Belmont Park’s spring meet a success

Nothing could stop Belmont Park’s Opening Day from operating smoothly. The sun beamed onto the horse track, and thousands of visitors hustled to place bets and watch the races throughout the day. The excitement was palpable. Despite an overnight natural gas leak that caused the closure of Hempstead Turnpike just east of Belmont Park in Elmont for several hours last Friday, Belmont Park’s 2011 spring meet began at 10:45 a.m., as scheduled. Emergency repairs were undertaken immediately after the leak was discovered and the road was reopened just before Belmont Park’s spring meet.

Additionally, 2010’s elimination of Long Island Rail Road service to the park, due to a $900 million Metropolitan Transportation Authority budget shortfall, was restored last week by the MTA and New York Racing Association. Service began Friday morning, just in time for the meet, at 1 p.m.

“I personally always enjoy the beautiful ambiance the track provides and how welcome I feel there,” said Pat Boyle, director of Gateway Youth Outreach, a local after-school program. “It was a great day. The community, both it’s civic and community leaders, as well as local and countywide elected officials, were well-represented and had interesting dialogues going on about future economic development in and around Belmont … the day was beautiful, the company was enjoyable and the mission of a community partnership solidified.”

Before the meet’s first race began, community leaders and politicians gathered for a ribbon-cutting at Belmont Park. Assemblyman Ed Ra, of Elmont, was part of the ribbon-cutting ceremony. “It was tremendous to see so many community leaders and small businesses come and support Opening Day. It shows recognition from these leaders and employers that they want to work with those in the community to help revitalize Belmont,” he said. “The gates are now open, and in a few weeks, all eyes in the world could be on the final race of the Triple Crown.”

Town of Hempstead Councilman Ed Ambrosino said that due to the warm weather and friendly atmosphere, he thoroughly enjoyed the park’s spring meet. “Opening Day at Belmont feels like opening day for the summer of 2011,” he said.

Belmont’s spring/summer meet runs 56 live racing days, from April 29 to July 17. The 143rd running of the Grade 1, $1 million Belmont Stakes, the third jewel in racing’s Triple Crown, will take place on June 11.

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