Adam Coglianese Photo

Hundreds march in 10th annual Belmont/Elmont Day Parade

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For the 10th straight year, the New York Racing Association Inc. (NYRA) partnered with leaders in the Elmont community for an annual parade, celebrating the strong relationship between NYRA and local community groups and celebrating the 149th Running of the Belmont Stakes. 

More than 850 community members, NYRA employees, veterans, students and law enforcement officials marched in the parade, which stepped off at the Alva T. Stanforth Athletic Complex, proceeded down Hempstead Turnpike and ended at the Marquee Tent at Belmont Park, adjacent to the paddock. 

"The Elmont/Belmont Parade is an integral part of the Belmont Stakes Racing Festival," said Lynn LaRocca, NYRA Senior Vice President and Chief Experience Officer. "The ability for NYRA to be part of this long-standing parade is special and we're thrilled for the opportunity to celebrate the 149th running of the Belmont Stakes with the Elmont community, which continues to be so supportive of our efforts to provide world-class racing, entertainment and hospitality."

The Belmont/Elmont parade has grown in popularity since 2007 after Elmont civic leaders teamed up with NYRA to launch the event to promote the Belmont Stakes and strengthen the relationship with the community.

"NYRA has really opened the door to having a good working relationship with the community. It's great for the kids and families to know there's a huge business over there and they want us to be partners in their success," said Patrick Boyle, Gateway Youth Outreach, Inc. Executive Director. "The parade brings together the whole community and shows that Belmont is a part of the Elmont community. I was happy to see so many NYRA employees marching, helping to make this the best attended march in our 10-year history."  

The parade kicks off a week of exciting events at NYRA, culminating in the 149th Running of the Belmont Stakes, presented by NYRA Bets on Saturday, June 10. The day of racing features nine graded stakes races and six Grade 1 races and tickets for the event are selling fast. 

Pictures of parade available at: goo.gl/gP81z6 (Please courtesy "NYRA")

About the 2017 Belmont Stakes Racing Festival

Featuring world-class racing coupled with premium hospitality and entertainment, the Belmont Stakes Racing Festival, from June 8-10 at beautiful Belmont Park, has quickly become a popular kick-off event to the summer racing season in New York. Highlighted by the 149th running of the Belmont Stakes presented by NYRA Bets, the Festival is comprised of 18 stakes, offering more than $10 million in purses over the course of the 3 days. 

On Belmont Stakes Day (June 10), NYRA will offer 13 races, 10 of them stakes races. In addition to the Belmont Stakes, we are running 6 Grade 1 races, including the Mohegan Sun Metropolitan Handicap, Woodford Reserve Manhattan, the Longines Just a Game, the Acorn and the Ogden Phipps. It's a world class collection of races with more than $7.5 million in purses.  

Multi-platinum recording artist Andy Grammer will headline the entertainment lineup for the 2017 Belmont Stakes Racing Festival with trackside pre- and post-race concerts on June 10. Belmont Stakes Day will also include a performance from the hit Broadway musical On Your Feet!. On Friday, June 9, fans can enjoy a performance from the acclaimed Billy Joel tribute band Mike DelGuidice and Big Shot at the conclusion of live racing.