Forbidden Apple (foaled May 31, 1995) is an American Thoroughbred racehorse and the winner of the 2001 Manhattan Handicap .
54-471: Forbidden Apple's first race was on July 24, 1998 at Belmont Park , where he came in seventh. The colt's first win came on September 13, 1998 in a Maiden Special Weight race at Belmont Park. On the same track he then won an Allowance event on October 25, 1998. It would not be until September 16, 2000, that Forbidden Apple won his first graded stakes race, when he took the mile and one-eighth Belmont Breeder's Cup Handicap . He then picked up another graded win in
108-428: A 1975 match race. Ruffian broke down during the race and had to be euthanized. She was buried near the finish line in the infield at Belmont Park, her nose pointed towards the finish pole, from 1975 until 2023. The following Graded events were held at Belmont Park in 2022. Grade I Joseph E. Widener Joseph Early Widener (August 19, 1871 – October 26, 1943) was a wealthy American art collector who
162-467: A circumference of 1 + 3 ⁄ 16 miles (1.9 km) plus 103 feet (31 m). On the Main Track, it is 1,097 feet (334 m) from the top of the stretch to the finish line, and the segment between the wire and the start of the first (clubhouse) turn covers 843 feet (257 m); this latter segment is shorter by approximately 165 feet (50 m) on both of the turf courses, in order to accommodate
216-686: A good part of most winters. That same year, he purchased a controlling interest in the Miami Jockey Club and in 1931 renovated Hialeah Park . Hailed as one of the most beautiful Thoroughbred race tracks in the world, in 1979 Hialeah Park was listed on the United States National Register of Historic Places . Major races here were the Widener Handicap inaugurated in 1936, and the Flamingo Stakes , an important stepping stone to
270-488: A nearly year-round race track when the New York Racing Association lease for all three of New York State's tracks expired at the end of 2007. Belmont's stands would have been heated, additional barns built for Aqueduct's 400 horses, and the track modified to accommodate winter racing. In addition, video lottery machines would have been introduced. A new entity would have operated Belmont from fall to spring while
324-653: A number of donations from his assorted collections including manuscripts of historical and artistic importance given to the Rare Book Department at the Free Library of Philadelphia . However, his most important philanthropic endeavor was as a founding benefactor of the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C. Widener's 1939 donation of a vast collection was announced by U. S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt at
378-983: A place in fashionable Paris . In addition to racing horses in the United States, Widener also kept a stable of Thoroughbreds in France. Competing in French grass racing, his horses won the 1923 and 1926 editions of the Prix La Rochette and the 1923, 1924, and 1937 runnings of the Prix d'Aumale . Widener also owned English Hackney horses who competed at various shows. On March 27, 1894 Widener married Eleanor ″Ella″ Holmes Pancoast (1874–1929) with whom he had two children: Widener raised his family at Lynnewood Hall , his father's 110-room Georgian-style mansion in Elkins Park, Pennsylvania . Designed by Horace Trumbauer and Jacques Greber ,
432-443: A record attendance of 120,139 was on hand to see if Smarty Jones would be the first Triple Crown winner since 1978. American Pharoah won the 2015 Belmont Stakes on June 6, and became the first Triple Crown winner in 37 years. It was announced before the race that attendance would be capped at 90,000. That year's Kentucky Derby and Preakness both set attendance records, over 170,000 and 130,000 respectively. In addition to
486-572: A steeplechase course operated by United Hunts until 1927. The last race at the old Belmont Park was run in October 1962. In addition to racing history, Belmont Park made history in another industry native to the Hempstead Plains – aviation . Some 150,000 people were drawn to the track on October 30, 1910, at the climax of a Wright Brothers -staged International Aviation Meet at Belmont Park , which had started eight years earlier. The event came at
540-425: A total attendance capacity of more than 100,000, including a seating capacity of 33,000 and an adjoining backyard being able to accommodate more than 10,000. A long mural by Pierre Bellocq on the second floor of the clubhouse featuring the dominant jockeys, trainers and racing personalities celebrates the track's history. The final day of racing at the second Belmont Park was held on July 9, 2023. Demolition on
594-474: A world record for 1 + 1 ⁄ 2 miles (2.4 km) on dirt, a world record which still stands. The 31-length victory clinched the first Triple Crown in 25 years, dating back to Citation in 1948 . A statue of Secretariat is in the center of the Belmont paddock. Another Belmont Stakes achievement is recognized by the "Woody's Corner" display that was located in the first-floor clubhouse lobby, commemorating
