June 20, 2023
A jubilant crowd of 70 alumni and friends gathered to celebrate St. John’s Day at Belmont Stakes, attending the historic Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing at the invitation of the Office of Alumni Relations on Saturday, June 10, at Belmont Park in Elmont, NY.
“This was a special time for the University to host a group at a Triple Crown race and the turnout was amazing,” said Paul Lazauskas ’01CCPS ’08MBA, Associate Director for Alumni Relations at St. John’s University and principal organizer of the event. “Along with thousands of others in attendance, we were able to witness a tremendous race.”
The contest was also a historic one, as Jena Antonucci became the first female trainer to win a Triple Crown race. Javier Castellano rode the winning thoroughbred, Arcangelo. In addition, the event marked the 50th anniversary of legendary racehorse Secretariat’s clinching victory for the Triple Crown.
Tickets for St. John’s attendees included access to all-day races, with reserved seating areas near the final turn before the finish line, as well as a $30 food and beverage credit to enjoy throughout the day. A giveaway of a commemorative, jockey-themed shirt was available to all participants.
Several attendees indicated they were pleased with the University’s goal of inviting alumni to the Belmont Stakes as a way to further engage Johnnies from the New York metropolitan area.
“It was a beautiful day to spend with fellow alumni,” said Vincent J. Accardi ’05CCPS. “St. John’s Office of Alumni Relations made it so easy to get the tickets, and we had great seats to see the horse race.”
“The exciting events, the wide variety of food we were offered and, most importantly, great company, made the day very memorable,” said Maryanne Horan Twomey ’89CBA, ’95MBA.
The Office of Alumni Relations invites alumni to attend the Long Island Ducks game on July 12 and the Summer Concert on August 8.