Belmont Park 2015 spring/summer meet to feature 'Test of the Champion'

By: SPORTS NETWORK

Elmont, NY (SportsNetwork.com) - The $1.5 million Belmont Stakes, also known as the "Test of the Champion," will highlight Belmont Park's spring/summer meet beginning Wednesday, April 29.

The 1 1/2-mile Belmont Stakes, third leg of racing's Triple Crown, will be the centerpiece of the track's 59-day meet featuring 60 stakes races worth $18.55 million. The 147th running of the Belmont Stakes will be on Saturday, June 6.

On Saturday, July 4, will be the second annual Stars & Stripes Festival. Turf running 3-year-olds will compete in the $1.25 million Belmont Derby and the $1 million Belmont Oaks for fillies, both at 1 1/4 miles.

"We're very proud of the inaugural Stars and Stripes Day as several of the participants went on to prominent seasons," said Martin Panza, Senior Vice- President of Racing Operations for the New York Racing Association, "including Adelaide, who later won the Grade 1 Secretariat and Australia's Cox Plate for trainer Aidan O'Brien, and Toast of New York, who was runner-up in both the Grade 1 Pacific Classic and Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Classic. We are confident this year's festival will be even bigger and better."

Veteran grass horses will compete in the $400,000 Man o' War at 1 3/8 miles on May 9 with top level older females going in the $250,000 Ruffian Handicap at a mile.

Joining the Belmont Stakes on the June 6 card will be the $1.25 million Metropolitan Handicap (Met Mile) at a mile, $1 million Manhattan at 1 1/4 miles on the turf, $1 million Ogden Phipps for fillies and mares at 1 1/16 miles, $750,000 Acorn for 3-year-old fillies and the $700,000 Just a Game at a mile on the turf for fillies and mares,

Closing day for Belmont's spring/summer meet will be Sunday, July 19.