A dream matchup between racing’s leading lady, Rachel Alexandra, and the undefeated mare Zenyatta could light up the 2009 Fall Championship Meet should they both accept their invitations to the Grade 1 Beldame on Super Saturday at Belmont Park.

The Beldame, which will be run for the 70th time, is one of five Grade 1 races on Saturday, October 3, the centerpiece of the 33-day Fall Championship meet which begins on Friday, September 11 and runs through Sunday, October 25.

TVG and Betfair, Ltd. have pledged an additional $400,000 to The New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA) to raise the purse to $1 million should Rachel Alexandra and Zenyatta both start in the nine-furlong race, a distance at which they both have captured multiple Grade 1 events.

Rachel Alexandra, owned by Jess Jackson of Jackson Family Wines, electrified the crowd at Saratoga on September 5 as she became the first filly ever to win the prestigious Grade 1, $750,000 Woodward, defeating older males in the process. Record executive and co-founder of A&M Records Jerry Moss owns Zenyatta, named after the album “Zenyatta Mondatta” by The Police, who remains undefeated in 12 career starts and won last year’s Eclipse Award as champion older filly or mare.

Meanwhile, Belmont Stakes winner Summer Bird, who shed his “other bird” status with an emphatic victory in the Shadwell Travers, is headed to the 91st running of the Grade 1, $750,000 Jockey Club Gold Cup Invitational, also on Super Saturday.

Past winners of the prestigious 1¼-mile race include two-time Horse of the Year Curlin, five-time JCGC winner Kelso, Gallant Fox, Whirlaway, Citation, Gallant Man, Sword Dancer, Buckpasser, Damascus, Arts and Letters, Affirmed, John Henry, Easy Goer, and Funny Cide.

Every Saturday at Belmont Park, beginning September 12, NYRA will offer a $350,000 Guaranteed Late Pick 4. The Late Pick 4 is a $1 minimum wager in which the bettor must correctly pick the winners of the last four races on the card, usually beginning with race 7 on Belmont Park Saturdays. By guaranteeing the wager for $350,000, NYRA will supplement the difference if the total wagering pool for the Saturday Late Pick 4 is less than $350,000.

The 2009 Fall Championship Meet will begin on Friday, September 11 with a first-race post of 1 p.m. Closing Day of Belmont Park’s Fall Championship Meet is Sunday, October 25.

OPENING WEEKEND, FRIDAY-SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 11-13

Grandstand admission is free all weekend as Belmont Park’s Fall Championship Meet begins with the featured Grade 3, $150,000 Bowling Green Handicap on Opening Day. A pair of Grade 1’s highlight Saturday’s card, with the $300,000 Garden City and the $300,000 Ruffian, while Sunday’s feature is the $100,000 Ashley T. Cole for New York-breds. First-race post time is 1 p.m. Eastern.

PICK THE PROS AND PONIES KICKS OFF
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 13

The best of two great sporting worlds meet every Sunday during Belmont Park’s Fall Championship Meet with the return of the popular Pick the Pros and Ponies Contest. It’s a free contest, in which contestants must correctly pick the winners of four designated National Football League games as well as the winners of races 3 and 5 on the day’s card for the chance to win a $1,000 prize. Grandstand admission is free on this day.

COLLEGE DAY, PRESENTED BY DIME SAVINGS BANK
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 26

College students vie for their chance to win a $1,000 scholarship or the Dime Savings Bank $2,000 scholarship after each race! With free grandstand admission to college students with a valid I.D., the celebration also includes live music featuring Long Island’s own “Downtown” band, with Dime Savings Bank giveaways in the Paddock Tent in the Belmont Backyard.

NFL FOOTBALL RIVALRY DAY
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 27

Free admission for patrons wearing the colors, caps, jerseys or T-shirts of their favorite New York NFL team. Patrons may also enter for a chance to win tickets to see their favorite New York team in action during the 2009 season. Great game viewing locations will be set up throughout the park.

SUPER SATURDAY
FIVE GRADE 1 STAKES, SATURDAY, OCTOBER 3

Five Grade 1 stakes worth more than $2.4 million is reason enough to come to Belmont Park on this day, highlighted by the potential of a dream matchup between Rachel Alexandra and Zenyatta in the Grade 1 Beldame, and the 91st running of the Grade 1, $750,000 Jockey Club Gold Cup Invitational at 10 furlongs.

