of increasing purses before the year ends.
“One of the first things I’m going to do when we get back is sit down with our finance team and take a look at what we have available and use it strategically between now and the end of the year, but most importantly as soon as possible,” Kay said.
NYRA can only hope that some of the weather that helped make Saratoga a success continues at Belmont. Last fall, Belmont lost 47 grass races due to poor weather – compared with seven in the fall of 2013 – and all-sources handle was $294,710,551, a 9.8 percent decrease from the previous fall.
NYRA will offer 40 stakes worth $10.6 million in purses during the fall meet, which runs through Nov. 1. NYRA has split up its Grade 1 stakes, typically run on one Saturday, and spread them out over two Saturdays.
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The Sept. 26 card will have three Grade 1 races – the $600,000 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic, $400,000 Vosburgh, and $400,000 Beldame – as well as the Grade 2, $300,000 Gallant Bloom and Grade 3, $200,000 Pilgrim.
The Oct. 3 card will have four Grade 1 races – the $1 million Jockey Club Gold Cup, $500,000 Flower Bowl, $500,000 Champagne, and $400,000 Frizette – as well as the Grade 3, $500,000 Hill Prince and Grade 2, $400,000 Kelso.
The Oct. 24 card will be the third New York Showcase Day program of the year. This one features eight stakes restricted to New York-breds with total purses of $1.75 million.
There is a nine-race card on Friday’s opening day, topped by the $100,000 Christiecat Stakes at six furlongs on turf for 3-year-old fillies. First post is 12:55 p.m. Eastern.
Miss Ella, trained by Graham Motion, looms as the horse to beat off her second-place finish to the fabulous Lady Shipman in the $100,000 Coronation Cup at Saratoga. Miss Ella was making her turf debut against arguably the best 3-year-old sprinting turf filly in the country that day.
There was some rain in the forecast Thursday night into Friday morning, but it seems unlikely that the Christiecat will come off the turf.
Among Miss Ella’s opponents is Sister Sophia, who went 2 for 2 against New York-bred company at the Belmont spring-summer meet and lost a nose decision in a statebred second-level allowance at Saratoga.
Devine Aida, a stakes winner on turf and dirt, makes her first start for trainer Christophe Clement. Devine Aida went 2 for 2 in 7 1/2-furlong turf races at Gulfstream Park when trained by Ramon Morales.
Clement said Wednesday he is concerned that six furlongs could be too short for Devine Aida.
“The filly looks great,” he said. “The idea is to give her a race on the grass as a prep for a better race down the road.”
Belmont Park
At a Glance
Racing schedule: 38 days, Friday through Nov. 1; dark Mondays and Tuesdays except racing on Monday, Oct. 12 (Columbus Day) and dark Wednesday, Oct. 14
Post Time: 12:55 p.m. except Oct 3. (Jockey Club Gold Cup Day) when it’s 12:20 p.m.; Oct. 30 (Breeders’ Cup Friday) when it’s 12:45 p.m. and Oct. 31 (Breeders’ Cup Saturday) when it’s 11:45 a.m.
Admission: $5; box seats, $4 (a box for 5 costs $50 on Oct. 3); reserved seats, $2 ($5 on Oct. 3)
Parking: General, free; preferred, $3; clubhouse preferred, $7; valet (weekends only), $10
Meet highlights: Sept. 26, Joe Hirsch Turf Classic Day; Oct. 3, Jockey Club Gold Cup Day; Oct. 24, New York Showcase Day.
Handicapping contests: Low-roller contest every Saturday ($40 buy-in)
Location: Exit 26 B or D off Cross Island Parkway Phone: (516) 488-6000
Internet: www.nyra.com