The New York Racing Association (NYRA) announced Friday that its 2014 Belmont
Stakes card on June 7 will offer total purses of $8 million and feature 10
stakes races. In 2013, only one card, Breeders’ Cup Saturday at Santa Anita
Park, had purses totaling more than $8 million.
The 13-race Belmont Stakes Day card serves as the centerpiece of a new
three-day “Belmont Stakes Festival” that will offer a wide array of special
hospitality and entertainment options. The 10 Saturday stakes will be worth an
aggregate $7.7 million. In 2013, Belmont Stakes Day included six stakes events
worth $2.95 million.
“We’ve put together the finest day of racing in Belmont Stakes history,” said
New York Racing Association CEO and President Chris Kay. “We want every serious
and casual fan in the area to come out on June 7 and experience the excitement
and fun of one of New York’s truly signature sporting events.”
Five traditional Belmont Stakes Day contests — the $1.5 million Belmont
Stakes; the $1 million Manhattan; the $750,000 Just a Game; the $500,000 Woody
Stephens; and the $150,000 Easy Goer will be back as part of the 2014 event.
Five stakes that were not contested on Belmont Stakes Day in 2013 will also
be part of the 2014 card. Topping the list is the $1.25 million Metropolitan
Handicap. Known as “The Met Mile,” the race for three-year-olds and older at one
mile on the main track is annually considered one of the most prestigious races
run in North America.
Also new to the Belmont Stakes Day lineup are the $1 million Ogden Phipps;
the $750,000 Acorn; the $500,000 Brooklyn; and the $300,000 Jaipur. This year’s
renewal of the Brooklyn will include the “Brooklyn Bonus” whereby any horse who
has previously won a graded stakes at 1 3/16 miles or longer will receive a
bonus of $175,000 if he or she captures the Brooklyn.
The Metropolitan Handicap and the Ogden Phipps will also serve in 2014 as
Breeders’ Cup Challenge “Win and You’re In” races offering the winners fees-paid
starting berths to the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile and Breeders’ Cup Distaff,
respectively.
“This is the premier day of racing at Belmont Park, anchored by the historic
Belmont Stakes,” said Martin Panza, NYRA’s Senior Vice President of Racing
Operations. “I see June 7 as a summer time Breeders’ Cup-type event. Fans and
New York horsemen deserve a day like this.”
Also scheduled as part of the 13-race Belmont Stakes Day card are three
overnight allowance events — two on dirt, one on turf — offering a total of
$300,000 in purses.
Highlighting Friday’s card on June 6 are the True North and a new race, the
$200,000 Belmont Gold Cup to be run at two miles on the turf. On Sunday, Belmont
will host another new contest, the $100,000 Intercontinental to be run at seven
furlongs on turf.
The Brooklyn, the Jaipur and the Belmont Gold Cup will all be invitational
races with no nomination, entry or starting fees.
The True North, Manhattan, Ogden Phipps, and Brooklyn will have allowance
weights in 2014 after having handicap weights in 2013.
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