Two superior turf races, the Grade 1, $600,000 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic Invitational at 1½ miles and the Grade 1, $600,000 Flower Bowl Invitational for fillies and mares at 10 furlongs will determine the leaders of the pack on the road to the Breeders’ Cup Turf and Filly & Mare Turf races. The Grade 1, $400,000 Vosburgh at six furlongs completes this sensational day of racing.

Pending regulatory approval, a guaranteed All-Grade 1 $500,000 Late Pick 4 will be offered.

FUTURE IS NOW FOR JUVENILES
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 10

Catch a glimpse of the future in the Grade 1, $400,000 Champagne for 2-year-olds and the Grade 1, $400,000 Frizette for 2-year-old fillies, both at a mile. Also on the card is the Grade 2, $300,000 Jamaica Handicap for 3-year-olds at nine furlongs on the turf.

COLUMBUS DAY, MONDAY, OCTOBER 12

Explore the grounds of beautiful Belmont Park and discover a world of excitement on your holiday. It’s the only Monday of the season when Belmont Park is open. Post time at 1 p.m. The $100,000, Grade 3 Pebbles is the main event for three-year-old fillies at a mile on the turf. Reminder: Belmont Park will be closed on Tuesday, October 13 and Wednesday, October 14. Belmont Park will re-open on Thursday, October 15. Post time is 1 p.m.

BREAST CANCER AWARENESS DAY
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 17

The New York Racing Association, Inc. is proud to join forces with the Breast Cancer Awareness Foundation. Activities will focus on aiding the fight against breast cancer.

NEW YORK SHOWCASE DAY
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 24

It has become one of the most popular days at Belmont Park, one devoted exclusively to the New York Thoroughbred Breeding & Racing Program. Featured are seven New York-bred stakes races worth $1 million, highlighted by the $250,000 Empire Classic. Taste the best of New York wineries in the clubhouse, and purchase artwork and products crafted by New York artisans. New York Lottery offers game and fun in the Belmont Park Grandstand and the National Thoroughbred Racing Association and Daily Racing Form will sponsor a morning handicapping seminar on the Clubhouse third floor.

BREAKFAST AT BELMONT
WEEKENDS SEPTEMBER 12-27

The Breakfast at Belmont program provides fans with a behind-the-scenes look at the world of racing by gaining access to otherwise restricted areas of Belmont Park, including a tram tour of Belmont’s remarkable stable area. A kids’ favorite, the starting gate demonstration, gives children an up-close-and-personal look at the starting gate. The Paddock Show is a must-see for racing fans and novices alike as a horse’s daily routine and equipment are explained.

The Breakfast at Belmont program is held every weekend through September. Breakfast is optional and available for a nominal cost.

2009 BELMONT FALL CHAMPIONSHIP MEET (33 days)
Friday, September 11 – Sunday, October 25

QUICK FACTS

SCHEDULE: Thoroughbred horse racing is conducted Wednesdays through Sundays, with a few exceptions. Belmont Park is open Columbus Day, Monday, October 12. Belmont Park will be closed on Tuesday, October 13 and Wednesday, October 14, and will re-open on Thursday, October 15. First race post time is 1 p.m. on all racing days. There is no Party at the Park during Belmont Park’s Fall Championship Meet.

ADMISSION: Grandstand Admission, $2; Clubhouse, $5. Children under 12 are free when accompanied by an adult.

PARKING: General Parking, $2; Preferred, $4; Clubhouse or Valet, $7.

SWITCHBOARD: (516) 488-6000.

NYRA.com: Log on to this site to get updated information on all three New York Racing Association tracks: Belmont Park, Aqueduct and Saratoga.

NYRA STORE ONLINE: Delivery is easy and the prices affordable as the NYRA Store expands the menu to include all the NYRA gear you need. Go to www.nyra.com and click on the NYRA Store link.

NYRA REWARDS: Get paid to play with NYRA Rewards, the wagering program offers cash back just for wagering on the races. Members can earn points through on-track self-service wagering terminals, phone wagering with Telebet, with NYRA REWARDS Internet Wagering and on mobile devices such as Blackberrys or iPhones. Enrollment is free and available only to customers 18 years and older. To sign up or for more information, visit nyra.com, call 1-800-THE-NYRA, or stop by a customer service booth on-track.

