Belmont Park Opening: We Lived it Before
I bid farewell to Aqueduct in a column last December, knowing that this would be the final Derby trail at The Big A. And if I am going to welcome in the new Belmont, I feel now is the appropriate time to do so, as it was just around this time of year in 1968 that we saw the opening of what was then the new Belmont Park. And what a time that was. There were no goodbyes, as Aqueduct was thriving, Saratoga was as popular as ever, and New York truly was the center of the racing universe. Although the sport was far different then than it is now, the country in many ways was the same. ~ Steve Haskin
Belmont Park Opening: We Lived it Before
By Steve Haskin
1968 New York Racing Association print advertising the reopening of Belmont Park.
Belmont Park as we knew it, where we witnessed so many of racing’s most historic moments, is gone. On September 18 we will welcome in the new Belmont Park with its glass enclosed, more modernistic grandstand. All that remains is the familiar Japanese white pine tree in the paddock, which has a history all its own.
The majority of racing fans have already bid their farewells to that magnificent red brick grandstand, draped with ivy that changed from green to several shades of red in the fall, and those spectacular arched windows that rose from the ground to the roof. And who can forget those carefree afternoons sitting by the picturesque duck pond in the back of the picnic area? All that will remain are the countless memories of Triple Crown sweeps, championship races, iconic records, and a few tragic moments that still bring tears.
Yes, the old Belmont Park that we still remember so vividly as the new Belmont Park, will be sorely missed in many ways, as will those holiday crowds of 70,000. But what many of today’s racing fans might not realize as we await the opening, is that some of us remember going through the same experience 58 years ago, just about this time of year. Instead of a three-year hiatus, with the Belmont Stakes moved to Saratoga, it took six years to rebuild the last Belmont, with the Test of the Champion run at Aqueduct from 1962 to 1967, as were the big year-end stakes, especially the Woodward, which usually decided Horse of the Year.
When you visit the new Belmont Park, don’t forget to marvel at that Japanese white pine tree in the paddock, knowing that when the original Belmont was built in 1905, that tree had already been in that spot for 80 years.
Racing has changed dramatically in many ways since the last Belmont opening on May 20, 1968. But what remains the same is the anticipation of the big event and a return this time to the Belmont Stakes’ unique distance of mile and a half, making it once again the Test of the Champion.
Belmont Park welcomes racing fans through the turnstiles for the track’s May 20, 1968 reopening.
Racing fans in New York City will in many ways relish the return of racing to Long Island in a pastoral and tranquil setting that will provide a respite from the turmoil and volatility of the times. But remember, racing fans back in 1968 were relishing the same thing for the same reasons. By the first week in June, Martin Luther King and Robert Kennedy had been assassinated, the Viet Nam War had escalated after the Tet Offensive and the My Lai massacre, anti-war protests had broken out all over the country, and the drug/LSD culture in America had been established, with Woodstock right around the corner.
Sports in America had few, if any, heroes, with the only dynasty being the Green Bay Packers in professional football. Muhammed Ali had been stripped of his World Champion Heavyweight title the year before for refusing to be inducted into the Army, and New York Yankees great Mickey Mantle was on his last legs and on the verge of retirement.
With baseball, boxing, and horse racing still the most popular sports in the country, it was up to racing to produce heroes following the glory years of Kelso. Buckpasser was retired, but we had the two titans of the Turf — Damascus and Dr. Fager on a collision course in the July 4th Suburban Handicap.
But the year hadn’t started out as hoped. The Triple Crown began well enough when the Wood Memorial winner Dancer’s Image stormed home to win the Kentucky Derby over the favorite Forward Pass. But then came the unthinkable. It was announced shortly after that Dancer’s Image had tested positive for the pain killer Butazolidan, which was banned in Kentucky. The last thing the sport needed was to have the Kentucky Derby winner disqualified. America’s greatest race had never experienced anything like that before. I will never forget coming to work at the brokerage firm of Pershing and Company and seeing a newspaper with the front page headlines “Derby Winner Drugged.” Sports Illustrated ran it as its cover story, calling it, “The year’s major sports story.” It was a time of pure chaos.
