Assembly Resolution No. 347

BY: M. of A. Solages

MEMORIALIZING Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim
June 5, 2021, as Belmont Stakes Day in the State of
New York, and commending the New York Racing
Association upon the occasion of the 152nd running
of the Belmont Stakes

WHEREAS, The Belmont Stakes is one of the most important sporting
events in New York State; it is the conclusion of thoroughbred racing's
prestigious three-contest Triple Crown; and

WHEREAS, Preceded by the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes, the
Belmont Stakes is nicknamed the "Test of the Champion" due to its
grueling mile and a half distance; and

WHEREAS, The Triple Crown has only been completed 12 times; the 12
horses to accomplish this historic feat are: Sir Barton, 1919; Gallant
Fox, 1930; Omaha, 1935; War Admiral, 1937; Whirlaway, 1941; Count Fleet,
1943; Assault, 1946; Citation, 1948; Secretariat, 1973; Seattle Slew,
1977; Affirmed, 1978; and American Pharoah, 2015; and

WHEREAS, The Belmont Stakes has drawn some of the largest sporting
event crowds in New York history, including 120,139 people for the 2004
running of the race; and

WHEREAS, This historic event draws tens of thousands of horse racing
fans annually to Belmont Park and generates millions of dollars for New
York State's economy; and

WHEREAS, The Belmont Stakes is shown to a national television
audience of millions of people on network television; and

WHEREAS, The Belmont Stakes is named after August Belmont I, a
financier who made a fortune in banking in the middle to late 1800s; he
also branched out into politics and New York society; and

WHEREAS, The fourth oldest stakes race in North America, the Belmont
Stakes was first run in 1867 at Jerome Park for a purse of $1500; and

WHEREAS, In 1973, Secretariat put together one of the greatest
performances in sports history by taking the Belmont Stakes by 31
lengths in stakes record time to complete the Triple Crown; and

WHEREAS, The 2015 Triple Crown winner, American Pharoah, is the 12th
horse to win the Triple Crown, and the first to win the Triple Crown in
37 years; and

WHEREAS, American Pharoah is the first Triple Crown winner since
Affirmed won the Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes and Belmont Stakes in
1978; and

WHEREAS, Horse racing is an integral part of New York as well as
American history; on May 5, 1905, Thomas Edison made one of the first
recorded videos in history at the grand opening of Belmont Park; and


WHEREAS, It is fitting and proper for this Legislative Body to take
note of such a prestigious sporting event which brings great pride to
the horse racing industry as well as all the citizens of this great
Empire State; and

WHEREAS, It is, in addition, of utmost importance to honor the sport
of horse racing in New York State on its biggest day; now, therefore, be
it

RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
memorialize Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim June 5, 2021, as
Belmont Stakes Day in the State of New York, and to commend the New York
Racing Association upon the occasion of the 152nd running of the Belmont
Stakes; and be it further

RESOLVED, That copies of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to The Honorable Andrew M. Cuomo, Governor of the State of
New York, and to the New York Racing Association.