They're back at Belmont

After a record-setting meet at Saratoga, racing returned to Belmont Park last Friday, when the 38-day Fall Championship Meet got under way with an allowance/optional claiming race.

Uncle Southern, with jockey Luis Saez aboard, took the 6½-furlong opener on a wet track with a winning time of 1 minute, 17.18 seconds. The 5-year-old filly, who paid $14.60 to win, led from gate to wire and won by a nose. Scat Away finished second, and Lakeside Sunset was third.

“The plan was to get the lead and see how far she could go,” Saez said. “Turning for home, I had a lot of horse. I felt [Lakeside Sunset] coming up to join us on the outside, but I didn’t see [Scat Away] on the inside until the very end. But we got to the wire first.” 

After the opening weekend, Belmont returned to its traditional Wednesday-through-Sunday schedule, with the lone exception being Columbus Day, Oct. 12. The meet runs through Nov. 1.

A total of 40 stakes worth $10.6 million, including two “super” Saturdays, fan-centric activities throughout the meet and “low-roller” handicapping tournaments on Saturdays are just a few of the highlights. The lead-up to the Breeders’ Cup World Thoroughbred Championships begins with the first of two days of world-class stakes racing on Sept. 26, featuring the Grade 1, $600,000 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic; the Grade 1, $400,000 Vosburgh; the Grade 1, $400,000 Beldame; the Grade 2, $300,000 Gallant Bloom Handicap and the Grade 3, $200,000 Pilgrim. Off track, there will be family fun activities for kids of all ages.

Oct. 3 is Super Saturday, featuring the Grade 1, $1 million Jockey Club Gold Cup. The 1¼-mile Gold Cup, which offers automatic entry and a fees-paid trip to the $5 million Breeders’ Cup Classic at Keeneland, in Lexington, Ky., will be supported by the Grade 1, $500,000 Flower Bowl Invitational; the Grade 1, $500,000 Champagne; the Grade 1, $400,000 Frizette; the Grade 2, $400,000 Kelso Handicap and the Grade 3, $500,000 Hill Prince.

The first Saturday of October is also Fabulous Fillies Day, with events and activities focusing attention on Breast Cancer awareness and early detection. Additional “family fun” activities are planned in Belmont’s backyard, with a food truck festival providing fans with New York’s favorite mobile cuisine.

The spotlight will shine on the Empire State on Saturday, Oct. 24, when the top New York-breds gather at Belmont to complete in eight stakes races worth $1.75 million, highlighted by the $300,000 Empire Classic, at 1 1/8 miles. Belmont will also host Taste New York, featuring New York wines, spirits and food, along with craft vendors, fall-themed family activities and the return of College Day, in which area students compete for prizes and win scholarships.

Every Saturday at Belmont, guests will be able to experience live-money tournament play for just $40 with the return of the popular “low-roller” tournaments. The breakdown of the entry fee is as follows: $10 goes to the prize pool, with 70 percent to be awarded to the first-place finisher, 20 percent to second and 10 percent to third; and the remaining $30 comprises the entrant’s bankroll.

On Oct. 30-31, fans can watch and wager on all the Breeders’ Cup action at Belmont and the simulcast center at Aqueduct Racetrack, with live racing action at the Elmont track to include the Grade 3, $200,000 Turnback the Alarm for fillies and mares on the turf on Friday and the Grade 3, $200,000 Bold Ruler, at seven furlongs, on Saturday. Also on Oct. 31 there will be an Oktoberfest, featuring chili and beer, and a haunted house and other Halloween activities for children.

First-race post time during Belmont’s fall meet is 12:55 p.m. General parking is free, and admission is $5.

“It’s great to be back at Belmont,” Saez said.

NYRA’s 147th season at Saratoga Race Course concluded on Labor Day with a record meet handle of nearly $648.3 million, a 13.5 percent increase in corresponding all-source wagering activity over 2014.

The record wagering shattered the previous high at Saratoga, in 2012, of just under $590.2 million. The on-track handle also set a record of $157.6 million, surpassing the previous high of $150.6 million, also in 2012.