So, here was the Sport of Kings several weeks later with a new beautiful Belmont Park and the anticipation of seeing the sport’s two biggest stars clash for the first time since Damascus’ 10-length annihilation of Dr. Fager and Buckpasser in the 1967 Woodward Stakes, dubbed “The Race of the Century.” Even that race had been controversial due to the “rabbits” used by Damascus and Buckpasser to soften up the speedy Dr. Fager.
With the disqualification of Dancer’s Image, Calumet Farm’s runner-up Forward Pass was awarded the Kentucky Derby victory. Dancer’s Image’s owner Peter Fuller fought the ruling in court, spending $250,000 in legal fees, but to no avail. A year later, Kentucky legalized Butazolidan. Two two weeks after the Derby, Forward Pass romped by seven lengths in the Preakness. Dancer’s Image had finished a troubled third, but amazingly was disqualified again, this time by the stewards, for causing interference at the top of the stretch.
With Forward Pass now having won the Derby and Preakness, racing fans shuddered at the thought of what would happen to the history books if he won the Belmont. Would the first big event at the new Belmont Park be another controversial one? The Belmont was scheduled to be run 11 days after the opening, and if Forward Pass, who looked to be a heavy favorite, won, he would officially become the sport’s first Triple Crown winner since Citation 20 years earlier. But with that victory would come one of the most glaring asterisks in the history of the sport, and likely in all sports. The Triple Crown winner who didn’t “win” the Derby.
Scarce Reopening Souvenir Medallion
The ribbon-cutting ceremonies prior to Belmont’s opening were conducted with the sport’s most influential figures in attendance. The anticipation was high, but what transpired over the next month far exceeded the hopes of everyone.
The first race of note occurred only three days after the opening, on May 23, but no one at the time paid a lot of attention to it. It came in the Peter Pan Purse, which was just a 1 1/8-mile allowance race back then that some trainers used as a possible Belmont Stakes prep for their their late-developing and inexperienced, but promising, colt. On this day, the race was won by a flashy-looking chestnut son of Prince John with the colorful name of Stage Door Johnny, who was owned and bred by one the Pillars of the Turf, John Hay Whitney’s Greentree Stud. Coming off an impressive six-length maiden victory at Belmont, he won in impressive style by four lengths in 1:48 2/5. The question was could he bounce back in eight days and beat a horse as fast and classy as Forward Pass?
Two days later on May 25, Belmont hosted its first major stakes, the one-mile Acorn Stakes, the first leg of the Triple Crown for Fillies, along with the 1 1/8-mile Mother Goose Stakes, and 1 1/4-mile Coaching Club American Oaks. The Kentucky Oaks had not yet gained the stature it has now, and with New York being the center of racing, this was the accepted Triple Crown. I remember watching the race on TV with my father, and nearing the eighth pole in the 12-horse field, the front-running Another Nell still had the lead, but we could barely see this tiny filly slipping through inside her. It was Dark Mirage, who was coming off impressive victories in the Prioress, La Troienne, and Kentucky Oaks. This was a filly who had gone off at odds over 100-1 twice as a 2-year-old. My father and I watched in awe as this wisp of a filly drew off to win by six lengths in 1:34 4/5. A new star was born.
Dark Mirage impressively winning the May 25, 1968 Acorn Stakes by six lengths.
On May 30, the traditional Memorial Day stakes, the Metropolitan Handicap, was run, but without its main star Dr. Fager, who was recovering from a serious bout of colic following his impressive victory in the Californian Stakes under 130 pounds. With Dr. Fager forced to miss the race and go straight to the Suburban and Damascus still taking some time off for the first time in his career after a tough series of races at Santa Anita, that left the rugged pocket-sized In Reality, who had chased the big two to no avail all through 1967, as the heavy favorite, coming off victories in the John B. Campbell and Carter Handicaps. In Reality, who had grown up with Dr. Fager at Tartan Farms, although owned by Frances Genter, had no trouble winning the Met Mile and now also set his sights on the Suburban Handicap and another crack at The Doc and Damascus.
