Belmont Park is the Premier Track in North America

[EMD4ME]

Originally Posted by PaceAdvantage

it's really weird...I sit here and I honestly can't remember how loud the crowd was on Saturday...it just didn't strike me like it did with Holy Bull or some of the other Triple Crown almost wins, like Smarty Jones as you pointed out...

I was jumping around and cheering like a fool just like everyone else, but I don't remember thinking how awesome or how crazy loud the fans were, or if the grandstand was shaking...I don't remember the grandstand shaking...maybe because I was all the way down in section 3Y...lol

I feel kind of bummed that I can't recall the awesomeness of the crowd during Saturday's stretch run...freakin' weird...

Well,I can't intelligently reply as it's the first belmont I missed in years. The Smarty Jones stretch run was amazing. All that sticks out to me is: i remember screaming to my girlfriend at the 1/4 pole "He might do it" (I was watching live and didn't have the time or focus to see the internal fractions, trips etc.). Forget her hearing me, I COULDNT HEAR ME. I remember Durkin's call (after the fact-AND SMARTY JONES ENTERS THE STRETCH TO A ROAR OF 120,000!!!!!!!!!)

He was NOT Exaggerating. That was a never ending roar, till "Birdstone surges past, BIRDSTONE WINS the Belmont Stakes. Smarty Jones was a VALIANT second, Royal Assualt came on to be third."

I will never forget that crowd.....Once in a lifetime.

[EMD4ME]

Originally Posted by alhattab

I wasn't at Belmont Saturday, but I have been there on some major days. Smarty Jones' Belmont was incredible for the sheer contrast of the roar at the top of the stretch to the hear-a-pin-drop silence at the finish. But the days when the place was filled with true racing fans being there cheering were the best. Hell a buddy and I went out for a few tonight- before I read this thread- and I was talking about how the Belmont grandstand shook during Sultry Songs (I think) 1992 (again, I think) JCGC. The 1994 Met and Woodward were the same way. Skip Away beating Cigar in 1996 too. Belmont on a big stakes day in the mid-1990s when they would pull 15-20k was incredibly special in my view. A privilege to be there. It was awesome in so many ways.

So TRUE!!!!

So very true!!!

I miss those days, badly.

[ReplayRandall]

Originally Posted by EMD4ME

Well,I can't intelligently reply as it's the first belmont I missed in years. The Smarty Jones stretch run was amazing. All that sticks out to me is: i remember screaming to my girlfriend at the 1/4 pole "He might do it" (I was watching live and didn't have the time or focus to see the internal fractions, trips etc.). Forget her hearing me, I COULDNT HEAR ME. I remember Durkin's call (after the fact-AND SMARTY JONES ENTERS THE STRETCH TO A ROAR OF 120,000!!!!!!!!!)

He was NOT Exaggerating. That was a never ending roar, till "Birdstone surges past, BIRDSTONE WINS the Belmont Stakes. Smarty Jones was a VALIANT second, Royal Assualt came on to be third."

I will never forget that crowd.....Once in a lifetime.

You hit the nail on the head.....Smarty Jones was the blue-collared PEOPLE'S horse versus the white-collared 1% rich-man's horse. The heartfelt emotional pull was over the top for Smarty Jones, not as much with American Pharoah.......

[EMD4ME]

Originally Posted by ReplayRandall

You hit the nail on the head.....Smarty Jones was the blue-collared PEOPLE'S horse versus the white-collared 1% rich-man's horse. The heartfelt emotional pull was over the top for Smarty Jones, not as much with American Pharoah.......

That's a different conversation LOL. Be careful, you might not want to agree with me on here. I've had enough of some people and I am no longer wearing gloves. I am sure I am on many people's S list and I Don't want you on the S list too due to association.

I will not go down the route of demeaning AP and his impact on the crowd. I was not there this year, sadly and can't remark.

However, Smarty Jones was to be admired. The blue collar PA bred was loveable, at least to me. In retrospect, I have so much more respect for him and his races. That crowd was ONCE in a lifetime. Not a generation BUT a lifetime.

[RacingFan1992]

I want them to bring back the Filly Triple Crown and Handicap Triple Crown.

Acorn-1 Mile
Mother Goose-1 1/8
Coaching Club American Oaks-1 1/2

Met Mile
Brooklyn-1 1/2
Suburban 1 1/8

They should advertise these series. I hate that they moved the CCAO to Saratoga and shortened it. I don't care if it is a good prep to the Alabama. I want to see more races that are 1 1/2 to 2 miles.

