by Paul Post

Belmont Park’s familiar blue starting gate will spring open this Saturday morning, but not at the track.

Instead, the Elmont, New York, track's gate will be used to kick off the Village of Floral Park’s Centennial Parade, one of many community events included in the 2008 Belmont Stakes Festival.

This year’s 140th running of the $1 million Belmont Stakes is scheduled for June 7 and the festival leading up to it will feature the Budweiser Clydesdales, a 5K run, street fairs, live music, and charity balls.

Belmont’s huge stainless steel starting gate also will be used to promote other activities such as Elmont Family Field Day at the Dutch Broadway Elementary School on Saturday, May 31, and the Garden City Belmont Festival on June 6.

The festival surrounds the third leg of Thoroughbred racing’s Triple Crown. The 1 1/2-mile Belmont Stakes is the oldest and longest of the three races.

As part of its new 25-year franchise, the New York Racing Association has made a commitment to develop better community relations surrounding each of its tracks—Belmont Park, Aqueduct, and Saratoga Race Course. The Belmont festival provides a destination for tourists that benefits the New York City-Long Island area and provides entertainment for local communities as well.

Other scheduled events include:

* Simply the B.E.S.T Dinner Dance on May 28 at the Hempstead House in Sands Point, New York. The Backstretch Employee Service Team (B.E.S.T.) is dedicated to helping backstretch workers at each NYRA track.

* The Elmont Community Council Belmont Stakes Festival at the track on June 1.

* The Floral Park Youth Council 5K Run on June 1.

* The Garden City Chamber of Commerce Belmont Stakes Festival kick-off reception in Garden City on June 3.

* The Rags to Riches Belmont Park Casino Night on June 5 at Meadowbrook Point.

* The Floral Park Belmont Festival along Tulip Avenue on June 6.

The Belmont Stakes will bring four hours of national television coverage to the area on ABC and ESPN. General admission is $10 with children under 12 admitted free.