
3 minute read
Belmont wins big before race
Continued from Page 10
The Belmont Stakes, the oldest leg of thoroughbred racing’s triple crown along with the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes, moved to Elmont in 1905. The inaugural running took place in 1867 at Jerome Park Racetrack in the current-day Bronx. Belmont was also the scene for Secretariat’s 31-length victory in 1973 to secure the triple crown and in 2015 when American Pharaoh ended the 37-year drought, which began in 1978 after Affirmed.
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Apart from the race itself, fans can take part in the Belmont Stakes Racing Festival, which is headlined by a pre-race performance from Diplo, a three-time Grammy Award-winning artist.
The three-day festival beginning Thursday, June 8 will also include performances throughout the grounds from the “Mike Fox Trio”, “Black Tie Brass” and “Street Beat Brass.” dia will ask him for proof that he truly suffers from the condition he claims to be afflicted with at some point.” which provides first responders at ground zero with health care for certain conditions, does not include neuropathy in its coverage.
To celebrate the 50th anniversary of Secretariat’s triple crown sweep, a traveling exhibition will come to Belmont titled “A Tremendous Machine” in reference to announcer Chic Andersen’s call of the Belmont Stakes.
“We look forward to celebrating the accomplishments and career of Secretariat throughout the weekend,” McKenna said.
Weinstock, a lawyer who ran in the Democratic primary for the 3rd Congressional District in 2020, received assistance from embattled U.S. Rep. George Santos, the district’s current representative.
Santos, Weinstock said, invited him to the State of the Union address in February where he made his case to have neuropathy included in the World Trade Center Health program, which to date is still not.
Coincidentally, Santos had lied about his mother’s alleged “experience” during the Sept. 11 attacks, which was later unearthed by the New York Times.
Weinstock said he did not vote for Santos in the 2022 election in which he defeated Democrat Robert Zimmerman, but expressed his gratitude for Santos’ desire to aid him in his quest to have neuropathy included as a covered condition.
The former congressional candidate said he received several calls from Santos inquiring about his mental and physical state after a 2021 injury that resulted in the realization of his condition.
“He told me most friendships in politics are transactional, but that he would be devastated if anything happened to you,” Weinstock said of Santos’ calls to him.
“‘Promise me that if you’re ever feeling suicidal that you will call me before anything’, he told me.”
Weinstock spoke on the high suicide rate from the condition due to the ongoing pain individuals endure on a daily basis and the lack of a true cure for it.
While photographic evidence shows Weinstock at ground zero, even shaking hands with former Presidential candidate and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, disputes about his involvement on Sept. 11 have become another battle for Weinstock.
Philip Katz, an attorney and the president of Great Neck Vigilant Fire Company, said Weinstock was not present at ground zero as a member of the Vigilant Fire Company.
Weinstock had filed a lawsuit against Katz and Vigilant’s Benevolent Association for defamation, but said he had to suspend the lawsuit due to his health.
Speaking of Weinstock’s condition, Katz told Blank Slate Media in an email, “I wish him well. This being said, I hope that someone in the me-
Weinstock, a member of Vigilant from 199020021, said, “Katz felt emboldened to damage my reputation because I am an openly gay man and he doesn’t want the firehouse to be associated with an openly gay person.”
Dr. Bryan Weissman, a former Vigilant firefighter and chairman of the Vigilant board, said in a statement that “The claim that Michael was not at ground zero is unacceptable and the photographs reflect the truth.”
Former Vigilant Chief Andy DeMartin, in a statement, said “I think it’s just bad business for the fire company, the organization should be above the fray. He was there. You can’t just erase somebody being there.”
Despite being in the eye of the storm from the physical and financial situation, Weinstock described himself as “blessed” because of his network of friends and his experience as a litigator. Not everyone in his situation can feel the same way, he said.
More than $8,000 has been raised on a GoFundMe for Weinstock.
The former firefighter thanked everyone who has donated for their support and urged others to learn more about his condition by visiting: https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-a911-firefighter-walk-again.