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#1733105865354648-513: Is 1 mile (1.6 km) in circumference and abuts the east end of the main track. In March 2009, lights were added to the training track as a safety measure to prevent early morning workouts from occurring in the dark. The racetrack, grandstand, training, and barn facilities are located entirely in the community of Elmont in Nassau County, New York . According to the City of New York's own map portal,
702-624: Is typically open for racing from late April through mid-July (known as the Spring meet), and again from mid-September through late October (the Fall meet). The race park's main dirt track has earned the nickname, "the Big Sandy", given its prominent overall dimensions ( 1 + 1 ⁄ 2 miles (2.4 km)) and the deep, sometimes tiring surface. Belmont is also sometimes known as "The Championship Track" because almost every major champion in racing history since
756-671: The Belmont Derby , Belmont Oaks , Manhattan Handicap , Just A Game Handicap , Bowling Green Handicap , Man O' War Stakes , Flower Bowl Invitational Stakes and the Joe Hirsch Turf Classic Invitational . Belmont's Fall Championship meet includes New York Showcase Day in late October, with seven stakes races for New York-bred horses. The richest race on that program is the $ 250,000 Empire Classic Handicap . Other memorable performances in Belmont Park history include
810-657: The Bernard Baruch Handicap , Arlington Million , Kelso Handicap and the Breeders' Cup Mile won by Val Royal . Forbidden Apple finished his career on January 25, 2003 with a third-place finish in the 2003 Barretts/CTBA Turf Stakes . In 2014, the New York Racing Association (NYRA) inaugurated a one mile stakes race on turf at Belmont Park in Forbidden Apple's honor. Open to horses age four and older,
864-516: The Kentucky Derby for 3-year-old horses. Following Widener's death, ownership of the facility changed hands several times and after running into financial difficulties it closed in 2001. Widener added to the extensive and valuable art collection he had inherited from his father. His collection included a dozen or more works by Rembrandt as well as those by Johannes Vermeer , Édouard Manet , Pierre-Auguste Renoir and others. In 1939, Widener made
918-679: The Long Island Rail Road station on the property, the ramp between the grandstand and the train station, and some of the adjoining parking fields straddle the Queens County line. Belmont Park has direct on- and off-ramps to the Cross Island Parkway , which runs north–south and is just to the west of the park. Belmont Park's physical address is given as 2150 Hempstead Turnpike ( New York State Route 24 ). The Belmont Park property originally totaled some 650 acres (260 ha). After
972-742: The Main Track and nicknamed "Big Sandy" by racing followers, has a circumference of 1 + 1 ⁄ 2 miles (2.4 km), the longest dirt thoroughbred racetrack in North America. Immediately inside of this is the Widener Turf Course (named after the Widener family that has a long and prestigious history in American horse racing) spanning 1 + 5 ⁄ 16 miles (2.1 km) plus 27 feet (8.2 m), which in turn encircles an Inner Turf Course with
1026-1027: The RMS Titanic . Widener attended Harvard College , and for a short time studied architecture at the University of Pennsylvania . Widener used his great wealth to pursue his interest in Thoroughbred horse racing on a large scale. Not only did he become an owner of a large stable of racehorses, Widener acquired the Elmendorf Farm in Lexington, Kentucky and the Belmont Park racetrack in New York, plus he built Hialeah Park racetrack in Miami, Florida. In 1901, Widener began purchasing Thoroughbred horses to compete in both flat racing and steeplechase events. He hired future U.S. Racing Hall of Fame horse trainer J. Howard Lewis. For
1080-604: The broodmare Mahubah , the parents of Man o' War . He also purchased a son of Fair Play named Chance Shot who would go on to win the 1927 Belmont Stakes and following the 1929 death of Fair Play would become Elmendorf Farm's leading sire. Widener had a life-size statue of Fair Play erected by his grave at Elmendorf Farm. As part of the selloff of the August Belmont Jr. estate, in 1925 Widener also acquired majority control of Belmont Park in Elmont, New York and would serve as
1134-527: The 1927 Belmont Stakes, Widener's racing stable won the race two more times with Hurryoff in 1933 and with a son of Chance Shot in 1934 named Peace Chance . He also had five horses compete in the Kentucky Derby with his best finishes a second place earned by Osmand in 1927 and by Brevity in 1936. Widener's father had had business interests in France and like other wealthy elite Americans of that era, maintained
