From October 8 to 17, Belmont Park will host an exhibit honoring the 1910 International Air Show, sponsored by VisitNassauCounty.com, the first international aviation meet held in the United States, which took place at the racetrack 100 years ago this fall.
To commemorate the anniversary of this historic event, The Cradle of Aviation Museum in Garden City has created a special exhibit featuring rare photographs, artifacts and film from the International Air Show, as well as examples of aircraft flown at the meet, including the “Antoinette,” an early French monoplane, and the ultra light “Demoiselle.”
The 1910 aviation meet assembled the world’s leading aviators and state-of-the-art aircraft to compete for $75,000 in prize money in various categories. Competitors set world records for altitude (9714 feet) and speed (61 mph) during the 10-day meet, which marked the first time many New Yorkers saw airplanes in flight.
The exhibit will be displayed at The Cradle of Aviation Museum from September 10-20, before moving to Belmont Park where it will be available for viewing during race days on the first floor of the Grandstand near the NYRA store. Admission to the exhibit at Belmont, sponsored by NYRA, the Cradle of Aviation Museum, Nassau County and the Town of Hempstead, is free with general admission to the racetrack.
About The Cradle of Aviation Museum
The Cradle of Aviation Museum has over 75 air and spacecraft that take through over 100 years of aviation history from kites and balloons to man’s first steps on the moon.
The Cradle is located on Charles Lindbergh Blvd., Museum Row in East Garden City/Uniondale area. For information call 516-572-4111 or log onto www.cradleofaviation.org.
About The New York Racing Association, Inc.
Founded in 1955, and franchised to run thoroughbred racing at New York’s three major tracks through 2033, NYRA boasts a lineage that actually stretches back almost 150 years. NYRA tracks are the cornerstone of the state’s thoroughbred business which contributes more than $2 billion annually to New York State’s urban, suburban and rural economy. In 2009, more than 1.6 million people attended the live races at NYRA tracks. Factoring nationwide off-track wagering, the average daily betting handle on NYRA races alone totals more than $9.3 million every race day. NYRA has a vast network of websites, including www.nyra.com, www.belmontstakes.com, and www.nyragroupsales.com. You can also follow NYRA on social media platforms Facebook, Flickr, Twitter, and YouTube.
