Eileen, Ari and I recently went to Belmont Park to take in a ‘Day At The Races’ at one of the most beautiful Thoroughbred Tracks in the United States. The place was empty…
The empty interior with betting windows closed for the day…
The finish line spectator area is empty…
…so access to photograph was easy and we had a great day. Unfortunately Ari did not pick any winners while his dad, that’s me, bet on only one horse, Willy Elliot, and won by a head.
Willy Elliot holds off the pack as he heads down the stretch to the finish line…
Each race begins in the Paddock Area where the horses are saddled and the riders meet with the trainers. Spectators are allowed into the paddock and can see the horses before they race…
The Paddock Area at Belmont…
The bugler plays “First Call” to signal the start of the horse races at Belmont…
“First Call”…
Some of the races are run on ‘turf’ as seen here…
Heading to the finish on the Widener Turf track…
…while most are run on the main dirt track. Conditions were firm and fast…
The final turn on the dirt track as the horses begin to head for home…
The 3rd race stretch run…
Ogermeister heads home to win race #4…
Stable hands wait for the winner of the 1st race, Tightened Touchdown, with Jockey Joel Rosario on board…
Jockey Joel Rosario won 4 races…He is the rider of Orb, the Kentucky Derby winner and favorite in the Preakness…
