Even Account Betting Service Serving 'Lemonade'

Support for Alex's Lemonade Stand continued to grow June 3 with the announcement that more racetracks in North America--even an account wagering service--had committed to host stands June 11, the day of the Belmont Stakes (gr. I).

AmericaTab, the Ohio-based account wagering service with a hub in Oregon, will allow customers to donate to the charity June 8-11. Alex's Lemonade Stand, which raises funds to fight pediatric cancer, was first introduced in connection with Cash Is King Stable's Afleet Alex, winner of the Preakness Stakes (gr. I) and an expected starter in the Belmont.

More than $1.8 million has been raised for the cause.

AmericaTab will accept contributions through WinTicket.com, BetHarness.com, BetBarn66.com, WatchandWager.com, TSNbet.com, Brisbet.com, Thoroughbets.com, MyRaceBet.com, and Hippodromenalinea.com, all of which fall under its umbrella.

"There has been a lot of stuff going on, and a lot of racetracks are doing it," said Mike Weiss, general manager of Beulah Park and AmericaTab. "We've got another racetrack without the bricks and mortar. We will be donating 100% of all money raised on behalf of our customers. In addition, AmericaTab itself will make a donation."

AmericaTab-affiliated Web sites will provide customers access to make donations. A real-time running total also will be available. Beulah Park will have an on-site Lemonade Stand.

The Thoroughbred Racing Associations, meanwhile, announced that more than 30 tracks would have stands June 11.

The latest tracks to sign on are Woodbine in Canada, Charles Town Races & Slots in West Virginia, Golden Gate Fields in California, Emerald Downs in Washington, and Suffolk Downs in Massachusetts.

Support of the charity also has spread to Puerto Rico, where El Comandante Racetrack in Canovanas will host a lemonade stand June 26, the day of its San Juan Classic, the third leg of Puerto Rico's Triple Crown.

The TRA is a non-profit organization of 43 racing associations in the United States and Canada whose combined handle represents more than 75%of the $16 billion wagered annually on North American Thoroughbred racing.