ELMONT, N.Y. – With four great live bands, a straw beach mat giveaway, a special appearance by racing legends Steve Cauthen and Jorge Velasquez and world-class stakes racing, the biggest beach party on Long Island is set for Memorial Day weekend at BelmontPark.

The festivities kick off on Saturday, May 26 as jockeys Cauthen and Velasquez autograph postcards to commemorate the unforgettable 1978 Triple Crown, won by Affirmed over archrival Alydar. With the 18-year-old Cauthen aboard, Affirmed beat Alydar by a mere head in the 1½-mile Belmont Stakes to become the 11th and most recent horse to sweep the Kentucky Derby, Preakness, and Belmont, held this year on Saturday, June 9. The postcards will be given away free, with paid admission, at the park entrances. The autograph signing will be $5.00, with all proceeds to be donated to the Permanently Disabled Jockeys’ Fund.

The first of four live bands for the holiday weekend takes to Belmont’s backyard stage on Saturday, with Therapy Band serving up Caribbean and Calypso fare beginning at noon. On track, turf fillies and mares contest the Grade 2, $200,000 SheepsheadBay, with The New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA) offering a guaranteed $350,000 Late Pick 4 on Saturday.

The beach party continues on Sunday, May 27, with live parrots, a tropical obstacle course, a surf board simulator, and the Under The Sea inflatable, all free for kids in the backyard as Family Fun Day begins at noon. On stage, The Young Rebel Goombahs will be playing reggae-themed rock.

On Monday, May 28, fans can get the perfect summer accessory – a BelmontPark straw beach mat – with paid admission while supplies last. Memorial Day will also offer not one, but two live bands: the Island Breeze Trio in the Paddock Tent and the Jimmy Buffet tribute band, Barometer Soup, on the backyard stage.

Adding to the excitement is a $500,000 Guaranteed All Graded Stakes Pick 4, comprising the Grade 1, $750,000 Metropolitan Handicap; the Grade 1, $400,000 Ogden Phipps; the Grade 1, $300,000 Acorn, and the Grade 2, $200,000 Sands Point.

The prestigious Met Mile is expected to bring together some of the top older horses in the nation, including Grade 1 Carter Handicap hero Jackson Bend and runner-up Caleb’s Posse; 2011 Preakness hero Shackleford, winner of the Grade 2 Churchill Downs last time out, and 2011 Cigar Mile Handicap victor To Honor and Serve, most recently triumphant in the Grade 3 Westchester. In its new spot on the calendar, the Ogden Phipps for fillies and mares should bring together multiple Grade 1 winner It’s Tricky and last year’s winner, Awesome Maria, riding a six-race winning streak, while the one-mile Acorn, also run on Memorial Day for the first time, is likely to attract some of the country’s top 3-year-old fillies.

BALTIMORE, Md. – After a three-year absence, the Pimlico Special returns Friday with a Grade 3 rating, a $300,000 purse and a stellar field of 10 handicap runners. Fifteen of the previous 41 winners earned Horse of the Year honors.

Seven other stakes help comprise the 13-race card including the return of the $300,000 Black-Eyed Susan Stakes (G2) and also featuring the $30,000 Pimlico Female Jockey Challenge, back for its second year, and the Lady Legends for the Cure Race III, a pari-mutuel event between eight retired female riders.

Heading the Special lineup is Alternation, who brought a three-race winning streak into Maryland when he arrived last Friday.

Alternation has the most impressive recent credentials, including his latest victory in the Oaklawn Handicap on April 14 when he defeated three of the rivals he will face in the Special, Yawanna Twist (third), Hymn Book (fourth) and Nehro (sixth). That increased the lifetime earnings of the grandson of Forty Niner and Triple Crown winner Seattle Slew to more than $720,000.

“This looked like a good next step for him,” said Alternation’s trainer Donnie Von Hemel. “We liked the distance (1 3/16 miles) and the type of race it is. It’s a race with a lot of tradition and history and it will set him up nicely for the Stephen Foster.”

Von Hemel said the horse was brought to Maryland early because “when you’re coming from as far away as we were, you can’t crowd the race. There was plenty of time to get him a nice trip and do a little schooling here.”

In a well balanced race, Mission Impazible from the powerful Todd Pletcher barn is listed as the 7-2 overnight favorite with Hymn Book right behind at 4-1 and Alternation at 9-2.

Mission Impazible has not won in more than a year, losing to Hymn Book by a nose in the Donn Handicap at Gulfstream last February, but has competed at the highest level and bankrolled nearly $1,234,000, tops in the field.

