Letter: The stakes at Belmont
Alydar, left, and Affirmed battle in the Belmont Stakes. Affirmed would cross the finish line a head in front of Alydar and earn horse racing's Triple Crown on June 10, 1978. Credit: Newsday / Paul J. Bereswill
Newsday's May 4 edition included an article about the efforts of the Elmont Chamber of Commerce to have Belmont Park serve as a tool for economic development in Elmont ["Belmont plan sought," News]. It also included an editorial suggesting that New York State should take over control of horse racing from the New York Racing Association ["Put NYRA out of business"].
Our organization, the Elmont Chamber of Commerce, and the Integrated Medical Foundation have been partnering with NYRA to stage the inaugural Belmont Stakes Blue Ribbon 5-Kilometer Run on June 3, with the finish line on the track at Belmont. NYRA has been incredibly welcoming and amazingly supportive of this event, which will kick off festivities for the 144th running of the Belmont Stakes six days later, help bring people with money to spend into Elmont, and raise some much-needed funds for the foundation and its battle against prostate cancer.
Have the government take over horse racing? At a time when the advantages of the private sector over the government have never been more clear, why would anyone want to suggest that the government take over another function, when it can't properly manage what it is doing now?
NYRA is pursuing efforts, such as our run, to promote better utilization of Belmont Park and to foster economic revitalization in Elmont. It should be allowed to continue those efforts without any thought of a government takeover.
Michael Polansky, Plainview
Editor's note: The writer is president of the Greater Long Island Running Club.