DINING: Garden Terrace Restaurant ($3.50 Seating Charge, $10 minimum), fourth floor clubhouse. Belmont Café (Casual Dining), first floor clubhouse, $5 seating charge per table for a TV table.

Food Court – located on third floor (clubhouse and grandstand accessible).

Additional concession stands are located throughout the track.

CORPORATE AND SOCIAL EVENTS: Accommodations for 20 to 500. The Marquee Tent, located adjacent to the Paddock, is the ultimate place to entertain larger groups of clients or associates. Other private areas are also available. Visit www.nyragroupsales.com or call (888) 285-5961.

ATTIRE: Elegant attire has long been a tradition at Belmont Park. Ladies and gentlemen who honor this tradition are always appreciated.

Box Seats: Gentlemen: Suits or sports jackets (tie optional). Ladies: Dresses, skirts or slack outfits. Absolutely no shorts or jeans.

Garden Terrace Restaurant – Neat Casual Attire. Gentlemen: Collared shirts required. Suits or sports jacket optional. No shorts or abbreviated wear permitted. Management reserves the right to use its discretion to determine acceptable attire.

Clubhouse: Proper attire at discretion of management. No abbreviated attire. Gentlemen may not wear tank tops.

HOW TO GET TO BELMONT PARK

By Car From Manhattan: Queens Midtown Tunnel to Long Island Expressway, East to Cross Island Parkway, South to Exit 26D.

From Brooklyn: Belt Parkway, East to Cross Island Parkway, North to Exit 26D, or Brooklyn – Queens Expressway to Long Island Expressway, East to Cross Island Parkway, South to Exit 26D.

From Queens: Grand Central Parkway, East to Cross Island Parkway, South to Exit 26D or Belt Parkway, East to Cross Island Parkway, North to Exit 26D.

From Staten Island: Verrazano Bridge to Belt Parkway, East to Cross Island Parkway, North to Exit 26D.

From Long Island: Northern State Parkway or Long Island Expressway, West to Cross Island Parkway, South to Exit 26D or Southern State Parkway, West to Cross Island Parkway, North to Exit 26D.

From New Jersey: (North) George Washington Bridge to Cross Bronx Expressway to Throgs Neck Bridge to Cross Island Parkway, South to Exit 26D. (South) Any interstate bridge to Staten Island Expressway to Verrazano Bridge to Belt Parkway, East to Cross Island Parkway, North to Exit 26D.

From Connecticut & Westchester: Any route to Throgs Neck Bridge to Cross Island Parkway, South to Exit 26D.

By Subway: Take the F Train to 169th Street or 179th Street, then take the N6 or the Q2 bus to Belmont. Or take the F train to Parsons and Hillside or the E train to Parsons and Archer and transfer to Q110 MTA bus.

By Bus: N6 (MSBA Line) – Operates along Hempstead Turnpike between Hempstead, West Hempstead, Franklin Square, Elmont, Hollis and Jamaica. From Jamaica, the bus starts at Jamaica Bus Terminal (165th Street & 89th Avenue) and runs along Hillside Avenue to Francis Lewis Blvd. To Hempstead Ave. Stops in front of Belmont Park. Connections: Transfer from the “F” Train at either 169th Street or 179th Street stations.

Q110 (MTA Bus) – Service provided every 20 minutes to and from Belmont during racing days, available at Parsons Blvd. and Hillside Ave. and from Parsons Blvd. & Archer Ave., and various locations eastbound on Jamaica Ave and Hempstead Ave in Queens. These buses pick up and discharge at the west end of the track. Connections: Transfer from “F” Train at Parsons & Hillside; Transfer from “E” Train at Parsons & Archer

Q2 (MTA bus) – Originates at Jamaica Bus Terminal (165th Street and 89th Ave) and runs along Hillside Ave to 187th Place to Hollis Ave. and discharges at the west end of the track. Connections: Transfer from “F” Train at 169th Street or 179th Street stations.

RAILROAD: Passengers can board the LIRR “Belmont Special” at Penn Station, Woodside or Jamaica. Residents of Brooklyn, Forest Hills and Kew Gardens can make connections at Jamaica Station.