The New York Racing Association and The Jockey Club have announced that, for the first time, tickets for the June 9 Belmont Stakes Charity Celebration can be purchased online at https://www.tjcis.com/grayson/BelEventTickets.asp.

Tickets for the event are $150 per person and proceeds will benefit Grayson-Jockey Club Research Foundation and the Backstretch Employee Services Team.

The Belmont Stakes Charity Celebration, to be held in the Astor Hall section of the landmark New York Public Library’s Stephen A. Schwarzman Building, will be catered by renowned restaurateur Danny Meyer’s Union Square Events. Musical entertainment will be provided by Spank, the popular New York City-based a cappella doo-wop quartet.

Attendees will also have the opportunity to view the New York Public Library’s new exhibition “Celebrating 100 Years,” which features 250 artifacts spanning thousands of years and representing the worlds of literature, dance, social activism, invention, exploration, religion, history and other intellectual disciplines and creative pursuits.

“The Belmont Stakes Charity Celebration is always one of the most popular events leading up to the Belmont Stakes,” said Nancy Kelly, vice president of development for the Grayson-Jockey Club Research Foundation. “With the unique venue this year, we are expecting a large turnout and we encourage those who plan to attend to order their tickets now through our new online ticketing site or by contacting us.”

Additional information about the Belmont Stakes Charity Celebration is available by contacting Kelly at (212) 521-5305 or nkelly@jockeyclub.com.

The 143rd running of the $1 million Belmont Stakes will be Saturday, June 11, and will be televised by NBC Sports.

Grayson-Jockey Club Research Foundation is traditionally the nation’s leading source of private funding for equine medical research that benefits all breeds of horses. In 2011, the foundation is allocating $841,023 for 17 research projects that address a broad spectrum of issues, including piroplasmosis, laminitis and laryngeal neuropathy (roaring). Since 1983, the foundation has provided $18 million for 279 specific projects at 40 universities. Additional information about the foundation is available at grayson-jockeyclub.org.

The Backstretch Employee Services Team (B.E.S.T.) provides a full range of health and human services to support the workers in the Belmont Park, Aqueduct and Saratoga barn areas, helping them to lead healthy and full lives. Primary, preventive and urgent health care services are provided free of charge at a year-round clinic at Belmont and seasonal clinic at Saratoga. B.E.S.T. also provides assistance, advice and training on financial, vocational, educational and legal matters. Additional information about B.E.S.T. is available at bestbackstretch.com.