Belmont News and Notes

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On Thursday morning, 10 of Belmont Park's regular jockeys will visit the Ronald McDonald House in New Hyde Park, N.Y. Among the group will be Jose Santos, who will ride Funny Cide in Saturday's Belmont Stakes (gr. I), and Jerry Bailey, who has the mount on the second choice in the field, Empire Maker.

"This is a good thing we do for the community and ourselves," said Bailey. "It brings some joy to the kids that are there for some less-than-pleasant reasons. It breaks up their day and takes our minds off racing for a little while.

Other jockeys expected to make the trip are Edgar Prado, Aaron Gryder, Javier Castellano, Jorge Chavez, Mike Luzzi, Shaun Bridgmohan, Heberto Castillo Jr., and Pablo Fragoso.

On Friday afternoon, Steve Cauthen will ring the closing bell at the New York Stock Exchange. Cauthen is the last rider to win a Triple Crown. He piloted Affirmed to victories in the Kentucky Derby (gr. I), Preakness Stakes (gr. I), and Belmont Stakes (gr. I) in 1978.

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