Belmont on Broadway concert closes out Day 1 of Belmont racing festival
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- Day 1 of the second Belmont Stakes in Saratoga Springs is officially in the books. Thousands made it into the Spa City on Wednesday for the kick-off to the Belmont racing festival.
After a day at the Saratoga Race Course, fans were treated to a free concert on Broadway with Grammy-winning band Gin Blossoms.
“We’re really excited, and we’re here to see the Gin Blossoms, which is really exciting," Sophia Edwards said. "I’ve never seen it so packed here, and the streets are actually closed off."
This year, the show was brought by High Peaks Canna.
"We’ve been discussing this event with the city starting back in February and then landed on the band," Roger Sharp with High Peaks Canna explained.
The crowds loved the concert, and the businesses loved the crowds. At Hatsationals' Haberdashery, they had a front row seat.
"It's the kickoff to the Belmont, and even though we made history last year, we are doing it again this year," owner Joyce Locks said. “I mean, Belmont at Saratoga, you need hats. Last year, we couldn’t keep white-on-white in stock. I was making like nine of them a day."
With the crowd, safety is of utmost concern. Tim Coll is the public safety commissioner.
“We have the FBI and New York State Homeland Security provide the security briefing to our business owners," he explained. "Over the last month or so, every single week, we’ve had meetings with between 15 and 20 agencies that we work with. Our local partners are great -- New York State Police, Saratoga County Sheriff, Park Police. You’ll see the counter snipers on the roofs. You’ll see our bomb detection dogs up and down Broadway."
Post time for the $2 million stakes is 7:04 p.m. on Saturday, June 7 at the Saratoga Race Course.