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

Fact #12 - The Final Fact - We saved the best for last..the Theme Song! For decades the traditional theme song of the Belmont Stakes was "Sidewalks of New York," and then in 1997 track officials decided it was time mix it up in an attempt to appeal to the under 80 crowd and made it the classic Sinatra tune"New York, New York"

But this year, it all changes!

he New York Racing Association says the tune is being replaced by "Empire State of Mind" as the music heard when the horses step onto the track for the $1 million Belmont on Saturday. The change is being made because Jay-Z's "Empire State of Mind" has become a "quintessential 21st century theme song for New York City," says NYRA marketing director Neema Ghazi.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/06/03/AR2010060304395.html

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

 

Fact #11– The field has been announced for this Saturday's Race! Ice Box is the 3-1 favorite for the $1,000,000 Race! Ice Box finished second in the Kentucky Derby and skipped the Preakness.

 

The remaining 11 of your brave and daring 3-year old stallions are: First Dude (Preakness runner up) is the second choice at 7-2. Fly Down, the third choice at 9-2. The rest of the field is Dave in Dixie, Drosselmeyer, Game on Dude, Interactif, Make Music for Me, Spangled Star, Stately Victor, Stay Put and Uptowncharlybrown.

 

Incidently, isn't "Stay Put" a really, really bad name for a race horse?

 

http://www.belmontstakes.com/contenders/default.aspx

Only TWO Days until the Belmont Stakes and Delicious Steaks Big Adventure!

The day kicks off around noon this coming Saturday! Hot damn, we're excited. Hope you'll be joining us for this New York Spring Classic...

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

 

Fact #10–  Let's talk horses and who is racing on Saturday. The following is from Richard Turner of the Wall Street Journal - America's #1 Source for Horse Racing:

 

This year's field has been derided, correctly, as a bunch of no-names, especially with no-shows by both the Derby and Preakness winner. But it's a big field at 12, and the absence of a heavy favorite makes for tempting wagering.The big names are Ice Box and First Dude, who finished second in the Derby and Preakness, respectively. Make Music for Me ran fourth in the Kentucky Derby; Stately Victor was eighth.That's it—every other entry is a Triple Crown first-timer. The best known of these is Fly Down, a hometown favorite.

 

Ice Box and First Dude? Weren't those names of fighter pilots in Top Gun?

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

Fact #9– This Friday, The Empire State Building will shine green and white to celebrate the Belmont Stakes and to get the city pumped up. We wonder who decided what nights the lights shine which colors?

In addition, there was a photo opportunity at the Empire State Building with trainer Alexis Barba and NYRA Bugler Sammy Grossman earlier today. The California-based Barba seeks to become the first female trainer to win the prestigious third leg of the Triple Crown. Also Sammy The Trumpet Playing Fool has been the official bugler at Aqueduct Racetrack, Belmont Park, and Saratoga Race Course for the last 18 years.

10 Songs to get you pumped for The Belmont Stakes!

This was sent to us by Friend-Of-The-Big-Adventure Jimmy Whitacre. Designed to help you build your perfect equine IPod Playlist and get you in pumped up for this Saturday, This link will send you to the definitive list of all horse related songs - from Classic Rock staples to modern day cry-fests. Great stuff. Thanks, Jimmy. (oooh...as a bonus there is a seemingly unrelated link on the page to Top Ten Gifts Under $20 for 2 Year Olds....yay?)