After War Emblem won the Preakness Stakes I knew if there was nothing else I did during the summer I would go to the Belmont Stakes.  I was so excited at the prospect of witnessing history being made.  A few days before the race I bought train tickets and told Vanessa to buy a fold up chair to bring because it was going to be a long day.  We left Saturday morning with a cooler of beer, cheese, sausage, crackers, flask of Jack, couple chairs and a pocket full of money.  We made it to the track about 12:30 and by the time we set up camp it was time to start making bets for the third race.  I started picking horses using my system and Vanessa picked horses using her's (what names she liked).  I made fun of her until she came back after the 4th race with $189 from a $2 exacta box bet.    The crowds around us didn't seem that bad but the lines to make a bet were at least 20 to 30 minutes.  By the fifth race we had pretty well made our bets for all the races up to the 10th which was the Stakes race.  Then we just sat back and enjoyed a beautiful day waiting for the big race.  

Around 5:30 the build up to the Stakes had started.  When the horses came out on the track and were announced there were a mixture of cheers and boos which Vanessa thought was kind of mean.  I guess she is right, they are just horses.  The horses eventually reached the gate, the crowd was yelling and cheering and then BAM - they were off.  2 1/2 minutes later the crowds were silent.  Not only did War Emblem lose but Sarava a 70-1 long shot won.  Fortuantaly I always put  a couple bucks on the long shot so I won around $20.  The thing is I would have traded in those winnings to see War Emblem win the Triple Crown.  Next year.