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NEW YORK -- Martin Panza celebrated California Chromes charge to Preakness Stakes victory three weeks ago like most fans at the packed Pimlico Race Course -- bumping fists, slapping hands and thinking ahead to Saturday and the possibility of the first Triple Crown winner in 36 years. And then Belmont Parks director of racing operations thought about everything else: the tens of thousands of additional people who show up for the Belmont Stakes whenever a horse has a chance at history; the millions more in expected wagers; and the need for more of everything, from seating, concessions to bathrooms, security and about 1,000 additional workers. You can watch the Belmont Stakes on TSN this Saturday, with coverage beginning at 2:30pm et/11:30am pt. Local officials and business leaders celebrated too, seeing the race and the added interest of a Triple Crown contender as a boon of sold-out hotel rooms, dinners out and free publicity, so long as the writers and broadcasters were aware the track is actually on Long Island, as NBCs Bob Costas noted Wednesday, and not in New York City. If California Chrome triumphs, it will happen on Panzas turf -- or rather, his dirt -- at an marquee New York-area event that the tracks new management team reimagined earlier this year as a fusion of sports and entertainment worth attending even when the Triple Crown is not on the line. They have filled the undercard with high-stakes races, increased the days total purse to $8 million -- the second-richest day in American horse racing behind the final slate of the Breeders Cup -- and surrounded the action with music from rapper and actor LL Cool J, former New York Yankees centre fielder Bernie Williams and Frank Sinatra Jr. singing "New York, New York." "For the first year of us doing this, under this new format, its not going to get any better than this," Panza said in an interview near his track office, which was filled with boxes of Belmont Stakes caps and bags of other race souvenirs. "From our end, what we need to do now is observe how the day goes and see what we can do for next year, always thinking that there could be another Triple Crown on the line." California Chrome is the 12th horse to reach Long Island with wins in the first two legs of the Triple Crown, the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness Stakes, since Affirmed won all three in 1978. Attendance for those 11 races averaged nearly 30,000 more than in years without a contender -- going from a low of 37,171 in 1995 when Thunder Gulch and Timber Country split the Derby and the Preakness, to a record 120,139 in 2004 when Birdstone upset Smarty Jones in the last of a three-year stretch of Triple Crown contenders in the Belmont Stakes. On-site wagering on the race-day program also surged in those years, according to track records, jumping from $6.8 million in contender-less 1996 to $9.2 million the following year when Silver Charm took the first two races, and from $8.8 million in contender-less 2007 to $13.3 million when Big Brown raced for history in 2008. Ill Have Anothers wins in Louisville and Baltimore sent attendance for the 2012 Belmont Stakes to nearly 86,000 and on-site wagering to $13.8 million even though the horse was withdrawn the day before the race due to a leg injury. The head of the tracks management team said ticket sales for this years Belmont Stakes, with its emphasis on high-level racing and daylong entertainment, were already brisk before California Chrome broke from the gate at Churchill Downs in May. More than 70 per cent of tickets and premium tables for the race were sold before the Derby and all were gone before the Preakness, according to New York Racing Association president and chief executive officer Christopher Kay. After the Preakness, Kay said, they added a trackside tent and additional seating to accommodate the surge of interest in a potential California Chrome coronation. General admission and grandstand tickets costing $10 remained available through the track late in the week and more than 3,000 tickets, ranging from $12 for grandstand to $2,300 for a table for two at the Garden Terrace Restaurant, were available on the secondary ticket sales website StubHub.com. Good weather -- 82 degrees and sunny, according to the National Weather Service -- could push the crowd into record territory. "Our intent is to make Belmont Stakes day an important day year in and year out," Kay said. This year it has been an important day -- and week -- for business. The largest hotel on Long Island, a Marriott with more than 600 rooms in Uniondale, and the ornate Garden City Hotel -- where management said all of the owners, trainers and jockeys in the Belmont Stakes were staying and where the menu includes a cocktail named for each horse -- have