Belmont Park Activities on Belmont Stakes Weekend

Belmont Park Activities on Belmont Stakes Weekend by Reinier Macatangay: Surrounding the main attraction this Saturday at Belmont Park, the prestigious Belmont Stakes (GI) for the best 3-year-old horses in training, will be other activities designed to create a festival atmosphere.

For instance, the $125,000 Belmont Stakes Challenge is on June 10 and 11. Prizes include seats to the National Handicapping Challenge in Las Vegas next January and the Breeders’ Cup Betting Challenge at Santa Anita Park in November. Unfortunately for interested handicappers, the deadline to register and pay the entry fee has passed.

Sticking to the handicapping theme, a Handicapping Seminar will be offered on June 10 in the Horsemen’s Lounge from 12 to 1 p.m. Steven Crist and Mike Watchmaker from Daily Racing Form will host the seminar.

If that is not enough, earlier in the week Triple Crown-winning connections Bob Baffert and the Zayats will host a Question and Answer Session on June 9. The event will be free with admission.

Those searching for other forms of entertainment will not leave disappointed. On June 11, Daughtry, “who has scored four No. 1 hits, garnered four Grammy nominations, won four American Music Awards, sold over 8 million albums, 18 million singles worldwide and sold out concerts around the world,” is scheduled to perform.

Also, the racetrack will offer “a trackside performance from the highly-acclaimed Broadway hit BEAUTIFUL, as well as a performance from the U.S. Military Academy Band before the Metropolitan Handicap (GI).

Just one day earlier on June 10, live country music will be on display courtesy of the beautiful duo Maddie and Tae. Look for them near the winner’s circle after the conclusion of Friday’s final race.

Finally, back on June 11, the Longines Most Elegant Woman fashion contest will run. Fashionable ladies can enter “on the terrace overlooking the paddock, near the grandstand / clubhouse exchange on the Colonnade” from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., while judging begins at 1 p.m. Fashion expert Bri Mott will take up hosting duties.

Besides all of those extra events, one special horse will win the third leg of the Triple Crown.