The Winner's Circle at the Saratoga Race Course was the epicenter of the sports universe on June 9. Most horse racing fans watched the Belmont Stakes celebration on TV, while the lucky ones cheered from the grandstands. Hunter Dipace '26 couldn't believe where he found himself.
Dipace fell in love with the sport of horse racing a few years ago, so he was naturally excited when renovations to Belmont Park, in Elmont, NY, caused the third jewel of racing's Triple Crown to be relocated to Saratoga Springs. Tickets weren't cheap, and they sold out quickly, but Dipace found a different way into the race course – and he was compensated handsomely for it.
The sports communications major spent much of last year working television production for Siena sporting events. Under the supervision of Siena's Digital Media Manager George Fellows, Dipace sharpened his skills in various production roles – from camera operator to graphics – helping to produce Siena soccer, lacrosse, and women's basketball games for ESPN. Dipace was a standout member of the crew, which earned him an endorsement this summer when Fox came calling.
Fox was producing this year's Belmont for a worldwide television audience, and while their fulltime crew travels from production to production, typically the networks will hire utility workers, at a freelancers rate, to round out their staff. The person in charge of assembling utility workers for the Belmont knew of Siena's sports communications program, and reached out for recommendations. George recommended Dipace, and that's how the rising junior scored a working credential to the Belmont.
"I really started to get into horse racing a couple of years ago. So when I got the email, I was like, "Hell yeah."
Dipace worked all week leading up to Saturday's big race, unloading shipments and taking equipment to different sets. Then on race day, he was assigned to assist one of Fox's main camera operators.
"I asked him about different events he's worked. He told me he's part of their World Series crew. There were other camera operators there that worked the World Cup two years ago in Qatar."
Dipace carried batteries, and shuttled the camera stand to wherever it was needed. Sometimes that was in the Paddock, but when it came to the Belmont Stakes, they were needed in the Winner's Circle. Dipace watched the race from inside the ropes, and he was standing in the Winner's Circle as Dornoch and jockey Luis Saez celebrated.
"When I go up to Saratoga, usually I get a picnic table. But for the Belmont, I got to be in the Paddock and in the Winner's Circle, and I got to see all of the horses up close. It's pretty cool. I know I want to work behind the scenes in TV sports production, and this gave me that experience on a professional level, and I got to see all of the things you can do, and all of the various positions."
Plus, he made some contacts. The Belmont will return to Saratoga again next year, and Dipace already has his spot on the crew confirmed. He was told they may have additional work for him as well (at $40 per hour, not to mention overtime pay). Dipace went ahead and placed a bet on the Belmont, and when the upset came in, like most people, Dipace lost his bet. But, when you factor in the experience and the fat paycheck coming his way, Dipace was way, way up for the week.
