The Big Adventure Presents - Countdown to The Belmont Stakes - 12 Days of Interesting Facts!

Fact #4 – The Belmont Stakes trophy is a Tiffany-made silver bowl, supported by three lovely horses representing the three foundation thoroughbreds - Eclipse, Herod and Matchem. We had no clue there were three foundation thoroughbreads. Learning so much! Furthermore, the bowl, with cover, is 18 inches high, 15 inches across and 14 inches at the base. The trophy is a solid silver bowl, and was presented by the Belmont family as a perpetual award for the Belmont Stakes in 1926. Our goal is to make sure everyone who attends the Big Adventure gets one of their very own Belmont Stakes Trophy. Lofty goals are the only kind we know...

The Big Adventure Presents - Countdown to The Belmont Stakes - 12 Days of Interesting Facts!

 

Fact #3 – Since 1905, 54 bays have won the Belmont Stakes. Chestnut winners account for fifty of the race's champions, and 28 dark bay, or brown horses have won the stakes. There have also been three black winners, two gray champions, and one roan victor. The important thing here is that The Big Adventure has absoloutely no idea what any of that meant. Horse racing experts, we are not. Come next Saturday, we'll be betting on the pretty ones.

Countdown to The Belmont Stakes - 12 Days of Interesting Facts!

Fact #2 – The Largest Crowd Ever at Belmont Stakes was in 2004 when 120,139 spectator visited the track to see Smarty Jones take a chance to become Triple Crown winner - Smarty finished 2nd. That's more people than New Yankee Stadium and CitiField combined can host! Also larger than the Big House at University of Michigan - The largest sports venue. And..yes..also larger than the Horseshoe in Columbus, OH

The Big Adventure Presents - Countdown to The Belmont Stakes - 12 Days of Interesting Facts!

 

So, we're getting close to the next Big Adventure with the big day a week from next Saturday. To get in the spirit, we thought we'd post a interesting fact a day about the New York Race tradition at the Belmont. Hope this satisfies you for now as full details on our day will be coming this Wednesday.

 

Fact #1 – The First Winner of the Belmont Stakes was Ruthless who won in 1867 in 3 minutes and five seconds. Ruthless also won the Triple Crown leaving old timey people everywhere to exclaim: “Great Pope Pius IX! I'd wager 10 bits that This fine steed makes Jefferson Davis look like Ulysses Grant!”

Considering making this an early stop on the Big Adventure on June 5th- Waldy's Wood-Fired Pizza & Penne. Start the day with some delicious Wood Oven Pizza that has custom pies and $10 Pitchers on the weekends. Room for all and a short hop to the Belmont Bound Train. Besides, always wanted to meet a guy named Waldy. What do YOU think?

Brooke and Phil’s Belmont Stakes and Delicious Steaks Big Adventure

The time has come once again! Save the date for Saturday, June 5th as we’re embarking one of our most ambitious New York Big Adventures yet. We’re calling it: Belmont Stakes and Delicious Steaks!

We’re starting and ending in New York City, but we’re also going to break new ground as we trot/gallop out to Belmont, Park in Elmont, New York (just outside of Queens). The plan is to enjoy a good chunk of the 142nd Belmont Stakes and cheer till we’re horse (groan...)! Tickets are surprisingly inexpensive at just $10 a piece and the grandstand seats are a laidback, enjoyable time. Most importantly, this is truly a signature event in this area that we think many of our friends haven’t had the chance to experience yet.

We’re also incorporating some very cool Horse Racing themed events and bar-related stops back in the city before and after our day at Belmont. We will tie in some of the city’s best grilled steaks (think along the lines of Philly Cheese rather than Peter Luger’s) and more. Perhaps a Wooden Horse Racing Contest? Or an award for Best Dressed Race Day clothes?

As per usual, we’ll be posting all the information, stops and critical details you will need In about two weeks. We plan on starting around noon and, once again, going to the late hours of the night where you can join us along the way and invite anyone you choose.

In the meantime, you can pick your pony, rent a copy of Seabiscuit and place your boxed trifecta bet when you visit The Brooke and Phil Big Adventure Facebook Page at http://www.facebook.com/TheBigAdventure (become our fan!) or other info always here.

We also planning ahead and returning to our more traditional roots with a purely in-city event in August in case this Adventure isn’t the one for you.

Hope to see you on Race Day!

The Big Adventure’s vote for Best Oscar Animated Short:

So, after viewing all the nominated shorts yesterday (along with three additional films from the Academy’s shortlist), the general consensus is that The Lady and The Reaper (La Dama y La La Muertre) from Spain should win the Oscar tonight. It was touching, funny, creative and just enjoyable to watch. The film managed to tell a great story in about eight busy minutes without a touch of dialogue. Great stuff. Two other films, Granny O'Grimm's Sleeping Beauty (truly hilarious) and A Matter Of Loaf and Death (“Help me Gromit! I’ve got a bomb in me pants!”), also received high praise from the crew on the Big Adventure yesterday.