YAY!!!!!!!

[DonGuido]

Originally Posted by GenuineRisk

The NYPost gives it a great write-up:

http://nypost.com/2015/06/06/america...orth-the-wait/

Alright so now I just diluted my coffee with a couple tears. Great narration. Thanks for sharing! Off to get a new cup of coffee and try to think of what else I need to do today . . . but the race just keeps getting in my way and that's OK.

[hondo]

Got to watch history and it was moving...brought back the 70s when I started following the sport....too long but worth the wait. Wish I was there but made a decision not to go to Monmouth and bet at home so I got to watch him in on a 65 inch plasma with the surround sound turned up in the "man cave".

[GenuineRisk]

Now I wonder if Breyer Animal Creations will commission a new mold for Pharoah or just reuse the Smarty Jones one.

[hondo]

Originally Posted by GenuineRisk

Now I wonder if Breyer Animal Creations will commission a new mold for Pharoah or just reuse the Smarty Jones one.

I check my email today and it been inundated with American Pharoah memorabilia

[GenuineRisk]

Originally Posted by hondo

I check my email today and it been inundated with American Pharoah memorabilia

I'm totally buying the Christmas ornament. Because you know there will be a Christmas ornament.

[hondo]

Originally Posted by GenuineRisk

I'm totally buying the Christmas ornament. Because you know there will be a Christmas ornament.

I'll probably be right behind you with the Christmas ornament we can go together with my Yankee and Packer ornaments and the ones I have of Secretariat and War Admiral

[GenuineRisk]

I just have to post the last few paragraphs from the NYPost article I linked to earlier in the thread. I've reread it 5 times already today. So gorgeous:

Here they all were, and here was New York City, 90,000 strong, and the instant American Pharoah crossed the finish line — did you channel Gary Cohen — “It. Has. HAPPENED!” — the scene everywhere at Belmont Park was one you’ll remember for a lifetime:
Strangers slapping hands. Strangers exchanging hugs. Fans on every level of the grandstand exiting their seats, taking to the corridors, running wildly, as if *inspired by what they’d seen, emptying their lungs with glee, with joy, with bliss. Some of them weeping, too.
If somehow the Yankees could win the World Series, the Giants the Super Bowl and the Knicks the NBA championship at the same exact time, in the same exact place — well, that’s what it sounded like. If you were there, you’ll remember that sound forever. You’ll remember what you saw. Forever. History as it happened.
The drought is over. That little horse deserved it. And so did you.

[BigBlue]

Just got back from a quick trip .... that was amazing. Besides the obvious of being there on such a historical day, wanted to share a few things.

• Thanks to those who offered advice on navigating the day - followed all of it and had a great experience.
  
• First time at Belmont and I could not have been more impressed. I don't have as much experience as many on this board but I've been to my share of tracks over the last 15 years. Yesterday was one of the most enjoyable that I've ever had.
  
• Every employee at that place, from the security guards to the tellers, to the "Ask Me" guides, to the bartenders ... to a person, they were so polite and helpful - to the point where I'm compelled to write about it. It was that remarkable.
  
• I thought the place was spotless. We were in clubhouse general admission and it was quite nice. Not too crowded. Never waited longer than 30 seconds to place a wager (self service) the entire day.
  
• I don't follow the Belmont broadcast that closely, but I know of Andy Serling primarily through Steve's show. I enjoyed watching Andy and the co-host on the monitors between races - he was so fired up yesterday. The energy was contagious. Thought it was great.
  
• I thought the crowd was great - didn't see anything obnoxious or rude or crude. Just good folks that you would want to hang out with for a day.
  
• We took a cab in to the track in the morning and took the LIRR back to hotel. We stayed until after the last race and waited ZERO minutes to get on the Jamaica/Penn Station train. It was seamless.
  
• And many other things. Honestly, the only negative yesterday was that I left Tommy Macho out of the second leg of the Pick 5. Need to go back and see what I missed.

Anyway, thanks NYRA. Thanks Belmont. Thanks New York. Thanks Pharoah.

That was one great day ... can't wait to return.

[DonGuido]

Originally Posted by BigBlue

Just got back from a quick trip .... that was amazing. Besides the obvious of being there on such a historical day, wanted to share a few things.

• Thanks to those who offered advice on navigating the day - followed all of it and had a great experience.
  
• First time at Belmont and I could not have been more impressed. I don't have as much experience as many on this board but I've been to my share of tracks over the last 15 years. Yesterday was one of the most enjoyable that I've ever had.
  
• Every employee at that place, from the security guards to the tellers, to the "Ask Me" guides, to the bartenders ... to a person, they were so polite and helpful - to the point where I'm compelled to write about it. It was that remarkable.
  
• I thought the place was spotless. We were in clubhouse general admission and it was quite nice. Not too crowded. Never waited longer than 30 seconds to place a wager (self service) the entire day.
  
• I don't follow the Belmont broadcast that closely, but I know of Andy Serling primarily through Steve's show. I enjoyed watching Andy and the co-host on the monitors between races - he was so fired up yesterday. The energy was contagious. Thought it was great.
  
• I thought the crowd was great - didn't see anything obnoxious or rude or crude. Just good folks that you would want to hang out with for a day.
  
• We took a cab in to the track in the morning and took the LIRR back to hotel. We stayed until after the last race and waited ZERO minutes to get on the Jamaica/Penn Station train. It was seamless.
  
• And many other things. Honestly, the only negative yesterday was that I left Tommy Macho out of the second leg of the Pick 5. Need to go back and see what I missed.

Anyway, thanks NYRA. Thanks Belmont. Thanks New York. Thanks Pharoah.

That was one great day ... can't wait to return.

Good for you to have the lasting memory. Sounds like the NYRA and the locals put on their Sunday best. And why not expecting and getting what they were hoping for at last.

[joeydb]

Originally Posted by GenuineRisk

I'm totally buying the Christmas ornament. Because you know there will be a Christmas ornament.

Post it here when you get the ornament link. I will also get one.

[ghartman02]

I don't think I've been that emotional since I heard "He's moving like a tremendous machine". When Seattle Slew won it was kind of ho hum. When Affirmed won, it was exciting because of Alydar, but not take your breath away. AP's win was so great and exciting. IMHO the Derby he shouldn't have won, but he did. The Preakness was his race. The Belmont, to run in 226 in change was amazing. It'll be a moment to be cherished for quite some time.

[hondo]

Originally Posted by GenuineRisk

I'm totally buying the Christmas ornament. Because you know there will be a Christmas ornament.

I'll probably be right behind you with the Christmas ornament we can go together with my Yankee and Packer ornaments and the ones I have of Secretariat and War Admiral

[GenuineRisk]

Originally Posted by hondo

I'll probably be right behind you with the Christmas ornament we can go together with my Yankee and Packer ornaments and the ones I have of Secretariat and War Admiral

I started collecting the Triple Crown series, but Breyer quit making them halfway through. Guess not that much demand for an Omaha ornament.