Two days later, on June 1, came the much-anticipated Belmont Stakes, with many racing fans looking for someone to beat Forward Pass and prevent him from putting that big fat asterisk on the Triple Crown. Whirlaway, Citation, Forward Pass? Not exactly the best fit to the famed Calumet Farm Murderers’ Row. At the quarter pole Forward Pass still held a clear lead and it was obvious there was only one horse in striking range who could prevent such an ignominious Triple Crown sweep. That was the dazzling looking Stage Door Johnny, with his golden chestnut coat, white blaze, and blonde mane and tail. He began to close the gap and would prove there was a lot more to him than his striking looks, as he collared Forward Pass at the eighth pole and slowly eased clear to win by 1 1/4 lengths. Now after only 11 days, the “sanctity” of the Triple Crown had been preserved and Belmont had two new stars.
Stage Door Johnny captures the June 1, 1968 Belmont Stakes preserving the “sanctity” of the Triple Crown.
Racing fans at the new Belmont Park in such a short period of time had experienced more exciting moments than many racetracks provide in an entire meet. And it was hardly finished.
One week after the Belmont Stakes, it was the return of Dark Mirage for the second leg of the Filly Triple Crown. This time my father and I weren’t going to miss seeing this special filly in person. My father wasn’t a racing fan, but because I had just discovered racing and he could see I was obsessed with it, he took an interest in it as well. And even he was intrigued by Dark Mirage after seeing the Acorn. So he and I went to Belmont Park where we marveled at the new track and the beautiful paddock. I remember how shocked I was seeing this pony-sized filly in the flesh walking around the paddock. I would later find out she stood barely 15 hands and weighed a feathery 710 pounds. There are yearlings that weigh that much. Size surely didn’t matter with her, as she destroyed her field again, this time by 10 lengths. She looked to be unstoppable.
Then came two very interesting days on June 14 and 19 that would have a major impact on the 2-year-old division. First it was a Florida-bred son of Vertex named Top Knight, who established the track record of 1:04 flat for 5 1/2 furlongs, winning by 15 lengths on a sloppy track. Then five days later it was King Ranch’s regally bred Gallant Bloom, who broke her maiden by nine lengths, also going 5 1/2 furlongs. Top Knight would go on to be named champion 2-year-old colt and Gallant Bloom champion 2-year-old fiily.
In between those two maiden races, on June 17, the defending Horse of the Year Damascus finally returned from a disastrous Charles Strub Stakes defeat in February, in which he finished a close second despite losing three shoes on a quagmire of a track. Trainer Frank Whiteley brought him back slowly and gave him an easy race in a 1 1/16-mile allowance event at Delaware Park, where he was stabled, and Damascus won in a canter by almost four lengths. Although it had nothing to do with Belmont, it brought the Suburban Handicap showdown one step closer to reality and added an air of excitement in New York, with superstars and potential superstars racing every week.
It was June 22, just about a month after Belmont’s opening, when Dark Mirage made her attempt to become the first horse to sweep the Filly Triple Crown. Everyone knew there wasn’t a 3-year-old filly in the country who could touch her, and she didn’t disappoint them, coasting home by 12 lengths over the Meadow Stable pair of Gay Matelda and Syrian Sea. By winning all three legs by an average margin of 9 1/4 lengths, she was now the most dominant horse in the country.
Dark Mirage 1968 Coaching Club American Oaks / Filly Triple Crown composite winner’s circle photo.
Finally, one week later, on June 29, Stage Door Johnny was back to prove that his Belmont Stakes victory was no fluke and he was now a force to be reckoned with. He made his return in the Saranac Handicap, dropping back in distance from 1 1/2 miles to one mile. Conceding weight to his opponents, he had them measured all the way, winning by 1 1/4 lengths in 1:35 2/5. June ended with racing fans starting to wonder if Dark Mirage and Stage Door Johnny could actually threaten Damascus and Dr. Fager in the months to come.
