TurfPublicists: BELMONTSTAKES.COM GEARS UP FOR TRIPLE CROWN CHASE

Friday, April 23, 2010

Contact: Dan Silver

BELMONTSTAKES.COM GEARS UP FOR TRIPLE CROWN CHASE

ELMONT, N.Y. – BelmontStakes.com, the award-nominated website launched last year by The New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA), has been given a fresh look, along with a new addition to the blogging team, to get racing fans ready for the 2010 Triple Crown chase.

The website, named a finalist in the Best Website category at the 2009 American Gaming Association’s Communications Awards, has been updated with the 2010 Belmont Stakes logo and a number of new photos of Summer Bird, winner of last year’s Belmont Stakes.

Another addition for this year is the talented Ernie Munick, who joins a stable of bloggers comprised of Teresa Genaro, creator of the Brooklyn Backstretch blog and a contributor to the Saratogian, NYRA Senior Media Specialist Jenny Kellner, an award winning journalist and educator, and NYRA Racing Analyst Andy Serling, known for his brash demeanor and bold predictions.

Munick was a handicapper/writer/oddsmaker for the New York Daily News from 1986 to 1989, a frequent guest on Thoroughbred Action with Harvey Pack, and continues to contribute his special brand of insight to the racing industry in myriad ways. He was the official video blogger for the 2009 Breeders' Cup Championships at Santa Anita, and entertains fans by playing music and talking horses at Belmont Park, Saratoga Race Course, and Gulfstream Park. He is also the creator and ongoing creative force of Thoroughbred Racing in New York (TRNY) on Facebook, a popular group with some of the biggest names in the business. Munick’s racing video page can be found online at http://tinyurl.com/y8pjmnl.

New multimedia elements on BelmontStakes.com for the launch include a video interview with trainer Kiaran McLaughlin in which he reflects on winning the 2006 Belmont Stakes with Jazil, and two new podcasts, featuring jockeys John Velazquez, who will ride probable Kentucky Derby favorite Eskendereya, and Rajiv Maragh, who rode in his first Belmont Stakes last year.

Designed by Americaneagle.com and maintained by NYRA, BelmontStakes.com offers visitors a plethora of great Belmont Stakes content, including videos, podcasts, photo galleries, news, race day information, a section dedicated to the race’s history, and special content from the Daily Racing Form. The website will also allow fans to sign up for the Belmont Stakes Prize Package, offering the chance to win tickets, hotel, and airfare to the Belmont Stakes.

About Americaneagle.com

Founded in 1978, Americaneagle.com is an industry leader in total turnkey online solutions, including website design, development, hosting and marketing - essentially a one-stop shop offering a full range of solutions for anyone looking to succeed in their online endeavors. They have completed more than 5,000 projects for nearly every type and size of organization, in nearly every industry, including small businesses, start-ups, Fortune 500 companies, professional sports leagues and teams, and major retailers.

About The New York Racing Association, Inc.

Founded in 1955, and franchised to run thoroughbred racing at New York’s three major tracks through 2033, NYRA boasts a lineage that actually stretches back almost 150 years. NYRA tracks are the cornerstone of the state’s thoroughbred business which contributes more than $2 billion annually to New York State’s urban, suburban and rural economy. In 2009, more than 1.6 million people attended the live races at NYRA tracks. Factoring nationwide off-track wagering, the average daily betting handle on NYRA races alone totals more than $9.3 million every race day. NYRA has a vast network of websites, including www.nyra.com, www.belmontstakes.com, and www.nyragroupsales.com.

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