Hymn Book “had a little bit of an off day” in his most recent outing, according to trainer Shug McGaughey. “But he’s seen a lot of these horses and he’s in there with them. I like this spot because it’s around two turns and he’s doing good. Of course, he likes about anything.”

Toby’s Corner, ranked at 6-1 from the rail post, will be making his third start since suffering an injury that prevented him from competing in the 2011 Triple Crown series and sent his stablemate, Animal Kingdom, to fame in a Kentucky Derby triumph. Trainer Graham Motion has been pleased with Toby’s Corner’s return to the track which has included two third-place finishes this year.

“The last time at New Orleans we had a long way to go and the track was very speed favoring that day,” said Motion of an effort in the New Orleans Handicap when  Mission Impazible (second) was among his conquerors. “He had a nice breeze, going six in 13 and change and we believe this spot fit in very well with what we’re trying to do.”

Motion, who was stabled at Laurel Park before shifting to the Fair Hill Training Center 60 miles away from Pimlico, said competing in the Special “is in my blood. This is local with a nice purse and these prestigious races this week are what you look forward to. We’re very lucky to be part of them.”

Yawanna Twist (12-to-1) is back in Maryland where he won the General George (G2) at Laurel Park in February, beating among others Toby’s Corner. The son of Yonaguska finished  fourth in the 2010 Preakness Stakes (G1), while in the Rick Dutrow barn.

A possible longshot pick could be Cease (8-to-1), who threw in a clinker last time out on the synthetic track at Keeneland, but will be getting back on dirt, where he has done creditably. With a horse from fabled Claiborne Farm and jockey Rosie Napravnik, who earned her first career victory at Pimlico in June 2005 in the saddle, trainer Al Stall, Jr. may have a tough combination to beat.

“He’s got really good figures on dirt,” said Stall. “On that poly track that winner (Wise Dan) set a track record that day. You don’t expect that and to get beat by 10 lengths. I know there are some tough horses in there, but on the dirt, his numbers match up.”

Nehro (8-to-1) is pushing toward $1 million in earnings after a solid performance in the 2011 Triple Crown series, including a runner-up to Animal Kingdom in the Kentucky Derby. Nehro is trained by Steve Asmussen, who prepared Student Council for a victory in the last Pimlico Special four years ago.

Another to consider is Endorsement (8-to-1), who has been worse than second just one in eight career starts and never in the last seven.

Completing the lineup will be the local contingent of Eighttofasttocatch (15-to-1), a multiple stakes winner at Laurel Park, and Cherokee Artist (20-to-1).

The Pimlico Special field, from the rail out: Toby’s Corner (trainer Graham Motion, jockey Eddie Castro, 118 pounds, 6-1); Endorsement (trainer Eoin Harty, jockey Martin Garcia, 124 pounds, 8-1); Cease (trainer Albert Stall Jr., jockey Rosie Napravnik, 124 pounds, 15-1); Hymn Book (trainer Shug McGaughey, jockey John Velazquez, 124 pounds, 9-2); Cherokee Artist (trainer Jerry Robb, jockey Victor Santiago, 118 pounds, 20-1); Nehro (trainer Steve Asmussen, jockey Corey Nakatani, 118 pounds, 8-1); Mission Impazible (trainer Todd Pletcher, jockey Javier Castellano, 118 pounds, 7-2); Yawanna Twist (trainer John Parisella, jockey Mike Luzzi, 118 pounds, 12-1); Alternation  (trainer Donnie Von Hemel, jockey Luis Quinonez, 124 pounds, 4-1); Eighttofasttocatch (trainer Tim Keefe, jockey Sheldon Russell, 124 pounds, 15-1).

File photo
Hymn Book

ARCADIA, Calif. — I’ll Have Another, who parlayed victory in the Grade I Santa Anita Derby on April 7 to victory in America’s most famous race, the Kentucky Derby on Saturday, not only brought home a winning purse of $1.2 million, he made 32-year-old Pasadena resident Greg Politano $16,300 as a result of a $1,000 win wager made by Santa Anita on his behalf. 

Polatano, who works in supply team management for a medical company in nearby Irwindale, entered Santa Anita’s free “Derby Owner for the Day” contest on April 7 and as a result, he participated in the “owner experience”–without the bills.  Accordingly, on Santa Anita Derby Day, he went to the paddock and watched up-close as jockey Mario Gutierrez, trainer Doug O’Neill and owners Paul and Zilla Reddam discussed pre-race strategy. 

Politano then watched I’ll Have Another win the Santa Anita Derby from the winner’s circle and most importantly, he won the opportunity to have a $1,000 win wager placed on him in the Kentucky Derby.

