Belmont Stakes Day

Tomorrow is Belmont Stakes day, traditionally the most important day of racing each year in New York, which has more important races than any other state. Upon reflection, I can recall having missed attending only the 1968 running of the Belmont Stakes-- the "test of champions," at a distance of a mile and a half-- in the last 47 years.  A man must have priorities. 

Because there is no Triple Crown on the line this year-- different horses won the Derby and the Preakness this year, and neither of them will contest the Belmont-- attendance will be below that of years of peak interest. Nevertheless, the undercard will be loaded with big fields of horses competing for big purses. The race prior to the Belmont Stakes will be the $400,000 Grade I Manhattan, in which the favorite to win will be Gio Ponti, trained  by Christophe Clement.

Two races after the Belmont Stakes, we will run Mustang Island, which will likely be first- or second-choice in the betting in a modest $48,000 allowance race on the turf restricted to horses bred in New York State. Still, it would be a thrill to win a race on Belmont Stakes day. 

Because the Belmont Stakes and our race are so close together in time, if I feel well enough, we are going to try to attend that span of races. If we go, we will park at Christophe Clement's barn, which will shorten my walk to the grandstand and our box. To maximize my chances of feeling well enough, I will try to take a nap after lunch tomorrow.