We arrived in the BIG APPLE on Tuesday of Belmont Stakes week. Luckily it was late so we didn’t have any work plans and I was able to see my beautiful cousin Taylor for dinner.
Of course, being the “centaurs” that we are we had to check out the Triple Crown diner. After all—the Belmont is the third and final leg of the Triple Crown!
AND I love a good NY diner meal,
especially when it’s accompanied by a chocolate eggcream.
Wednesday we got to the track early to watch some of the horses work out.
winner’s circle
I love being there before the crowds and being able to take everything in.
Look at that view, isn’t it spectacular?!
Around 11 we headed into the Belmont Stakes Post Position Draw and got to see what post each horse would be coming out of for the Belmont Stakes!
Then we hopped on the LIRR and headed into NYC to get ready for a happy hour event we hosted with Buffalo Trace at Public House (a really cool place on E 41st).
We got into the city with a little time to kill so being the giddy school girl that I am when I’m in NY we walked by some of my FAVORITE touristy places (NY Public Library, Grand Central Station & Times Square). Hallie, John & Jose had never been to NYC before this trip so I was even more excited to go by these places and show them why I love New York–with that being said, I was by far the most excited. There is just something special about New York that puts an extra pep in my step!
A few of my friends got to come to our Public House happy hour event which made me super happy!Gabrielle (who I’ve known since before I was born), Roma & Lauren (who I worked with at LIVE! with Regis & Kelly summer of 2010). So glad they could come learn about ABR and see a little more into why I love racing!
Gabb & Romes stayed after the event was over we we could catch up 🙂
Thursday morning we had our Social Media lunch and a special backside tour with former jockey Richard Migliore. We got to get a more inside look over at trainer Kieran Mclaughlin’s barn.
okay, so I was excited to be on a tram–it reminded me of my Disney days, ha.
After a wonderful tour and lunch we headed into the city yet again-yay! This time we were hosting a happy hour with Buffalo Trace at the Ainsworth (W. 46th Street).
While the rest of the team was at the Ainsworth event, Chip & I attended the 2013 Belmont Stakes Charity Celebration at Bobby Flay’s Bar Americain restaurant that benefited the Grayson-Jockey Club Research Foundation and the Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation (TRF).
The foodie in my was extremely excited to be there, just as excited I was to be supporting such wonderful charities in our industry. The food was so delicious, i loved it all, but my top three would have to be cheeseburgers with queso sauce, the shrimp-tomatillo cocktail & the lobster-avocado cocktail. He also made lobster shooters, gulf shrimp & grits, spicy tuna tartare AND wayyy more. [ i’m hungry just thinking about all the foods].
Bobby Flay
After recieving the Earle I. Mack Thoroughbred Champion Award for his outstanding efforts and influence on Thoroughbred racehorse welfare, safety and retirement he gave such an awesome speech. He spoke about how every owner should be responsible for the aftercare of their Thoroughbred & I wanted to scream hallelujah and amen afterwards it was so wonderful.
We were gifted with Bobby Flay’s Bar Americain Cookbook — this has ALL of the delicious recipes that we got to try plus he signed it and added a special note thanking us for being a part of the night.
With only three SHORT hours of sleep, I awoke in my NYC hotel room Friday morning only to open the curtains and see torrential rain. Despite the rain, we headed over toe Rockefeller Center to promote ABR & the Belmont Stakes.
We stood in the rain but it paid off when John got a shout-out from Al Roker and then Hallie, Jose & Mary France were shown on the Today show broadcast numerous times holding up a FollowHorseRacing.com banner.
After changing clothes a total of three times we grabbed some lunch — i FINALLY got my NY pizza, or as I like to call it, a few slices of heaven.
After the za we headed back to Long Island to go stock the bus for Saturday and to park it at Belmont. Shopping in the pouring down rain — wearing flip-flops and a water-resistant jacket (not a waterPROOF one) was quite the experience. Luckily, John was a good sport AND I got myself a 7-11 Slurpee, they always seem to make things a little better, right?!
While we waited to get the bus parked in it’s spot for Saturday, John, Chip & I watched a few races.
Once the bus was set we headed back to the hotel, changed and headed to the Garden City hotel to stop at the NYRA press party before calling it a night. {i just found out this is where my parents first met–dawww}
Saturday, June 8 was finally Belmont Stakes Day.
I loved being at Belmont — now that I’m an ambassador going back to Belmont was quite sentimental–it was the first track I had ever attended and sparked my initial love for all things horse racing. It also made me miss my late Grampy, but I know he would be so proud of what I’m doing 🙂
Since we had a meeting Monday afternoon with The Jockey Club we had a “free day” in NYC Sunday. Our free day consisted of brunch, lots of walking around and sightseeing and then Hallie & I grabbed dinner at Rockefeller Center’s restaurant–so yummy.
As always, it was bittersweet to leave NYC. I can’t wait to be back for Saratoga in late July & to be close-by in NJ for the Haskell mid-July.
Also, if ya want to check out my post on our website about the Belmont Jewel, the official drink of the Triple Crown’s third leg click on: http://www.followhorseracing.com/en/the-latest/abrv/2013/6/2/the-official-drink-of-the-belmont-stakes/
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Horsing Around America 