NYRA Salutes the Elmont Farmers Market and the Elmont Chamber of Commerce

I was pleased to attend a ribbon-cutting with Elmont Chamber of Commerce Board Members, Local Officials and Floral Park neighbors. NYRA salutes the Elmont Chamber of Commerce for coordinating a local Farmer's Market in Elmont. NYRA fans can stop by the Alva T. Stanforth Sports Complex on Hempstead Turnpike on Thursdays from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. between June and October and purchase local produce, baked goods and delicious food. Enjoy!

NYRA President and CEO, Charles E. Hayward, and NYRA Jockeys Visit Gallop NYC

On June 28th, NYRA President and CEO, Charles E. Hayward, and NYRA jockeys, Maylan Studart and Janice Blake, joined New York State Senator, Eric Adams on an afternoon visit to Gallop NYC in Prospect Park, Brooklyn. Gallop NYC offers lessons to 150 riders each week in three NYC locations and they use horseback riding to bring joy and hope to children and adults with developmental, emotional, social and physical challenges. Dan Silver, NYRA Director of Communications and Media Relations, and I also attended the visit. NYRA is proud to partner with Gallop NYC to provide funding to allow them to continue their wonderful outreach and to create awareness about their significant work.

Jeremy Edge Walk

Kudos and much thanks to Jeremy Edge, an Anna House volunteer for over ten years, for his monumental walk from Belmont Park to Saratoga Race Course. A distance of 190 miles. He raised both money, over $30,000.00, and awareness for the children of Anna House, The Belmont Child Care Association and the Permanently Disabled Jockey Fund. Jeremy covered the 1,520 furlongs in 13 days, and showed no signs of wear or tear.

Yea Jeremy!!!!!

The beginning of a long journey begins with one step.

Exiting the track and on his way!

Only one furlong to go!

And the winner is.....Jeremy, the man with two countries.

Special Olympics at Belmont Park Saturday July 9, 2011

The Mexcian Consul General At Anna House On The Belmont Race Track

Fourth Race Named For the Mexican Consulate

Talking with Mexican Nationals in the a barn at the Belmont Race Track

Consul General of Mexico Carlos M. Sada with the children of Anna House

On June 22nd, The Belmont Child Care Association and the families of Anna House welcomed the Consul General of Mexico - New York, Carlos Sada and his wife Maria Elena. The Consul General spent time talking to many of the Mexican backstretch workers and has offered to help those that he spoke to. He will also be in Saratoga Springs on August 24th to attend The Belmont Child Care Association Benefit at the Gideon Putnam. The Consul General would like to return to the Belmont Race Track in the fall to have a group meeting in the evening with the Mexican Nationals on the racetrack to get a better understanding of their needs and to determine how the Mexican Consulate of New York can help the Mexican Nationals on New York Race Tracks.

NYRA Visits Backstretch Farmers Market

NYRA President and CEO, Charles Hayward, and I visited the Backstretch Farmers Market. NYRA salutes Island Harvest for providing the fruit and vegetables which are distributed to to the backstretch workers through the Race Track Chaplaincy.

NYRA Attends the Annual Graduation for the New York Outreach Program

I was proud to represent NYRA at the Graduation ceremony and dinner for the New York Outreach Program. In conjunction with the Race for Education and the New York Race Track Chaplaincy, this program provides important educational programs to the children of parents who work in the backstretch. Scholarships were awarded to these worthy recipients and they were honored by their families, friends, as well as state and local officials. The event was held at Meadowbrooke Pointe and hosted by Michael Dubb, developer of the property.

NYRA Supports Jeremy Edge's WALK to benefit the PDJF and BCCA

NYRA named a race, Jeremy's WALK, on the eve of the Belmont Stakes to highlight Jeremy Edge's 190 mile WALK from Belmont Park to Saratoga Race Course. On June 12th, Jeremy Edge set out on his WALK to raise funds for the Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund ("PDJF") and the Belmont Child Care Association ("BCCA"). A group arrived at Belmont Park on the morning following the Belmont Stakes to cheer him on he began his two-week journey.

NYRA joined the Race for Education in their announcement of the Olivia M. Saylor/ Fleet Indian Stakes on Belmont Stakes Day

NYRA was proud to name the first race on Belmont Stakes Day for the Race for Education. NYRA President and CEO, Charles Hayward, joined the Race for Education in their announcement of the Olivia M. Saylor/Fleet Indian Stakes to run at Saratoga Race Course on July 31st. Formerly known as the Fleet Indian Stakes, the race has been named to honor the memory of Olivia M. Saylor.
Olivia M. Saylor died tragically on January 1, 2011. She and her family campaigned Grade 1 winners, Purge and Monba, and multiple Grade 1 winner and dual Eclipse champion, Ashado in partnership with Starlight Stables. Olivia is credited with naming Ashado and she campaigned Older New York Horse of the Year and Eclipse Champion, Fleet Indian, and graded states winners including Phil the Grip, Older New York Male Champion.
Olivia's father, Paul Saylor, is a board member of the Race for Education which has provided scholarships over the last five years to New York residents whose families are involved in the Thoroughbred industry.
Elizabeth Jensen, Executive Director of the Race for Education, joined Victoria Casso, 2011 recipient of the Fleet Indian Scholarship in Memory of Olivia M. Saylor. The Race for Education plans to award over $80,000 in scholarship funding to worthy recipients this year.

June 10 Floral Park and Garden City Belmont Festival

NYRA salutes the Village of Floral and the Village of Garden City for record crowds on their 2011 Belmont Stakes Festivals on the eve of the 143rd running of the Belmont Stakes. Record turnouts for both events provided our local communities with an opportunity to celebrate an exciting sports event with their families and neighbors. Local businesses in both communities benefitted from the large crowds and residents enjoyed great food, music and children's activities sponsored by NYRA and other local businesses.

