Triple Crown Race Expected to Give Significant Financial Boost to Nassau

Nassau County Executive Ed Mangano was joined by Moke McGowan, president of the Long Island Convention & Visitors Bureau and Sports Commission, Dr. Jerry Chang of the Long Island Plastic Surgery Group, and world-renowned jockey Jean-Luc Samyn at a press conference Friday at The Garden City Hotel to announce an expected restaurant and hotel boom from the 143rd Belmont Stakes taking place this weekend.

Nassau County attracts thousands of visitors every year as another Triple Crown racing season reaches its exciting end.
 
“For 143 years Nassau County has hosted the Stakes at Belmont Park,” said Mangano. “The race provides our county with a major boom to the economy and this Saturday, the world will be watching us once again. The Belmont Stakes are always a great start to Nassau County’s summer tourist season and I invite everyone to come down to Belmont Park for the festivities this coming weekend.”

Jockey Jean-Luc Samyn also joined the county executive for the kick-off celebrations, following his triumphant return to racing after suffering a potentially career-ending injury. Samyn lost two fingers on his left hand in an accident with a snowblower this past winter. Dr. Jerry Chang of the Long Island Plastic Surgical Group, PC in Garden City performed the surgery that made it possible for Samyn, who lives in Manhasset, to return to his racing career on April 15.
 
“I would also like to congratulate Jean-Luc Samyn, Nassau’s legendary jockey, who returned to racing this spring after suffering a major injury that could have derailed his career. He won his first race after his return and I am sure we will see him in many more races in the future. I wish him the best of luck,” said Mangano.

The Belmont Stakes take place Saturday at Belmont Park. For more information please visit www.belmontstakes.com.

The New York Racing Association (NYRA) will provide regular updates on the third jewel of the Triple Crown on the official Twitter page of the Belmont Stakes. The page is updated whenever a news item, blog post, video or podcast is uploaded to the official website of the race: BelmontStakes.com. For more information about the Belmont Stakes and the Belmont spring meet, visit www.nyra.com.