When Gutierrez and I’ll Have Another hit the finish line at Churchill Downs, 1½ lengths in front of favored Bodemeister, Politano knew he’d hit a jackpot, as the horse paid $32.60 on a $2.00 win ticket.

“I watched the race from New Jersey with my family,” said Politano, 32.  “My parents were visiting out here in April and at the last minute, we decided to go to Santa Anita and I entered in the Derby contest.  My parents had never been to Santa Anita and we had a great day.

“I was planning on watching the Kentucky Derby from home, but at the last minute, my work took me to Jersey, so I was able to watch the race with my family there.  My mom was very optimistic, but I never win anything and I told her, ‘He’s 15 to 1.  He’s not going to win.’

“When he (I’ll Have Another) pulled into second, I was still pessimistic.  I was convinced there wasn’t enough track left to catch Bodemeister.  I was still preparing myself for heartbreak, but when he caught him, it was just joy, disbelief and I turned to my family and screamed ‘He won!!’

“I ran to my stepfather, who also bet on him and we hugged and just started jumping up and down like two little kids and then I lifted my mom up off the ground and we were all just on cloud nine for the rest of the night.”

Santa Anita’s “Derby Owner for the Day” was the brainchild of Santa Anita CEO Mark Verge, who coincidentally, is a lifelong friend of winning trainer O’Neill.

“This is wonderful, absolutely wonderful,” said Verge.  “We’re so happy for Greg and we hope he follows I’ll Have Another in his next race, the Preakness Stakes, on May 19.  Our ‘Derby Owner’ contest couldn’t have gotten off to a better start.  Doug’s a great friend, but more importantly, it’s great to have a Southern California-based horse win the Derby and be in the national spotlight. 

“It’s great for Santa Anita and it’s great for our entire circuit here.  We’ve got great weather, great purses and great facilities.  We need new fans and new horses and it looks like we’re on our way.  Hats-off to Greg and we hope to see him more often here at The Great Race Place.”

Palitano said he intends to “put my money in the bank and I’ll try not to blow it.  My mom and dad were so instrumental in me entering in the contest and winning it so I’m going to take them on a vacation to Hawaii when the time is right.”

I’ll Have Another became the 16th horse to exit the Santa Anita Derby and win Churchill Downs’ Run for the Roses.  He became the first Santa Anita Derby winner since Sunday Silence in 1989 to win the Kentucky Derby.

Live racing will return to Santa Anita in late September, as the Breeders’ Cup World Championships will highlight the Autumn Meet on Nov. 2 and 3.

File photo

ELMONT, N.Y. – After an eventful 24 hours, jockey Rosie Napravnik returned to BelmontPark Saturday afternoon with her first Grade 1 victory and a bit of racing history in tow. On Friday, the 24-year-old piloted Believe You Can to win the Kentucky Oaks at Churchill Downs, becoming the first female jockey to win the prestigious race for 3-year-old fillies.

“It’s just been a whirlwind – I haven’t had a chance to sit down and relax yet,” said Napravnik, who finished third aboard Wildcat Frankie in race 4 at Belmont, her first race at her new home base since the historic victory. “After the [Oaks] I had over 100 text messages, along with voice mails, Twitter, Facebook messages. We’ve been getting tons of support.”

Napravnik’s trip back from Louisville Sunday morning was much more eventful than her trip in the Oaks, in which she and Believe You Can outdueled newly minted Hall of Famer John Velazquez and Broadway’s Alibi to win by less than a length. She arrived at the Louisville airport at 4:30 a.m. for her early morning flight back to New York, but after leaving the gate, the plane was forced to return for repairs. After an hour delay, the plane left the gate again, said Napravnik, but once again had to turn around and come back.

“Finally, we got a new plane,” she said. “It was a bit of a rough morning. We wound up getting here three hours late, and I arrived just in time for the fourth race. It was lucky for me that my first two mounts today at Belmont were scratched, because I wouldn’t have made it.”

Arriving straight from the airport, Napravnik said she was thrilled at the enthusiastic welcome she received from fans and her fellow riders.

“A lot of the fans were congratulating me, [and] my peers in the jockeys’ room,” she said. “I’m really happy to have everyone’s support. It feels great. I’m so happy to be riding here today.”

Napravnik had been scheduled to ride Mark Valeski in today’s Kentucky Derby, but the colt was declared from the race by trainer Larry Jones after a sub-par workout earlier in the week. The Louisiana Derby runner-up is being re-routed to the Grade 2 Peter Pan at Belmont on May 12.

“I still have a really nice (colt) in Mark Valeski, and he should be very tough to beat in (the Peter Pan),” she said. “There are still plenty of races this summer for 3-year-olds, and Larry is pretty adamant about making it to the Travers with him, so that’s really exciting.”

