Belmont Park receives NTRA safety a week before it hosts third leg of Triple Crown

Belmont Park receives NTRA safety accreditation

NEW YORK — Belmont Park has received safety certification from a newly formed consortium a week before running its signature event the Belmont Stakes.

The National Thoroughbred Racing Association said on Friday that the racetrack has been fully accredited by its Safety and Integrity Alliance following a review of all racing operations.

Kentucky’s Churchill Downs and Keeneland were accredited in April, while Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore received provisional accreditation earlier this month.

The review of Belmont included inspections of the track, and interviews with track executives, jockeys, owners, trainers and stewards.

“Belmont has displayed an uncompromising commitment to the safety of the human and equine athletes who compete on its grounds,” NTRA president Alex Waldrop said.

Another NTRA official said Belmont exceeded the consortium’s stands in such areas as pre- and postrace examinations, injury reporting, equine ambulances and security training.

Saratoga and Aqueduct, New York’s other major tracks, will be inspected later this year.