Within a very surreal, very symbolic Belmont Stakes, as a Crown Jewel Returns Sports

Within a very surreal, very symbolic Belmont Stakes, as a Crown Jewel Returns Sports

The amount is that I will always love the Belmont Stakes. Especially in a year when a Triple Crown is on the line. Some 90,000 fans, of which many New Yorkers lined up in various stages of drunkenness, crammed into the bleachers at the betting window, knocking in the saddling paddock. After more than two Triple Crown letdowns- Big Brown, who won the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes in 2008, but failed, the mile-and-half-a-, California Chrome, to end the Belmont and in 2014, Belmont fourth-bound I was lucky enough to be in 2015 near the railway backstretch when the American pharaoh breaks the 37-year-old Triple Crown drought. I will never forget the 90,000-strong roar laxatives such as American history to gallop Pharaoh. I heard the sound moving through my system. The euphoria could not be further seems this year. In a scene that was as surreal as it was sad the Tiz law won the 152nd Belmont Stakes running on Saturday that this year’s Triple Crown, like the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes, which is considered the first step is usually performed in May were each postponed until September and October. The favorite, Tiz the law won near silence as the race fans were not allowed to participate. Tiz the law will be remembered as the horse who won the first jewelry sporting event in the United States by the crown back COVID-19 shut down the sport. But sitting in the first empty lodges near the surface, surrounded by journalists, officials of the New York Racing Association “bets NYRA” face masks and a sea of ​​empty chairs wear, I could not help, but did not feel watched ones a jewel . As first horse Tiz the law-New York, raised in 1882 has crossed the goal Belmont victory by Forester, he felt a hint of cheers and exhortations. “Yeaahhhhh” jockey Manuel Franco yelled a muffled usually by the roar, audible now strangely. “Way to go Manny,” someone shouted from behind to Franco in the stands as the rider has taken his place in the winner’s circle, a different set who has never heard of a normal second day Belmont. “Thank you, Andy,” Franco yelled. Since the camera crews waiting for a return from the commercial break, Franco and Tiz coach Law, took Barclay Tagg, in awkward silence in the winners circle. Does anyone have the cameraman said: “You know what? It ‘s the way we do a movie” He was right. Message COVID Sport is a video production. I happened to stand straight on set. Tagg, the coach, did not mind the silence (especially after a night he said he had heard the fireworks at 2:00, part of a larger nationwide trend documented level of fireworks randomly use ). “Actually a lot is beautiful,” said Tagg, 82, then in a press conference socially distant winner, for the lack of fans. “I can not complain. I’m not trying to be a jerk about it.” Why is estimated else? “Because when they are all there, Your horse is very nervous,” said Tagg. do “Most of them. Those who run a little ‘maybe better not as usual that day. But it’s just great to see the excitement for a change. You work and work and work on these horses, then take it to bring it in Saturday afternoon and it feels like everything is falling apart because they all scream and yell and stuff. “Tiz the law was clearly stunned and could Tagg competitor Triple Crown; It came heartbreakingly close drought Triple Crowd in 2003 with Funny Cide to finish third at Belmont Place. Tiz the law more than up to the hype he lived up to, in the third session for most of the 1 1/8 mile race-Belmont is generally 1.5 miles before the final whistle off three straight and winning three lengths quarters. “This guy makes it easy,” said Tagg. “It is, okay, go ‘.” This is the first major sporting event in America’s village on the border of New York City took place, the COVID-19, has been decimated with more than 17,000 deaths from the disease that is missed by anyone. It is a satisfying psychological benefit for the city and state. Belmont also reported as major sporting events will change gradually from the back corona arrest. Empty seats. A group of jockeys had a protest systemic racism knee (expected a stronger second wave of activism athletes) outlet. Sports coverage also will develop. The container of Belmont Park rickety press, where journalists from around the country typically shoulder to shoulder on Saturday Triple Crown, had about a dozen of us sitting comfortably apart at a distance of more than six meters. They are usually within 5 hours of post time to grab a place today, with NYRA body wants to keep to an absolute minimum on the track, I had my table. A valet took my temperature before I was allowed into the plant. Normally we walk around the barn area for a couple of hours before the race, sneezing and wheezing on the street (I’m allergic to horses). Pago in the barn of the Triple Crown hopeful special sense: you can not try to get a few hours a feeling of riding attitude before the race. (A crazy contract for an allergic layman like me, really.) Sometimes a pilot trainer or exercise caused some quotes offer. In most cases you are standing only sweating under the June sun around. It ‘s still well worth it. Then, emerges as the horse from the stable and trotting pair Saddle and then through the tunnel on the track, a crush of reporters generally follows behind, sometimes they appear in the background of TV images. You need to keep up crowds of revelers slither through. Not facing today. A press representative told me to stay out of the barn on. Just watch the race from a viewing area or stay in the printer box. We do not give reporters the television program Pop and the impression that we are foreigners abandoned hang around in a pandemic. I respect and understand precaution. However, such restrictions may take longer than we would like. I can not imagine that we go back to a day when the journalists crowding dozens deep, in, say, throwing a question NBA locker for LeBron James. Before the pandemic, it was unlikely that such practices were arguing in the best interest of public health, we can perhaps get Reporters sick and germ-y crowd around one of the most valuable athletes in the world, to ask him how he felt in third Quarter. That is never a ton of sense before COVID. because after COVID, go back? The media can not bring more athletes close to the audience, still possible. But safety first. At the very least, the temperature control for the media at the stadium, arena, and monitored as it seems to be implemented in perpetuity. At least I felt quite familiar today. During the trip from my home in the Bronx, I got stuck in traffic Saturday afternoon Long Island. It was beautiful people travel back and forth to see, after all these weeks of quarantine? Somehow. But I thought I was going to Belmont Breeze: I popped a little ‘to admit feeling irritable another New Yorker stuck on the Grand Central Parkway. I think I will take this dose of normality, but a way to get it.
Picture copyright by Al Bello Getty Images