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 I'll Have Another cbefore his retirement ceremony | |
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There are lots of other things to see at Belmont besides the racing. Here are some miscellaneous or interesting photos for you to enjoy. Click the small photo too see a larger version.
 A PETA activist snuck into the winner's circle after the Belmont Stakes and held up a sign saying "BAN HORSE DOPERS". She was quickly removed and arrested. The incident never made it to television and only a few people in or close to the winner's circle noticed. |
 A view of the finish of the race from farther up the stretch. John Velazquez aboard Union Rags (inside) said, "I made the decision, he's going to come out. He's going to hit left-handed, he's going to have to come out. I engaged my horse to get into the spot. The spot was not open yet. I had to have him ready for it. When the hole opened up a little bit, he got through and he put a good fight."
Mike Smith aboard Paynter said, "Both horses rode their hearts out. It's just hard on me. I just blame myself for the end there. Otherwise I thought I rode great." |
  There was a retirement ceremony for I'll Have Another in the winner's circle just after the Manhattan Handicap. He was brought in the paddock and saddled, then walked through the tunnel and down Victory Lane to the winner's circle. | |
 
Unfortunately they also brought Lava Man with him and he was quite unruly and made it very difficult to get a shot of I'll Have Another. They put Mario Gutierrez aboard for the photos and these are the best we could get.
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 Trainer Doug O'Neill unsaddles I'll Have Another after the retirement ceremony while Lava Man looks on. O'Neill said, "He's had an incredible run. In any sport you have to stay injury free. Unfortunately he came up with a slight injury. Could we have run him? Yes. But would that have been the right move? No. I was proud of the whole team. It was unanimous in not running him. It's been such an unbelievable run. He's a once in a lifetime horse. We're just focused on all the great part of this journey he took us through." | |
 Early in the day, jockey Mario Gutierrez was presented a plaque by Carlos M. Sada, the consul general for Mexico based in New York, commemorating his wins in the Kentucky Derby and Preakness aboard I'll Have Another. Mario said, "He's the one that brought us here. We have to take care of him. If it wasn't for him, I wouldn't be here. He's given this to me. I've got the Kentucky Derby. I got the Preakness. No one can take it away. It will stay with me the rest of my life, thanks to I'll Have Another. He made that possible." | |
  The flower blanket and bouquets for the winner and the trophies before the race. | |
  The crowded grandstand as seen from the infield before the Just a Game Stakes (G1). You can see the sign on the right about halfway down the stands. It says. "The Martin Party since 1974 saw Slew admired Affirmed and now we say I'll ^not Have Another". Obviously the "not" was a last minute change. | |
 Mario Gutierrez and J. Paul Reddam in the paddock before the Woody Stephens Stakes (G2). Unfortunately their horse, Brian, finished last. |
 A little fan of I'll Have Another shows off his outfit before the Manhattan Handicap. |
 Actor John Ortiz who played horse trainer Turo Escalante in the TV series "Luck" was in the paddock on both Friday and Saturday. |
 Harvey Von Toast (AKA Holly Von Voast) the naked paparazzo was right on the rail in the paddock for the Belmont Stakes to shock the fans. Please note before you click that the larger version is not censored.
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 A young fan adjusts her fancy hat in the paddock before the Woody Stephens Stakes. She was wearing a sash that said "Miss South New York". |
 The Celebrity Queen was there again this year decked out in her finery. |
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