Community Corner

Sammy the Bugler Kicks Off Garden City's Belmont Festival

Residents celebrate the third leg of thoroughbred racing's Triple Crown Garden City style.

Hundreds flocked to Seventh Street Friday to celebrate the 142nd running of the Belmont Stakes Garden City style.

The village's annual Belmont Festival is not only a prelude to summer but a boost to downtown businesses, especially this year as many continue to struggle.

Sammy the Bugler and his spirited "Call to the Post" officially kicked off the night's festivities.

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"This is one of the great events in the Village of Garden City," Mayor Robert Rothschild said. "It's an important event for Garden City because Belmont really wants to be here in the Village of Garden City and we want to continue to have them here with us."

The United States Air Force Band of Liberty rock band, Afterburner, headlined this year's entertainment. Local bands, including Six Gun, also took to the stage. A children's poster contest drew 91 participants. Depicting their love of horse racing, Garden City Middle Schooler Jill Dane captured first, Abigail Alkin of Locust School took second and Stewart School student Diana Humpert placed third (show).

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Face painters, stilt walkers, clowns, popular bounce rides, a chicken wings throwdown amongst several local restaurants, including the winner, J.P. McGeever's Pub on Nassau Boulevard, and the Belmont Park starting gate rounded out the night.

"We have a saying in the Chamber of Commerce, we do things Garden City style. I think what we have here tonight is quintessential Garden City style. Thanks very much for coming to the best street festival in Nassau County," chamber president Roger Eltringham roared before the crowd.

Joanne Adams, director of community relations for the New York Racing Association (NYRA), sent greetings from president Charles Hayward. She also introduced several individuals of the thoroughbred racing world; all but one call Garden City home.

Todd Pletcher, who won this year's Kentucky Derby with "Super Saver," saddled "Interactif" in Saturday's Belmont Stakes. Pletcher captured his first Stakes win in 2007 when "Rags To Riches" became the first filly in 102 years to win the Belmont Stakes. He won the Eclipse Award for Outstanding Trainer from 2004-2007 and in 2006 set a single-year earnings record of over $26 million.

Javier Castellano, the regular rider for "Ghostzapper," the colt who won the 2004 Breeder's Cup Classic en route to being named Horse of the Year, was aboard "Interactif" at Saturday's Belmont Stakes. Castellano has won three meet titles in New York and the Canadian International in 2008.

Kiaran McLaughlin saddled "Up Town Charlie Brown" at Saturday's Stakes, the third Belmont starter for McLaughlin. He won the 2006 race with "Jazil" and in 2007 saddled "Charitable Man," who came in fourth.

Trainer Tom Albertrani saddled "Bernardini" Saturday and won the Eclipse Award for Top 3 year olds after winning the 2006 Preakness, Jim Dandy, Travers and Jockey Club Gold Cup.

John Velasquez has been the leading rider on the NYRA circuit four times and has won 20 meet titles. He was one of two jockeys in this year's Stakes who have won the race before. He guided "Rags to Riches" to victory in 2007 and was aboard "Fly Down" Saturday.

Bill Mott, a Hall of Fame trainer, saddled "Drosselmeyer" Saturday. With jockey Mike Smith aboard, "Drosselmeyer" outran "Fly Down" by 3/4 of a length in the stretch to win the 2010 Belmont Stakes.

NYRA, The Garden City Hotel and the Village of Garden City sponsor this yearly event, held every June on the eve of the Stakes.

"Patrick Smalley and Nassar Samman and the Nelkin family (of the Garden City Hotel) continue to be major supporters of not only this event but everything that goes on in Garden City," Eltringham said. "NYRA is a great organization and a great employer in New York State, especially down here at Belmont. They also have consistently supported this event."

Eltringham added, "And all the support you get from the village staff, from recreation and police to public works, it's a great effort that the village gives."

(Editor's Note: If you have photos from Friday's festival, feel free to upload them directly to this article or e-mail them to carisa@patch.com.)


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