File photo
Rosie Napravnik

LEXINGTON, Ky. – Keeneland’s 2012 spring race meeting proved to be an enormously successful finale for President Nick Nicholson, posting several records for attendance and wagering and boasting field sizes that are among the largest in the country. More importantly, it also marked the sixth consecutive spring meeting in which there were no catastrophic breakdowns during racing on Keeneland’s all-weather main track.

“I believe our success directly correlates to our dedication to safety,” said Nicholson. “Providing the safest environment possible for our equine and human athletes is something we strive to do each and every day. Safety is a significant part of everything we do and I think it is resonating with our fans.”

During this spring’s 15-day meeting, attendance totaled a record 269,292, for an average of 17,953 per day. These figures eclipse the previous records of 250,163 in total attendance and daily average of 14,715 set during last fall’s 17-day meeting.

In a first, Keeneland carded 12 races on Toyota Blue Grass (G1) Day on April 14, resulting in a record single-day all-sources handle of $21,647,378, compared to the previous record of $19,246,840 set on April 14, 2007—also a Toyota Blue Grass Day when 10 races were carded. Other mutuel handle records set this spring include:

· Largest single-day attendance—40,617 fans attended this year’s Toyota Blue Grass Stakes Day, April 14, crushing the previous record of 33,821 set on Saturday, April 21, 2007;

· Single Race Wagering Record—$1,925,900 was wagered on the Toyota Blue Grass; the previous record was $1,924,646 wagered on the Toyota Blue Grass on April 14, 2001;

· Largest Exacta Pool—$1,180,893 wagered on the Toyota Blue Grass, surpassing the previous record of $1,138,124 wagered on the Toyota Blue Grass in 2008;

· Largest Super High Five Pool—$81,032 wagered on Wednesday, April 11, compared to $74,542 wagered on April 15, 2011.

Earlier this month, Nicholson announced plans to retire on September 1. Nicholson has been the President and CEO of Keeneland since 2000 and is widely credited for guiding Keeneland through some difficult times—including multiple industry downturns caused by two global recessions and the outbreak of Mare Reproductive Loss Syndrome. Despite those setbacks, Nicholson ushered in a number of innovations, including a major track renovation and the installation of an all-weather surface on its main track in 2006—a move that made Keeneland one of the safest, most modern racetracks in the world.

“It has been a wonderful tenure for me here at Keeneland and I am grateful for the opportunity to be part of an organization that is so well respected in the community and in the industry,” Nicholson said. “And because we have a such strong, cohesive team in place, I leave knowing Keeneland is in great hands.”   

Nicholson will be succeeded by Keeneland’s current Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, Bill Thomason.

Top Performances

Dullahan became the first horse since Round Table in 1957 to win the Breeders’ Futurity (now the Grade 1 Dixiana Breeders’ Futurity) and go on to win the Blue Grass. Owned by Jerry Crawford’s Donegal Racing, Dullahan outdueled favorite and reigning two-year-old champion Hansen in a thrilling stretch run to win Keeneland’s signature Kentucky Derby (G1) prep race. 

Morton Fink’s Wise Dan won the $150,000 Ben Ali (G3) on Sunday, April 22, setting a 1 1/8-mile track record in the process.

Jockey Julien Leparoux was the meet’s leading jockey with 23 wins, earning his fifth spring meet title and his eighth title overall. On Friday, April 20, Leparoux tied a longstanding record when he won six races on the card. He now shares that record with jockeys Randy Romero, who won six races on April 7, 1990 and Craig Perret, who won six races on April 18, 1990. Leparoux has 279 career wins at Keeneland and ranks fifth on the list of the track’s all-time leading jockeys.

“It’s always special,” Leparoux said. “It’s Keeneland, so it’s great to win a meet here.”

Ken and Sarah Ramsey dominated the owner standings with 7 wins, including a victory with Lonesome Street in the $175,000 Commonwealth (G2). This was the 10th Keeneland leading owner title for the Ramseys, who have now won five spring titles (2004 [tie], 2006, 2010 [tie], 2011, and 2012) and five fall titles (2000 (tie), 2002, 2007 (tie), 2008 and 2009).  

Trainer Wesley Ward notched his first training title at Keeneland with nine wins. Ward earned two stakes victories with Gypsy Robin in the $150,000 Beaumont Stakes (G2) and longshot All Squared Away in the $200,000 Coolmore Lexington Stakes (G3).

“Just to win a race here is unbelievable,” Ward said. “I come from humble beginnings, and eventually made it to win some races at some of the major meets. Words can’t describe it.”

