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Dear Friends,
It has been a busy and joy-filled few weeks at Belmont and Saratoga, and as we look forward to today’s Belmont Stakes, we pause to celebrate and thank you, our faithful supporters. Your generosity makes possible the essential programming we provide to the entire backstretch community and their families across all three NYRA tracks as well as the Saratoga farming community. You will see many of these activities in the accompanying photos below.
At the NY Chaplaincy the Belmont Stakes are being celebrated both in Saratoga and on Long Island, as we don’t forget those who did not make the trip to Saratoga. The backstretch community came together for a lively and spirited soccer tournament in Saratoga, while in Elmont, we partnered with NYRA to host a tournament for local student-athletes, building both teamwork and camaraderie.
At Belmont Park, we held a special barbecue for the backstretch community in combination with our weekly food pantry. It was a wonderful time of fellowship, good food, and shared pride in the race that brings national attention to our industry and the hardworking people behind the scenes.
We extend a heartfelt thank you to Tractor Supply for their generous support including discounted flowers that made our Mother’s Day celebration last month so special, beautiful donations for the flower beds outside the Saratoga Rec Hall, and abundant clothing contributions that were gratefully received by our backstretch and farming communities.
Thank you to Perry Road Baptist Church and Pastor Dave Worcester, along with the Saratoga Regional Young Men’s Christian Association including Garrett Bernardo of Novus Clothing Company, creator of thousands of Saratoga shirts every year, for hosting a fabulous Preakness Party for the Saratoga backstretch.
We were honored to attend the New York Thoroughbred Breeders (NYTB) Annual Awards Ceremony, recognizing excellence in New York-bred horse racing. Our gratitude to board member Najja Thompson, Executive Director of NYTB, for hosting us, and to our Executive Board Members Michelle Borisenok and Ramón Dominguez, our partner Tracy Egan, Executive Director of NY Breds, as well as former Board President Elliott Walden, for representing the Chaplaincy both locally and nationally at this meaningful event.
We also wrapped up the spring session of our sewing classes, where participants celebrated their final class with pride and joy. It has been beautiful to witness how much the ladies have enjoyed learning a new skill and connecting with one another in a warm, creative environment.
Our Teen Mentoring Program visited Crossroads Farm in Malverne for an enriching and memorable day. Students explored composting, sampled fresh honey, crafted seed balls, and even planted fig trees. Your support makes experiences like these possible and helps us nurture the next generation with care and hope.
With love and gratitude,
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