Excitement builds for Belmont Stakes upstate

While today is the big day for the Belmont Stakes, the excitement has been building since Thursday.

NYRA officials say 10 times more people are attending Stakes pre-race events than usual when they are held upstate. A record 22,000 people attended on Thursday, and today is expected to be another record.

And the excitement continues at Saratoga Race Course.

“Saratoga and the Capital Region have always been known for our love and appreciation of horse racing,” said Najja Thompson, executive director of NY Thoroughbreds Breeder. “We get big crowds throughout the summer, so to have the opportunity to run the Belmont Stakes here, everyone is looking forward to being here and there’s a huge anticipation.”

So who will run for the trophy?

Preakness Stakes winner Seize the Gray will start in 1st pole position, followed by Resilience and Mystik Dan in three, the same position where the colt won the Kentucky Derby. The Wine Steward will be among the four, followed by Antiquarian, Dornoch, Protective and Honor Marie. Morning line favorite Sierra Leone starts at 9am and Mindframe starts at 10am.

A $2 million scholarship is up for grabs.