“This has been a strong meet with great racing,” said Vice President of Racing Rogers Beasley. “We are proud that the top two Kentucky Derby horses raced here and another Derby contender worked here before heading to Churchill Downs for the remainder of his training. We also wish to thank the owners, trainers, jockeys and fans who are such an important part of our meets. We appreciate their loyalty and look forward to seeing them in the fall.”

Keeneland photo
Wesley Ward, center, won the training title at the 2012 Keeneland Spring Meet.

BALTIMORE, Md. – Trainer Todd Pletcher will start Hudson Steele in the $75,000 Henry S. Clark Stakes, a race scheduled for one mile on the turf at Pimlico Race Course Saturday afternoon. The race could be used as a springboard for some to the $300,000 Dixie Stakes (G2) on the Preakness undercard.

Hudson Steele, a son of Johannesburg, has won three of five on the infield, with a victory in the Jersey Derby at Monmouth and a runner-up finish in the Ft. Marcy Stakes (G3) at Belmont Park to his credit. This will be Hudson Steele’s first start since last May and Chris DeCarlo gets his first chance to ride the 5-2 morning line favorite.

“He has been training well very well at Palm Meadows,” Pletcher said. ‘We are looking forward to getting his season started.”

Another runner coming into the Clark off a layoff is Humble and Hungry (4-1) for trainer Ignacio Correas. The Limehouse colt has six on-the-board finishes in seven turf starts, topped off with a victory in the Commonwealth Stakes (G3) at Churchill Downs to end last year’s campaign. Horacio Karamanos gets his first try on Humble and Hungry, who has finished out of the money just once in 10 career starts.

“We are looking to get him ready for the Dixie,” Correas said. “His last work (April 22 at Sagamore Farm) was impressive. Last year he was getting better with each race. He is a hard trying runner and always gives us a big effort. There is nothing not to like. The only time he didn’t hit the board was the Breeders’ Cup (2010 Juvenile Turf) and he was beat just three lengths.”

Correas also entered Monzon, who is on the also-eligible list. The Clark is limited to 10 starters.

George Weaver got two wins and a second on the grass out of Monument Hill (9-2) this winter at Gulfstream Park plus a very troubled third in the Appleton Stakes (G3) in his most recent start. Joe Rocco Jr. will ride the Royal Academy gelding for the first time.

Concealed Identity (5-1) boasts some strong Beyer Speed Figures from his two attempts on the infield. The Smarty Jones offspring, who is conditioned by Linda Gaudet at the Bowie Training Center, won the Find Handicap on the grass at Laurel Park last year. Sheldon Russell has the mount.

“I am very excited to have him back on the turf,” said Russell, who rode Concealed Identity in last year’s Preakness Stakes (G1).  “I worked him on the turf two weeks ago at Laurel (April 11) and he just gives you such a different feeling on the grass. He beat Monument Hill in the Find and that horse has gone on to do some good things since, finishing second to Animal Kingdom earlier this year.”

Leigh Delacour has entered Lentenor (8-1), a full brother to 2006 Kentucky Derby (G1) winner Barbaro. Lentenor, who will carry Luis Garcia, has won three times on the turf, including twice in four tries with Delacour as his conditioner.

Delacour also entered Nicanor, another full brother to Barbaro, one of six also-eligibles for the race.

Pocket Patch (20-1) was 10-1 when he won the Henry Clark Stakes last year. His other major win in 2011 was a defense of his victory in 2010’s Maryland Million Turf. Forest Boyce regains the mount.

Completing the field are Sleepless Knight (8-1), El Commodore (10-1), Kingofthebluegrass (20-1) and Paris Vegas (30-1).

The four remaining AE’s are Lil Mr B, Not For Silver, Colgan’s Chip and Bandbox.

PHOTO CREDIT-Jim McCue, Maryland Jockey Club
Concealed Identity

The 144th running of the Grade 1, $1 million Belmont Stakes on Saturday, June 9, is the glittering centerpiece of BelmontPark’s 56-day spring/summer meet, which runs through July 15. The oldest and longest leg of racing’s elusive Triple Crown, the 1½-mile Belmont will be supported by four additional graded stakes and The New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA) is offering a $1 Million Guaranteed All Graded Stakes Pick 4 and a $1 Million Guaranteed Pick 6 on Belmont Day.

The Belmont Stakes Festival begins on Saturday, June 2, with the Elmont Belmont Stakes Parade kicking off a week of community events that includes the Belmont Stakes Blue Ribbon Run for Prostate Cancer on June 3, Fabulous Fillies White Carnation Day on June 8 and the Floral Park Art League’s thoroughbred racing exhibit on June 9.

