Record handle set on Belmont opening day

ELMONT, N.Y. – The delayed opening of the Belmont Park spring-summer meet on Wednesday was greeted enthusiastically by bettors, who wagered $10,972,254 on the 10-race card.

The figure was a record for an opening day at a Belmont spring/summer meet, according to the New York Racing Association. The previous record was $10.7 million in 2010.

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“We are proud to be able to usher in the return of professional sports to New York right here at Belmont Park,” NYRA president and CEO Dave O’Rourke said. “I would like to thank racing fans for tuning in and supporting live racing.”

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Owing to the COVID-19 pandemic, New York racing had been shut down since March 15. Since then, 43 scheduled race cards were lost. The Belmont meet will have 25 programs through July 12 before racing heads to Saratoga for a scheduled 40-day meet beginning July 16.

Irad Ortiz Jr. was the riding star of opening day, booting home five winners from eight mounts. He went on to win two of the first three races on Thursday’s card.

Trainer Chad Brown and jockey Javier Castellano teamed to win Wednesday’s Grade 3, $100,000 Beaugay with Rushing Fall, who cruised to a two-length front-running score.

Rushing Fall earned a career-best 103 Beyer Speed Figure and will now be considered for either the Grade 1 Just a Game at Belmont on June 20 or, more likely, the Grade 1 Jenny Wiley at Keeneland on July 11.

Rushing Fall won both those races last year.