WESTCHESTER TOPS BELMONT OPENING WEEKEND

Racing returns to Elmont, New York on Friday, with the beginning of the spring/summer meet at Belmont Park. This fine meeting should be as good as its ever been in 2012, with purses swelling to an average well in excess of $600,000 per day. The meet concludes on July 15.

A total of 26 graded races will be held here, eight of those coming in Grade 1 form. There are two monster days planned at this meeting, the first coming on Memorial Day, May 28. The $750,000 Met Mile H. (G1), $400,000 Ogden Phipps H. (G1) and $300,000 Acorn S. (G1) are the top draws. Belmont Day is June 9 with a huge card planned, as always. The $1 million Belmont S. (G1) kicks things off, and is accompanied by the $500,000 Manhattan H. (G1), $500,000 Just A Game S. (G1), $400,000 Woody Stephens S. (G2) and the $400,000 True North H. (G2).

Opening weekend is led by the $150,000 Westchester S. (G3), a one-mile test on the main oval on Saturday