Celebrating opening weekend will be live music with the alternative rock band Waiting for Bobby in the backyard on Saturday and the first of 11 Family Fun Days on Sunday. The 83rd running of the Grade 3, $150,000 Westchester kicks off the exciting stakes action on Saturday. A traditional prep for the Grade 1 Metropolitan Handicap on Memorial Day, the Westchester is the first of Belmont’s 26 graded stakes worth $8.8 million, an increase of more than 25 percent from last year.

The holiday weekend marks the start of the Grade 1 season with a trio of world-class races on May 28: the $750,000 Met Mile, the $400,000 Ogden Phipps for fillies and mares, and the $300,000 Acorn for 3-year-old fillies, which will be run on Memorial Day for the first time. Rounding out the graded stakes action and the $500,000 Guaranteed All Graded Stakes Pick 4 is the Grade 2, $300,000 Sands Point for 3-year-old turf fillies.

In addition to world-class racing, the biggest beach party on Long Island will take place Memorial Day weekend at BelmontPark, with live bands on Saturday, Sunday and Monday, Family Fun Day on Sunday and a Belmont Park Beach Mat giveaway on Memorial Day, free with paid admission while supplies last. Also on Saturday, May 26, Hall of Fame jockeys Steve Cauthen and Jorge Velasquez will sign postcards in the clubhouse commemorating the unforgettable 1978 Triple Crown rivalry between Affirmed and Alydar.

Along with the Belmont Stakes, June 9 will offer a pair of prestigious Grade 1 turf races in the $500,000 Woodford Reserve Manhattan Handicap and the $500,000 Foxwoods Just a Game for fillies and mares, the Grade 2, $400,000 Woody Stephens, presented by VisitNassauCounty.com for 3-year-olds and the Grade 2, $400,000 True North Handicap for sprinters.

Throughout the meet, NYRA’s program for 2-year-olds will be enhanced by a $100,000 bonus for any juvenile who breaks its maiden during Belmont’s spring meet and goes on to win a graded stakes at Saratoga Race Course, Belmont, or Aqueduct Racetrack this year. The meet will offer open maiden special weight races with purses of $70,000 for sprints and $75,000 for routes.

Presented by Corona Light, “Party at the Park” returns for three Fridays beginning June 29 with a special first race post time of 3 p.m. and a party that includes food and drink specials along with a great live concert from Zebra in the backyard at the conclusion of live racing. On Friday, July 6, will bring an Irish Festival with the Mickey Finns and Niall O’Leary’s School of Irish Dance, and on Friday, July 13, Big Shot Tribute Band returns with the ultimate Billy Joel experience!

From start to finish, family activities abound, including the popular “Breakfast at Belmont” program weekend mornings from 7 – 9:30 a.m. and Family Fun Days on Sundays, presented by Coca Cola, except for Belmont Stakes weekend.

The Long Island Rail Road’s “Belmont Special” will run from Penn Station to BelmontPark at 10:58 a.m. and 11:42 a.m. Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays, and 10:58 a.m. and 11:51 a.m. on weekends and holidays, effective April 27 through May 13.  Return service will be approximately 30 minutes after the last race, with an additional train at 3:42 p.m. weekdays and 4:27 p.m. weekends, effective April 27 through May 13.

First race post time is 12:50 p.m. except for “Party at the Park” (3 p.m.) and Belmont Stakes Day (11:35 am). Live racing is generally conducted Wednesday through Sunday. BelmontPark will be open on Memorial Day, Monday, May 28, with no live racing on Tuesday and Wednesday that week. BelmontPark will also be closed for live racing on Sunday, June 10, and Wednesday, July 11.

Except for Belmont Stakes Day, general grandstand admission and admission to the Belmont Café simulcast area is $3, clubhouse admission is $5, and general parking is free.

NYRA/Adam Coglianese
Belmont Park paddock

BALTIMORE, Md. – Abu Dhabi, capital of the United Arab Emirates, will join with Pimlico Race Course to host a Grade 1 race for purebred Arabian horses on Preakness Day, Saturday, May 19. The $1 million Preakness® Stakes (G1), the middle jewel of Thoroughbred racing’s Triple Crown, headlines the 14-race card.

The 14-race program also will feature the $75,000-added The President of the United Arab Emirates Cup, a Grade 1 race for Arabian horses. The race is limited to 14 horses and will be run on the main track at 1-1/16 miles.

The Maryland House Ways and Means committee passed an emergency bill during the General Assembly, which was signed into law by Governor Martin O’Malley April 10, authorizing Pimlico Race Course to conduct live racing of Arabian horses under certain circumstances. The race needs to be approved by the Maryland Racing Commission and is a topic is on Tuesday’s agenda, the date of its next monthly meeting.

