Of all of the Triple Crown races, the Belmont Stakes is the oldest, but is the most often ignored. Part of the reason can be blamed on the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness. For the most part, if there isn't a chance of a horse winning the Triple Crown, most people won't watch, nor care. 2009 was an exception since Calvin Borel had the chance to become the first jockey Triple Crown winner by riding different horses. He rode Mine That Bird in the Kentucky Derby to victory, and at the Preakness, rode Rachel Alexander to the win. He returned to the mount on Mine That Bird for the Belmont, but unfortunately, only garnered third place. Belmont Race Track was established in 1905, but the first Belmont Stakes occurred in 1867 and was won by a filly, Ruthless. The Official Drink of the Belmont Stakes, the Belmont Breeze was introduced in 1998, and was concocted by Dale DeGroff. It replaced the White Carnation as the Belmont beverage.http://www.nyra.com/Belmont/Stakes/Belmont.html

BELMONT BREEZE

• Original recipe by Dale DeGroff
• 1½ oz. Jack Daniel’s or Seagram's 7
• ¾ oz. Harvey’s Bristol Cream Sherry
• ½ oz. Fresh Lemon Juice
• 1 oz. Simple Syrup
• 1 ½ oz. Fresh Orange juice
• 1 ½ oz. Cranberry juice
• Equal Amounts of 7UP and Soda

Shake all ingredients with ice and top with half 7UP and half soda, approximately one ounce of each. Garnish with fresh strawberry and a mint sprig and a lemon piece.http://horseracing.about.com/od/triplecrown2000/r/belbreeze.htm

If you're more of a traditionalist, you may want to serve your guests White Carnations. The drink was replaced by the Belmont Breeze primarily because the dash of cream added to the vodka concoction tended to curdle. http://www.barrypopik.com/index.php/new_york_city/entry/belmont_breeze_official_drink_of_the_belmont_stakes/

White Carnation

• 2 oz Vodka
• 1/2 oz Peach Schnapps
• 1 splash Cream
• 2 oz Orange Juice
• Soda Water

Preparation:

• Pour the vodka, schnapps and orange juice into a mixing glass filled with ice.
• Stir well.
• Strain into a highball glass filled with ice.
• Top with soda water and a splash of cream.
• Garnish with an orange slice.http://cocktails.about.com/od/vodkadrinkrecipes/r/white_carnation.htm

Prepare the "Belmont Breeze" the day before and keep it refrigerated, and add the Strawberry, mint sprig, and lemon when serving. For the "White Carnation", don't add the cream or soda if you're preparing it in advance. Serve the cream, soda, and orange slices individually. Your shopping list will be determined by the drink you choose, but to help in your calculations:

• A Fifth of alcohol equals approximately 26 oz
• 750ml bottle of Harvey's Bristol Cream equals approximately 26 oz.
• 750ml bottle of Peach Schnapps equals approximately 26 oz.
• 1/2 gallon equals 64 oz.

In the Belmont Breeze you'll use twice as much whiskey as the Bristol Cream

For the "White Carnation, you'll use four times as much vodka as the Peach Schnapps.

Either drink can then be placed in a punch bowl, served over ice, with the garnishes either arranged around the bowl, or served on the side.