NEW YORK -- Martin Panza celebrated California Chromes charge to Preakness Stakes victory three weeks ago like most fans at the packed Pimlico Race Course -- bumping fists, slapping hands and thinking ahead to Saturday and the possibility of the first Triple Crown winner in 36 years. And then Belmont Parks director of racing operations thought about everything else: the tens of thousands of additional people who show up for the Belmont Stakes whenever a horse has a chance at history; the millions more in expected wagers; and the need for more of everything, from seating, concessions to bathrooms, security and about 1,000 additional workers. You can watch the Belmont Stakes on TSN this Saturday, with coverage beginning at 2:30pm et/11:30am pt. Local officials and business leaders celebrated too, seeing the race and the added interest of a Triple Crown contender as a boon of sold-out hotel rooms, dinners out and free publicity, so long as the writers and broadcasters were aware the track is actually on Long Island, as NBCs Bob Costas noted Wednesday, and not in New York City. If California Chrome triumphs, it will happen on Panzas turf -- or rather, his dirt -- at an marquee New York-area event that the tracks new management team reimagined earlier this year as a fusion of sports and entertainment worth attending even when the Triple Crown is not on the line. They have filled the undercard with high-stakes races, increased the days total purse to $8 million -- the second-richest day in American horse racing behind the final slate of the Breeders Cup -- and surrounded the action with music from rapper and actor LL Cool J, former New York Yankees centre fielder Bernie Williams and Frank Sinatra Jr. singing "New York, New York." "For the first year of us doing this, under this new format, its not going to get any better than this," Panza said in an interview near his track office, which was filled with boxes of Belmont Stakes caps and bags of other race souvenirs. "From our end, what we need to do now is observe how the day goes and see what we can do for next year, always thinking that there could be another Triple Crown on the line." California Chrome is the 12th horse to reach Long Island with wins in the first two legs of the Triple Crown, the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness Stakes, since Affirmed won all three in 1978. Attendance for those 11 races averaged nearly 30,000 more than in years without a contender -- going from a low of 37,171 in 1995 when Thunder Gulch and Timber Country split the Derby and the Preakness, to a record 120,139 in 2004 when Birdstone upset Smarty Jones in the last of a three-year stretch of Triple Crown contenders in the Belmont Stakes. On-site wagering on the race-day program also surged in those years, according to track records, jumping from $6.8 million in contender-less 1996 to $9.2 million the following year when Silver Charm took the first two races, and from $8.8 million in contender-less 2007 to $13.3 million when Big Brown raced for history in 2008. Ill Have Anothers wins in Louisville and Baltimore sent attendance for the 2012 Belmont Stakes to nearly 86,000 and on-site wagering to $13.8 million even though the horse was withdrawn the day before the race due to a leg injury. The head of the tracks management team said ticket sales for this years Belmont Stakes, with its emphasis on high-level racing and daylong entertainment, were already brisk before California Chrome broke from the gate at Churchill Downs in May. More than 70 per cent of tickets and premium tables for the race were sold before the Derby and all were gone before the Preakness, according to New York Racing Association president and chief executive officer Christopher Kay. After the Preakness, Kay said, they added a trackside tent and additional seating to accommodate the surge of interest in a potential California Chrome coronation. General admission and grandstand tickets costing $10 remained available through the track late in the week and more than 3,000 tickets, ranging from $12 for grandstand to $2,300 for a table for two at the Garden Terrace Restaurant, were available on the secondary ticket sales website StubHub.com. Good weather -- 82 degrees and sunny, according to the National Weather Service -- could push the crowd into record territory. "Our intent is to make Belmont Stakes day an important day year in and year out," Kay said. This year it has been an important day -- and week -- for business. The largest hotel on Long Island, a Marriott with more than 600 rooms in Uniondale, and the ornate Garden City Hotel -- where management said all of the owners, trainers and jockeys in the Belmont Stakes were staying and where the menu includes a cocktail named for each horse -- have sold out under race-related demand. Other hotels were also booked solid, officials said, forcing some out-of-town fans to find lodging in Suffolk County, about 20 miles east, or stay in Manhattan, about 15 miles west. "This Triple Crown opportunity doesnt come too often," state hotel association chairman John Tsunis said. "But, whoever wins in the race, the real winners will be Long Island and New York State." 