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Runhappy Met Mile (G1) and Manhattan (G1) to feature on America's Day at the Races on FOX Sports and MSG+

by Jim Reisler

America's Day at the Races will provide 22 hours of live racing this week, including blockbuster stakes action on Saturday from Belmont Park

America's Day at the Races, produced by the New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA) in partnership with FOX Sports, returns this Thursday, July 2 on FOX Sports and MSG+ for the start of four days of holiday coverage and analysis of the best in thoroughbred racing from Belmont Park.

The acclaimed national telecast will air Thursday through Sunday on FS1, FS2 and MSG+ for 22 hours of television coverage, highlighted by a blockbuster Runhappy Met Mile Day card on Independence Day from Belmont including two classic Grade 1 races - the 127th running of the $500,000 Runhappy Met Mile for 3-year-olds and up and the 148th running of the $400,000 Manhattan for 4-year-olds and up on the turf.

The Runhappy Met Mile is one of the most prestigious American races outside of the Triple Crown and Breeders' Cup. First run at Morris Park in 1891, the race was moved to Belmont Park in 1905, where it has been held most every year since and won by some of the most memorable horses in history, including Native Dancer, Tom Fool, Kelso, Forego and Ghostzapper. In 2016, Frosted set the race record of 1:32.73, winning by memorably lopsided 14 1/4 lengths.

Other stakes action from Belmont Park on Saturday will include the 134th running of the Grade 2 $200,000 Suburban Handicap for 4-years-olds & up going 1 ¼ miles; the Grade 3 $150,000 Poker for older horses going one mile on the turf; and the Grade 3, $100,000 Victory Ride for 3-year-old fillies going 6 ½ furlongs.

The week's stakes schedule kicks off on Thursday at Belmont Park with the 42nd  running of the $100,000 Mount Vernon for 4-year-olds and up New York-bred fillies and mares going one mile on the Widener turf. The Mount Vernon is slated as Race 8 on Thursday's nine-race card at 5:04 p.m. Eastern. 

Highlighting Friday's racing from Belmont Park will be the 7th running of the $80,000 License Fee for 4-year-olds & up (fillies & mares) headed 6 furlongs on the turf. Sunday's stakes races at Belmont will offer the 42nd running of the  Kingston for New York-bred 4-year-olds and up headed 1 1/16 miles on the turf. 

This week's America's Day at the Races schedule: 

(All times Eastern)

Thursday, July 2:
1:00 p.m. - 2:20 p.m. & 4:30 p.m. - 6 p.m. (FS2)
1:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. (MSG+)

Friday, July 3:
1:00 p.m. - 6:30 p.m. (FS2)
1:00 p.m. - 6:30 p.m. (MSG+)

Saturday. July 4:
1:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. (FS1)
1:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. (MSG+)

Sunday, July 5:
1:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. (FS1)
1:00 p.m. - 6:30 p.m. (MSG+)

America's Day at the Races is also broadcast on NYRA'sYouTube channel, which boasts more than 40,000 subscribers. Fans can subscribe to NYRA's channel and set a reminder to watch the show on YouTube Live. NYRA's YouTube channel also hosts a number of race replays, special features, America's Day at the Races replays and more.

America's Day at the Races is presented by America's Best Racing, Runhappy, and Claiborne Farm. This weekend's broadcast team includes Greg Wolf, Andy Serling, Maggie Wolfendale, Richard Migliore, Acacia Courtney and Jonathon Kinchen.

NYRA Bets is the official online wagering platform of the Belmont spring/summer meet available to customers across the United States. In addition to a host of weekly special offers, NYRA Bets is currently offering a $200 deposit match bonus to new members.

NYRA Bets provides fans the opportunity to wager on racing from tracks around the world at any time. The NYRA Bets app is available for download for iOS and Android at NYRABets App. Watch and wager on the best racing while earning points on every bet.

For further details on the new member bonus, visit NYRABets.com/#sign-up-bonus.

Free Equibase-provided past performances are available for races that are part of the America's Day at the Races broadcast and can be accessed at https://www.nyra.com/belmont/racing/tv-schedule.

The 2020 Belmont spring/summer meet continues through Sunday, July 12. Live racing is offered Thursday through Sunday with a first post of 1:15 p.m. The 25-day meet features 22 graded stakes and 40 stakes races in total worth $7 million in purses.

About NYRA Bets

Introduced in August 2016, NYRA Bets is a leading online wagering platform, available nationwide online, on your phone and at kiosks at NYRA tracks. As a legal, United States-based, regulated and licensed provider of horse race wagering, NYRA Bets gives fans the opportunity to wager on more than 250 race tracks worldwide from anywhere at any time. You can download the NYRA Bets app for iOS and Android.

NYRA Bets provides fans the opportunity to wager on racing from tracks around the world at any time. The NYRA Bets app is available for download for iOS and Android at NYRABets App. Watch and wager on the best racing while earning points on every bet.

For additional details, and to sign up for NYRA Bets visit NYRABets.com.