Chateau Grande Hotel Owner Celebrates His Racehorse’s Belmont Victory
Rare Public Display of Two World-Prized Horse Racing Trophies: The Haskell Stakes (Thoroughbred Racing) and the Hambletonian (Standardbred Harness Racing)
The Château Grande Hotel, 670 Cranbury Road, East Brunswick, NJ 08816 732.724.4600
Orchard Park by David Burke, an American Brasserie located in the hotel
www.chateaugrandehotel.com info@chateaugrandehotel.com
@chateaugrandehotel
@orchardparkbydavidburke
(MEDIA EVENT - Private July 19, 6:30 p.m. Dinner Who’s Who Meet & Greet - MEDIA Invited to Take Photos & Interview - not open to public.)
Media Contact: Karen J Irvine kjirvine1@gmail.com (732) 216-6335
Attached Photos Credit – NYRA photo/Adam Coglianese
East Brunswick, NJ – Vito Cucci, co-owner of Chateau Grande Hotel - also the owner of numerous other successful hospitality businesses - has a side gig: horseracing. Turns out he’s a winner there too.
His three-year-old, Dornoch, recently won the $2 million Belmont Stakes presented by NYRA Bets at Saratoga Race Course. New Jersey’s horse racing fans can see the “big-hearted” Dornoch race at the upcoming Haskell Stakes at Monmouth Racetrack, Oceanport, Saturday, July 20.
To celebrate his win and show his support for horseracing, Cucci is bringing the legendary Belmont Stakes trophy to the hotel to display from Monday, July 15 to Friday, July 26 from 11 a.m. – 10 p.m. The public is invited to drop in for photo opportunities during that time. (Due to the high interest shown in the trophies, if planning on dining at Orchard Park reservations should be made in advance at (732) 554-5714 or online www.orchardparkbydb.com)
Also on display will be the Hambletonian Trophy, presented by The Hambletonian Society to the winner of the Hambletonian Stake, prestigious second leg of the Trotting Triple Crown, which is scheduled for August 3 at the Meadowlands Racing & Gaming. This perpetual trophy on display is a silver bowl that has been used since 1939. A smaller replica, which the winning owners receive, is crafted by the world-renowned silversmith Ubaldo Vitali of Maplewood, NJ. His work has been presented to the Queen of England, and in numerous exhibitions such as the Smithsonian American Art Museum, the Yale University Art Gallery, and the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston.
Cucci, owner of Belmar Racing and Breeding LLC, also owns Standardbred trotters racing at Freehold Racetrack, the Meadowlands Racetrack and other harness racing tracks. His horse that he bred, Cool Papa Bell, won the Hambletonian in 2022.
In a private dinner at Orchard Park by David Burke Cucci is celebrating the win with his partner in Dornoch, MLB’s World Series winner Jayson Werth, and some of horseracing’s most influential VIPs from New York and New Jersey in a Meet and Greet at the Hotel’s adjoining restaurant Orchard Park by David Burke on Friday, July 19. The dinner is not open to the public. Media is invited to take interviews and photos at 6:30 p.m. Also attending will be two-time Belmont winning jockey Luis Saez and Dornoch’s trainer Danny Gargan; Hall of Fame driver and president of the Hambletonian Society John Campbell, among other horseracing VIPs.
Dornoch’s win took place on June 8, 2024 before a crowd of 50,000. Dornoch captured the Grade 1 Belmont Stakes in a 17-1 upset returning $37.40 for a $2 win wager. The Triple Crown is a series of three races for three-year-olds: Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes and Belmont Stakes. The historic and beautiful acorn-shaped Belmont Stakes Trophy was commissioned by August Belmont Jr. in 1896 in memory of his late father the namesake and founder of Belmont Stakes.
Werth said on the FOX broadcast. “Horse racing is the most underrated sport in the world, bar none. … This is as good as it gets in horse racing; this is as good as it gets in sports.”
“We are all thrilled!” said Cucci. “Jayson Werth is a fantastic ambassador for horseracing.”
The public display of the trophies at Chateau Grande - under strict surveillance - is a rare opportunity for the general public to see them up close off site. Generally, they are kept at the racetracks.
“New Jersey needs horseracing,” explained Cucci. “Scenic farm landscapes of green, productive fields and animals are under constant pressure of development. But farms are important to what makes New Jersey a desirable place to live, work and recreate. The horseracing industry helps to keep open spaces and stabilizes our communities providing a healthy ratio of farms to development. Open spaces should not be looked at as merely potential tax ratables. This view is shortsighted and omits the fact that open space provides cleaner air and a general sense of wellbeing to all, while not requiring expensive services that congested areas need. When farmland is developed, you can’t get it back. Thankfully, Governor Murphy and the state legislators acknowledge the value of the horse racing industry in New Jersey and signed off on the budget, which included the renewal of appropriations for the industry. It definitely helps to strengthen our industry and fosters growth. The number of jobs created by horseracing alone in the state is huge. A state of New Jersey’s size and population could also use a northern casino to help fund the horseracing industry.”
VIPs Meet & Greet Private Dinner July 19 6:30 p.m. Not Open to Public – Media Invited to Attend For Interviews & Photos
John Campbell, Hall of Fame driver and president of the Hambletonian Society and his wife Paula, co-founder of the New Jersey-based Standardbred Retirement Foundation (SRF).
Vito Cucci, co-owner Chateau Grande Hotel and Orchard Park by David Burke, partner in Dornoch and owner of Belmar Racing and Breeding LLC.
Dennis Drazin, CEO Monmouth Racetrack
Danny Gorgan, Trainer of the Belmont’s Winning Horse Dornoch
Jeff Gural, CEO Meadowlands Racetrack, Meadowlands Racing & Entertainment
Luis Saez, Two-Time Belmont Winning Jockey
Jayson Werth, World Series winner, partner in Dornoch