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#17331058653541188-427: The 1956 season, the construction of a wider bus road beyond the main course's final turn forced the turn to be shortened. According to the Belmont publication commemorating the track's 1968 reopening, that move cut 96 feet (29 m) off its circumference. The current layout has the entire racing course inside Nassau County. The Belmont Stakes was named after financier and sportsman August Belmont Sr. , who helped fund
1242-399: The 1970s and 1980s, included a dramatic come-from-behind win by Forego in the 1976 installment. Officials of the New York Racing Association made a concerted effort to boost attendance on Belmont Stakes Day after the 1995 installment drew only 37,171. The 2000 and 2001 Belmonts—both run when there was no Triple Crown on the line—drew announced crowds of 67,810 and 73,857. In 2004 ,
1296-522: The 2024 demolition. The Belmont Stakes races have been run at Belmont Park since 1905, with the exceptions of 1911–12, when gambling was banned in New York State; the 1963–67 editions, held at Aqueduct while the grandstands at Belmont Park were reconstructed; and the 2024 edition, which was held at Saratoga Race Course due to the second reconstruction of Belmont Park. Secretariat 's finishing time in his 1973 Belmont victory (2 minutes, 24 seconds) set
1350-828: The Belmont Stakes, other major races held at Belmont have included the Jockey Club Gold Cup , the Suburban Handicap and the Memorial Day standby—the Metropolitan Handicap , also known as the "Met Mile." An important race for fillies, the Acorn Stakes , which is the first leg of the US Triple Tiara , is raced at the track year. All of the above races are contested on dirt; notable turf (grass) races include
1404-718: The Islanders project had won approval to be built. In July 2019, the plan was adopted by the Empire State Development Corporation board, and UBS Arena opened in time for the 2021-22 NHL season . The plan also included a new Elmont station on the LIRR, in addition to the hotel, arena, and retail village. In May 2007, New York Governor Eliot Spitzer considered closing Aqueduct Racetrack located ten miles west of Belmont in Ozone Park, New York , and turning Belmont into
1458-515: The New York Racing Association would continue to operate Saratoga Race Course in the summer. Spitzer was forced to resign amid a prostitution scandal in March 2008 and no further plans for Belmont were developed at that time. In December 2022, the New York Racing Association formally announced its intention to upgrade the facilities at Belmont to make it suitable to host year-round thoroughbred racing and training. Unlike Churchill and Pimlico , neither
1512-514: The Widener Chute. It was a straightaway of just under 7 furlongs (1.4 km) that cut diagonally through Belmont's training and main tracks, hitting near the quarter-pole of the main track; the course was removed in 1958. Two features of the original Belmont Park remain today. The first is the display of four stone pillars on Hempstead Turnpike , a gift from the mayor and park commissioners of Charleston, South Carolina . The pillars had stood at
1566-413: The beginning of a period from 1910 to 1912 in which racing was outlawed in New York State. Eight years later, Belmont and aviation were reunited when the racetrack served as the northern point of the first U.S. air mail route, between the New York area and Washington, D.C. The following spring, NYRA Chairman James Cox Brady announced that two separate engineering surveys found the grandstand/clubhouse
1620-458: The closure of nearby Aqueduct Racetrack . The 430-acre (170 ha) racing, training and barn complex is located on the western edge of the Nassau County region known as the Hempstead Plains. Just a few miles (kilometers) east on the same plains, the first racing meet in North America was held in 1665, supervised by colonial governor Richard Nicolls. The dirt racecourse, known officially as
1674-475: The early 20th century has competed on the racecourse – including all of the Triple Crown winners. Belmont hosted its largest crowd at the 2004 Belmont Stakes , when 120,139 spectators saw Smarty Jones upset by Birdstone in his Triple Crown bid. August Belmont Jr. and William Collins Whitney , along with other investors, built the original Belmont race track, which opened on May 4, 1905. Arthur Underhill
Forbidden Apple - Misplaced Pages Continue
1728-622: The entrance of the Washington Course of the South Carolina Jockey Club in Charleston, which operated from 1792 to 1882. The stone pillars are now found at the clubhouse entrance. Lesser known but more visible are the racing motif iron railings seen partially bordering the walking ring. The railings, used as decoration on the south side of the old Belmont grandstand, were salvaged during the 1963 demolition. The original Belmont Park
