Saratoga readies for Belmont Stakes
Anyone with an eye on the ponies knows there hasn’t been a Triple Crown winner since 1978 when Affiffirmed beat Alydar by a nose. This year, the hearts of horse fans are racing as this year’s Belmont Stakes approaches.
California Chrome, dubbed “America’s Horse,” has risen from humble roots to win the fifirst two legs of the Triple Crown.
When he takes on the 1- 1/21/2mile Belmont Saturday, Saratogians will be rooting for him from home and from Belmont Park.
One racing fan will be trackside at the park, cheering on California Chrome and hoping for a replay of the 1978 race. Suzanne Mangini of Saratoga Springs, who works in sales and co-owns Backstretch Barbeque, is
heading to New York City Saturday with her husband, David.
She hasn’t been to the Belmont Stakes race since 1978, when she confidently expected Affirmed to win.
“I was jumping up and down then, trying to see over people,” she said. “This was before video monitors. Of course there were Alydar fans there, but everyone was excited to have a Triple Crown winner.”
Saratogians have kept faith in the Triple Crown, despite the 35 years that have passed without a winner.ner
Downtown Spa City restaurants and bars will celebrate Belmont Day with special events and offers.
The Crown Grill, located at 390 Broadwa, will feature a special $6 cocktail named the Triple Crown Neroli, with Solerno, which is a blood- orange liqueur directly from Sicily, and Aperol, which is a lighter, brighter version of Campari.
Bartenders will add Prosecco, as well as freshly pressed Saratoga Juice Bar orange juice.
“This is a perfect drink to sip while rooting for a Triple Crown win,” wrote coowner Christel MacLean in an email to The Saratogian. “We will also have complimentary small bites at the bar.”
Peabody’s Sports Bar and Grill at 39 Phila St. has a patio with a back bar, a great spot to watch the race.
On Belmont Day, Peabody’s will hold a Track Hat Contest. Whoever has the best track hat will receive a $15 gift certificate to the establishment.
Peabody’s Bar Manager Crystal Wood listed special drinks for the Belmont Stakes: the $7 Belmont Jewel, made with Wood- ford Reserve bourbon, lemonade and pomegranate liquor; the $5 White Carnation, made with vodka, peach schnapps, orange juice, club soda and cream; the Win, Place and Show mint juleps, made with $5 Woodford Reserve, $6 Knob Creek and $7 Maker’s Mark bourbons; and the $5 Bacon Bloody Mary, made with Absolut Peppar.
“We will also be doing some draft beer specials on race day and have 20 brews on tap,” Wood wrote in an email to The Saratogian.
The Seven Horse Pub Belmont Party at 43 Phila St. will start at 5 p.m., according to bar manager Lia Conti.
“Our drink specials will include the Belmont Jewel, which consists of bourbon, lemonade and pomegranate juice,” she wrote.
Specialty appetizers and sampling of Goose Island beers will also be available.
Giveaways feature Saratoga Performing Arts Center concert tickets, and the grand prize is box seats for four at Saratoga Race Course this August.
Mangini grew up a halfmile away from the track and could hear the loudspeaker calling out the races.
Her husband’s family ran the backstretch kitchen for 50 years, while she worked as an Associated Press stringer who took photos at the racecourse. She has the racing industry in her blood, she said.
She and her husband even got married on Belmont Day 1979. During this year’s trip to New York City, they’ll celebrate their anniversary June 9.
They hope to be celebrating California Chrome’s win as well. Mangini said she wonders if her presence will make the Triple Crown happen again.
“Maybe the Belmont Stakes has been waiting for me to come back, all this time since 1978,” she said.