That ended an unbelievable spring opening meet for the new Belmont Park, which was drawing big crowds from all over the New York area. Aqueduct, which had become the showplace of champions from 1962 to ’67, was about to open its summer meet on July 4th with the long-awaited Suburban Handicap. To racing fans from New York to Chicago, as Al Jolson would say, “You ain’t seen nuthin’ yet.” They were about to witness what I still call the greatest nine weeks in the history of the sport. That special time in racing and in my life will be the subject for a future column that will coincide with an important racing auction reflecting the era and one person who played an instrumental part in it.
Belmont Park would not let up over the next two years, as we witnessed one historic race after another and a Triple Crown series for the ages in 1969, as well as a cavalcade of stars that included eight future Hall of Famers. Then the turbulent decade of the ’60s was over, and the sport was about to enter what is considered by many as racing’s “Golden Era” of the ’70s. But to some, that era began with the opening of the new Belmont Park.
As for me, Belmont and Aqueduct became my second home and Saratoga my brief retreat to paradise. Racing had given me a new life and purpose, and on October 14, 1969 I became a part of it after being hired at my bible, the Morning Telegraph. I can’t help but think back to that spring of 1968 and the opening of Belmont Park. I walked through those doors with my father, and in many ways I never left.
Photos courtesy of New York Racing Association and Blood-Horse Library
Racing historian, author, and award-winning retired journalist for the Daily Racing Form and The Blood-Horse, Steve Haskin was inducted into the National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame’s Media Roll of Honor in 2016. Known for his racing knowledge and insightful prose, he has been an exclusive contributor to Secretariat.com since 2020.
Just Outstanding, thanks for the memories
In addition to the highly anticipated Stephen Foster, the stakes races on the undercard should provide handicappers a real challenge with their selections. Also, Powerline, by Flightline, out of a Quality Road mare, will debut in the 1st race for Steve Asmussen with Jose Ortiz in the irons. He sold at auction for $1.8 million, so he could be something special down the road. At post time, I expect Powerline to be favorite when the gates open.
Hughes, by Into Mischief, out of K P Dreamin, by Union Rags, looked very impressive in his debut race today, at Los Alamitos, going 5 furlongs in 57.22, drawing off by 6 lengths.
Trained by Bob Baffert and ridden by Joel Rosairo, this colt is bred to go long and should only improve as the distance increases. His dam’s sire, Union Rags, won the G1 Belmont and the sire of his 2nd dam, Point Given, won the Belmont and 5 other G1 races routing.
Union Rags tracks back to Secretariat, so there’s a good possibility that Hughes carries the X-Factor large heart gene.
Keep an eye on Hughes moving forward down the road.
That column brought back a lot of memories. I remember most of those horses very well. I had an aunt who was not a particular fan of horse racing, but she loved Dark Mirage, and she was saddened by her passing.
I thought the old Belmont was beautiful, but I don’t like the design of the new one. I look at it and think the Martians have landed.
You and I had very similar reactions to the new grandstand, Jiffy–I keep saying it reminds me of something out of Close Encounters of the Third Kind!
It certainly does. I keep thinking that somebody somewhere could have come up with something better. I read that Pimlico’s new grandstand will be based on the design of their Old Clubhouse, a beautiful building that burned in the 1960’s. If it’s done properly, that one should put Belmont to shame.
That sounds very encouraging. I like that they want to honor their past. I’ll look forward to seeing how the grandstand turns out.
Just seven for the $2million Stephen Foster. No Journalism. The four contenders that were considered probable before they doubled the purse to $2million. I wonder if they want that extra million back? I shouldn’t make snide remarks. At least they tried.
Magnitude, Sovereignty, Baeza, and White Abarrio should make for a good race.
Only one of the Stakes races has 10 or more horses entered. The 12th and final race. Not surprising these days.
BB has several horses entered on the card. And Steve Asmussen is supporting the
Stephen Foster Day card in a big way. It should be fun.
Sounds like an excellent lineup. I’m looking forward to it!