Ribbon Cutting at Anna House hosted by The Belmont Child Care Association

On June 10th The Belmont Child Care Association hosted a Ribbon Cutting at Anna House on The Belmont Race Track for the two new additions to our Center. Anna House's Lemon Drop Kid Playground was filled to capacity by supporters. The Belmont Child Care Association wants to thank everyone for their continued support of the children of the backstretch workers.

A special thanks goes to Michael Dubb who donated the two new rooms and to the many contractors who worked long and hard to make this happen!

Chairman of the Belmont Child Care Association Board and Anna House student Sebastian welcoming our guests

Nassau County Executive Ed Magano

Ribbon Cutting

Everyone Had Fun!

NYRA Remembers Jack Kelly with Memorial Race

On the eve of the 2011 Belmont Stakes, NYRA staff remembered Jack Kelly with a Memorial Race at Belmont Park. NYRA President and CEO, Charles E. Hayward, presented a crystal plate to Jack's wife, Nancy Kelly. Joining Mr. Hayward and NYRA staff in the Winner's Circle were
C. Steven Duncker, Chairman of the NYRA Board of Directors, Hal Handel, NYRA Chief Operating Officer, and friends and family of Jack and Nancy Kelly.

Jockeys Visit the Ronald McDonald House of Long Island

NYRA was proud to work with the Ronald McDonald House of Long Island to coordinate the Annual Jockey Visit. 2011 marks the 25th Anniversary of Ronald McDonald House of Long Island and NYRA Director of Community Relations, Joanne K. Adams, is a member of the 25th Anniversary Gala committee.

Belmont Jockeys, Including Dominguez and Velazquez, to Visit Ronald McDonald House

On Thursday, June 9, more than a half-dozen jockeys from Belmont Park will ride into the hearts of families at the Ronald McDonald House of Long Island as part of the annual Jockey Day event.

Two days before the 143rd running of the $1 million Belmont Stakes, Janet Baeza, Ryan Curatolo, Ramon Dominguez, Alan Garcia, Maylan Studart, and John Velazquez, among others, will travel to the Ronald McDonald House in New Hyde Park at 10:30 a.m. to mingle with children at the House. Clad in their colorful silks, the riders will pose for photographs and distribute gifts of personally autographed riding goggles and hats.

“This is a great event for our children and their families,” said Ronald McDonald House of Long Island Executive Director Matthew Campo. “Meeting the jockeys is always a wonderful time for everyone. We wish them the best of luck on Saturday.”

Dominguez and Velazquez will have mounts in this year’s Belmont, with Dominguez riding Mucho Macho Man and Velazquez riding Kentucky Derby winner Animal Kingdom. Velazquez won the 2007 race with the filly Rags to Riches, the first female to win the Belmont in 102 years.

The Ronald McDonald House of Long Island is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year. It is a ‘home-away-from home’ for families who are caring for seriously ill children undergoing medical treatment in area hospitals. Located on the campus of the Cohen Children’s Medical Center, the House accommodates families in a warm and supportive environment. Since opening in 1986, approximately 13,000 families from the United States and more than 80 countries around the world have been served. Many of the families are from Queens, Suffolk and Nassau Counties, as well as the surrounding metropolitan area.

Exciting Times At Anna House

On Friday June 10th The Belmont Child Care Association (BCCA) is throwing open its doors for the grand opening of its two new classrooms; the expansion will permit Anna House to increase its enrollment from 50 students to 70 students. Materials and labor for the expansion were donated by Michael Dubb, a residential real estate developer, chairman of BCCA’s board, and top NYRA owner in 2010. A ribbon cutting and cocktail reception will be held on Friday, June 10th from 6:00-7:30 pm at Anna House, on the Belmont backstretch.

The children aren't the only ones getting bigger at Anna House,

So is our building! Please come help us celebrate the expansion of Anna House so that we can serve even more children in the backstretch community.

MICHAEL DUBB

THE BOARD of DIRECTORS of

THE BELMONT CHILD CARE ASSOCIATION and

CHARLES HAYWARD, President and CEO of NYRA and

EDWARD P. MANGANO, Nassau County Executive

CORDIALLY INVITES YOU TO THE RIBBON CUTTING of

THE TWO BRAND NEW CLASSROOMS at

ANNA HOUSE, Friday, June 10, 2011, 6:00 pm – 7:30 pm, Belmont Park, Gate 6

Elmont, NY (516) 488-2103. Cocktail Reception,

Reception sponsored by The New York Racing Association

About the Belmont Child Care Association

The Belmont Child Care Association (BCCA) is a 501(c) (3) not-for-profit corporation established in 1998. The BCCA has established Anna House, an on site childcare center for the benefit of working families at New York area racetracks, and to providing scholarship funds to those unable to afford the cost of care. Its volunteer board represents the broad-based industry support BCCA enjoys. For additional information, please visit: www.belmontchildcare.org.

NYRA and Elmont Host the 2011 Belmont Stakes Parade and Community Day

The 2011 Belmont Stakes parade was a grand success! Over 600 parade participants represented numerous organizations in Elmont as they celebrated the upcoming 143rd running of the Belmont Stakes. NYRA President and CEO, Charles Hayward, marched alongside former jockey and NYRA TV Analyst, Richard Migliore. Sam the Bugler, the NYRA starting gate, the NYRA tram as well as State and Local Officials lead the parade to Belmont Park where Elmont residents enjoyed Community Day, courtesy of NYRA. The Elmont Chamber of Commerce sold the trophy presentations on the day which highlighted local businesses. Over 800 residents enjoyed a lovely afternoon at beautiful Belmont Park.