K 780: Memorializing Governor Kathy Hochul to proclaim June 7, 2025, as Belmont Stakes Day in the State of New York, and commending the New York Racing Association upon the occasion of the 157th running of the Belmont

 Assembly Resolution No. 780 BY: M. of A. Solages LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION memorializing Governor Kathy Hochul to proclaim June 7, 2025 as Belmont Stakes Day in the State of New York, and commending the New York Racing Association upon the occasion of the 157th 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 13 times; the 13 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; American Pharoah, 2015; and Justify, 2018; 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, This year, the Belmont Stakes will be held in Saratoga due to the redevelopment of Belmont Park, after a large investment by the State of New York; 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, Justify was the first Triple Crown winner since American Pharoah won the Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes and Belmont Stakes in 2015; 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 Kathy Hochul to proclaim June 7, 2025, as Belmont Stakes Day in the State of New York, and to commend the New York Racing Association upon the occasion of the 157th running of the Belmont Stakes; and be it further RESOLVED, That copies of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be transmitted to The Honorable Kathy Hochul, Governor of the State of New York, and to the New York Racing Association.