Business people in Saratoga Springs are thrilled the Belmont is being run there instead of Long Island this year.

More than 50,000 people will be there for the big race on Saturday, with tens of thousands more on each of the other three days of the Belmont at Saratoga racing festival.

The big crowds of hungry, thirsty and weary people will gamble, shop, dine and sleep.

“This is a big, big deal,” said Todd Shimkus, president of the Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce. “It’s a wonderful opportunity to introduce people to our city and even the museums. Everybody is just so excited to share what is so special to us to a whole new audience,”

In fact, the economic impact on Albany through Saratoga up to Lake George is about $50 million, according Shimkus.

While there is no do-over in horse racing, Saratoga will get to do this over again next year, but that doesn’t mean they don’t want to get it exactly right this year.

The annual meet Saratoga Race Course generates $371 million in economic activity, and more than 2,900 jobs across the Capital Region.

A new report from the Saratoga County Industrial Development Agency found the overall impact of the summer meet has increased by 57% since 2014.

It also found that Saratoga Race Course is responsible for contributing $7.3 million of tax revenue to New York state, nearly $2.4 million to Saratoga County, and nearly $2.1 million to Saratoga Springs.

Learn more about how everyone has been planning, by watching the video of Mark Mulholland’s story.

ON MOBILE? Tap here for our Belmont photo gallery