Keeping It In the Family: Patriotic Day at Belmont Headlined By U.S Connections
A month after the Belmont Stakes at Belmont Park, another top day of racing takes place at the track on Saturday with the Stars and Stripes festival. With five graded stakes being run for a combined $3.7-million in purses, including two $1-million+ races, it has attracted horses from both sides of the Atlantic. Before you sit back and enjoy the show, here are some facts to enjoy as you warm up (or cool off for those of you in hot areas) for the races. By the Numbers – Forty-one horses are entered to run in Belmont Park’s five graded stakes on Saturday with three of the races open only to 3-year-olds and the biggest purses offered to 3-year-old turf horses with the Grade 1 Belmont Oaks and Grade 1 Belmont Derby. Thirty-nine different stallions have runners with Claiborne’s War Front having the most at three. Thirty-eight different damsires will have runners as well with three having two entries each. Northern Dancer leads all sirelines with 17 stallions siring runners here ...