Belmont celebrates 100th anniversary

Belmont will begin its 60-day meet Wednesday  (Harold Roth/Horsephotos.com)

Belmont Park, arguably the most important racetrack in the history of

American racing, celebrates its 100th anniversary on Wednesday.

The track first opened for business on May 4, 1905, with members of the

Westchester Racing Association entering through four stone pillars that had

served as the entrance of the Washington Course of the South Carolina Jockey

Club in Charleston, South Carolina, from 1792 to 1882. Races were run clockwise

on five different tracks, finishing behind the century-old Manice Mansion,

which later became the home of the Turf and Field Club.

The New York Racing Association bought out the Westchester Racing

Association, owners of Belmont Park, in 1955 when they also purchased Aqueduct

from the Queens County Jockey Club, Jamaica from the Metropolitan Jockey Club,

and Saratoga from the Saratoga Racing Association.

For its centennial opening, Belmont Park will feature the $100,000

Westchester H. (G3), and race calls by an all-star lineup of former and current

announcers, including Marshall Cassidy, Tom Durkin, John Dooley, John Imbriale

and Larry Collmus.

Perhaps the most significant change for 2005 will be the introduction of Race

Day Security Barns, to which all horses must report at least

six hours prior to their scheduled race.