It is RARE, for a race such as this to happen in June….no Journalism, as you stated…a horse that has been out of the money one time, a 4th in the Classic, he always fires….he would have been 10-1, finally a good price…..I love Baeza, he has been turning heads at Saratoga, and John Shirreffs was gaga over him…am boxing with his stablemate Sovereignty…..
Interesting race today, at Thistledown, I like Albus some, not going to put up my ch on the race….the two favorites look deserving to me: Desert Gate and Chip Honcho—hut I think Robusto deserves a closer look, because I think he might find himself on the lead…..I rewatched his Preakness, he caught trouble throughout, and still was trying, while finishing 9th, beating five….I think it was a big mistake going in The Derby with this colt, I think he has talent, I know Doug really liked him…..
An inside draw, early foot…..of left alone early you never know, he might get brave….but if he doesn’t—he might stress the two favorites enough, to help out Albus!
I felt sorry for Ocelli. I think he’s got a big race waiting for him someday, but I don’t know when.
Joliestar runs at Royal Ascot in a few minutes…top Aussie sprinter, a mare…ridden by JMac, which is short for James MacDonald…Davids told us about him,cand I hope Davids is all right, I miss his insightful posts….as Steve states, most of us on here are elder race fans …
JMac is rated #1 jockey in the world, Mewonders how that is figured, we having some great riders here in North America…horses, too…..our top horses don’t usually get to the top ranking, on the world stage….but Chrome did, that medium sized chestnut by what’s his name…out of who was that?…bred by a couple of blue collar workers….#1 in the world rankings for an entire year….
MacDonald or McDonald? He could be a rich relative of mine.
I have trouble reading, but it doesn’t stop me, it’s just harder…lately I’ve been reading Malamud’s short stories, and your weekly columns, I had read about the Race of the Century, from the Ainslie book, (where he handicapped the 1967 Woodward card) and had heard about Dark Mirage, but your story filled me in, about her prowess on the track…but I did not know about her early passing, was it colic? Or was it birthing related, her being so small?…
An injury led to laminitis.
Thank you for sharing these great stories. I remember that messy Triple Crown series.
The loss of Dark Mirage in 1969 followed very closely the loss of My My (1968), only the 2nd saddlebred to win six consecutive Five-Gaited World Championships and to this date, still the only mare. I was 16/17 during those years and loved horses as only a teenage girl could. I still have the newspaper clippings in a scrapbook featuring DM from that time. She was something else.
If I remember correctly, Stage Door Johhny is a chef-de-race who passed on professional qualities. Rare for an American bred stallion. I remember being absolutely thrilled with his Belmont win. Dancer’s Image was my favorite and I wanted ANYBODY but Forward Pass to win. Almost 60 years later and DI’s disqualification still ticks me off.
Thank you Steve for taking me back. It is a pure joy to “watch” you work. Nobody does it better.
Dark Mirage, the first winner of the Triple Tiara, was the first filly I loved to see race. I had her bred to Dancer’s Image and to Damascus to start a new dynasty. I still think of what might have been.
She was booked to Dr. Fager when she died. A terrible loss
Thanks for sharing your gift Steve. You’re appreciated more than you realize. I’d bet on that. I’m a new follower of you this year after seeing you on Past the wire with Jonathan Stettin. I can’t believe I had never heard of you. You’re a hidden gem. I too was introduced to the greatest sport by my father and have to tell you that this article brought me back to those great days at Rockingham Park with him. I thoroughly enjoyed the ride through the triple crown with you and your followers this year and can’t wait to do it again next year.
Thank you, Chris
Thank you Chris. Glad you found me and hope to see you back. I was the lead writer for the Daily Racing Form and Blood-Horse for 25 years so you have some catching up to do.😀
I remember all this so well. I was fourteen. Horse racing was my life, but it was SO VERY HARD for a kid in Michigan to get information in a timely manner. Entries and results in the Detroit Free Press, and an occasional racing form. And when the new American Racing Manual arrived, oh my. I practically wore it out. I didn’t find out about The Blood Horse until the next year. My first issue was from December 1969 and had Quicken Tree on the cover. I still have it.