“Adding the top Arabian race to what is already a first-class series of races will enhance the value of the day,” Pimlico president Tom Chuckas said. “We are pleased to partner with the UAE for this historic event and look forward to future opportunities.”

The President of the UAE Cup Series was established more than 20 years ago to promote and celebrate the Arabian breed internationally. It was the first international racing series for Arabian horses and continues to be considered as the world’s premier racing series for the breed. Last year’s running of The President of the United Arab Emirates Cup was held at Churchill Downs in mid-June, as part of the Stephen Foster card.

Etihad Airways, the national airline of the United Arab Emirates, will display its branded Formula 1 race car in the Pimlico corporate village. Visitors will have an opportunity to have photographs taken with the vehicle.

Preakness Day fans will have the opportunity to enter a sweepstakes drawing that has a grand prize of a Five-Star trip to Abu Dhabi.

Post time for Preakness Day is 10:30 a.m. The Preakness program will have eight added money races for Thoroughbreds, including five graded events. In addition to the Preakness, the card will feature the $300,000 Dixie Handicap (G2) and three Grade 3 races.

2012 Preakness InfieldFest will include performances by Grammy Award winner Maroon 5 and American Music Award winner Wiz Khalifa. Both artists will play extended sets on the main stage in the public Infield. The Darkness, Little Big Town and Mr. Greengenes will perform on the Jägermeister stage.

LEXINGTON, Ky. – Keeneland shattered its single-day attendance and all-sources wagering records on Toyota Blue Grass Day, Saturday, April 14.

On-track attendance of 40,617 crushed the previous record of 33,821 set on Saturday, April 21, 2007, Coolmore Lexington Stakes Day. The former record for a Toyota Blue Grass Day attendance was 33,727 set on April 10, 2010.

“This was a historic day at Keeneland and we are humbled by the depth and the breadth of support shown by our community and our industry,” said Nick Nicholson, President and CEO of Keeneland. “We are fortunate to have the greatest fan base in the world and they came out in droves today to enjoy the high-quality racing. This is proof that Thoroughbred racing showcased at the highest level has a bright future. Plus, it was a thrilling Toyota Blue Grass Stakes. We want to thank everyone who helped make this day special.”

All-sources wagering of $21,647,378.17 broke the former record of $19,246,840 set on Toyota Blue Grass Day, April 14, 2007.

Today’s program, which included the $750,000 Toyota Blue Grass (G1), $300,000 Jenny Wiley (G1), $175,000 Commonwealth (G3) and $100,000 Shakertown (G3), was the first 12-race card in Keeneland history. There have been two 11-race programs at Keeneland: Toyota Blue Grass Day on April 10, 2010 and FallStars Day on October 9, 2010. The first 10-race program at Keeneland was offered on April 15, 2000, which was also Toyota Blue Grass Day.

LEXINGTON, Ky. – Kendall Hansen and Skychai Racing’s Hansen, winner of the 2011 Grey Goose Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) and champion 2-year-old of 2011, heads a field of 13 horses entered Wednesday for Saturday’s 88th running of the $750,000 Toyota Blue Grass (G1) at Keeneland.

The 1 1/8-mile Toyota Blue Grass serves as a major steppingstone for the May 5 Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (G1). A total of 19 horses that ran in the Toyota Blue Grass went on to win the Kentucky Derby, with Street Sense in 2007 the most recent.

The Toyota Blue Grass is scheduled to go off at 6:18 p.m. (EDT) as the 11th race on Saturday’s 12-race program. First post time is 1:05 p.m. for the card that features three other graded stakes.

Temperatures are expected to be in the mid 70s on Saturday.

Hansen will be the first juvenile champion to run in the Toyota Blue Grass since Street Sense, who ran second here before winning the Kentucky Derby in his next start.

Trained by Mike Maker, Hansen returns to the Polytrack surface for the first time since winning the Kentucky Cup Juvenile at Turfway Park in September in his second start.

Following that victory, Hansen won the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile at Churchill Downs to close his 2011 campaign.

Hansen finished second in his 2012 debut in the slop at Gulfstream Park on January 29 in the Holy Bull, but rebounded to win the Gotham (G3) at Aqueduct on March 3 in his most recent start.

Keeneland morning-line maker Mike Battaglia has installed Hansen as the 6-5 morning line favorite for the race. Ramon Dominguez, who has been aboard for Hansen’s past three races, has the assignment Saturday in his quest for a first victory in the Toyota Blue Grass. Hansen will break from post position four.

