Simulcast of Belmont Stakes Scheduled for 5:33 p.m.
GRAND PRAIRIE, Texas (June 5, 2008) – Watch and wager on Big Brown’s attempt to become only the 12th Triple Crown winner in history, and the first in 30 years, when the 140th Belmont Stakes will be simulcast at 5:33 p.m. on Saturday at Lone Star Park.
In addition, there will be 11 live races starting at 1:35 p.m., fun activities for the whole family throughout the day and a special appearance by the nation’s only female bugler Bonny Brown.
The Crown Royal Craze Celebration will feature the live music of Russ Lowery and the Expressions on the Courtyard of Champions stage from noon to 4 p.m., photo opportunities with the Crown Royal Girls and Guys, plus Crown Royal free merchandise giveaways.
There will be special two-hour appearances from noon to 2 p.m. with Norm Hitzges from The Ticket Sportsradio in the Courtyard of Champions and with 93.3 KDBN The Bone radio at the East Grandstand Entrance.
Also planned are fun activities for the whole family with kid’s activities including bounce houses, pony rides and a petting zoo in the Family Fun Park.
On Saturday, grandstand gates open at 11:30 a.m. The Pavilion at Lone Star Park will open at 10 a.m. with the parking lot at Gate 1 opening 15 minutes before that at 9:45 a.m. All other parking lots open at 10:30 p.m. Drive thru wagering on the Belmont Stakes will be available at Gate 2 from 8 a.m. until post-time of the race. In addition, advance wagering on the entire Saturday Belmont Park card, including the Belmont Stakes will begin on Friday, June 6.
BELMONT STAKES DAY AT LONE STAR PARK
- 8 a.m. to 5:33 p.m. – Drive Thru Wagering at Gate 2
- 9:45 a.m. – Parking at Gate 1 opens
- 10 a.m. – Post Time Pavilion opens
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10:30 a.m. – Parking Gates 2-5 open
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11 a.m. – First simulcast race from Belmont Park
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11:30 a.m. – Grandstand opens
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Noon – 2 p.m – Norm Hitzges from The Ticket Sportsradio in the Courtyard of Champions
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Noon – 2 p.m. – 93.3 FM The Bone Radio Remote at the East Grandstand Entrance
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Noon – 4 p.m. – Crown Royal Craze Celebration will feature the live music of Russ Lowery and the Expressions on the Courtyard of Champions stage, photo opportunities with the Crown Royal Girls and Guys, plus Crown Royal free merchandise giveaways.
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Noon to 4 p.m. – Bounce houses, pony rides and petting zoo for children in front of the Post Time Pavilion lawn area
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12:30 p.m. – Lone Star Park Handicapping Seminar with The Dallas Morning News’ Rick Lee and Lone Star Park track announcer John Lies on the first floor of Grandstand (and public address system/television monitors)
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1:35 p.m. – Post time for the first of 11 live races at Lone Star Park
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5:33 p.m. – Simulcast of the 140th Belmont Stakes from Belmont Park
For more information on the Belmont Stakes at Lone Star Park, call (972) 263-RACE (7223) or visit the track’s Web site at www.lonestarpark.com.
Lone Star Park, located in Grand Prairie, Texas, will run its 65-day Spring Thoroughbred Season from April 10 through July 27, 2008 with live racing every Thursday through Sunday. The first live race begins at 6:35 p.m. on weeknights and 1:35 p.m. on weekends and Monday, May 26, with two special 5 p.m. twilight programs on July 3-4 that include post-race fireworks.
The 140th Running of the Belmont Stakes – June 7, 2008
Undefeated Horses to Win Kentucky Derby and Preakness
Big Brown is the fourth undefeated horse in history to win both the Kentucky Derby and Preakness. Seattle Slew (1977) is the only horse ever to win the Triple Crown undefeated. Both Majestic Prince, who finished second behind ArtsAndLetters in 1969, and Smarty Jones, second a length behind Birdstone in 2004, came up just short of that accomplishment.
The 11 Triple Crown Winners
Year Horse
1919 Sir Barton
1930 Gallant Fox
1935 Omaha
1937 War Admiral
1941 Whirlaway
1943 Count Fleet
1946 Assault
1948 Citation
1973 Secretariat
1977 Seattle Slew
1978 Affirmed
18 Kentucky Derby / Preakness Winners Horses to Lose in the Belmont
Year Horse Winner
1944 Pensive Bounding Home
1958 Tim Tam Cavan
1961 Carry Back Sherluck
1964 Northern Dancer Quadrangle
1966 Kauai King Amberoid
1968 Forward Pass Stage Door Johnny
1969 Majestic Prince Arts And Letters
1971 Canonero II Pass Catcher
1979 Spectacular Bid Farm Coastal
1981 Pleasant Colony Summing
1987 Alysheba Bet Twice
1989 Sunday Silence Easy Goer
1997 Silver Charm Touch Gold
1998 Real Quiet Victory Gallop
1999 Charismatic Lemon Drop Kid
2002 War Emblem Sarava
2003 Funny Cide Empire Maker
2004 Smarty Jones Birdstone
Interesting Facts about the Belmont Stakes
· The Belmont Stakes is known a the “Test of a Champion,” and is the longest of the three Triple Crown races – run at one mile and a half on the main dirt track.
· The first Belmont Stakes was run at 1 5/8 miles in 1867 at Jerome Park in the Bronx, New York. It is the oldest of the Triple Crown races predating the Kentucky Derby by eight years and the Preakness by six.
· The first post parade in American racing history took place at the fifth Belmont Stakes in 1871.
· The only female jockey to win the Belmont Stakes was Julie Krone aboard Colonial Affair in 1993. She is the only woman to ever ride in the Belmont or win a Triple Crown race.
· In the previous 139 runnings of the Belmont Stakes, the favorite has won 60 times (43.2%)
· In those 139 Belmonts, 36 (25.9%) were run on “off” tracks. The most recent was when Empire Maker won in 2003 on a “sloppy” track.
· The white carnation blanket draped over the winner of the Belmont Stakes is made up of 300 to 400 flowers that are shipped in from California or Bogota, Columbia.
Belmont Stakes Trivia
Fastest -- 2:24 1973 Secretariat (two seconds faster than second best ever, Easy Goer’s 2:26 in 1989)
Largest Winning Margin -- 31 Lengths 1973 Secretariat
Smallest Winning Margin -- Nose (three times) 1936 Granville
1962 Jaipur
1998 Victory Gallop
Largest Field – 15 in 1983 when Caveat beat Slew o’ Gold by three-and-a-half lengths.
Smallest Field – Two (five times) --
1887 Hanover beat Oneko (75 yards – 28-30 lengths)
1988 Sir Dixon beat Prince Royal (12 lengths)
1892 Patron beat Shellbark (Unknown margin)
1910 Sweep beat Duke or Ormonde (6 lengths)
1920 Man o’ War beat Donnacona (20 lengths)
Largest attendance - 120,139 in 2004 won by Birdstone.
Traditional Flower – White carnation
Traditional Song – “New York, New York” since 1997. “Sidewalks of New York” prior to 1997.
Texas-breds to win the Belmont Stakes -- Two – Assault, the Triple Crown winner in 1946, and Middleground in 1950.
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