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 Belmont Park first opened on May 4, 1905. The most celebrated race at Belmont Park is the Belmont Stakes, the final jewel of racing’s Triple Crown. Since 1919, when Sir Barton was the first to sweep the Kentucky Derby, the Preakness and the Belmont, the “Test of the Champion” has crowned but 11 winners of racing’s most prestigious, and elusive, prize. Belmont Park holds a place in history in other areas as well. In 1910, Wilbur and Orville Wright staged an international aerial competition at Belmont Park that drew 150,000 spectators. In 1918, the track served as the New York City terminal for the first airmail service between New York and Washington, D.C. Belmont Park was the site of “War Relief Day” in 1940 to benefit the American Red Cross and in 1943 hosted “Back the Attack” Day, wherein fans had to buy a war bond to gain admission to the track. Total receipts that day were between $25 and $30 million. Closed in 1963, the rebuilt Belmont Park grandstand reopened on May 20, 1968. Over the next decade it rocked to the cheers of thousands as Secretariat (1973), Seattle Slew (1977) and Affirmed (1978) joined Sir Barton (1919), Gallant Fox (1930), Omaha (1935), War Admiral (1937), Whirlaway (1941), Count Fleet (1943), Assault (1946), and Citation (1948) as Triple Crown winners. History was made in 2007 when Rags to Riches defeated Curlin to become the first filly in 102 years and one of only three to win the race.
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