NYRA/Coglianese Photo

​Anna House to Reopen at Belmont Park on June 22

by Jim Reisler

Childcare and early education center closed since March 17

With strict new safety protocols firmly in place, the Belmont Child Care Association (BCCA) is set to reopen its Belmont Park daycare center Anna House, on Monday, June 22.^.

Anna House, the childcare and early-childhood education facility at Belmont designed for the families of backstretch workers, most of whom are based at Belmont Park, will reopen utilizing the most up-to-date health guidance established by the New York State Department of Health, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (C.D.C.) and BCCA's educational consultant, Bright Horizons, to combat the spread of COVID-19.

Anna House closed on March 17, shortly before NYRA suspended live racing on March 19 due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in New York. Live racing without spectators resumed at Belmont on June 3, and the spring/summer meet will continue through Sunday, July 12.

This week, teachers and staff at Anna House are receiving intensive training about the new protocols; and BCCA Executive Director Joanne K. Adams said she also intends to create more opportunities for the children to use distance learning and at-home instruction. "Virtual learning is a part of the 'new norm,' and we are committed to providing our children with the support they need to achieve success in school," she said.

In the more than two months that Anna House has been closed, BCCA staff have remained active in helping families on the backstretch, They mounted a drive to collect supplies for infants and toddlers who attend its education facility. Adams also worked with United Way of Long Island through its United Together Response Fund for COVID-19 to distribute donated gift cards, totaling more than $30,000 in value, to all backstretch workers at Belmont Park.

"Reopening Anna House has been our goal from the get-go and we're proud once again be fulfilling our mission of serving these families," said BCCA President Libby Imperio. "It will be wonderful to see the children again."

BCCA Board Chairman and co-founder Michael Dubb said the reopening marks an important step forward for backstretch workers, who kept fulfilling their duties, often at considerable personal risk, during the COVID-19 pandemic.

"Giving a solid head start to the children at Anna House is critically important to the whole ecosystem of the racetrack," Dubb said. "Backstretch workers are the unsung heroes of the racing world. Helping their kids helps them and makes our industry and sport a lot stronger. It's great to be getting back to what we do best."

About the Belmont Child Care Association

The Belmont Child Care Association's mission is to provide a safe, supportive, and academically inspiring environment for the children of parents working in the thoroughbred racing backstretch areas of New York's Belmont Park, Aqueduct Racetrack, and Saratoga Race Course. It is committed to promoting early childhood education, molding young minds, and encouraging the fulfillment of dreams.

As part of its "Think Big for BBCA" campaign, it welcomes donations of any size, which can make a great impact on its programs. For information, visit www.belmontchildcare.org.