I’ll Have Another will not be going after the Triple Crown at Belmont after all (photo by Susie Raisher)
Belmont Park
2150 Hempstead Turnpike
Elmont, New York
Saturday, June 9, $10-$20, first race at 11:35 pm
516-488-6000
www.belmontstakes.com
2011 belmont slideshow
On May 5, a 15-1 shot pulled off an upset in the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs. Two weeks later, the Thoroughbred, a 3-1 underdog, captured the Preakness at Pimlico. Tomorrow, I’ll Have Another and jockey Mario Gutierrez were 4-5 favorites to win the Triple Crown at the 144th Belmont Stakes, slated to face off against such tough competition as Union Rags and Dullahan in what could have been a race for the ages. But shockingly, trainer Doug O’Neill suddenly announced today that I’ll Have Another would not be having another, scratching from the race because of tendinitis. So there should be plenty of grandstand and clubhouse tickets available for the contest, which is likely to fall far short of the initially expected ninety thousand spectators who were hoping to see history when the three-year-old son of Flower Alley and Arch’s Gal Edith took off from the eleventh post in pursuit of the first Triple Crown since Affirmed in 1978. In addition to the 6:40 now-more-subdued main event, Belmont offers a full day of races, beginning at 11:35, so there’s still nothing quite like hanging out at the track. And don’t just grab a quick, measly bite from one of the basic vendors; instead, make your way to the outside food festival and activities area, and be sure to get up close and personal with the horses as they parade around prior to each race. And getting there is a cinch on the Long Island Rail Road.