The Dawg House Sports Bar at Mardi Gras Hollywood Florida Casino has the 2011 Belmont on June 11th. Simulcast wagering starts Friday June 10th.

1. Watch & Wager on the 2011 Belmont Simulcast
at our Hollywood Florida Casino
Some Belmont traditions have lasted through the years, but none match the age of the giant white
pine in the paddock, which is 300 years old and the basis for the Belmont track logo. The
Winners Photo Gallery, on the 2nd floor of the clubhouse in the Belmont Room, boasts the photo
finishes of past Belmont victors dating back to 1912. The Belmont Charity Ball held at
Meadowbrook Country Club is the climax of pre-Belmont celebrations, not to be outdone by a
new institution, the Belmont Festival at Garden City which started in 2004. Also by tradition, the
Belmont Stakes winner wears a blanket of white carnations in the winner's circle. The blanket,
which takes about 10 hours to make, contains 300 to 400 carnations which are glued onto a green
velveteen cloth. A similar blanket done on green felt is draped on the base of the statue of Triple
Crown winner Secretariat in the paddock.
Handicapping the Belmont
Handicapping the Belmont is usually easier than the first two races, although the ability of the
horses to handle extra distance can be tough to gauge. First and foremost, pay attention to the
favorite. The favorite wins at a 44% rate, although odds-on favorites do less well with the last
five losing. The field is usually smaller, from six to ten, and the track is quite wide with huge
sweeping turns, so traffic is usually not a problem. Contrary to popular belief, horses who rally
from far back don’t usually win this race. Instead you want a horse with good tactical speed who
can stalk just off the pace and still have enough stamina to kick in down the lane to win. Pedigree
can be an important factor as well since all the horses will have to go farther than they ever have
before. Having previous Belmont winners in a horse’s pedigree is also a plus. As with the other
two Triple Crown races, handicap the race just like you would any other before you try to apply
any other angles to your selections. Don’t pick a horse just because of pedigree if he has never
shown any ability to win at nine furlongs in the past. Of course you can always just pick by the
name: Out of 138 Belmont Stakes winners, horses with names beginning in "C" have won 20
times while "S" is in second place with 17 victories.

2. New York Race Becomes a Hollywood Florida Event
The Belmont is the final jewel of the Triple Crown series and the longest of them at 1 1/2 miles.
So far only 11 have managed to win all three races, to win “The Test of Champions” and claim
the title of Triple Crown winner. Come watch the 143rd running of the Belmont Stakes with us
and see if your favorite takes home the trophy! Advance wagering is available beginning Friday
June 10th at Mardi Gras Casino in Fort Lauderdale where you can watch and wager on the
simulcast.