American Pharoah prepares for the Belmont Stakes with a workout at Churchill Downs this week (photo by Churchill Downs / Reed Palmer Photography)
Belmont Park
2150 Hempstead Tpke., Elmont
Saturday, June 6, $15-$400, first race at 12:50 am
516-488-6000
www.belmontstakes.com
For the seventh time in this young century, including three of the last four years, a racehorse has won the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness, with only the Belmont Stakes standing in the way of history and the Triple Crown. On June 6, three-year-old American Pharoah — yes, the second name is misspelled, accidentally — will be twelve furlongs (a mile and a half) from the elusive goal (last achieved by Seattle Slew in 1977 and Affirmed in 1978), a prohibitive 4-5 favorite against only seven other horses: Frosted, Materiality, Madefromlucky, Mubtaahij, Tale of Verve, Keen Ice, and Frammento. The usual capacity is 85,000 to 90,000 fans at the park, but you can expect even more to squeeze in for this major sporting event; if you want to witness the excitement in person, you better get your tickets fast, because many sections are already sold out, and no tickets will be available on race day. Parking costs between $20 and $125, and the LIRR is a viable option as well; more than $5 million has been spent to improve on last year’s nightmare of getting everyone out after California Chrome got trounced by Tonalist. There’s no need to rush back to Penn Station right after the Stakes, as not only are there several races after that, but the Goo Goo Dolls will be playing a post-race concert (as well as a pre-race set). There will also be performances by the cast of Jersey Boys and the USMA West Point Cadets. Saturday’s schedule also features five other races with purses of at least $700,000. And more than thirty food trucks will be on hand, including Trusty Truck, Sanducci’s Wood Fired Pizza, Uncle Gussy’s, Hibachi Heaven, Nuchas Empanadas, Mr. Smith’s Seafood, and Mike ‘n’ Willie’s. Even with rain expected, there’s nothing quite like going to the park, where you can get up close and personal with the horses as they proudly parade around the paddock before each race; post time for the 147th running of the Belmont Stakes is 6:50; make sure you have a really wild hat.