1782-650: The event's first winner was the colt Sayaad, owned by the Shadwell Stable . In 2019 the Forbidden Apple Stakes was given Grade 3 status and transferred to Saratoga Race Course . In 2023 the event was renamed to the Kelso Stakes. Belmont Park Belmont Park is a thoroughbred horse racetrack in Elmont, New York , just east of New York City limits best known for hosting the Belmont Stakes ,
1836-470: The final leg of the American Triple Crown . It was opened on May 4, 1905, and is one of the best well known racetracks in the United States. The original structure was demolished in 1963, and a second facility opened in 1968. The second structure was demolished in 2023, and a third version of Belmont Park is expected to open in 2026. Operated by the New York Racing Association (NYRA), Belmont Park
1890-476: The first nor second iterations of Belmont Park allowed spectators into the infield. An infield tunnel connecting to the backstretch parking lot has been completed. Beginning in April 2023 construction of a one-mile synthetic racing oval inside the inner turf course had begun. The next phase of reconstruction, scheduled to begin after the 2023 spring and summer meet, includes completion of the synthetic track, widening of
1944-589: The five consecutive Belmont Stakes winners trained by Woody Stephens from 1982 to 1986. The racetrack was also the site of Affirmed 's epic stretch duel with Alydar in the 1978 Belmont Stakes , a victory that gave Affirmed the Triple Crown; and Triple Crown winner Seattle Slew 's defeat of Affirmed in the Marlboro Cup in September of that same year. The Marlboro, a key event of the Fall Championship meets in
1998-468: The headquarters of Belmont's Turf and Field Club. The new grandstand was built from 1964 to 1968. The Inner Turf Course was also added during this time period. The Belmont race meetings were moved to Aqueduct Racetrack in South Ozone Park , Queens from 1963 to 1968. The $ 30.7 million grandstand, designed by Arthur Froehlich , was opened May 20, 1968, and was the largest in Thoroughbred racing. It had
2052-436: The inner turf course, and construction of a second infield tunnel near the first turn. NYRA released a statement on May 1, 2023, announcing that state funding for the grandstand reconstruction and other projects had been secured by way of a $ 455 million loan. To accommodate construction, NYRA moved the Belmont fall meet to Aqueduct in 2022, 2023, and 2024. The 2024 Belmont Stakes were moved to Saratoga Race Course , due to
2106-597: The land into their own stadiums. The Islanders proposed an 18,000 seat sports arena , 435,000 square feet (40,400 m ) for retail development, a 225-room hotel, and a 10,000 sq ft (930 m ) community center, while NYCFC's pledge included a 26,000 seat soccer ground, 400,000 sq ft (37,000 m ) for retail, a 5.2-acre (2.1 ha) community park, and 2-acre (0.81 ha) soccer complex: both proposals were fully privately funded and included improved parking and LIRR facilities as well. On December 20, 2017, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo announced that
2160-533: The mansion, along with its extensive and important art collection, was part of the huge fortune he inherited. In poor health for several years, Widener died at his Lynnewood Hall estate in 1943 and was interred in the Widener family mausoleum, Section K, Lot 338 at Laurel Hill Cemetery in Philadelphia. In 1930, Widener built a 40,000-square-foot (3,700 m ) mansion in Palm Beach, Florida . where he would spend
2214-733: The next four decades, they combined to race fourteen champions, two in flat racing and twelve in steeplechase. Widener's steeplechase horses won numerous important races including three editions of the American Grand National with Relluf (1914), Arc Light (1929), and Bushranger (1936). His steeplechasers Bushranger and Fairmount were both elected to the U.S. Racing Hall of Fame. Following the death of August Belmont Jr. , Widener and friends W. Averell Harriman and George Herbert Walker purchased much of Belmont's Thoroughbred breeding stock. For his Elmendorf Farm breeding operation, Widener acquired Belmont's very important sire Fair Play and
Forbidden Apple - Misplaced Pages Continue
2268-524: The one mile Kelso Handicap on October 8, 2000. Forbidden Apple earned the biggest win of his career when he won the June 9, 2001 Manhattan Handicap at Belmont Park. He then got what turned out to be his last win on October 6, 2001 with a victory in Belmont's Kelso Handicap for the second time. On June 8, 2002, Forbidden Apple attempted to defend his Manhattan Handicap title but finished second to Beat Hollow . He placed multiple times in 2002, coming close in
2322-519: The opening of the track in 1905 with the famous dead heat between Sysonby and Race King in the Met Cap . In 1923, Belmont Park was host to an international duel between the American and English champions: Zev , winner of the Kentucky Derby , against Papyrus, winner of The Derby . Zev won by five lengths in front of an estimated crowd of 70,000. Belmont Park was the site of the tragedy-marred victory of Foolish Pleasure over champion filly Ruffian in
