This day in NY sports history

THIS DAY IN NY SPORTS HISTORY

Friday, May 30, 1913

Belmont Park reopens

Racing resumed at Belmont Park after being shut down for almost three years because of anti-betting laws. The New York legislature had passed the Hart-Agnew bill in 1908, which forbade gambling in the state, but horseracing continued through bookmakers finding loopholes in the system. Additional laws put an end to that in 1910. Five years after opening, Belmont Park closed, along with the Sheepshead Bay and Gravesend tracks in Brooklyn. August Belmont decided to reopen the park in 1913 without official betting, and purse money came from Westchester Racing Association stockholders. The following day, more than 30,000 packed the park to witness the first race. One man was arrested for betting.