Mornings with majestic thoroughbreds

Horseracing stables at Belmont begin their workday around 5 a.m., and horses start to train as early as an hour later. The New York Racing Association (NYRA) provides an excellent program where fans can see these majestic thoroughbreds train. 

On Saturdays, Sundays and holidays during the spring/summer meet at Belmont the training of these equine athletes can be seen by many. It all began last Saturday, which was also opening weekend at Belmont. 

“We’re delighted to begin another season at Belmont Park, which of course means the return of Breakfast at Belmont,” said Ashley Herriman, assistant director of communications and media relations for NYRA. “This wonderful, educational program helps fans of all ages discover more about the great sport of thoroughbred racing, and allows behind-the-scenes access to beautiful Belmont Park.”

It is a great way for horse racing enthusiasts, families, significant others, groups or anyone to be surrounded by these horses. The festivities go from 7 a.m.-9:30 a.m. Anyone deciding to attend should arrive by 8am so they don’t miss out on the early morning enjoyment.

“The food is great, I attend weekly during the summer, the tram ride is very informative for the people that are new to the game of horse racing,” Malverne resident Mike Miller said.

NYRA doesn’t charge admission to the track for this morning event the only thing that has to be paid for is the items on the breakfast menu at the Belmont Café by the track apron on the clubhouse side of the track by the finish line. Menu items range from orange juice, bottled water, eggs, pancakes cereal and a new item this year is French toast sticks with powdered sugar. 

People that arrive can enter Gate 5 off of Hempstead Turnpike, security will be there to inform patrons where to park and enter the track to watch the workouts. 

Many fun things happen in the morning at Belmont. NYRA provides a tram tour that goes behind the scenes to the stables where the horses reside.  After the tram tour the patrons can go to the paddock to view a live thoroughbred and they explain to the crowd what a day of a life of a thoroughbred is like. From there the families and children can enter the actually starting gate that the thoroughbreds start from in the afternoon and the bell goes off and the families and children can run out of it. 

Mary Ryan is at the Belmont Cafe and she provides information to the crowd about all of the horses that are stabled at Belmont and about the ones that are training. 

Opening weekend though, NYRA paddock host Maggie Wolfendale filled in for Ryan. Wolfendale did a great job because the knowledge of her paddock reporting was evident for the morning Breakfast at Belmont Program. 

The apron area by the café is a cool place to view the workouts. There are benches outside and people can sit out there and enjoy the beautiful morning fresh air and there are many horsemen that interact with the crowd as trainers, jockeys and jockey agents observe the training. 

There are a few dates during the meet that the Breakfast at Belmont event won’t be happening and that is the weekend of June 8-9. Saturday, June 8 is the Belmont Stakes and Sunday June 9 the track is closed. 

The tram won’t be running on several dates as well. On Monday, May 27, Memorial Day there is not a tram because the tram is used in a local Memorial Day parade, also on Saturday July 13 and Sunday July 14 because the tram is in transit to Saratoga. 

When the program concludes at 9:30 a.m. the crowd has to leave so the staff can get the track in order for the afternoon. The crowd can leave for the day or if they decide to stay for the races they can sit outside the track on benches than wait for the admission gates to open at 11 a.m. and pay the admission for the races. Grandstand admission is $3 and Clubhouse admission is $5. For more information please visit www.nyra.com. 

What a way to spend the weekends in the morning with families and loved ones eating the most important meal of the day, which is breakfast and having it by the track watching these majestic thoroughbreds.