Belmont Park Notes
Wednesday, May 14, 2008
By Francis LaBelle Jr.

Casino Drive
 Casino Drive came out of his victory in Saturday’s Grade 2 Peter Pan as effortlessly and professionally as raced in his United States debut. “He is happy; he loves it here and he is doing very well,” said Nobutaka Tada, managing director of Globe Equine Management Ltd., on Wednesday morning ... more
Preakness a Homecoming for Desormeaux
Sunday, May 11, 2008
By Jenny Kellner

Kent Desormeaux
 When Hall of Fame jockey Kent Desormeaux heads to Baltimore to ride Kentucky Derby winner Big Brown in Saturday’s 133rd Preakness Stakes, he will be returning to familiar territory. “I grew up in Maurice, Louisiana, but I grew up in horse racing in Maryland,” said Desormeaux, 38, who led the nation in wins while riding at Laurel and Pimlico from 1987-89 ... more
Banrock's Wait Pays Off in Kingston Handicap
Sunday, May 11, 2008
By Francis LaBelle Jr.

Banrock
 Nyala Farm’s Banrock doesn’t like to be rushed. The 5-year-old gelded son of 1994 Kentucky Derby winner Go for Gin will deliver a strong late kick as long as you are patient. Sunday afternoon, Hall of Fame jockey Kent Desormeaux rode Banrock to perfection and came away with a head victory ... more
'Big Casino' Rolls in Peter Pan on Way to Belmont Stakes
Saturday, May 10, 2008
By Francis LaBelle Jr.

Casino Drive
 Japanese business executive Hidetoshi Yamamoto made his fortune in amusement games and slot machines. He is a pure sportsman, and proved it by sending two of his young Thoroughbreds to Belmont Park on Saturday afternoon for the 55th running of the Grade 2, $200,000 Peter Pan at nine furlongs, a prep for the 140th running of the Grade 1, $1 million Belmont Stakes on Saturday, June 7 ... more
Lucky Island Rules Bold Ruler
Saturday, May 10, 2008
By Francis LaBelle Jr.

Lucky Island
 Shadwell Stable’s Lucky Island, an Argentina-bred with a promising future, became a graded stakes winner Saturday afternoon, catching up to front-running Man of Danger in mid-stretch and then accelerating for a 2 1/4-length victory in the 33rd running of the Grade 2, $109,100 Bold Ruler Handicap for three-year-olds and up at six furlongs on Belmont Park’s fast main track ... more
NYRA, Mid-Atlantic Sign Simulcasting Agreement
Thursday, May 8, 2008
Contact: John Lee

New York Racing Association simulcasts will return to 16 East Coast tracks, thanks to an agreement signed today between the NYRA and the Mid-Atlantic Cooperative ... more
Numbers Up at Recently Concluded Aqueduct Meet
Thursday, May 8, 2008
Contact: John Lee

Countering national industry trends, the recently concluded 2008 winter and spring Aqueduct seasons saw significant growth in attendance, handle, and purses ... more
"Big" Not Big Enough to Describe Belmont Stakes Prize Package
Thursday, May 8, 2008
Contact: Dan Silver

One trait that separates Belmont Park from the rest of the world’s great racetracks is its size. And it is no coincidence that North America’s biggest racetrack hosts the oldest and longest leg of the Triple Crown, the $1 million, 1 ½-mile Belmont Stakes ... more
Belmont Park Notes
Wednesday, May 7, 2008
By NYRA Press Office

Casino Drive
 Following the mid-morning break to groom Belmont Park’s main track Wednesday, Japanese invaders Casino Drive, Spark Candle and Champagne Squall put in their first serious works since arriving here on April 30 ... more
Giant Moon Heading For The Preakness
Tuesday, May 6, 2008
By Jenny Kellner

Giant Moon
 A whole new cast of contenders will be facing Kentucky Derby winner Big Brown on May 17 in the Preakness Stakes, among them New York-bred Giant Moon, who took the Count Fleet Stakes at the Big A in January ... more