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Manningham made 42 receptions for 449 yards and one touchdown in 12 games and 10 starts last season before injuring his left knee in a loss at Seattle Dec. Custom Ottawa Senators Jerseys . - Kevin Labanc and Joseph Blandisi were a potent combination for the Barrie Colts on Friday night.Misbah-ul-Haq proved his pedigree in Pakistans first Test victory over England at Lords and should be saluted by the cricketing world, says Saj Sadiq... When Pakistans Test captain recently raised his hand in a salute to commemorate his first Test century at Lords, the joy on his face was more than an obvious reflection of achieving a fantastic milestone at the home of cricket.Similar to how Misbah-ul-Haq must have felt then, for the millions of Pakistan fans watching that moment live on television or the privileged few present at the ground, the relief felt as three figures came up against the name of the 42-year-old Misbahs name was simply a final and much-belated confirmation of the batsmans importance to Pakistan cricket. Its unfortunate that in todays world, Test cricket is fast becoming irrelevant to many of the global audience, which seems to thrive on an almost unlimited supply of fast-paced games played in coloured clothing.It is no surprise, therefore, that to many the most memorable innings from Misbah-ul-Haq would be in a losing cause during the 2007 World Twenty20 final against India in South Africa or the semi-final against the same opposition in the World Cup of 2011. Misbah-ul-Haqs first visit to Lords was certainly one to remember Unfairly given the nickname name Tuk Tuk (an attempt to describe his careful and calculated approach to batting), Misbah was ushered away from the shorter forms of cricket in face of stinging criticism which seemed to reach epic proportions after Pakistan bowed out of the 2015 World Cup.The proof of Misbahs pedigree as a batsman can be found in the shape of him currently being third on the list of most runs scored after the age of 40, behind Sir Jack Hobbs and Patsy Hendren. Apart from his recent hundred at Lords, one can also consider his magnificent innings against Australia in Abu Dhabi - where he equalled the record held by the great Sir Vivian Richards for the fastest Test century in history - to appreciate the true worth of Misbah as a batsman. Alastair Cook and Misbah give their reaction after Pakistans 75-run victory over England His Test batting average of just below 50 is testimony to what a magnificent batsman he is. He has not had things his own way though and had to win over the public after an indifferent start to his Test career where he was labelled by many as not good enough for international cricket. Misbah is a serious man of few words who prefers to stay out of the limelight and instead prefers family time and to let his cricket do the talking. He isnt one for ridiculous statements and perhaps thats the reason he isnt always flavour of the month for the Pakistani media.However, the intangible aspect of Misbahs presence for the Pakistan team may not appeal to some but is equally important when judging his legacy. To put it simply, he has been the source of stability on and off the field to a team well known for internal squabbles and disunity. Over the past couple of days weve seen a press-up craze, but who is the press-up king? He took over the team in the aftermath of one the toughest crises to hit Pakistan or indeed world cricket.dddddddddddd. This was the time when the actions of the trio of Mohammad Amir, Salman Butt and Mohammad Asif threw Pakistan cricket into a nightmare which was only rescued by Misbahs calm leadership.Undaunted by the challenges he has faced since that dark period, Misbah continued to toil away with the results of his many years of endeavour plain to see in Pakistans current Test ranking, which puts them within striking distance of the No 1 position. The presence of Pakistan among the top teams in the Test rankings under Misbahs leadership assumes even greater significance when one factors in the fact that Pakistan has not played a single Test match on their own soil since March 2009, when the Sri Lankan team was the subject of a terrorist attack in Lahore. Any person with lesser character, let alone a captain, would have probably chosen to walk away but Misbah, with his single-minded determination to achieve greatness for his country, has ably lead a team of mainly young players through what can be classed as all tours away from home. Along the way he has faced criticism of a very personal nature from experts of all descriptions but, using his own performance and a calm demeanour to absorb any negativity about his team or himself, he has ensured that neither he nor his team lost the focus on the goal of restoring the Pakistan side to its previous greatness. Also consider the fact that Pakistan teams rarely go through a tour without any controversies but as remarkable as his record as captain it might be, Misbahs ability to lead Pakistan through series without anything untoward undoubtedly deserves accolades as well. It is no wonder that even a mere hint by Misbah about retiring caused ripples of concerns among followers and administrators alike, resulting in clarifications and reassurances by the much-respected Test captain that he would be around to guide his team during the ongoing series against England. David Lloyd was on hand to show Misbah how to do some proper press-ups! Compared to the great Imran Khan for his influence on Pakistan cricket as well as the results he has provided for his country so far, Misbah-ul-Haqs determination to lead his team towards more glory shows no sign of diminishing. He is still there, leading his team with the same fervour, passion and calmness. The legacy of excellence in his performances as a player and as a captain will be a hard one to follow for any mortal who aspires to lead a mercurial side such as Pakistan.Misbah may have saluted the Pakistan flag at Lords, but in the opinion of many in the cricketing world, he is the one who should be saluted. Watch day one of the second Test between England and Pakistan live on Sky Sports 2 this Friday from 10am. 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