Scoreboard Gourmet

Who is Running the Travers Stakes?

Post positions for the Travers Stakes:

1 — Hold Me Back
2 — Charitable Man
3 — Warrior’s Reward
4 — Quality Road
5 — Our Edge
6 — Summer Bird
7 — Kensei

Unfortunately I am watching on the OTB channel and am not in Saratoga :(

Daytona 500: Feb 14, 2010

Why am I thinking about the Daytona 500 when this weekend the Travers festivities started? Because I recently reviewed my Daytona 500 Trip Photos, and You should too. It's a good little album. I like the good parts of my life. If You scroll through my NASCAR coverage you'll see more about The Great American Race. Next up...Horses in Saratoga.

Saratoga Race Course, Travers Festival

This year's Travers Festival is August 22nd to 30th (but not Tuesday). Saturday August 29th is the 140th running of the Travers Stakes (the oldest major thoroughbred horse race in the U.S.). Possible contenders include Quality Road, Mine That Bird, Summer Bird, and Rachel Alexandra.
Here are some food-related events throughout the week:

Early Morning Breakfast at the Saratoga Race Course. Start your day with a scrumptious buffet breakfast on the Clubhouse Lower Porch. Wednesday – Monday throughout the racing season. 7-9:30am. Large groups should call in advance for reservations. Contact: 518-584-6200.

Wednesday, August 26th
Stewart’s Shops Ice Cream Eating Contest
Event will be categorized into three age groups – kids, teens and adults. Registration beings at 12 noon in front of the Jockey Skills Room. Come hungry!

Friday, August 28th
12th Annual Battle of the Brews
Visitors 21 and older get the chance to taste a variety of brews and vote on their favorites. $25 (includes tasting glass) Proceeds benefit the American Red Cross Adirondack Saratoga Chapter. Noon-4:30pm. Contact: 518-792-6545

Sunday, August 30th:
Fulton County Republican Picnic. Mary Ann's Restaurant, Broadalbin.
$35 per person. 12-4pm. Contact: 518-773-0121

You Should Always Bet On What You Always Bet On

Some of you might be wondering why I, lover of horses races, especially the Triple Crown, have not made a peep about the Belmont.

It's pretty painful to tell. Sickening, actually. I never do my laundry in the late afternoon on a Saturday. Ever. This Saturday I woke up early, went to work for a few hours, went food shopping, made a delicious arugula-shrimp-scallop-pesto-spaghettini lunch, took a nap, then postponed my walk to the OTB by starting my laundry. Can you see where I'm going here? Can you see the picture I took from the Daily News? Have you ever been to a laundromat in the late afternoon on a Saturday? It's chaotic. I had to fight for a machine, fight for access to the machine, fight for a cart. My clothes and sheets and towels had to fight each other for access to the one dryer available. I feel like crying. I cannot remember the last time I did not bet The Belmont. And you know I Always bet on the horse in the 4 post. Always. Except when I don't bet at all. Like that time in 2007.

The Belmont Breeze is the official drink of the Belmont Stakes

Created by Dale DeGroff – head bartender of the Rainbow Room/Windows of the World – the Belmont Breeze allegedly comes from this colonial "recipe": “One of sour, one of sweet, three of strong and four of weak.”

The Belmont Breeze:
1 1/2 ounces Bourbon
3/4 ounce Dry Sack
3/4 ounce Fresh Lemon Juice
3/4 ounce Simple Syrup
1 1/2 ounce Fresh Orange juice
1 1/2 ounce Ocean Spray Cranberry juice
Shake all ingredients with ice and top with half 7up and half soda, approximately one ounce of each. Garnish with fresh strawberry, a mint sprig and a lemon wedge.

Coolers on Belmont Stakes Day (at Belmont Park)

COOLERS DO'S & DONT'S ON BELMONT STAKES DAY

DO'S
• Coolers are allowed in the Grandstand Backyard area, only.
• Coolers are permitted through the West End (Bus and LIRR Train) or Paddock Entrances, only.
• Soft Packs (six pack size only) are allowed in the building and under your seat.

