Belmont on Broadway begins
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. (NEWS10) — After months of prepping and planning, the Belmont Stakes is finally upon us. Outside the racetrack, for the next six days, there'll be no shortage of things to do along Broadway, during what organizers dub Belmont on Broadway.
From concerts by Blues Traveler and Larry Campbell & Teresa Williams to the Belmont Stakes Artists Festival. There will be no shortage of events surrounding the Belmont Stakes.
"This is historic, and we're going to be shining a bright light on this historic destination for the entire world. So we can't be more pleased" said Darryl Leggieri of Discover Saratoga.
This isn’t just an opportunity for the city—“We want people to enjoy the county, but also take the time to explore what's going on” Leggieri continued.
What is there to do? Let Leggieri count the ways: “From heritage tourism, just getting out and recreating in the outdoor pursuits. The Saratoga State Park. The Saratoga Performing Arts Center is featuring a Live Nation concert. Hardy is in town.”
One of the events Leggieri will attend is Embrace the Belmont featuring sportscaster Donna Brothers.
“There are a lot of business professionals and business owners in Saratoga who love the idea of horse racing but they don't necessarily understand it," said Brothers. “What we want people to leave with is not only who they like but why they like that horse and we want to give them tools going forward for when they go to the track on how to pick their own horse" the sportscaster added.
This won't just be horseracing 101. Kim Weir says it will double as a fundraiser for an equine therapy program called Therapeutic Horses of Saratoga benefiting patients like veterans or those battling depression.
“What's really particularly powerful about our model is an individual who comes to us can have a therapeutic experience without having to talk about the traumatic experience that caused those emotions. Horses don't need to hear what happened they can read and feel what happened," said Weir.
Back to Belmont on Broadway, Leggieri hopes tourists run another lap after Belmont.
“We see this as an opportunity to showcase our destination not just for this weekend but we're a year-round destination. And there's something to do 365 days a year here. We want everyone, people to experience that and come back," said Leggieri.
Belmont on Broadway runs through this Sunday, June 9th.