sold out under race-related demand. Other hotels were also booked solid, officials said, forcing some out-of-town fans to find lodging in Suffolk County, about 20 miles east, or stay in Manhattan, about 15 miles west. "This Triple Crown opportunity doesnt come too often," state hotel association chairman John Tsunis said. "But, whoever wins in the race, the real winners will be Long Island and New York State." Kieran Trippier England Jersey . It was my fifth straight year attending and, as always, there are many interesting matters discussed as it pertains to the use of statistics in sports. Phil Jones England Jersey .com) - Wayne Simmonds, Scott Laughton and Jakub Voracek each posted a goal and an assist as the Philadelphia Flyers thumped the Carolina Hurricanes, 5-1, on Saturday. http://www.englandsoccerpro.com/Gary-Cahill-England-Jersey/ .Y. - Everyone expected Clayton Kershaw to pitch a shutout, and he did — a unanimous choice for the NL Cy Young Award. Danny Rose England Jersey . -- The Los Angeles Angels have agreed to a minor league contract with reliever Brandon Lyon that includes an invitation to their big league camp for spring training. David Beckham Jersey . -- The Atlanta Braves are facing the possibility of losing another pitcher for the season after general manager Frank Wren said Saturday that Cory Gearrin has a serious injury to his right elbow.ANAHEIM, Calif. -- Andrew Cogliano already never leaves the Ducks lineup, and the speedy forwards new contract extension will keep him in Anaheim for four more years. Cogliano agreed to a $12 million extension through the 2017-18 season with the Ducks on Saturday. Cogliano is on pace for the best season of his NHL career with 13 goals, 12 assists and a plus-16 rating in 43 games, but the durable playmaker had no interest in testing the free agent market this summer at the risk of disrupting a good situation in Anaheim. "Im really happy it came together," Cogliano said in a phone interview. "Coming into this year, my goal was to play good enough to get an extension. There was never an idea I wanted to get into free agency and hit a home run." Usually playing on a line with fellow veterans Saku Koivu and Daniel Winnik, Cogliano has provided speed and secondary scoring for the Pacific Division leaders during their 30-8-5 start. Their line also gets the checking assignment against most opponents top scorers. "Its pretty obvious I have a great situation here," said Cogliano, who has scored four goals in the Ducks last five games. "I play on a line with two guys that complement me, two guys that are veteran guys, and if it wasnt for them, I dont know if Id be in this situation." The Ducks also know they can count on Cogliano: He has played in 501 straight games since the start of his NHL career with Edmonton in October 2007. Just five players in NHL history have played in 500 straight games to start their career, and Coglianoo is the first to do it since Doug Jarvis, who played from 1975-88.dddddddddddd. Cogliano has the NHLs third-longest active streak of consecutive games played behind St. Louis Jay Bouwmeester (676) and Vancouvers Henrik Sedin (671). The Ducks acquired Cogliano from the Oilers in July 2011 for a second-round draft pick, and he has acknowledged motivation from Edmontons decision to give up a former first-round selection. Cogliano has 74 points in 173 career games with Anaheim after scoring on a breakaway in the Ducks 5-2 win over the Oilers on Friday night. Cogliano, who is making $2.67 million this season, appears to be a good value for Anaheim at $3 million per season over the next four years, particularly now that his hands have begun to match his speed. Always known as a fleet-footed forward who lacked a world-class finishing touch, Cogliano is on pace for a 25-goal season while providing his usual help with forechecking and two-way play. "I think the number is fair," Cogliano said. "This season I think Ive made great steps, and the number is where it needs to be in terms of market value, and Im really happy it came together." The Ducks decisions on long-term contract extensions for their core players have worked out exceptionally well lately. Star forwards Ryan Getzlaf and Corey Perry have been outstanding in the first seasons of two eight-year extensions worth a combined $135 million, while defenceman Cam Fowler has matured into a U.S. Olympic team member in the first season of his five-year, $20 million deal. Cheap Jerseys China NFL Jerseys China NFL Jerseys Wholesale Discount Basketball Jerseys Cheap NHL Jerseys Authentic Cheap Baseball Jerseys Free Shipping Cheapest College Jerseys Sale Cheap Football Jerseys China Nike NFL Jerseys Canada Wholesale NHL Jerseys From China MLB Jerseys Outlet Canada Wholesale NBA Jerseys Canada Store Cheap Soccer Jerseys China Cheap Authentic Jerseys Canada ' ' '