Steve ,thanks for great memories. I always started my day at Belmont with Harvey Pack,who held court in an indoor third floor seating area.
Question: if Saratoga’s main dirt oval at a mile and an eighth aligned with the same oval at Aqueduct, why was the Big A able to run the Belmont for five years at a mile and a half while Saratoga had to run it at a mile and a quarter?
Because the horsemen were okay starting at the 1/2 mile pole and right into the far turn. 1 1/4 miles for the Belmont was unheard of and unacceptable. There was tradition back then.
I wondered about that, too. It’s a sad commentary on how racing is changing.
Great column. Many of us who discovered racing in the 60s, 70s, or even 80s can remember our first few years falling in love with everything that racing was. I know it was an obsession for me those first few years. It didn’t matter that i wasn’t seeing the greats of the sport at Atlantic City, except maybe for the United Nations. The horses, trainers, and jockeys were still big to me. I’m not sure new fans can ever experience the feelings we had, watching from a computer and seeing empty grandstands.. I’m glad Steve is keeping the flame alive and helping us remember how it felt.
Steve,
Thanks for this article about out with the “old ” and in with the “new” Belmont.
The old Belmont gave us some great thrills, tears and memories. We can only hope and wish for the same with the new Belmont.
As l was reading the article the song “The Sidewalks of New York” started playing in my head. So I went to youtube and requested it and reread your article with the melody playing in the background… Got to tell you Steve only way to read it.
Thanks for the memories Steve and have a great week!!!!
That is very inventive. Ill have to try it.😊
I still miss hearing “The Sidewalks of New York” at the Belmont Stakes. I think it’s a much better song than “New York, New York.”
I hope a few folks are watching the superb racing from Royal Ascot. (Fanduel, MSG, Peacock . . . although my feed there dribbled out after the procession.)
Where else can you see a man in a morning coat and silk top hat douse the Saint James and 2,000 Guineas winner with a bucket of water?
Ms B, I have Peacock and had the opportunity to watch a couple of races today. Hope to watch more tomorrow.
With today’s wins, I think Aiden is 2 raceaway from 100 Royal Ascot wins.
I love the pomp and circumstance of the arrival of King and Queen and seeing all the outfits the women and the men wear and of course the ladies wearing fascinators.
Queen Camilla looked so lovely today. She was wearing the most beautiful broach.
It all reminds of a painting I saw some years ago of the Royal Ascot from around 1900.
All the vibrant colors!
If you’ve ever seen “Harry Potter”, you might remember Professor Dumbledore holding his wand up to his forehead and his memories would pour into the Pensieve Basin for safekeeping. It was then possible to look into it and relive the memories. As I was reading this piece, and thinking of all the many incredible memories that you possess and tell us about in these entertaining columns, that image kept coming to me: I wish it really existed to hold all your wonderful memories and we could all relive them. Thanks for another extremely entertaining piece!
Great insight, Beth. That’s exactly what Steve does. Steve, should we start calling you Prof. Dumbledore?
I’m sure sure to the last few generations they would change one letter around and make it Dumblebore. 😊😚
Thanks Beth. I write these columns because it brings back great memories for me and i hope others. I know it does for a handful of people like yourself. Unfortunately the key word is handful. The younger people who dont go back that far seem to have little interest in those days, so I have to be content with bringing back memories for those who do.
You are too modest. I like to think of myself as a connoisseur of your writing and story telling.
Im just saying the younger generation has little or no interest. Btw havent forgotten your stuff. Been tied up with a bunch of things. Will get to it aoon.
Steve, I am a bit less sure than you – I think we’re of the same generation and I think the next generation is (potentially) interested and interested for their next generation — speaking as a grandmother of a 3-year-old. I feel Gabs is a bit young for Saratoga, this year but she already started riding. The history is very important. Thank you.
