ABR: Saratoga Springs Gears Up for Belmont Stakes Week

Excitement is building as Saratoga Springs, N.Y., prepares to host the Belmont Stakes (G1) for the second consecutive year. The 157th edition of the "Test of the Champion" will be contested at Saratoga Race Course June 7 as the centerpiece of the Belmont Stakes Racing Festival. The festival runs from June 4-8 and features 27 stakes races worth $11.275 million. In switching the final leg of the Triple Crown to Saratoga, the distance was reduced from the traditional 1 1/2 miles to 1 1/4 miles to fit the configuration of the 161-year-old main track that first hosted horse racing in 1864. "It was pretty electric last year and to bring it back is a huge win for us, not just for racing fans but for our entire community," said Darryl Leggieri, president of Discover Saratoga. "It's going to be another special time for us." The rare opportunity stems from a $455 million rebuild of Belmont Park and the New York Racing Association's determination to have the massive project continue without interruption. The city of Saratoga Springs is doing everything possible to turn those circumstances into both short-term and long-term benefits. Leggieri said of last year's experience: "We thought it was amazing. The impact was massive in my opinion. The whole community got around it and we were able to showcase Saratoga Springs and Saratoga County to the world stage. The exposure, you can't buy that kind of PR." Leggieri said the economic benefit of the standard 40-day summer meet has been estimated at $370 million. With the Belmont Stakes Racing Festival and a July 4 Racing Festival serving as a prelude to the 40-day meet that stretches from July 10 through Labor Day on Sept. 1, he expects the benefit to be closer to $400 million this year. For this city of 28,593 people (as of 2022), it is about boffo business but also about celebrating the history being made. The passion for racing runs deep in Saratoga Springs. Generation after generation pours into Saratoga Race Course, many of them playing the ponies as they kick back at picnic tables in the backyard. It is common for fans to dash in as soon as the gates open to claim a table. "The town itself is Thoro-centric. Everybody is into it," said former track announcer Tom Durkin, a Saratoga Springs resident. "We eat, breathe, walk, and talk horse racing." Visitors enjoy being swept up in the locals' enthusiasm. Conversation often turns to racing at the more than 180 bars and restaurants in Saratoga. When it comes time for big races such as the Whitney Stakes or Travers Stakes, downtown is always bustling. It feels as though everything is being kicked up a notch for the Belmont. There is every reason to believe the annual summer meet will benefit from that momentum. "We're doing great," said David Hayes, managing director of the historic Adelphi Hotel. "The entire summer is busy, better than last year." With only a handful of rooms remaining for Belmont Stakes eve and Belmont Stakes day, Hayes expects the Adelphi to sell out both dates. He also oversees two popular restaurants, Salt & Char and Morrissey's Lounge and Bistro. Good luck getting into them. "The restaurants are pretty much at capacity already with reservations," Hayes said. "We have very few reservations left." Visitors can count on being wined, dined, and entertained throughout the week leading to the highly anticipated Belmont, a race that could go a long way toward determining the champion 3-year-old. On June 3, Embrace the Belmont II will be held at Universal Preservation Hall from 5:30-7:30 p.m. to benefit Therapeutic Horses of Saratoga, an equine therapy non-profit organization. Former jockey and racing expert Donna Barton Brothers will lead a program that will offer handicapping tips and provide insight into each Belmont runner. On June 4, Broadway will be closed to accommodate large crowds anticipated for a free concert that will run from 7 p.m. to approximately 10 p.m. Uprooted will take the stage ahead of Gin Blossoms. On June 5, the Belmont Gala at Canfield Casino will salute the connections of Dornoch, last year's Belmont winner. In addition, multi-platinum rapper G-Eazy will headline Sports Illustrated's "Revel at the Races" at The Night Owl. On June 6, the Fasig-Tipton Sales Pavilion will host the Belmont Ball from 6:30-10:30 p.m. All proceeds benefit equine charities. One final note. To the delight of students everywhere, schools will be closed the day before the Belmont Stakes.