As has been the custom for many years, the Belmont jockeys, days before they are to race in the Belmont Stakes, visit Ronald McDonald House, with ponies to give rides to the children both at the House and at Schneider Children's Hospital.

Only, this year it was a little different because they also brought along New York Racing Association's bugler, Sam Grossman, who delighted the children and adults, alike, with his many bugle tunes. Of course, the most famous was the traditional one that always announces the start of the race.

The jockeys included Edgar Prado, John Velasquez, Garrett Gomez, Channing Hill and Jean-Luc Samyn and they were all decked out in their colorful silks, which was a great sight.

This year a new firm, Shetland Farms from Wheatley Heights, supplied the ponies. Not only did they bring the ponies but they also brought a goat, a lamb, a hen with baby chicks and a big ol' rooster. It was a mini farm, right in front of McDonald House. Further, Diego Santander of Shetland Farms, also brought a cart that one of the ponies pulled, for the children who were too timid to climb on board and it was a huge success.

House director Robert Weitzner and MacDonald president of the board of directors Stacie Rodriguez were on hand to greet the jockeys and the ponyies, along with the residents of the house.

Many of the children staying at the house with a parent, grandparent and also a sibling, have been or are being treated in neighboring hospitals for very serious illnesses.

Each parent said that they would not have been able to survive without being able to stay at Ronald McDonald House. They explained that the atmosphere at the "house" is the closest thing to being at home. They have lovely, clean and cared-for rooms, a completely stocked kitchen at their disposal, so that going out to eat is not necessary if they do not want to.

Most importantly, the caretakers of the house, Karen and Charles Karma, make each and every temporary resident feel comfortable and loved and that's the real secret of Ronald McDonald House. Each and every person who is either on staff or a volunteer makes sure that all the residents have everything they need in an effort to make sure that their very difficult situations are at least tolerable.

Ronald McDonald House is truly a house that "love" built and that love continues to exude throughout the entire house.