Maker is seeking his second Toyota Blue Grass victory, having saddled Stately Victor to win the race in 2010. Last year, Maker sent out Twinspired, who finished second, beaten a nose, by Brilliant Speed. Maker also will send out Ken and Sarah Ramsey’s Gung Ho in Saturday’s race.

Co-second choices on the morning line at 6-1 are Donegal Racing’s Dullahan, trained by Dale Romans, and Team Valor International’s Howe Great, trained by Graham Motion.

A half-brother to 2009 Kentucky Derby winner Mine That Bird, Dullahan has won one of seven career starts with that victory coming in last fall’s Dixiana Breeders’ Futurity (G1) at Keeneland.

Dullahan closed 2011 with a fourth-place finish behind Hansen in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile and in his lone start of 2012 finished second behind Howe Great in the Palm Beach (G3) on the turf at Gulfstream Park.

Kent Desormeaux, seeking his first Toyota Blue Grass victory, will ride Dullahan, who will break from post position six.

Howe Great, a winner of four of five career starts, will break from post position 10 under Javier Castellano. In addition to his victory in the Palm Beach, Howe Great opened his 2012 campaign with a front-running victory in the Kitten’s Joy at Gulfstream Park.

Fourth choice on the line at 10-1 is John Oxley’s Prospective.

Trained by Mark Casse, Prospective enters the Toyota Blue Grass off a victory in the Tampa Bay Derby (G2) on March 10. Undefeated in two starts on Polytrack, Prospective will break from post position three and be ridden by Luis Contreras, who is riding in his first Toyota Blue Grass.

The most experienced runner in the field is Raut LLC’s Hero of Order, who will be making his 15th start. Start No. 14 shook up the Triple Crown trail on April 1 when he won the Louisiana Derby (G2) at odds of 109-1.

Eddie Martin Jr., who was aboard for that victory, will ride Saturday and exit post position 12 on Hero of Order, who is 12-1 on the morning line.

Hero of Order will be one of two runners in the race for trainer Gennadi Dorochenko. Dorochenko also will send out Russian Greek for Olympia Star Inc. Miguel Mena will ride Russian Greek, 50-1 on the morning line, who drew post position five.

In addition to Maker, two trainers will be trying to secure multiple victories in the race.

Two-time winner Todd Pletcher (Bandini in 2005 and Monba in 2008) will send out Starlight Partners’ Heavy Breathing. A 12-1 shot in the line, Heavy Breathing will break from post position one under Corey Lanerie.

Bob Baffert saddled Sinister Minister to win the Toyota Blue Grass in 2006. He is back this year with Arnold Zetcher’s Midnight Crooner. Garrett Gomez, who was aboard Sinister Minister for his Toyota Blue Grass triumph, has the call on Midnight Crooner, who will exit post position eight. Midnight Crooner is 15-1 on the morning line.

In addition to Gomez, two other riders will be trying to pad their Toyota Blue Grass resumes.

Edgar Prado, who rides Gung Ho, has won the race three times (Harlan’s Holiday in 2002, Peace Rules in 2003 and with Monba) and Joel Rosario, who rides Holy Candy for the Craig Stables and Donkey Island Racing, won the race last year on Brilliant Speed.

Should Rosario win the Toyota Blue Grass in consecutive years, it would match a feat accomplished six times by five riders. In addition to Prado, other riders to win in consecutive years are Bill Shoemaker twice (Tomy Lee, 1959 and Tompion, 1960, plus Lucky Debonair, 1965 and Abe’s Hope, 1966); Eddie Arcaro (Correspondent, 1953 and Goyamo 1954); Shane Sellers (Skip Away 1996 and Pulpit 1997) and Mike Smith (Prairie Bayou, 1993 and Holy Bull, 1994).

The complete field for the Toyota Blue Grass with morning line odds from the rail out is as follows:  Heavy Breathing (Lanerie, 12-1), Gung Ho (Prado, 30-1), Prospective (Contreras, 10-1), Hansen (Dominguez, 6-5), Russian Greek (Mena, 50-1), Dullahan (Desormeaux, 6-1), Politicallycorrect (Elvis Trujillo, 30-1), Midnight Crooner (Gomez, 15-1), Holy Candy (Rosario, 30-1), Howe Great (Castellano, 6-1), Ever So Lucky (Julien Leparoux, 12-1), Hero of Order (Martin Jr., 12-1) and Scatman (Shaun Bridgmohan, 12-1).   All starters will carry 123 pounds.

Six horses in the Toyota Blue Grass field – Dullahan, Ever So Lucky, Heavy Breathing, Hero of Order, Russian Greek and Scatman – are graduates of the Keeneland sales.

Keeneland photo