2376-496: The race track's president until 1939 when failing health necessitated his stepping down. In 1930, he imported the stallion Sickle from Lord Derby in England who came to visit the U.S. that year and was Widener's guest at the 1930 Kentucky Derby . A son of the very important sire Phalaris , Sickle would produce 45 Graded stakes race winners and be the leading sire in North America in 1936 and 1938. Following Chance Shot's win in
2430-448: The race, and most sources say the racetrack itself was also named for him. The race was first run in 1867 at Jerome Park Racetrack in the Bronx. In 1937, the wrought iron gates that bore an illustration of that first Belmont Stakes were donated to Belmont Park by August Belmont II's sole surviving son, Perry Belmont. The gates were located on the fourth floor of Belmont Park's clubhouse until
2484-399: The renovations, and the 2025 Belmont Stakes are planned for Saratoga as well. As of July 2024, the second Belmont Park is completely demolished with reconstruction planned until September 2026. The new grandstand, when finished, would likely result in the track hosting the Breeders' Cup for the first time since 2005. Ultimately, sometime in late 2026, the project will ultimately lead to
2538-567: The second Belmont Park began in March 2024 and was completed in June 2024. In July 2017, New York State officials announced that vacant parking lots behind the Belmont grandstand had been put to tender for two area top-level professional sports teams: the New York Islanders , an NHL ice hockey team; and New York City FC , an MLS soccer team. Both teams were unhappy with their current locations (the Islanders at Barclays Center ; New York City FC at Yankee Stadium ) and proposed to redevelop
2592-438: The training track, permitting races of up to a mile and a quarter but was shortened because a crossover is now infeasible given the clay base of the Main Track and stone-dust base of the training track. Before the 1990 Breeders' Cup, the outer rail of the Main Track was moved back to widen the middle of the clubhouse turn and soften the angle of the start of the 1 + 1 ⁄ 4 miles (2.0 km) Classic . The training track
2646-614: The two chutes that exist on the Widener Turf Course, from which turf races of 1 mile (1.6 km) and 1 + 1 ⁄ 16 miles (1.7 km) are started; an additional chute exists for races of 1 + 1 ⁄ 16 miles (1.7 km) on the Inner Turf Course. A straightaway chute leads on to the backstretch of the Main Track and permits races on the dirt up to 1 + 1 ⁄ 8 miles (1.8 km) long to be run with one turn. The chute used to extend further back across
2700-608: Was a founding benefactor of the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C. A major figure in thoroughbred horse racing , he was head of New York 's Belmont Park and builder of Miami 's Hialeah Park racetrack in Florida. Widener was born in Philadelphia , the third and only surviving son of the extremely wealthy transportation and real estate magnate Peter A. B. Widener (1834–1915) and Hannah Josephine Dunton (1836–1896). His older brother George Dunton Widener died on
2754-409: Was hired as Engineer and Landscape Architect to design and oversee construction of the park. In its first 15 or so years, Belmont Park featured racing clockwise, in the "English fashion"—allowing the upper-class members of the racing association and their guests to have the races finish in front of the clubhouse, just to the west of the grandstand. A "field stand," at what was then the top of the stretch,
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#17331058653542808-485: Was located east of the grandstand. The original finish line was located at the top of the present-day homestretch. In his 1925 book, "The Big Town", Ring W. Lardner refers to the then-recent directional change when he has a character at Belmont say (speaking of a recent race) "At that time, they run the wrong way of the track, like you would deal cards". A later innovation was created by Joseph E. Widener , who took over track leadership when August Belmont II died in 1924:
2862-500: Was not only unprecedented in its size but also had the then-new innovation of a Long Island Rail Road extension from the Queens Village station, running along the property, tunneling under Hempstead Turnpike , then terminating on the south side of the property. The train terminal was moved to its present location north of the turnpike after the 1956 season. Near the railroad terminal was yet another track—Belmont Park Terminal,
2916-482: Was unsafe due to age-induced structural defects and needed to be rebuilt. The book Belmont Park: A Century of Champions noted the comment of NYRA President Edward T. Dickinson: "When you sighted down the stands, you could see some of the beams were twisted. They were in something of an S-shape." The old structure was demolished in 1963, along with the Manice Mansion, the turreted 19th-century homestead that served as
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