Lace up those running shoes. The Greater Long Island Running Club is once again joining forces with the Integrated Medical Foundation, The New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA) and the Elmont Chamber of Commerce to stage the fifth annual Belmont Stakes 5K Blue Ribbon Run for Prostate Cancer. The run will be held on Sunday evening, June 5, at Belmont Park, with NYRA’s Sam Grossman (“Sam the Bugler”) calling everyone to the post at 7:15 a.m. Runners and walkers from Syosset-Jericho and all over Long Island are invited to participate.
The run will be the prelude to the 148th running of the Belmont Stakes six days later.
The runners and walkers will traverse a USA Track & Field certified five kilometer course entirely within the grounds of Belmont Park, leading up to an exiting finish at the race track finish line that witnessed the Belmont Stakes triumphs of Secretariat, Seattle Slew, Affirmed, and most recently American Pharoah.
Everyone who enters will receive a top quality shirt to commemorate the occasion. “Win, place and show” awards will be presented to the top male and female overall and masters finishers, as well as the top men and women finishers in each of 17 age groups from 12 and under through 85 plus.
Richie Migliore (“The Mig”), award winning jockey, announcer and fan favorite, will serve as the Grand Marshall of the event once again.
Free admission to the day’s races at Belmont Park for all pre-registered runners. Come early and enjoy a full day of thoroughbred racing before the 5K run. Following the run, all registered runners and walkers are invited to an eclectic post-race spread of goodies in the Belmont Grandstand.
The entire net proceeds of this year benefit the Integrated Medical Foundation and its mission to promote awareness and early detection of prostate cancer as well as support services.
“The Belmont Stakes is thoroughbred racing’s premiere race, and the truest test of champions,” said Vanessa Rodriguez, NYRA’s Community Relations Manager. “The Belmont Stakes 5K has attracted over 500 finishers in each of our first four years, and we have every expectation of increasing that number dramatically in 2016. This will be a real test for all of the champion runners as they make their way to the Belmont Park finish line.”
Register online at www.glirc.org or call the Running Club at 516-349-7646 for hard copy entry forms or more information.