[Redbullsnation]

For me it goes like this
1) Belmont
2) Spa
3) SA
4) DelMar
5) CD

[appistappis]

the best is anywhere where there are full fields. I'll take 12 horse maidens at Indiana downs over continuous 5 and 6 horse horror shows at "the good tracks"

[BlueChip@DRF]

Belmont is my home track. I like the turf races there. A Frankel import was an automatic bet. Beat Hollow, Aldebaran, Starine and Banks Hill come to mind. The dirt is usually fair unless it's super hot & humid (speed) or muddy/sloppy (crapshoot). But I will now only play the middle races because bombs usually hit in that specific bracket.

I did way better betting Santa Anita (pre-AW). Krone on a closer was my automatic bet. Since it went to AW and now back to dirt, it will never be the same.

[Robert Goren]

What is really sad is that Belmont is probably the best track out there right now. It shows how far racing has slipped in the last 50 years. Today's Belmont track would have a hard time measuring up to a third tier 1960s track like Aksarben. Sportsman Park or Detroit Race track. Its only saving grace would be its turf courses. But comparing the bettability of the dirt races, 1960s tracks would win hands down. Even condition of the track's facilities would favor the 1960s tracks from what hear from people who been to Belmont recently. Note, I deliberately picked 3 tracks that no longer exist. But then Belmont might not exist either if it had not gotten Casino money when it did.
It should be pointed out though that you go broke faster betting NYRA shippers to S. Cal. than you will betting S. Cal. shippers to NYRA tracks. For what ever that is worth.

[Leparoux]

Originally Posted by Grits

This is a woefully misinformed conclusion.

How much time have you spent there?

Last time was 2012 Belmont. Strictly speaking about the facilities, it was unimpressive.

[PaceAdvantage]

Originally Posted by OTM Al

Last year I was lucky enough to watch the Belmont from the winner's circle. The sound was amazing. The gigantic roar as they started that you could feel and then the ooh and aah effect like waves crashing on a beach as he moved back and forth between third and fourth. This year I was down there but couldn't stay and was behind the crowd on the third floor by the time the race went. You could hear them but it was oddly quiet as the sound was directed away from me, or maybe it was because the bartender and I were both yelling at the TV screen

I don't want anyone to get me wrong. I'm sure crowd was just as thundering and impressive noise-wise (maybe more so) than some of the other recollections here...Smarty Jones etc...

It's just that my brain, for some reason, isn't registering it like I thought it would...this was a Triple Crown win for crying out loud...how could it NOT have been the most impressive experience crowd-wise of my entire live race-watching career? But sadly, for me, it's not there.

Perhaps I'm going insane...lol

This was also the first Triple Crown possibility where I did NOT buy any $2 souvenir tickets...LMFAO

Yes, I guess I am going insane.

I do have a bunch of programs though...two different covers (I hear there were three covers printed...is that right?)

I also have what I consider to be a bit of a minor coup...I was able to get a copy of the Belmont Stakes-day pocket program...which has a special cover on it (matches one of the big program covers). This pocket program was not sold to the public, but was printed to be given away for free to horsemen, front office, etc. etc. So that alone makes it a bit of a rarity as far as 2015 Triple Crown memorabilia goes...

[PaceAdvantage]

Originally Posted by Leparoux

Last time was 2012 Belmont. Strictly speaking about the facilities, it was unimpressive.

Sheer size and scope is impressive...plus they have made improvements over the years.

The backyard is HUGE and provides a nice park-like setting....

Is it a modern day facility with all the newest amenities and technological benefits? No...but it's a helluva a great place to spend a day at the races.

And you get all that history to boot...

[DeltaLover]

Originally Posted by Robert Goren

But then Belmont might not exist either if it had not gotten Casino money when it did.

WOW!

This is what I call a BOLD statement

[biggestal99]

Originally Posted by Bigadam119

Since Keeneland has switched back to dirt they have attracted top quality horses. Their spring meet crushed the Big A's main track meet.

Too bad they had lots of short off the turf fields that really impacted handle negatively.

Allan

[biggestal99]

Originally Posted by Rex Phinney

IMO Kenneland and Del Mar going back to dirt greatly changes the racing landscape in America. For nearly a decade certain tracks have been written off by large parts of handicappers/ horsemen due to synthetics. No more.

Horsemen did not support the keeneland spring meet nor did bettors.

Field sizes and handle were wayyyyyyy down.

Allan