This new Belmont looks incredible…..no need for a giant grandstand….it’s always been my favorite track, along with the old nine furlong Hollywood Park….I hope they keep the Triple Crown the way it is….horses can do it, it’s only once in their life….then a two month break, to Saratoga…..the Foster is coming up, I like barnmates Sovereignty and Baeza…..Royal Ascot begins, BEAUTIFUL!…..They card their big race today, as the first race, which is odd, to me….59-1 winner!….maybe “Tony” put up ten Bob on his nose!….
What a great article. I could see those races through your writing bringing me to tears because as a young boy I went to Hollywood Park and Santa Anita on weekends throughout the 70’s. Thank you very much.
I appreciate it John. Thank you.
I thoroughly enjoyed that trip, Steve. Thanks for the ticket to ride,
Steve, as racing luck would have it I was born at the right time. Spring of 68 I was 12 years old in my 4th year of being mentored about racing by my father and old Mr. Camp down the street who I mowed his lawn and shoveled snow and helped him out. I got bowling money and the use of his Chris Craft boat and he saved his old racing sheets for me. That was the time I really started to looking forward to the weekends and glued to the TV for the races. It’s almost time to say goodbye to Aqueduct but before I have to remember all the Gotham’s, Wood’s and Remsen’s and the Aqueduct exit sign on the belt with graffitied on it ” The Darkside” Great Memories. As for today being the day before Royal Ascot I miss Her Majesty Elizabeth II especially if she had a horse entered and the listed owner was just ” The Queen” Born to the Purple but had the love for the game as we do to. I still wish I had that photo of her at breakfast eating her shredded wheat while reading the racing post. To the Queen! Thanks Steve!
Wow Steve loved this article I too have the same bond with Santa Anita having grown up in calif I loved that line I walked thru those doors with my grandfather and in many way I never left. I’ll never forget that line thanks Steve for all u do
Thank you Nick . I’m so glad I could help bring back those memories for you.
Belmont had become my favorite track to bet on. The main track and turf courses were terrific. I hope that the new tracks will be about the same. I don’t care very much that a new synthetic track is being added.
I will be glad to see the Met Mile return to where it belongs and the Belmont Stakes to be run at a mile and a half again.
Can New York become the center of the racing world again? That remains to be seen.
But why not? A new Belmont and Saratoga match up pretty well against Keeneland and Churchill Downs.
What about Santa Anita and Del Mar? Sorry. No! Santa Anita mostly puts out an inferior product these days. So many of their best horses shipping out of town and their top trainers opening up stables in Kentucky. No offense.
The first track I ever went to was Aqueduct. As special as that was Belmont was always my home. I would be there just about every weekend from 1968 til leaving New York. We would pack sandwiches (for some reason, always sickle pears for dessert), drive over from the south shore or board the train, later on in life, from Manhattan and spend a glorious day with the horses. Time and people have moved on. My last Belmont Stakes in person was the year Summing won. I’ve been all over the country since and have been to tracks from Santa Anita to Prescott Downs, and later this year, I will fulfill a dream by attending the Arc, but none of them ever will be Belmont. I wish I could have gone one last time to pay respects to someplace that was such an important part of my youth.
What a beautiful last line. I feel that way about Arlington, and I remember how hard it was for me to get used to its renovated version after the 1985 fire. I began following racing around 1971, but reading your column makes me wish I’d started a few years sooner so I could have seen Dark Mirage and the other greats of the late ’60s–at least on TV.
You ever been to Gator’s Wing Shack on Rand just north of Dundee?
Best wings I have ever had
I love this story, Steve. You revisited so many of the magical moments of that remarkable summer at Belmont, which is “my” Belmont, too.
I’ve always had a soft spot in my heart for Stage Door Johnny. for preventing a multi-asterisked Triple Crown. I believe the Blood-Horse cover shot for the Belmont recap issue had Johnny walking by the white pine. I still have that picture/page somewhere.
Wonderful the way you wove in Dr. Fagar, Damascus, the incomparable Dark Mirage AND Gallant Bloom all in the same column. It’s hard to believe so many great horses could all be running in a span of three months, many of them at the grand old racetrack.