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A sign that was hung from the front of the grandstand by Funny Cide fans.

• Belmont Stakes Results • Miscellaneous Belmont Photos • Belmont Stakes Records Set • Undercard Stakes Results • Acorn Stakes Results

Miscellaneous Belmont Weekend Photos

Date: 06/07/03

As beautiful as the weather was for Friday and the Acorn Stakes, you could not have imagined how ugly the weather would get on Saturday for the Belmont Stakes! Even so, 101,864 fans packed into Belmont Park hoping to see Funny Cide win the Triple Crown. It seemed even more crowded than that since most tried to stay indoors or at least under cover until it was time for the big race.

Here are some photos from the weekend to help give a sense of the atmosphere at Belmont. If you want to know what the weather was like, take a cold shower in your clothes and you will have an idea. :-)

Everyone was pulling for Funny Cide to win. Here is a collection of signs and a "good luck" flower wreath from the side of his barn at Belmont.

The Kids to the Cup were at Belmont and had a race named for them on Friday. Here they are with their signs to cheer on Funny Cide.

Funny Cide t-shirts in several designs were everywhere on Saturday as fans took any cover they could to try and keep dry.

The All-Star Buglers were back again this year for the calls to the post on Saturday.

A view of the crowded grandstand and the apron full of umbrellas across the sloppy track on Saturday afternoon. You can see the Funny Cide sign shown top in the middle of this photo.

One of the races on Saturday was an ungraded stakes named for the last Triple Crown winner, Affirmed. In the winner's circle for the trophy presentation were his owner Mrs. Patrice Wolfson (in pink), his jockey Steve Cauthen (far right), and Larry Barrera, son of his trainer Laz Barrera and his assistant during Affirmed's career (next to Cauthen).

This year they were celebrating the 25th anniversary of the Affirmed vs. Alydar Triple Crown series. As part of this there was a special poster by Celeste Suzany and you could get it autographed by the original jockeys of Affirmed and Alydar, Steve Cauthen and Jorge Velasquez.

Harlem Jazz and Music Festival trumpet solist Joey Morant performed the national anthem and joined the All-Star Buglers for the call to the post for the first race.

One of the squirrels from the Belmont backside barn area. I'm sure he is happier now that all the extra people have left.

Triple Crown quick links:

• 2003 Belmont Results - Empire Maker played the spoiler for Funny Cide as the two duelled for much of the race before Empire Maker took the lead and won by 3/4 of a length over Ten Most Wanted while Funny Cide faded to third. NEW!
• Belmont Undercard Stakes Results - Denon wins the Manhattan Handicap and Posse takes the Riva Ridge. Get the results, charts, and photos for all four of the other graded stakes on Belmont Day. NEW!
• Belmont Stakes Records - A record handle was set for the Belmont desite the miserable weather as well as a North American record for handle on race with a six horse field. NEW!
• 2003 Acorn Stakes Results - Favorite Storm Flag Flying finishes a disappointing 5th while Kentucky Oaks winner Bird Town wins over Lady Tak. Photos, results, and charts here! NEW!
• 2003 Preakness Results - Funny Cide runs away with it by 9 3/4 lengths. Get the results, charts, and lots of photos here.
• Kentucky Derby Results - New York bred gelding Funny Cide upsets while Frankel's Empire Maker and Peace Rules run second and third. Results, charts, and photos for all the Derby day stakes here.
• Free Past Performances from DRF
• Triple Crown Trivia Quiz - test your knowledge of the Derby, Preakness, and Belmont and compete with others.
• Triple Crown Trail prep race schedule with results
• NYRA Belmont Coverage - special site with the latest news, contenders, history, and more.
• Blood Horse Triple Crown Mania
• Daily Racing Form Belmont Special
• Thoroughbred Times Triple Crown special
• Belmont Link Index - lots more info about the Belmont
• Triple Crown Index - the master list with even more info

Back to 2003 Triple Crown index
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