| Contact: | Sunny Mindel/Mathew Higgins (212) 788-2958 |
| Bernadette O'Leary (212)312-3523 (EDC) |
Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani announced today that the anticipation of the first Triple Crown winner in 21 years at this year's Belmont Stakes will almost double the economic impact of the race. The City is projecting that $13.1 million in direct, indirect and induced spending will be added to the City's economy as a result of the entry of a possible Triple Crown winner. The City typically receives about $6.3 million in expenditures as a result of the Belmont Stakes events each year.
Charismatic, the three-year-old thoroughbred winner of this year's Kentucky Derby and the Preakness Stakes, will be racing tomorrow for the Triple Crown at the Belmont Stakes - the third leg of the horseracing world's royal trifecta.
"Not since Affirmed won the Triple Crown in 1978, has Belmont Raceway seen such excitement," said Mayor Giuliani. "For the third year in a row racing fans around the world will be watching the Belmont Stakes in hopes of witnessing the first Triple Crown in 21 years. As a result of Charismatic's potential Triple Crown, it is estimated that 25,000 more racing fans will attend tomorrow's races and the races will generate more than $6 million in economic activity for New York City and further solidify our position as The Sports Capital of The World."
With Charismatic racing for the Triple Crown, the one and a half-mile race is expected to draw 80,000 people, adding an additional 25,000 spectators to the typical non-Triple Crown year crowd. This is the 131st Belmont Stakes and, to date, only 11 horses have earned the Triple Crown. Since Real Quiet in 1998 and Silver Charm in 1997, Charismatic is the 24th horse to enter the Belmont Stakes with a shot at the Triple Crown.