DONT'S
• NO coolers are permitted in the Clubhouse, including the Clubhouse apron and Clubhouse backyard areas.
• NO coolers are permitted in the Grandstand Apron.
• NO coolers (plastic, hard or Styrofoam of any size) are allowed in the building, or under any reserved seating.
• NO glass containers are allowed anywhere.
• NO alcoholic beverages of any kind may be brought into the facility.  This restriction was enacted in the interest of patron safety and in an attempt to make sure that people drink responsibly.

Free Bagels for Bettors Before Belmont Stakes

Free bagels and coffee at 11:30am tomorrow at Race Palace. Also, raffles, horse-racing giveaways and free souvenir glasses to the first 100 customers.

Race Palace
1600 Round Swamp Road
Plainview, NY 
Exit 48 of the LIE
516-572-8200

Belmont Stakes at Morton's (Steaks, get it?)

I missed telling you about Monday's dinner. Sorry. Also missed Tuesday-Thursday. But you can still go tonight (Friday, June 5) from 5 to 11pm for steak, wine, and "the spirit of generosity" at Morton's The Steakhouse!.

$85.00 ($27 donated to that evening's featured charity). Tonight it's Backstretch Charities, 

Special Menu
Salad

Entree
(choice of)
Double Cut Filet Mignon
Prime Ribeye Steak
Single Cut Prime New York Strip Steak
(choice of)
Broiled Sea Scallops
Colossal Shrimp Alexander or
Jumbo Lump Crab Cake

One Signature Potato or
One Fresh Vegetable

Dessert
Morton's Legendary Hot Chocolate Cake
or Key Lime Pie

Call them: 516-498-2950
777 Northern Boulevard, Great Neck, NY

Rachel Alexandra at the Preakness Stakes

Rachel Alexandra, the 3-year old Philly who won the Kentucky Oaks by more than 20 lengths, is racing in the Preakness today. She likes salads comprised of grass, with hay croutons. Girls on the track. I love it. But I almost never bet the favorite. I can't bet on her just because she's female. This is like a Hillary Clinton dilemma. Whatever will I do?

Belmont Park Backyard Picnic Area (and some Stakes details)

The Belmont Park Backyard Picnic Area is a fan favorite because of its space and accommodations for children. Several concession stands offer chicken, burgers, hot dogs, French fries, ice cream and more. No barbecues are permitted.

No canopies/tents permitted anywhere.

Cooler Policy: Fans may bring coolers into the backyard of the grandstand at Belmont Park. Coolers will not be allowed in any other area at the track. Glass containers will not be allowed. As in the past, fans can bring in coolers containing cans or plastic bottles.

Fans with coolers should enter the track at either the paddock or west end admission gates. Coolers will not be allowed through the clubhouse gate.

Belmont Park - June 7th, 2008 - Race 11 Belmont S. - Grade: 1 Estimated Local Post Time:     6:25 PM
Race Type: Stakes Breed: Thoroughbred Age Restriction: Three Year Old				Purse: $1,000,000 Distance: One And One Half Miles Surface: Dirt
Post	Horse Name	Age	Sex	Weight	Jockey Name
1	Big Brown (KY)	3	Colt	126	Kent J. Desormeaux
2	Guadalcanal (FL)	3	Colt	126	Javier Castellano
3	Macho Again (FL)	3	Colt	126	Garrett K. Gomez
4	Denis of Cork (FL)	3	Colt	126	Robby Albarado
5	Casino Drive (KY)	3	Colt	126	Edgar S. Prado
6	Da' Tara (KY)	3	Colt	126	Alan Garcia
7	Tale of Ekati (KY)	3	Colt	126	Eibar Coa
8	Anak Nakal (KY)	3	Colt	126	Julien R. Leparoux
9	Ready's Echo (KY)	3	Ridgling	126	John R. Velazquez
10	Icabad Crane (NY)	3	Colt	126	Jeremy Rose

Derby Day, sponsored by Yum

Here's the Field:

1 Cool Coal Man
2 Tale of Ekati
3 Anak Nakal
4 Court Vision
5 Eight Belles
6 Z Fortune
7 Big Truck
8 Visionaire
9 Pyro
10 Colonel John
11 Z Humor
12 Smooth Air
13 Bob Black Jack
14 Monba
15 Adriano
16 Denis of Cork
17 Cowboy Cal
18 Recapture the Glory
19 Gayego Paulo Lobo
20 Big Brown